Sweaty hockey equipment, son. Nothing in the world smells like it.
And for those who love its unmistakable musk in the morning, the University of Denver’s Magness Arena was the place to be for an eye-opening fix.
Of course, with the puck dropping at 6:45 a.m., some eyes were open a little faster than others.
The Aspen Skiers rolled out of their beds at the Sheraton in the predawn darkness much as they would at home before practice. The Bishop Machebeuf Buffaloes, on the other hand, are usually counting sheep during the wee small hours of Saturday.
The Skiers scored two goals inside the first three minutes to set the tone for a 5-3 Foothills League victory before a small, coffee-clutching crowd.
Ryder Frywald and Matt Butler scored a goal and added two assists apiece, and Nicky Anastas and Matt Cooper each tallied a goal and an assist for the quick-skating Skiers (5-3, 1-1 in league), who bounced back from Friday’s loss to Standley Lake.
“It’s tiring, obviously,” Frywald said of Aspen’s weekend schedule, “but everyone wanted to win.”
The Skiers had their legs from the get-go and overmatched the Buffaloes with their counterattack and forechecking. Aspen goalie Kody Hornburg faced just 19 shots and surrendered three even- strength goals.
“We just came out like it was another game and do what we can do and move it around a little bit,” Butler said.
Of course, playing on the same sheet of ice as the Pioneers guaranteed it wouldn’t be just another game for either side.
“It just kind of shows you what college hockey might be like,” Frywald said. “It’s really fun. Amazing experience.”
The Buffaloes (6-5, 1-2) were outshot 36-19 but had plenty of chances to climb back into the game with three power-play opportunities early in the third period and a 5-on-3 advantage for more than a minute. The Buffaloes managed just six shots in the third period and five penalties in the final five minutes.
“We had them on the run in the third period,” Bishop Machebeuf’s Mark Owen said.
Owen scored a breakaway goal midway through the first period to cut Aspen’s lead to 2-1. Skiers defenseman Charlie Olson couldn’t hold the puck in the zone and Owen streaked past and was on his way.
Aspen 2 3 0 – 5
Bishop Machebeuf 1 1 1 – 3
First period – A: Moore (Anastas, Butler) 13:49; Cooper (Frywald) 12:35; BM: Owen (Lemming) 7:30. Penalties – Conarroe, A, (holding) 12:21; Lemming, BM, (tripping) 10:23.
Second period – A: Butler (Frywald) 14:07; Frywald (Conarroe, Cooper) 10:44; Anastas (Butler) 8:09 pp; BM: Jacobson (Lloyd, Fomley) 3:49. Penalties – Lloyd, BM, (interference) 12:47; Heinz, BM, (interference) 9:03; Frias, A, (interference) 2:51; Frywald, A, (interference) :32.
Third period – BM: Mackman (Aarvig) :11. Penalties – Jacobson, BM, (boarding) 13:38; Cooper, A, (high-sticking) 11:32; Boenning, A, (hooking) 7:23; Owen, A, (misconduct) 4:44; Butler, A, (roughing) 4:44; Underwood, BM, (roughing) 4:44; Conarroe, A, (tripping) 3:05; Underwood, BM, (slashing) 1:50; Jacobson, BM, (holding) 1:27; Anastas, A, (tripping) 1:01; Owen, BM, (tripping) :53; Owen, BM, (tripping) :53; Page, BM, (high sticking) :45.
Saves – Aspen (Hornburg) 3-8-5 – 16; Bishop Machebeuf (Lemming, Davis) 13-7-11 – 31. Power-play opportunities – Aspen 1-for-4; Bishop Machebeuf 0-for-7.
