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Metro club hockey gets boarded against DU
By Eric Lansing
lansing@mscd.edu

Photo by Jeremy Billis • jbillis@mscd.edu University of Denver forward Matt Moore slams Metro forward Pat Turgeon off the boards Nov. 4 at The Edge Ice Arena. The rough play was indicative of the 'Runners' night, as the Pioneers roughed up the injured Metro team in a brutal 10-0 loss.

It has been a rough season for the Metro club hockey team. Their big matchup against crosstown rival Denver University showed that the rigors of the season had gotten to the Roadrunners as they fell victim to a 10-0 blowout Nov. 4 at The Edge Ice Arena.

“They are just a better team than we are right now,” co-head coach Ryan Callahan said. “We are in the toughest part of our schedule right now, playing Colorado University last night, who is the No. 1 team in the West, DU tonight, who is No. 5, and CU again next week.”

Metro captain Curtis Duffus said the team had high hopes at the beginning of the year, but as the season takes its toll on the players, they seem to be starting all over in terms of progression.

“I think it’s going to be a rebuilding season,” Duffus said regarding having 15 freshmen on the team. “I think early on we thought we could compete if we were able to stay out of the (penalty) box, but it looks like there are some teams in this league that have really progressed since last season.”

The game against DU was never a contest, with the Pioneers scoring all 10 goals in the first period. They out-skated Metro and forced them to play in their own zone for a majority of the game. Metro managed only three shots on goal the entire game and was shut out for the first time this season.

The Roadrunners only had 12 players suit up for the contest, as eight players were out due to injuries and some also quit the team in midseason.

But the season continues as the ’Runners battle with superior hockey teams every week, paying substantial amounts of money to rent ice time and having to adjust to injuries and player losses in the long hockey season.

“It’s tough to play against universities that have students who just go to school and play hockey,” Duffus said. “They aren’t working full-time jobs like we are, but that is one of the obstacles we have to face. It’s a different world for us, but we are going to keep working hard this season and see what we can do.”

Metro takes its 2-8 record on the road Nov. 11 against CU at Boulder Valley Ice at Superior.