DENVER, CO (11/28/08) –   Tyler Ruegsegger scored two first period goals and Anthony Maiani tallied three assists as ninth-ranked Denver downed Colgate 6-1 in a non conference men's hockey match up, Friday evening at Magness Arena.

 

The Pioneers, who improved to 8-5-1 overall, capitalized on two power play goals in the first period en route to heading into intermission with a 4-1 lead. 

 

DU took the lead at 17:39 as Ruegsegger fired a wrist shot by starting goalie Charles Long (Cleveland Heights, Ohio).  The junior was assisted by Tyler Bozak and Maiani.

 

The Raiders knotted the score at 1-1 at 15:13 as David McIntyre (Pefferlaw, Ont.) took a pass from behind the net Tom Riley (Ottawa, Ont.) found and beat Marc Cheverie just to the left of the right circle.

 

The Pioneers took the lead for good at 14:07 as Ruegsegger teamed up with Maiani and Bozak once again on the power play.  It was the junior's sixth goal of the year.

 

DU extended the lead with goals by Kyle Ostrow and Patrick Wiercioch at 11:19 and 4:09 respectively.  

 

Colgate had a golden opportunity around the 16 minute mark of the second period.  Jason Williams (Plattsburgh, N.Y.) got behind the Pioneer defense and broke in one Cheverie, but the sophomore made the save.  On the ensuing possession, Denver posted its fifth of the evening as Patrick Mullen was credited with a goal at 4:11 that deflected in the cage off the skate of a Raider player.

 

Denver posted its final goal of the contest at 3:38 of the third as Luke Salazar banged in a pass from Wierchioh from the right side of the cage.  John Ryder also gained an assist on the goal.

 

 Alex Evin (Castlegar, B.C.) posted a season-high 22 saves against the ranked Pioneers.  The freshman, who entered the contest after Denver's fourth goal, made 12 saves in the second period and nine more in the third.  Evin's previous season-best was 13 in his first collegiate start versus Bentley on October 17 at Starr Rink.  Long made 11 saves before being replaced with 4:09 left in the first.  Cheverie turned aside 29 in the victory for the Pioneers.

 

Denver, who outshot the Raiders 16-5 in the opening period, ended up with a 39-30 advantage for the evening.  The Pioneers went two of four on the power play, while Colgate went scoreless in its lone attempt.

         

Colgate, now 4-5-2 overall, will return to action Saturday evening as it heads down I-25 to Colorado Springs and tangle with third-ranked Colorado College.  Opening face-off is set for 9:05 p.m. eastern.