University of Connecticut Athletics
Huskies Top Ryerson, 6-1, In Exhibition Play
10/7/2005 12:00:00 AM | Men's Ice Hockey
STORRS, Conn. (October 7, 2005) - The University of Connecticut men's hockey team dominated the Rams of Ryerson in every category in its season-opening 6-1 exhibition victory at the Mark Edward Freitas Ice Forum on Friday night. Six different Huskies scored the six goals on the night, three of which came in the first period alone.
The Huskies jumped out to an early lead with a goal by junior co-captain Matt Scherer (Seattle, Wash.) just 4:21 into the first period. The Huskies were on a power-play when Scherer took the shot from the right wing and found the back of the net with assists from junior Cole Koidahl (Minneapolis, Minn.) and freshman B.J. Bayers (St. Louis Park, Minn.).
The pucks continued to rain on Ryerson's goalie, Joel Shriver, as the Huskies took 17 shots in the first period. Two more shots would find their way between the pipes before the first intermission. Sophomore John Stockler (Princeton, Minn.) scored the Huskies' second goal during another power-play opportunity. Stockler received assists from senior Aaron Kakepetum (Balmertown, Ont.) and freshman Chris Myhro (Eden Prairie, Minn.).
Connecticut would capitalize on one more power-play opportunity in the first stanza with a goal by freshman Eric Dahlberg (Duluth, Minn.) off of assists by Stockler and Kakepetum. The Huskies would head to the locker room with a 3-0 lead.
In the second period, the Huskies came out even stronger than the first, taking 22 shots against Ryerson's defense, but it was the Rams that would score first in the stanza. Just 30 seconds in, Ryerson's Stewart D'eall would slide the puck by UConn goalie, Scott Tomes (Windham, N.H.). Tomes was the Huskies' second goalie of the evening. Sophomore Brad Smith guarded the goal in the first, recording six saves. Tomes faced eight shots on goal in the second, making seven saves.
The Huskies scored for the fourth time just over a minute into the second half with a goal by freshman Peter Shelzi (Belmont, Mass.). Shelzi took passes from Koidahl and junior Matt Scherer (Seattle, Wash.) to bring the Huskies' lead to 4-1.
UConn went on to score two more goals in the third period. Scoring for the Huskies at the 9:04 mark of the period was junior Brian Burns (Binghamton, N.Y.) with assists from Koidahl and Scherer. Koidahl would score the last goal of the evening at the 18:43 mark with help from Bayers and Scherer.
The Huskies managed to capitalize on three of seven power-play opportunities as opposed to none in nine opportunities for the Rams. The game was a rough one with a total of 24 penalties recorded.
Connecticut will take to the road for its regular season opener on Oct. 15 against Union at 7:00. The team will not return home until Nov. 4 when it hosts Holy Cross at the Freitas Forum at 7:05 p.m.
