Feb. 4, 2008
To watch Fox 17's Highlights of the game, click here
Rochester, Mich. - As the calendar turned to the month of February on Friday night, the Davenport University Panthers traveled down to the Onyx in Rochester, MI which is the home site of Oakland University (ACHA DI National Champion 06-07, ACHA DII National Championship 03-04 and 05-06) for a tough home and home series for the two bitter rivals.
The opening game was fast paced with minimal whistles and Davenport opened the scoring in the second period with a shorthanded goal from Adam Thomas assisted by Chad Anguilm. Oakland evened the score on a power play goal, but Brett Hagen put Davenport back in the lead with his customary cannon for a shot. Brit Ouellette extended the Panther's lead, scoring off his own rebound, but you can never sit on a lead against Oakland University. They are known for third period out-breaks and the host Grizzlies battled back with two third period goals to tie the game at three. DU responded well as their scoring leader Bobby Collar scored the game winner to give the Panthers the 4-3 win and a 2-1 lead in the series for this season.
Oakland and their missing "Good Luck Duck" traveled to Grand Rapids to try to tie the series and gain a much needed victory for their upcoming rankings. This game was more physical than the previous night as the Panthers opened the scoring with a goal from Jeff Kraemer assisted from Brit Ouelette in the first period. Great goal-tending left the second period scoreless although the Panthers had many opportunities but could not capitalize. Both teams made up for it in the third. Oakland's Berett Haugh tied the game eight minutes into the third period, but the Panthers bounced right back scoring two goals in a two minute span from Jonah Rogowski and Adam Thomas to take a two-goal lead. Oakland University battled back again with two late goals within a 15 second span from Brent Cooper and Kevin Kranker to tie the game and send it into overtime. Both teams had a couple of opportunities in overtime but could not score. Even though in ACHA DII there are no shoot outs, Oakland and Davenport have an unwritten agreement that they will play by ACHA DI rules as a shootout would determine the winner. Both teams selected five players for the shoot-out and goaltenders Colin Chase and Chris Joswiak were up for the challenge. Both were fantastic and stopped the each of the five5 shooters.
It now came down to a single elimination shootout and after both goalies stopped their sixth consecutive shots, Oakland's Brent Cooper scored in the seventh round. Adam Thomas rang one off the upper post and it stayed out of the net as Oakland escaped with the 4-3 win in the shootout. Oakland skated off with their ceremonial duck and Davenport's new ceremonial owl to tie the series at 2-2 games apiece.
As long as Davenport stays in the top two spots in the central ranking, they will travel back down to Rochester, MI for the final game of the five game series between the two powerhouses. The winner will keep the Duck and Owl until they meet again next fall.
Davenport travels to ACHA DI Adrian College next Thursday night and will be back home Friday, February 8th and 9th for their last two home games of the season. Friday they face off for the second game of the home and home series with Adrian College at 8PM and Saturday afternoon at 3PM they face-off against Denver.
This will be your last chance to see your Davenport University Panthers at home this year, so come on out and support your men's hockey team.
