Pioneers Defeat Michigan Tech 5-2

Nov. 16, 2002

HOUGHTON, Mich. - Junior goaltender Adam Berkhoel (Woodbury, Minn.) made 24 saves and freshman Gabe Gauthier (Buena Park, Calif.) scored one goal and one assist to lead the Denver Pioneers to a 5-2 win over the Michigan Tech Huskies in Western Collegiate Hockey Association (WCHA) action tonight.

Senior Greg Barber (Kelowna, B.C.) added two assists as the Pioneers improved to 9-2-1 overall and 4-1-1 in the WCHA. Berkhoel's was sharp all night and his record is now 3-0 following a Pioneer loss or tie.

After a scoreless first period, senior Kevin Doell (Saskatoon, Sask.) finally lit the lamp for the Pioneers with a power-play goal at 14:57 of the second period. Sophomore Kevin Ulanski (Madison, Wis.) sent a perfect cross-ice pass to Doell, who blasted home a one-timer to give the Pioneers a 1-0 lead. The goal extended Doell's point streak to three games and the assist was Ulanski's fourth in the last three games. Senior Aaron MacKenzie (Terrace Bay, Ontario) also earned an assist on the goal, which also extended his point streak to four games.

Junior Connor James' (Calgary, Alberta) eighth goal of the season came at 19:50 of the second period. James walked in and his slap shot beat Tech goalie Cam Ellsworth stick side to give the Pioneers a 2-0 lead heading into the third period. Sophomore Jon Foster (Suffern, N.Y.) started the play and Barber did a great job of digging the puck out of the Tech zone at the point and sent a pass to James, whose goal extended his point streak to seven games.

Junior Ryan Caldwell's (Deloraine, Manitoba) fluke goal at 8:09 in the third period gave Denver a commanding 3-0 lead. Caldwell took a face-off pass from Gauthier and his blast from center ice rebounded off the boards and bounced off the skate of Ellsworth and into the net.

Michigan Tech's John Hartman spoiled Berkhoel's shutout with his second goal of the year at 10:23 of the third period to make the score 3-1 Denver. Gauthier quickly answered at 11:44 for Denver with his third goal of the season when he took a pass from Barber and beat Ellsworth. The goal silenced the crowd at Tech and gave the Pioneers a 4-1 lead.

Sophomore Luke Fulghum's (Colorado Springs, Colo.) third goal of the season at 13:29 closed out the Pioneer scoring and Tech's John Pittus' power-play goal at 18:43 made the final score 5-2. The Pioneers return to WCHA action next weekend (Nov. 22-23) at Alaska Anchorage. Game times are scheduled for 9:05 p.m. MT.

GAME #12 - vs. Michigan Tech
at Houghton, Mich. (MacInnes Student Ice Arena)
	                            1-2-3--F
#3 Denver Pioneers (9-2-1, 4-1-1)	0-2-3--5
Michigan Tech Huskies (1-5-3, 0-4-2)	0-0-2--2

SCORING SUMMARY:
FIRST PERIOD
No Scoring
SECOND PERIOD
1.	DEN, Kevin Doell 6 (Kevin Ulanski 10, Aaron MacKenzie 6) PPG, 14:57;
2.	DEN, Connor James 8 (Greg Barber 5, Jon Foster 4) 19:50.
THIRD PERIOD
3.	DEN, Ryan Caldwell 3 (Gabe Gauthier 6) 8:09;
4.	MTU, John Hartman 2 (B.J. Radovich 3, Frank Werner 2) 10:23;
5.	DEN, Gauthier 3 (Barber 6) 11:44;
6.	DEN, Luke Fulghum 3 (Jeff Drummond 6, Lukas Dora 4) 13:29
7.	MTU, John Pittis (Bryan Perez 6, Clay Wilson 2) PPG, 18:43

SHOTS: Denver 10-15-6--31, Michigan Tech 6-8-12--26. SAVES: Cam Ellsworth (MTU) 10-13-3--26; Adam Berkhoel 6-8-10--xx. POWER PLAY: Denver 1-5, Michigan Tech 1-3. Referee: Mike Schmitt. Assistants: Sean Jacques, Brien Ricci.

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