Box Score The University of Denver hockey team posted its first road sweep against the University of Alaska Anchorage in four years, defeating the Seawolves 6-2 Saturday. The last time Denver earned a sweep over UAA in Alaska was during the 1994-95 season.
The Pioneers opened the scoring just 56 seconds into the contest as senior Kelly Popadynetz (Calgary, Alberta) beat Anchorage goaltender Corey Strachan to give Denver a 1-0 lead. Assists were credited to senior Bjorn Engstrom (Akarp, Sweden) and junior Bryan Vines (Oakville, Ontario). Five minutes later, freshman Connor James (Calgary, Alberta) gave Denver a 2-0 lead as he posted his second career goal. James' goal, coming on the power play, was assisted by junior Chris Paradise (St. Paul, Minn.) and sophomore J.J. Hartmann (Colorado Springs, Colo.). With 16:41 remaining in the opening period, Engstrom tallied his first goal of the night, giving the Pioneers a commanding 3-0 lead. Paradise and Popadynetz picked up assists on the Engstrom goal.
In the second period, UAA decided to pull Strachan, who had been beat for six goals in the series, in favor of freshman goaltender Kevin Reiter. Reiter did not fare much better as, following an Anchorage goal, sophomore Jordan Bianchin (Naniamo, British Columbia) beat the Seawolves' netminder on a break-away, assisted by sophomore Kevin Doell (Saskatoon, Saskatchewan) and freshman Max Bull (Faribault, Minn.). With just six seconds remaining in the second period, Engstrom posted his second goal of the night, assisted by Hartmann.
At the 9:10 mark of the third period, Ensgtrom completed his bid for the hat trick, posting the first of his career, as he beat Reiter. Assists were credited to freshman Ryan Caldwell (DeLoraine, Manitoba) and Popadynetz. Anchorage added a late goal to finish the scoring, giving Denver a 6-2 victory.
Despite being out-shot 34-18, Denver earned the victory due, in large part, to its special teams. The Pioneers finished the game 3-for-4 on the power play, while holding the Seawolves to just one goal on five chances. Overall on the weekend, Denver was 4-for-8 with the man advantage and killed 13 of 14 UAA power plays, while scoring three short-handed goals.
The Pioneers (8-7-1, 7-5-0 WCHA) will travel to Minnesota-Duluth for a series against the Bulldogs Friday and Saturday (Dec. 15 and 16). Both games will start at 6:05 p.m. MST.
