Written by Tyler Kuehl
 
BYRON CENTER, Mich. – After over 300 days, the Men's D1 Hockey team finally took back to the ice. They met with crosstown foe Aquinas, as a rivalry slowly began to grow after their four meetings last season.
 
The Panthers came out flying, and their offense, led by returners and rookies alike, led them to start the season on the right foot with a victory.
 
QUICK STATS
 
Final Score: Davenport 8 – Aquinas 2
Shots: DU 40 | AQ 39
Power Play: DU (2/5) | AQ (0/5)
Records: DU (1-0) | AQ (0-3)
 
NOTABLE PERFORMANCES
 
Alexander Rogers was solid in net for DU, earning the win with a 37-save performance. Freshmen Jonathan Dubbink and Zachary Currie each scored their first goals as Panthers, with Dubbink finding the back of the net twice. Captain Nathan Nickelson led the attack with a goal and three assists, while Currie, Jason Cohan and Luke Cowan each chimed in with a goal and assist.
 
FAST START
 
It did not take long for the Panthers to get on the board, as Marc Anderson poked one in just seven seconds into the contest. DU did not have time to get comfortable though, as just 47 seconds later, Mike Curran scored for the Saints to tie the game at one.
 
NEW FACES TAKING CHARGE
 
Davenport was given a great opportunity, as they had a 5-on-3 late in the first. Josh Albring won a faceoff in the Aquinas zone, and Dubbink picked up the puck and fired a back-hander that beat the Saints' Nick Ottenbacher to give the Panthers their second lead of the game. The power play continued, and 48 seconds later, Cohan fired a shot from the point that made its way through traffic to put the Panthers up by two heading into the first intermission.
 
FINISHING THE DEAL
 
Davenport came out flying again in the second period, which led to a pretty play by Currie to set up Nickelson to give the Panthers a 4-1 lead.
 
In the final 20 minutes, the Panthers exploded for four goals, as Ryan Wonfor one-timed a Nickelson pass to score his first goal at DU. That was followed by Dubbink's second of the night just 23 seconds later.
 
Aquinas's John Hoon scored his first goal of his collegiate career. However, goals from Cowan and Currie put the game well out of reach, and DU started of the season with an impressive 8-2 win.

COACH'S CORNER
 
Coach Phil Sweeney loved the offensive pressure his team show on Saturday night.
 
"I was impressed with team as a whole," Sweeney stated after the game. "We used our speed as a group to create offense, and the forecheck was relentless."
 
WHO'S NEXT?
 
The Panthers will come home to Patterson for the first time this season, as they take on Great Lake Collegiate Hockey League rival Calvin University. The Panthers won both regular season contests, before Calvin upset DU in the GLCHL Semifinals.
 
Puck drop is set for 3:35 p.m. on Friday, Feb. 12.