Denver Tops Tigers in Part One Rivalry Weekend

Friday Nov. 6 Denver hockey laced up for their sole, home game of November against Gold Pan Rival, Colorado College. The puck drop was set for 7:36 p.m. for part one of the home-and-home series against the Tigers. 

The Pios were the first to tally the scoreboard six minutes into the match, after Evan Janssen netted his first of the year following a deflected shot taken by assistant captain, Gabe Levin. The Tigers responded just minutes later from a slapshot taken by center, Luc Gerdes, from the right circle who, also, netted his first of the season. Denver dominated the remainder of the 1st period outshooting CC 13-4. Evan Cowley played in goal for the Pios and came up with three saves while Tiger goaltender, Tyler Marble, made 12 stops within the first twenty minutes.

Early into the 2nd period CC tested the Denver goal when Cody Bradley fired a wicked wrist shot straight into the glove of Cowley. Denver’s momentum carried over from the 1st period when Boston Bruins prospect, Danton Heinen, drilled a wrist shot into the back of CC’s net six minutes into the 2nd. The Tigers got chippy after the Pios took the lead. CC’s Alex Roos received a major penalty for checking from behind and game misconduct against Denver’s Matt VanVoorhis who was facedown after the play and required medical attention. VanVoorhis was able to make his way back to the bench, but didn’t return for the remainder of the match. Roos’ penalty gave the Pios a lengthy five-minute power play advantage. 

With just under three minutes remaining in the second period, Denver’s Tariq Hammond was whistled for elbowing, but the Pios were still able to light the lamp. The shorthand goal was scored by defenseman, Will Butcher, who came into the match tied for leading scorer with six points; two goals and four assists. In a post-game interview, head coach, Jim Montgomery commented on Butcher’s performances this season, saying, “Will has been incredible, I think during this last little stretch, his game has gone to what I’ve always expected his level of play to be.”  

Following Butcher’s contribution to the scoreboard, Trevor Moore tallied his first of the year with 19 seconds on the clock, advancing Denver’s lead over the Tigers 4-1 concluding the 2nd period. Denver outshot CC 16-9 during the 2nd. 

During the 3rd period CC began to rally and cut the Pios lead. The Tigers No. 1 star of the night, Luc Gerdes, scored his second off a rebound in the slot, four minutes into the 3rd period. Two minutes later, DU’s Quentin Shore was sent to the penalty box for goaltender interference, just as Shore stepped back onto the ice, CC freshman, Trey Bradley, shot the puck top-shelf to cut the deficit for the Tigers down to one goal with 12 minutes left in regulation. 

Denver’s uncomfortable 4-3 lead over CC made for a nerve-wrecking final stretch of the match. The Pios were able to hold the Tigers off from any advancements and with one minute remaining, CC pulled Mable. Down to the last 4.1 seconds on the clock, Matt Marcinew capitalized on the empty net securing the 5-3 win for Denver over CC. 

In a post-game interview following the match Denver head coach, Jim Montgomery said, “I thought offensively, we played really well until the third. The third we tried to get to acute and we turned too many pucks over and they started coming back at us.” Montgomery felt DU did a good job on penalty kills throughout the game, however, he noted the Tigers did a better job on  power plays, creating more momentum than Denver. 

Discussing part-two of the series taking place on the Olympic-size sheet in Colorado Springs tomorrow night, Montgomery said, “First game every time we go down to CC we’re not very good and it’s because of that ice surface. We get too far from our net, our angles are different and our angling is a big part of our game and we don’t do a great job of it down there.” 

Tomorrow night’s match should be interesting considering Montgomery’s concerns, as well as, the absence of Denver defenseman, Matt VanVoorhis. VanVhoorhis is being treated with a grade-one concussion after being taken out by Roos during the 2nd period. Montgomery says, “Matty is a tough young-man, so if he’s laying on the ice you know something is wrong.” 

Denver will have to adjust their intensity and attitude heading into tomorrow’s match to claim this year’s Gold Pan victory. Puck drop is scheduled tomorrow, Nov. 7th at 7:07 p.m. in the Broadmoor World Arena. The match will be available to listen on 1600 AM The Zone and Pioneer Vision.