HKY v Western Michigan (15 JAN 16) - Highlights
HKY v Western Michigan (15 JAN 16) - Full Game
HKY v Western Michigan (15 JAN 16) - Post Game

The University of Denver hockey team defeated Western Michigan 5-3 on Friday night at Magness Arena in the opener of a two-game set with the visiting Broncos. Senior Quentin Shore (Denver, Colo.) led the Pioneers' offense with two goals while linemate Troy Terry (Denver, Colo.) tallied a goal and an assist. Starting netminder Tanner Jaillet (Red Deer, Alberta) earned his sixth victory of a the season with a 29-save performance.

"I thought we started the game by playing fast and playing with the pace we want to," head coach Jim Montgomery said after the victory. "I give Western Michigan credit. They're a good hockey team and they kept coming back. They played to their strengths and that's a sign of good coaching and a sign of a good team that's committed to what their strengths are. I think that's why it was such an even game. We played really well tonight and they stayed right with us. We'll have to be even better tomorrow night if we want to try to get the sweep."

Denver got off to a quick start on Friday, with junior forward Emil Romig (Vienna, Austria) banging home a loose puck deep in Broncos territory to give the home team a 1-0 lead just two minutes into the game. Colin Staub (Colorado Springs, Colo.) and Matt VanVoorhis (Edina, Minn.) both drew helpers on Romig's even-strength tally.

Western Michigan tied the game with just-under 10 minutes remaining in the opening period after a turnover in the offensive zone led to an odd-man rush the other way. However, DU was able to restore its one-goal lead thanks to a power-play tally from Terry at the 18:48 mark of the opening stanza. Defensemen Nolan Zajac (Winnipeg, Manitoba) and Blake Hillman (Elk River, Minn.) both picked up assists on Terry's fifth goal of the season.

Shore gave the Pioneers a two-goal advantage less than five minutes into the middle frame when he registered his fifth goal of the 2015-16 campaign. VanVoorhis picked up his second assist of the night after sending a pass from the corner to a wide open Shore in the left circle, whose quick shot beat Western Michigan's starting goaltender Lukas Hafner.

Bronco Sheldon Dries then scored on the power play to cut Denver's lead to 3-2 before Shore tallied his second marker of the game to give the Pios a 4-2 advantage after 40 minutes of play. Terry and sophomore defenseman Tariq Hammond (Calgary, Alberta) assisted on the play. Western Michigan cut DU's lead to 4-3 with a late power-play goal, but junior center Matt Marcinew (Calgary, Alberta) scored into an empty net to seal the victory for the Pioneers late in regulation.

The two teams will be back in action tomorrow night at Magness Arena with puck drop scheduled for 7:06pm. Tickets to Saturday's game can be obtained by visiting denverpioneers.com/tickets.