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Site: Grand Rapids, Mich. (Eagles Ice Center)
Score: Davenport 5, Hope 1
Records: DU (28-6-0-0), HC (20-4-2-1)
Next DU event: Saturday, March 1 – MCHC Championship Game – 4:30 p.m.
 
GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – The Davenport D3 hockey team was back in action on Friday night as they faced rival Hope in the MCHC Semifinals. Bryon Guerin scored two goals for the Panthers to lead them to a 5-1 victory over local rival Hope College. The D3 hockey team is now 28-6-0-0 on the season and will face the winner of the Oakland and Adrian-Gold semifinal in the MCHC Championship Game on Saturday at 4:30 p.m. at Eagles Ice Center in Grand Rapids. 
 
After being off for close to two weeks the Panthers looked to set the tone of the game early and Bryon Guerin set the tone with a goal less than two minutes into the game to give DU the early 1-0 lead. Guerin came right back and scored his second goal of the game to give DU a 2-0 lead.
 
After the Panthers took a penalty, the Dutchmen cashed in on the power play to cut the DU lead in half in the second half of the first period. Davenport came right back with a power play of their own and capitalized to bring the lead back to two goals. After the first period, the Panthers took a 3-1 lead heading into the first intermission.
 
In the second period, the Panthers scored another early goal as Zach Feher put the Panthers up 4-1. Davenport continued to dictate the tone of the game, but the Panthers could not score to increase their lead. Hope had a chance on the power play, but John Cruse and the Davenport penalty kill stood tall to keep the Dutchmen at ease and take the three-goal into the locker room.
 
The Panthers and Dutchmen battled in the third period, and DU tried to continue to pull away while the Dutchmen looked to make a comeback in third. Neither team could find the back of the net until the one minute remaining game when Branden Burton scored on the back hand in the slot as DU won the 5-1 to advance in the MCHC tournament.  
 
The Panthers will face the winner of the Oakland and Adrian-Gold in the MCHC Championship at Eagles Ice Center on Saturday at 4:30 p.m.
 
 
D3 Ice Hockey Contact: Ryan Clarkson | 616-745-9420 | rclarkson1@davenport.edu
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