Minus much emotion from its bench or in the building, the University of Denver’s first-ever league meeting against Bemidji State was a difficult game to play — and watch.
Weekend final exams kept most students away from Magness Arena, and the Pioneers, at times, seemed to be focused on other things as well Friday.
“It takes a lot out of you mentally. It’s a tough school, and it’s a tough time,” DU defenseman Matt Donovan said.
The Pioneers, however, still found a way to indoctrinate the Beavers to what is considered the NCAA’s most difficult hockey league. DU scored the game’s final three goals to win the opener of the Western Collegiate Hockey Association series 3-1 before a relatively sparse crowd of 4,304.
Denver (7-4-2, 6-2-1 WCHA) committed just two penalties and limited Bemidji State (2-6-1, 2-6-1) to just 15 shots. Donovan scored and assisted on DU’s first two goals, and winger Luke Salazar scored an empty-netter in the final minute.
Freshman goalie Sam Brittain was excellent when he had to be. The 18-year-old made two saves on breakaways, including a first-period bid by Beavers captain and leading scorer Matt Read. Bemidji State was leading 1-0 at the time.
“I thought our goaltender was outstanding,” DU coach George Gwozdecky said.
The game-winning goal went to freshman wing Jason Zucker, who broke a 1-1 tie at 17:05 of the second period by redirecting Donovan’s blast from the point.
DU was 0-of-5 on the power play and produced only three shots with the advantage.
“You could certainly see the effects of a long week of school and exams,” Gwozdecky said. “This is the most challenging week of perhaps the entire hockey season. You have guys studying late at night and taking exams all day (Friday). . . . Certainly you could tell by our execution offensively. We just weren’t very good.”
The teams traded first-period goals. The Beavers got the first one at 7:54, when defenseman Sam Rendle banged in a rebound off the left post. Jamie MacQueen’s shot caromed off the iron and atop the left circle and Rendle’s slap shot zipped past Brittain.
Donovan evened it at 16:26, burying a wrist shot from between the circles after DU confused the defense with consecutive drop passes from Anthony Maiani and David Makowski.
Maiani dropped it to Makowski and the freshman left it for Donovan.
Donovan was the game’s first star despite his poor play in the first period.
“Great players have the ability to rise to the occasion even though they haven’t played very well, and make some big plays. I thought Matt did that,” Gwozdecky said.
Mike Chambers: 303-954-1357 or mchambers@denverpost.com
DU Recap
The Post’s three stars
1. Matt Donovan.
Skilled sophomore defenseman had a goal and an assist.
2. Sam Brittain.
DU goalie only faced 15 shots, but made two of his saves on breakaways.
3. Jason Zucker.
Freshman wing made up for a sluggish outing with the game-winning goal.
What you might have missed
DU junior wing Dustin Jackson returned to the lineup for the first time since March 27, 2009. He missed all of last season with a broken leg and the first 12 games this year with mononucleosis.
Up next
Bemidji State, tonight, 7 p.m.
