DENVER Sophomore forward Tyler Bozak (Regina, Saskatchewan) scored twice and added an assist and Marc Cheverie (Cole Harbour, Nova Scotia) turned aside 35 shots to lead the No. 4 Denver Pioneers (3-0, 2-0 WCHA) to a 7-4 win over the No. 20 Wisconsin Badgers (0-4, 0-2 WCHA) tonight in front of 6,095 fans at Magness Arena.
Kyle Ostrow (Calgary, Alberta) and Rhett Rakhshani (Huntington Beach, Calif.) each added a goal and one assist for the Pioneers, while Anthony Maiani (Shelby Township, Mich.), Patrick Mullen (Pittsburgh, Pa.) and Tyler Ruegsegger (Lakewood, Colo.) chipped in with a pair of helpers apiece.
“We need to get used to these roller-coaster types of games. We are a talented offensive team and can score with most every team in the country,” Denver head coach George Gwozdecky said. “I think what we’re seeing at times is a little bit of immaturity and a lack of experience. Guys get carried away with their success and have a lack of discipline. But it was very nice to see Marc Cheverie come up with a very solid effort tonight.”
The Pioneers jumped out to a 3-0 lead after one period. DU captain J.P. Testwuide (Vail, Colo.) opened the scoring after one-timing an Ostrow feed at 5:08. Ostrow then notched a goal of his own at 8:04 during a 2-on-1 rush, while Bozak’s backhander off the rebound of a Patrick Wiercioch (Maple Ridge, British Columbia) point shot made it a three-goal game at 9:55.
Much like a night ago, the Badgers received a boost after killing a DU 5-on-3 power-play opportunity by turning around and scoring a trio of unanswered goals.
First, Andy Bohmbach tucked a puck past Cheverie from just outside the crease at 11:07. The Badgers then tallied a pair of power-play goals, with Brendan Smith striking from the right point at 13:17 and Blake Geoffrion tipping home a Jamie McBain shot at 15:06.
However, the Pioneers scored a pair of goals before the end of the second period to swing the momentum back in their favor.
Rakhshani put a low wrister past Wisconsin netminder Scott Gudmandson (28 saves) at 16:34 and Luke Salazar (Thornton, Colo.) netted his third career goal only 20 seconds later to give DU a 5-3 advantage.
The Pioneers stretched their lead to four goals to start the third period, with Dustin Jackson (Omaha, Neb.) scoring at 2:44 and Bozak netting a shorthanded tally at 6:48.
Ryan McDonagh rounded out the scoring at 13:19 with a shorthanded marker.
“We’ve been able to put the puck in the net quite a few times each game, so we know the amount of offensive talent we’ve got out there,” said Testwuide. “We came out really hard in the first probably for the first 15 minutes and then kind of let up which is unfortunate. But it kind of gave us a spark and we got back at it.”
The Badgers out-shot the Pioneers by a 39-35 margin in the game. UW went 2-of-9 on the power play while holding DU scoreless in six opportunities.
The Pioneers will continue their season-opening six-game homestand next weekend when Ohio State University visits Magness Arena for an Oct. 24-25 set.
Notes: The Pioneers last started the season with a 3-0 record during the 2003-04 campaign...Tonight’s loss marks the first time Wisconsin has started the season with an 0-4 record in the modern era...The 1932-33 Badgers lost their first four contests en route to an 0-9 season record while playing in the WIHL...With Testwuide’s tally tonight, a DU defenseman has scored a goal in each game this season...The Pioneers have scored at least five goals in all three of their games this year, the first time the team has accomplished that feat since 1987-88...That season, DU scored five or more goals in its first five contests.
