GRAND RAPIDS, Mich. – It was set to be the toughest weekend of the season for the D1 hockey program, going up against the second-best team in the nation, the Wolverines from Michigan-Dearborn. It was set to be a fast-paced, high-intensity weekend between the two storied programs.
 
Friday, December 15
Final Score: Davenport 3 – Michigan-Dearborn 2
Records: #9 DU (18-3-1), #2 UM-D (11-2-1)
Location: Patterson Ice Center (Grand Rapids, Mich.)
 
DON'T BLINK
The start to the opening game was as advertised. Both teams were flying at full speed, neither of which could find room to make any play offensively, thanks to the respective clubs' tough defense. However, just passed the halfway mark of the first period, Davenport would go on a power play after the Wolverines' leading scorer, Billy Brock, went off for cross-checking. Davenport would have an offensive zone face-off just a minute later. Luke Cowan won the draw back to Tyler Layle, and fired a wrister towards the net where Luke Formica had built a screen in front of UM-Dearborn's Thomas Proudlock. The puck bounced off Formica and into the net for his first goal of the season, and Davenport gained the 1-0 lead.
 
A BOUNCE BACK
Just minutes after the DU goal, UM-Dearborn would receive a power play of their own after Alex Hulford was sent off for a questionable hooking call. The Wolverines' dominating power play went to work, and the Panthers had to endure a plethora of UM-Dearborn chances. Every Panther was blocking shots, and netminder Jason Rhynold made a couple of huge stops to hold the Wolverines at bay. However, towards the end of the man-advantage, Davenport failed to clear the puck, and Justin Dunn walked the puck right into the slot. He was met by a couple of Panthers, and the puck bounced, what seemed, out of harms way. However, the puck landed right on the stick of Tyler Groat who buried his 12^th of the season. The two teams would head into the dressing room tied at one after 20 minutes.
 
KEEPING IT SIMPLE
You will always hear coaches and players preach about doing the little things, such as getting pucks deep in the zone and getting pucks to the net, and good things will happen. Well, the Panthers did just that early in period number two. Formica held the puck in at the point, and just fired a shot towards Proudlock, it was tipped on net by Hulford, and Keegan Miller took a swing at the rebound. Finally, Austin Thompson jumped on the puck in front, made a nice move to go around Proudlock on his backhand, and put it into the empty cage to give Davenport the lead once again.
 
The remainder of the second was filled with more action going up-and-down the ice, much to the pleasure of the fans in attendance on Friday night. Despite the multiple opportunities for both teams, Rhynold and Proudlock shut the door for the remainder of the period, and DU took a one goal lead heading into the third period.
 
GETTING THE JOB DONE
The third period was some of the best seen all season at Patterson Ice Center. Chances being traded at both ends, free-flowing hockey. Michigan-Dearborn looked to cash just passed the halfway mark of the period, as they had a 3-on-1 heading into the DU end. However, Mike Gessler made a great play, blocking the pass and sending the puck the other way. Miller threw a pass across to Thompson who fired a changeup on net that fooled Proudlock, and Davenport took the lead once again.
 
The final few minutes were spent in the Panther end. The Wolverines came so close multiple times, but huge blocks from the DU defense, and Rhynold making huge saves on his own part, held UM-Dearborn at bay. The Wolverines failed to find the tying goal, and the Panthers held on for the 3-2 win.
 
Rhynold picked up his 12^th win of the season with a 19-save performance.
 
Saturday, December 15
Final Score: Davenport 2 – Michigan-Dearborn 4
Records: #9 DU (18-4-1), #2 UM-D (12-2-1)
Location: Patterson Ice Center (Grand Rapids, Mich.)
 
EVEN PLAY AGAIN
The first period seemed to start just like the game on Friday, however a penalty taken by Miller just a couple minutes in allowed the Wolverines' dangerous power play to set up. Groat fired a shot from the side boards, and Rhynold made the initial save. However, while the rebound was in the air, Dunn knocked it out of the air and into the back of the net to give the Wolverines the early lead. Following the goal, Davenport really started to pick up the chances. After a good forecheck from Chalmers McKeen, the puck was moved up to Tyler Ploeg. The DU defenseman walked the line, took a shot towards the goal, and it was deflected into the net by Thompson for his 23^rd of the season to tie the game at one.
 
The Panthers were looking good early in the second. Alyx Fonseca fired a shot on that Proudlock seemed to have made the stop, however the puck rolled over his shoulder, and rolled across the line, and DU was out in front, 2-1.
 
MISSED OPPORTUNITY
Later in the middle frame, Davenport would earn a 5-on-3 power play. Despite the obvious advantage, the usually successful power play unit failed to capitalize with the opportunity. Just at the end of the power play, UM-Dearborn took another penalty, giving the Panthers another chance with the man-advantage. Once again, DU could not convert, and eventually would go 0-for-5 on the power play on Saturday.
 
BUZZER-BEATER
With just seconds left in the period, Andrew Spiegel rushed the puck into the DU zone, he wrapped around the net, threw a pass in front to Dunn, who was left all alone in front of the net, and he one-timed the shot into the net with almost no time left in the clock. DU and UM-Dearborn would head into the final 20 minutes deadlocked at two.
 
FALLING OFF THE ROCK
The third period saw the Wolverines show why they are the #2 team in the country. They controlled the play for majority of the period, only allowing Davenport three shots on goal. Groat was able to break the tie just before the five-minute mark. After Formica turned the puck over in his own zone, Groat pounced on the loose puck, walked in and picked the top corner with a beautiful backhander. Despite being down a goal, and trying to find the equalizer, the Panthers could not mount any form of offensive pressure. Dunn would complete his hat-trick with his 11^th goal of the season just a few minutes later, and that would take the cake for the Wolverines, as they would avoid the sweep with the 4-2 win.
 
WHO'S NEXT?
Davenport will take four weeks off for the holiday break, before taking on Calvin College in their second home-and-home of the season. The Knights are now 3-7-3 this season, and will not have played a game for over a month when they meet the Panthers in January. DU took the first two meetings by scores of 5-2 and 5-0 back in November. The first game back from break will be on Thursday, January 17, at Eagles Ice Center at 8:00 p.m. Game two will be back at Patterson the following Saturday for a 3:35 p.m. puck drop.
 
Head Coach Phil Sweeney has been very pleased with his team's play through the first semester this season. "We're a top-10 team, and just split with a really good team. We have a lot of momentum heading into the second half, and we're right there, just have to be good in the second semester."
 
Story by: Tyler Kuehl
 
Picture credit: Alexis Hoffman