Re: DU @ UVM : The Pios explore Catamount Country
Hey there everyone. I'm back after many months in other realms. Wow was it great to be at the Gut tonight to see the season get up and running. Sat in section 15 with PS and DG and a few other DU fans including some of Bennet's family. The Gut is a classic 1950's barn. The goal judge sits in a chair with no cage and the goal light is throwback/original (I think the chair is too)
Student section is really strong and the band had a great drummer.
Jesse Martin shows no emotion in that interview. It's funny.
So here are some noticings from game one. It was a great hockey game. Tomorrow night UVM is going to be hungry because DU stole that one. Tonight's game was as you expect full of a lot of errors on both sides. Both teams were very tired in the third (again as you would expect). UVM out shot DU 30-20 and outplayed them in the first and for some of the second. UVM did an excellent job cycling the puck in the first. Murray played OK-biggest criticism was the amount of in front rebounds. D did a good job covering his *** on those. It was a very physical game--the refs let them play (and called a good game--not like the WCHA refs, right DG?
) UVM only had two penalties (I think) and were more disciplined. UVM historically under Sneddon has had a weak PP.
Two big turning points were Donovan's shortie on a beautiful patient pass from Anthony. Second one was the long 5-3 kill. Donovan was amazing on that. Jessie put the knife in with the fourth goal right after the kill.
The D was slow and lazy at points throughout the game. They were a half a step behind and getting beat to the puck. This reminds me of both last Sunday and last year and I really hate to see it. Our D has to step up. Ryder got beat twice and took undisciplined penalties. Jackson didn't make the trip which is a factor. I know Gwoz will move the pairings around and once he has them well matched it will help. DG was joking between the second and third that Matt D is our best offensive player. He really stepped up tonight--his puck handling is really fun to watch.
Chris Nutini was off the ice at the end of the first with one skate off and limping--he came back in the second.
UVM is/will be a better team this year. Madore is excellent--looks like he'll be one of the top keepers. The goals especially the two in the third were not his fault. DU scored really quick on UVM errors--this team can do that bing, bing. UVM is faster than they were last year and they are big!
It's going to be really interesting to see DU play BC next weekend. Because they are at the highest level of talent, speed and transition. Someone said they think it's wrong to play Sam tomorrow night, I disagree. I like how George goes tandem right from the start. Put him in there in the rough atmosphere and let him cut his teeth. The truth is, the real factor is the D play. That's why he lost Sunday--the D didn't even show up compared to Saturday.
Great to have the season under way and to see it start on the road. My brother lives outside of Burlington so he came out to Denver last year and I returned the favor this weekend. These two programs won't play in the regular season (unless it's a holiday tourny) for twenty years or so.
