Box Score Site: Grand Rapids, Mich. (Patterson Ice Center)
Score: Davenport 6, Liberty 4
Records: DU (8-5-0-2), LU (14-5-0-4)
Next DU event: Friday, Nov. 20 – at Western Michigan – 7 p.m.
 
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – The Davenport D1 hockey start another busy week this week with a game against Liberty in the third and final game of the Blue-Gray Cup. The Panthers used a balanced offensive attack as they had five different goal scorers to win the game 6-4. Davenport is now 8-5-0-2 and will continue their three game weekend on Friday night against Western Michigan in Kalamazoo, Mich., at Lawson Ice Arena at 7 p.m.
 
Davenport came out strong in the first period as Kody Polin got the scoring started for the Panthers in the first period scoring just 2:11 into the game. DU kept the offensive pressure on Liberty as Jordan Simmonds gave the Panthers a two-goal lead with 9:01 left in the first period. Chris Eckler closed out the scoring in the first period to give Davenport a 3-0 after the first period.
 
Liberty looked to make a comeback early in the second period and the Flames were able to score their first goal of the game on the power play. Liberty continued to pull themselves back into the game with a second period power play goal to cut the Davenport lead to one. The Flames power play continued to roll as they tied the game at three with 8:08 left in the second period. Travis White regained the lead for the Panthers with 1:26 left in the second period to give the Panthers a 4-3 lead heading into the third period.
 
The Flames power play continued to stay as they tied the game with 15:30 left in the third period for their fourth power play goal in the game. Luke McCarthy beat the Liberty net minder high to the glove to give the Panthers a 5-4 lead with 10:12 left in the game. McCarthy than sealed the win for Davenport with an empty goal as DU won the Blue-Gray Cup with a 6-4 win over Liberty.
 
After the game head coach Phil Sweeney talked about his teams performance and how it feels to have regained the Blue-Gray Cup, "The guys played passionate tonight, and we talked about this game not being a regular because any time you have a trophy on the line it means more. Going out and winning the trophy was something we talked about all year. You always want to win the trophies, especially after you lose them, and in the early going it may not mean as much, but once you lose it you really want it back.
 
Davenport will now head to Kalamazoo, Mich. to face Western Michigan at 7 p.m. at Lawson Ice Arena for the Panthers second game of the three game weekend.
 
Post-Game Notes
 
Matt Kaludis made 26 saves in the game for Davenport to grab his fifth of the season and move to 5-5-0 on the season. With a goal and an assist in the game Kody Polin moves his point streak to eight games dating back October 31 against Oakland. After scoring six goals in the first four games of the season Luke McCarthy scores his first goal ten games.
 
DI Ice Hockey Contact: David Gerhart | 616-554-5045 | dgerhart@davenport.edu
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