OU Sooner Website | UCO Bronchos Website | Live Video vs. UCO

OKLAHOMA CITY, Okla. - The #2 ranked Panthers hit the road once again to take on tough competition this weekend as they travel to Oklahoma for three games against the #3 Sooners and #17 Bronchos.  DU is currently 10-2 on the year after a sweep in their GLCHL opener against UM-Dearborn.

DU travels on the last leg of their grueling five weekends of 10+ hour road trips to the longest one of them all. They will travel down to Oklahoma City, OK for a three game weekend against the #3 ranked Oklahoma Sooners and the #17 ranked Central Oklahoma Bronchos.

OU Sooners

Oklahoma is a very solid team with good players at every position. At forward, the Sooners are led by Brad McCabe who just last season put up 60 points overall and had 10 power play goals. He has only played in seven games so far this season, but has three power play goals already this season. Another Sooner who is playing well lately is Justin King. The senior is from Dewitt, Michigan and played for the Alpena Ice Diggers in the NAHL. He has eight goals and one assist this season. Leading the Sooners in scoring this season is junior forward Jesse Bryant. Jesse has 18 points in just 11 games for the Sooners. The Panthers defense will have to make sure that they are able to take care of the defensive zone as Oklahoma features a very potent offense.

Oklahoma is led on defense by Sophomore Augie Hoffman. Hoffman was one of the 22 selected players for the upcoming World University games and was by far the most impressive defenseman on the ice. The defense for the Sooners have good size, skill and are very physical. This d-core will be a great test for the Panther forwards

Oklahoma has very solid special teams as well. They already have 22 power-play goals this season. The Panthers will have to tune up their penalty kill, as it has gone from a strength over the beginning of the year to a weakness.

Keys to the Oklahoma series:

• Stay out of the penalty box
• Get back to the PK form that were used to beat Ohio and Lindenwood
• Make sure that we have the right match ups on the ice
• Be ready to play after an 18 hour road trip
• Play aggressive and with swagger

UCO Bronchos

Do not let the ranking and record fool you on Central Oklahoma.  Their losses have come from Oklahoma, Lindenwood, Iowa State and Penn State.  Last season the Bronchos made a strong run at nationals, having it come to an end in the frozen four.

The Bronchos are led up front by senior forward Jonathon Cannizzo.  So far this season Cannizzo has five goals and 10 assists.  Last season he netted 23 goals for the year.  Most of the Bronchos are stuck on three goals so far this season, and the Panthers goalies and D are looking to keep them at that total after this weekend.

The Bronchos strength are their goalies and their defenseman.  They rode their hot goalies and stifling defense all the way to the frozen four losing in that game to eventual champions Lindenwood University.

This weekend will end the Panthers out of state travel for the semester.  The rest of the games will be either in Grand Rapids or against GLCHL opponents.

Keys to the UCO series:

• Get on the board early against UCO
• Use our speed to the outside on their defense
• Shoot the puck and have the rest of the guys crash the net
• Pick up men on the back check
• Play 5 on 5 or 5 on 4