Box Score Exciting Game Ends in Denver's Favor
DENVER -- The University of Denver hockey team defeated Minnesota State University, Mankato, 5-4, Friday night in Mankato, Minn. Although the Pioneers opened the game slow, going down 3-1 early in the first period, the team pulled together and overcame that start to earn the Western Collegiate Hockey Association victory.
"It was a big lift for us, mentally, to come in here and beat a good team on the road," said Denver head coach George Gwozdecky.
It was a fast and furious first period as the Mavericks struck first. MSU-Mankato's Jerry Cunningham beat Denver sophomore goaltender Wade Dubielewicz (Invermere, British Columbia) for the first tally of the game.
The next rush for Mankato proved to be a costly one for Denver. On a Maverick two on one break-away, Dubielewicz skated out of the the net to cut down the angle and sprawled out to poke the puck off the Mankato skaters stick. The two player were tied up and Dubielewicz went down and stayed on the ice. Dubielewicz left the game with a dislocated shoulder and was replaced by freshman Adam Berkhoel (Woodbury, Minn.). The Mavericks increased their lead to 2-0 as the first shot that Berkhoel faced slipped through his legs. Denver closed the gap, scoring its first goal of the period as senior Kelly Popadynetz (Calgary, Alberta) took a pass from sophomore Matt Weber (Binghamton, N.Y.) and beat Mankato goaltender Todd Kelzenberg. Sophomore Aaron MacKenzie (Terrace Bay, Ontario) also picked up an assist on the goal.
The Mavericks once again increased their lead by two goals as Cunningham stole the puck and beat Berkhoel for his second goal of the night. The Pioneers, however, closed the period with three unaswered goals to take a 4-3 lead into the locker room at the first intermission. Denver's second goal came off the stick of freshman defenseman Ryan Caldwell (DeLoraine, Manitoba). Caldwell, after Denver killed a two-minute power play by Mankato, stepped out of the penalty box, took a feed from junior David Neale (Victoria, British Columbia), went to his backhand and beat Kelzenberg at the 15:31 mark. The Pioneers tied the game with less than three minutes to go in the period as senior Bjorn Engstrom (Akarp, Sweden) notched his first goal of the season, assisted by sophomore Kevin Doell (Saskatoon, Saskatchewan) and freshman Greg Keith (Delta, British Columbia). Denver's first lead of the night came less forty seconds later as Weber scored his third goal of the season, assisted by freshman Connor James (Calgary, Alberta) and Popadynetz.
In the second period, both teams traded goals. Mankato tallied the first goal of the period to draw even with Denver as Nate Mauer's shot found the back of the net. The Pioneers regained the lead when Weber took a pass from Popadynetz to notch his second score of the game, coming at the 17:23 mark of the second period.
In the third period, the two teams traded opportunities, but Denver played solid defense. The Mavericks best opportunity of the final period came when Berkhoel misplayed the puck behind his net. Mankato stole the puck and centered it in front of the unattended net. Berkhoel just got his stick in front of the net and got a piece of the puck. Denver had a couple opportunities late in the game as Mankato had pulled its goalie for the extra attacker. The Pioneers kept the pressure in the Mavericks zone and held on to the lead.
"I think this team has impressed me in certain areas," said Gwozdecky. "We are getting better and better and for us to score five goals is going to help out confidence."
The line changes seemed to help the Pioneer offense as Weber was moved to a line with James and Popadynetz. That line finished with three goals and four assists.
"We had pretty much stayed with the same line for the first three weeks," said Gwozdecky. "But after North Dakota last weekend, we moved Doell and Weber. One thing Weber adds to the line with Popadynetz and James is he has a lot of speed. That speed really compliments Connor and Kelly."
