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Site: Grand Rapids, Mich (Patterson Ice Center)
Score: Davenport 6, Central Michigan 1
Records: DU (2-0), CMU (0-2)
Next DU event: Friday, October 4 vs. Kennesaw State in Huntsville, Ala.
 
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – Davenport walked away with a 6-1 win, it's second of the season over Central Michigan, in game two of their season opening series. Both teams used aggressive play to their advantage but the Panthers offense came prepared to score.  Five-year veteran John Cruse played his first game in net of the season for DU and didn't disappoint with 14 saves.

The Panthers and the Chippewa's started their first period of game two of the series with aggressive well-played hockey. DU saw some great opportunities but couldn't put one on the scoreboard until Bryon Guerin flicked a pass to Daniel Swink for a center shot which nailed the back of the net. The puck spent most of its time on the home team's sticks and more and more chances seemed to be created by Davenport's offense. Guerin managed to get a goal of his own with less than five minutes to go giving his team a 2-0 lead. Jake Otto received a mid-ice pass, giving him a breakaway opportunity and he took advantage, deking CMUs goalie out and putting the Panther's up by three for the second periods start.

The opening minute of play in the second period saw some strong potential chances for CMU's offense, but DU's goalie John Cruse put all of those to rest. Tensions were rising and the hits were getting bigger as time went on throughout the second. With just under seven minutes gone, Dugan Kelley gave the Panther's a commanding 4-0 lead by taking the puck all the way down the ice and sniping a clean wrist shot to the back of the net. The offensive chances for the home team didn't stop; Davenport managed to squeeze one more by Centrals goalie. CMU managed to respond with a goal after an intense battle in front of the net. 5-1 was the score after two.

The intensity of the first and second periods was carried on by both teams into the third. Both sides saw some good shots. Davenport's Dugan Kelley struck gold for his second time tonight with just under 13 minutes to go, flicking a wrist shot to the top of the net. DU and CMU showed their ability to hit and neither team could find the back of the net as the game began to wind down. Both teams offense and defense were pushing until the final whistle but neither would budge.

After a pair of season opening wins against Central Michigan, D3 packs their bags and takes their impressive confidence down south for the Civil War- ACHA Showcase next weekend. The boys will play Kennesaw State and the Universities of Mississippi and Alabama in a three-day tournament starting October 4^th at 9:30 p.m. in Huntsville, Ala.
 
D3 Ice Hockey Contact: Ryan Clarkson | 616-554-5045 | rclarkson1@davenport.edu
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