(above) DU Alum Wayne Wiste celebrates with some of his teammates hoisting the Championship Trophy in the 60 & Over "A" division after defeating the University of Michigan AlumniEditor's Note: DJ Powers of Hockey's Future is in California this weekend covering the Snoopy Senior World Hockey Tournament. For the third straight year she agreed to write a series of articles for LetsGoDU about the DU Pioneers, an alumni team made up of former DU players from the Murray Armstrong era. We can't thank DJ enough for her outstanding commitment to this event.
Article by: DJ Powers
Staff Writer - NCAA
Hockey's Future
Future Considerations
DU scored three unanswered goals in their 3-1 win over tournament nemesis Michigan last Wednesday morning to successfully defend their Marcie (60A) Division title. Wayne Smith tallied the game-winner and Wayne Wiste added a goal and an assist in the Pioneers tournament finale.
Michigan, who came into the game after a stunning loss to Reno on Monday night, looked fired up coming out of the gate.
Both teams established a good pace early and generated several good scoring opportunities.
The Wolverines opened the scoring at the 6:17 mark when Bob Boysen’s shot banked off of Ron Grahame’s skate and into net.
Michigan generated some good pressure throughout the period, at times hemming the Pioneers in their own zone. At the other end, Denver generated many quality shots forcing Michigan goaltender Eric Hall to make several outstanding stops.
At the 9:34 mark, Bill Pettinger would tie the game on a tip shot in close.
The pace and intensity picked up considerably as the period wore on and both teams did an excellent job of driving to the net to create more scoring chances.
Wayne Smith gave DU the lead at the 17:48 mark when his shot slipped inside the near post off a rebound.
DU would get a chance to extend their lead to open the middle stanza thanks to a hooking call that was assessed to Dean Lucier at the 20:00 mark.
The problems that plagued the Pioneers power play in the previous game continued in this one. DU had trouble getting organized that was made more difficult by the penalty killing efforts of Michigan.
One area where DU excelled was their ability to slow down the speed of the Wolverines by taking away time and space. The Pioneers also did an excellent job of getting sticks into lanes as well. Meanwhile, Michigan’s passing struggled, particularly early on.
At the 15:40 mark, Wayne Wiste extended DU’s lead to 3-1 after tapping home a rebound amid the scrum in front of the Michigan netminder. The Pioneers had several whacks at the puck before it finally got in.
While DU had the momentum on their side in the latter stages of the period, they had also given up several odd-man situations to Michigan. But the Wolverines inability to connect on their passes resulted in squandering many great scoring opportunities.
Michigan came out firing once again when the final period got underway. DU netminder Ron Grahame was tested early and often.
At the 3:20 mark, matching minors were assessed to DU’s Pat Halas and Michigan’s Dave Sparks when the two got into a scuffle near the corner boards in the Wolverines zone.
Michigan would get an opportunity to get the equalizer at the 6:58 mark when Randy Harper was called for a trip.
The stellar DU penalty kill went to work and successfully kept the Wolverines off the scoreboard. Part of what had made their penalty kill so successful in this period was their shot blocking, which could be seen in both special teams and even strength situations.
And the DU penalty kill would get a lot more work too.
Like in Monday’s game versus Calgary, DU made regular trips to the penalty box in the third period.
The Pioneers next penalty came at the 10:45 mark when Markle was called for a trip.
While Michigan was given many opportunities to tie and even take the lead with DU’s many penalties, the solid Pioneers defense and equally sharp goaltending of Grahame kept them off the scoresheet and in the process frustrated the mighty Wolverines.
Michigan would apply some of their greatest pressure on DU late in regulation time thanks to an extra attacker and Don Cameron in the penalty box on a goaltender interference call. But the Pioneers held firm and got the win.
One of the biggest surprises of the tournament thus far was the fact that Michigan finished last in the Marcie Division this year – a rarity since the Wolverines have always had strong teams in the tournament.
Meanwhile, DU finishes the 2009 Snoopy Tournament with a perfect 3-0 record.
Michigan went 0-for-6 on the power play. DU went 0-for-2 on the power play.
Box Score
First Period
Michigan 0-1 Bob Boysen (6:17) [Larry Covitz]
DU 1-1 Bill Pettinger (9:34) [unassisted]
DU 2-1 Wayne Smith (17:48) [Peter Markle, Wayne Wiste] (GWG)
Second Period
DU 3-1 Wayne Wiste (15:40) [Jim Wiste, Peter Markle]
DU Tournament Notes
DU outscored their opponents by a combined score of 14-3.
Peter Markle led DU in scoring with seven points (one goal, six assists). Bill Pettinger led DU with three goals.
Ron Grahame, Bob Peers, Randy Harper and Jim Fieldy were the only Pioneers held without a point.
