Oct. 6, 2006

Box Score

OXFORD, Ohio - Ryan Jones netted two goals and goaltender Charlie Effinger stopped 28 shots as the No. 8 Miami RedHawks defeated the No. 9 Denver Pioneers, 5-2, at the Ice Breaker Invitational tonight before a sellout crowd of 3,642 in the grand opening of Steve Cady Arena. Patrick Mullen (Pittsburgh, Pa.) and Chris Butler (St. Louis, Mo.) scored DU's goals, but the Pioneers converted just 1-of-15 power-play opportunities in the season-opening loss.

The Miami win also spoiled the return of DU head coach George Gwozdecky, who returned to Miami for the first time as a visiting coach after leading the RedHawks from 1989-94. DU will play No. 14 Colgate, a 6-0 loser to Vermont, in the consolation game at 2:35 p.m. MT on Saturday. The game will be televised on a tape-delay basis on ESPNU on Sunday, Oct. 8 at 1 p.m. MT.

The RedHawks jumped to a 2-0 lead after the first period. Miami's Michael Findorff beat Peter Mannino (Farmington Hills, Mich.) from the left circle at 7:33 and Joe Cooper made it 2-0 from the low slot at 17:11. Miami outshot DU, 11-9, and the Pioneers failed on all five power-play opportunities.

Miami made it 3-0 early in the second period when Justin Mercier backhanded a rebound shot past Mannino on the power play at 4:11. Mullen finally put DU on the board at 10:06 when he redirected a nifty feed from J.D. Corbin (Littleton, Colo.) on the power play. However, Miami stormed back with consecutive goals at 10:36 and 12:05 to take a commanding 5-1 lead into the third period. Jones scored both Miami goals and Davis earned assists on each score. The RedHawks dominated the period by outshooting the Pioneers 10-7. Miami also killed off five of six power-play opportunities by DU.

Butler made it a three-goal game when he wristed a shot past Effinger at 4:29 of the third period. Miami outshot DU, 31-30, in the game and converted 2-of-8 power plays. Tyler Ruegsegger (Lakewood, Colo.) tallied two assists in his collegiate debut for DU. Mannino took the loss with 26 saves.

Gwozdecky, who led the RedHawks to their first NCAA Tournament in 1993, will be inducted into the prestigious Miami University Cradle of Coaches Association on Sunday during halftime of the RedHawks' homecoming football game against Northern Illinois. He was honored for the achievement during the second intermission of tonight's game. Other members of the Cradle of Coaches include Woody Hayes, Bo Schembechler, Ara Parseghian and DU's Vice Chancellor for Athletics and Recreation and Ritchie Center Operations Peg Bradley-Doppes.