It took Matt Donovan 14 seconds to make a difference on the University of Denver’s first power play.
Donovan, one of three highly recruited freshman defensemen for the No. 2-ranked Pioneers, entered Sunday night’s exhibition game against the University of Calgary as one of the country’s top puck-moving newcomers from the back end.
He proved it early.
Donovan and Rhett Rakh- shani produced a nice passing sequence that led to a Tyler Ruegsegger goal and a 1-0 lead. The Pioneers built a 3-0 lead with two more power-play goals and held on to win 3-2 at Magness Arena.
Donovan, from Edmond, Okla., joined Denver after a sensational two-year junior-A career with the Cedar Rapids RoughRiders of the United States Hockey League.
He’s coming off a busy summer. In addition to participating in the New York Islanders’ prospect camp — he was their fourth-round draft pick in 2008 — he survived the preliminary cut for Team USA’s World Junior roster.
“I think my role here is the same since I’ve been playing hockey, and that’s to play solid defensively and contribute offensively as much as I can,” Donovan said.
The Pioneers produced 40 of the game’s 54 shots, including goals by Kyle Ostrow and Joe Colborne. Rakhshani, the captain, had three assists.
“It was a good game, and I was glad they didn’t give up,” DU coach George Gwozdecky said. “They made it tough on us and tested us in the third. Good warm-up.”
DU opens the regular season Friday against visiting Vermont.
Mike Chambers: 303-954-1357 or mchambers@denverpost.com