Did you know?
Peter Markle produced the hockey film “Youngbloods” starring Rob Lowe.
Footnote: The entire DU Pioneers Snoopy Tournament team sends out a very big thank you to Marv Hall of Eagle Distributing for providing all the free beer. Thanks Marv!
Michigan, who came into the game after a stunning loss to Reno on Monday night, looked fired up coming out of the gate.
Both teams established a good pace early and generated several good scoring opportunities.
The Wolverines opened the scoring at the 6:17 mark when Bob Boysen’s shot banked off of Ron Grahame’s skate and into net.
Michigan generated some good pressure throughout the period, at times hemming the Pioneers in their own zone. At the other end, Denver generated many quality shots forcing Michigan goaltender Eric Hall to make several outstanding stops.
At the 9:34 mark, Bill Pettinger would tie the game on a tip shot in close.
The pace and intensity picked up considerably as the period wore on and both teams did an excellent job of driving to the net to create more scoring chances.
Wayne Smith gave DU the lead at the 17:48 mark when his shot slipped inside the near post off a rebound.
DU would get a chance to extend their lead to open the middle stanza thanks to a hooking call that was assessed to Dean Lucier at the 20:00 mark.
The problems that plagued the Pioneers power play in the previous game continued in this one. DU had trouble getting organized that was made more difficult by the penalty killing efforts of Michigan.
One area where DU excelled was their ability to slow down the speed of the Wolverines by taking away time and space. The Pioneers also did an excellent job of getting sticks into lanes as well. Meanwhile, Michigan’s passing struggled, particularly early on.
At the 15:40 mark, Wayne Wiste extended DU’s lead to 3-1 after tapping home a rebound amid the scrum in front of the Michigan netminder. The Pioneers had several whacks at the puck before it finally got in.
While DU had the momentum on their side in the latter stages of the period, they had also given up several odd-man situations to Michigan. But the Wolverines inability to connect on their passes resulted in squandering many great scoring opportunities.
Michigan came out firing once again when the final period got underway. DU netminder Ron Grahame was tested early and often.
At the 3:20 mark, matching minors were assessed to DU’s Pat Halas and Michigan’s Dave Sparks when the two got into a scuffle near the corner boards in the Wolverines zone.
Michigan would get an opportunity to get the equalizer at the 6:58 mark when Randy Harper was called for a trip.
The stellar DU penalty kill went to work and successfully kept the Wolverines off the scoreboard. Part of what had made their penalty kill so successful in this period was their shot blocking, which could be seen in both special teams and even strength situations.
And the DU penalty kill would get a lot more work too.
Like in Monday’s game versus Calgary, DU made regular trips to the penalty box in the third period.
The Pioneers next penalty came at the 10:45 mark when Markle was called for a trip.
While Michigan was given many opportunities to tie and even take the lead with DU’s many penalties, the solid Pioneers defense and equally sharp goaltending of Grahame kept them off the scoresheet and in the process frustrated the mighty Wolverines.
Michigan would apply some of their greatest pressure on DU late in regulation time thanks to an extra attacker and Don Cameron in the penalty box on a goaltender interference call. But the Pioneers held firm and got the win.
One of the biggest surprises of the tournament thus far was the fact that Michigan finished last in the Marcie Division this year – a rarity since the Wolverines have always had strong teams in the tournament.
Meanwhile, DU finishes the 2009 Snoopy Tournament with a perfect 3-0 record.Michigan went 0-for-6 on the power play. DU went 0-for-2 on the power play.
Box Score
First Period
Michigan 0-1 Bob Boysen (6:17) [Larry Covitz]
DU 1-1 Bill Pettinger (9:34) [unassisted]
DU 2-1 Wayne Smith (17:48) [Peter Markle, Wayne Wiste] (GWG)
Second Period
DU 3-1 Wayne Wiste (15:40) [Jim Wiste, Peter Markle]
DU Tournament Notes
DU outscored their opponents by a combined score of 14-3.
Peter Markle led DU in scoring with seven points (one goal, six assists). Bill Pettinger led DU with three goals.
Ron Grahame, Bob Peers, Randy Harper and Jim Fieldy were the only Pioneers held without a point.
Did you know?
Peter Markle produced the hockey film “Youngbloods” starring Rob Lowe.
Footnote: The entire DU Pioneers Snoopy Tournament team sends out a very big thank you to Marv Hall of Eagle Distributing for providing all the free beer. Thanks Marv!
4 comments:
Dubie signed with the WILD
I've been lazy waiting to post that. Thanks for the heads up.
is checking allowed in the alum game?
Not in the Snoopy tournment. Check someone and its either a minor or a major penalty.
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