DENVER – The University of Denver hockey team defeated Arizona State 8-3 in the 2021-22 season opener on Friday night at Magness Arena.
 
The eight goals scored by the Pioneers were their most in a season opener since beating Michigan Tech 8-3 on Oct. 10, 1986. The last time Denver tallied eight in any game was Nov. 13, 2014 when it won 8-1 against Colorado College.
 
Playing in his 100th career NCAA contest, senior captain Cole Guttman was one of three players to record a goal and two assists in the outing, joining linemates junior Bobby Brink and sophomore Carter Savoie. It was Guttman's seventh career three-point game, while Brink tied his career high for points in a contest and Savoie set a new personal best.
 
DU freshman forward Carter Mazur scored twice in his collegiate debut, while five other freshmen played their first NCAA game: defensemen Sean Behrens and Shai Buium, forwards Jack Devine and Massimo Rizzo and goaltender Matt Davis. Senior right wing Cameron Wright made his Pioneer debut after transferring to the school following four seasons with the Bowling Green State Falcons.
 
Defensemen Justin Lee (two assists) and Kyle Mayhew (two assists) and forward Brett Stapley (one goal, one assist) and Massimo Rizzo (one goal, one assist) also had multi-point contests.
 
Goaltender Magnus Chrona started in goal for the Pioneers and stopped 19 shots while Davis debuted in the third period, guarding the pipes for the final 8:17 and making three saves on four shots.
 
ASU opened the scoring just 98 seconds into the game as Johnny Walker tallied the first of three power-play goals on the night for the Sun Devils, but Denver responded to take a lead it never relinquished.
 
Savoie knotted the contest at 9:22 of the period and Mazur and Stapley each potted markers in a matter of 18 seconds in the final two minutes before the intermission to put the Pioneers in the lead. DU added four more goals in the middle frame and Rizzo tallied his first of his career in the third period.­­
 
Denver went 2-for-8 on the power play and outshot Arizona State 55-25.
 
The Pioneers and Sun Devils wrap up their weekend series on Saturday at 6 p.m. MT.
 
MORE POSTGAME NOTES

• The last time Denver scored eight goals in a game was Nov. 13, 2014 when it defeated Colorado College 8-1.
• DU improved to 3-1-1 in its last five season openers.
• The Pioneers have won four straight home openers and improved to 17-5-1 in such games at Magness Arena since the building opened in 1999. DU is now 13-1-1 in its last 15 home openers and sports an all-time mark of 51-18-4 in its first outing on home ice.
• Goaltender Magnus Chrona started his third-straight season opener, becoming the first DU goalie to do so since Tanner Jaillet from 2015-2017.
• Cole Guttman became the 203rd player in program history to skate in 100 career games.
• Bobby Brink's three points tied his career high from Nov. 23, 2019 vs. Western Michigan (2g/1a).
• Carter Savoie set a new career high with three points, better his previous best of two, which he had accomplished six times during his freshman campaign last year.
• Justin Lee's two points tied his career high (2g, Feb. 6, 2021 vs. Omaha)
• Kyle Mayhew tied his career high with two points (1g/1a), the third time in his career he's recorded a multi-point outing
• Freshmen Sean Behrens and Jack Devine recorded their first collegiate points with assists in the contest.
• Senior Cameron Wright made his Denver debut after transferring from Bowling Green.

TICKETS: Single-game tickets for the 2021-22 campaign are on sale now and can be purchased here.
 
CORONAVIRUS UPDATES: Masks are required at all indoor athletic events. For the latest University of Denver updates on the coronavirus, click here.

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