Photo courtesy DU Hockey
After a lackluster Friday night performance that saw the top-ranked University of Denver Pioneers tie the Lake Superior State Lakers on the same night DU raised their eighth national championship banner, the Pios came back on Saturday and skated the Lakers out of Magness Arena in the series finale. Freshmen defenseman Griffin Mendel and forward Jaako Heikkinen each scored their first career goals, Troy Terry added two tallies, and freshman goalie Dayton Rasmussen shined in his first career collegiate start.
“We played well last night but we didn’t play great,” DU head coach Jim Montgomery said. “I thought we played great tonight. Last night [LSSU] got odd-man rushes. They didn’t get one tonight. We really cleaned up things.”
Despite shoddy at best officiating from Timm Walsh and Todd Anderson, it was a complete performance for the Pioneers and a lot went right on a night that they once again trounced the Lakers on the shot board 54-16. The Pios still looked rusty at times and it seemed that some lines are still getting used to playing with each other, but after last night’s performance, DU fans should be happy and maybe a bit relieved to see Denver rebound like they did tonight.
“When one team has the puck all night, it’s a difficult game to call,” Montgomery said of the officiating. “What I loved was how much they communicated to me. They explained what they saw and as long as I know what they’re seeing, I’m on the same page.”
The first half of the first period wasn’t exactly how the Pios drew it up as LSSU struck first for the second straight night when Josh Nenadal tipped a William Riedall shot past Rasmussen. But from that point forward, it was all Pioneers. Troy Terry evened the game with about three minutes left in the first period with a snipe over Lakers goalie Mareks Mitens’ shoulder and added his second on a tip-in with about two minutes left in the second period.
The Pios continued their dominance in the third period when Mendel and Heikkinen scored their first career goals after Michael Davies tallied his first of the year just 47 seconds into the final frame to seal the 5-1 victory.
“It was surreal,” Mendel said of his goal. “I didn’t know what to do after I scored. I couldn’t believe it happened. It’s always nice when you have a big crowd like that behind you the whole game.”
As well as the Pioneers played, the night belonged to the freshmen. On top of Mendel’s and Heikkinen’s heroics near the end of the game, Rasmussen shined while stopping 15 of the 16 shots he faced. It’s not easy for any goalie, much less a freshman making his first career start, to focus when he’s facing so few shots all night. Rasmussen commanded the crease and the area all around the net throughout the evening and the Lakers had no chance after Nenadal’s tally in the first period.
“It was funny to hear a couple of guys on the bench saying how solid Rasmussen looked in the net,” Montgomery said. “He was finding pucks in traffic and just using his size and athleticism to swallow things up.”
Anytime a freshman has a first, it’s a good night, but to have three freshmen earn their firsts, it’s an extremely special night. The Pioneers played special hockey this evening and what they showed tonight bodes very well for the rest of the season.
The Pioneers had the puck all weekend, took 110 shots and finally on Saturday night, the goals started falling for them in the final 30 minutes of the series. Big confidence builder for all eight freshmen in the lineup.
Now it’s on to Boston. Lets hope the Pios can get things rolling there, too.
The Pioneers had the puck all weekend, took 110 shots and finally on Saturday night, the goals started falling for them in the final 30 minutes of the series. Big confidence builder for all eight freshmen in the lineup.
Now it’s on to Boston. Lets hope the Pios can get things rolling there, too.
Does Hillman have to sit out BU game for getting tossed last night?
No. Hillman got 5 minute penalty + Game Misconduct for contact to the head. Game misconducts do not carry over – only Game Disqualification penalties require suspension for the team’s next game, and those penalties are rarely given – usually for clear intent to injure, etc.
Does Hillman have to sit out BU game for getting tossed last night?
No. Hillman got 5 minute penalty + Game Misconduct for contact to the head. Game misconducts do not carry over – only Game Disqualification penalties require suspension for the team’s next game, and those penalties are rarely given – usually for clear intent to injure, etc.
This blog can be just so ridiculous that it is plain sad. Complain about officiating? Riddle me this Mr Hockey-guy…How often does a team get a full, 2 minute, 5 on 3? How often does a team get a penalty shot off of a slashing call? When does a team EVER get both in the same game?
Coach Montgomery is absolutely correct when he states that Timm and Todd provide great communication.
The uneducated hockey people are always the ones to cry the most about officiating…just saying…
Officiating is pretty good in the NCHC. When you watch the TV replays, the calls are right 95% of the time. That’s why you won’t hear me complaining about them. Good teams overcome everything that might stand in their way – opponents, officials, hostile crowds and conditions. When you score enough goals (and prevent others from scoring), those other things don’t matter very much.
This blog can be just so ridiculous that it is plain sad. Complain about officiating? Riddle me this Mr Hockey-guy…How often does a team get a full, 2 minute, 5 on 3? How often does a team get a penalty shot off of a slashing call? When does a team EVER get both in the same game?
Coach Montgomery is absolutely correct when he states that Timm and Todd provide great communication.
The uneducated hockey people are always the ones to cry the most about officiating…just saying…
Officiating is pretty good in the NCHC. When you watch the TV replays, the calls are right 95% of the time. That’s why you won’t hear me complaining about them. Good teams overcome everything that might stand in their way – opponents, officials, hostile crowds and conditions. When you score enough goals (and prevent others from scoring), those other things don’t matter very much.