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Metro hockey team can’t overcome 13 penalties

By Matt Gypin
mgypin@mscd.edu

Metro’s club ice hockey team was whistled for 13 penalties, giving up two power-play goals during a 6-2 loss to the University of Colorado at Boulder Feb. 16 at the CU Student Recreation Center.

The Roadrunners fell behind 1-0 in the first period on a power-play goal by CU’s Chad Wetzel and were forced to play much of the game shorthanded, which hurt their chances of mounting a comeback.

Metro forward Alex Stanton, who left the game in the first period with a knee injury, said penalties were the deciding factor.

“Whoever gets the first goal sets the tone for the game and makes the other team have to climb back,” Stanton said. “It’s tough to play when you’re down a guy the whole time.”

CU scored again on the power play just 34 seconds into the second period when a shot by Mark Viau slipped past Metro goalie Casey Sherwood.

The Roadrunners fought back, cutting the deficit in half almost five minutes later when captain Turner Bahn one-timed a centering pass from forward Ryan Clarke between the legs of CU goalie Kevin Litinsky. The team held the Buffs scoreless the rest of the period, entering the second intermission trailing by just a goal.

Metro head coach Curtis Duffus said between periods that he was proud of his team, which lost 9-0 to these same Buffaloes on Sept. 27, for not giving up and staying in the game.

“The first time we played these guys we got beat 9-0,” Duffus said. “This is a great game for us to see how far we’ve come. It feels like we’re outplaying them right now, even though the score doesn’t reflect it.”

CU took control of the game early in the third period, scoring two goals in the first two minutes, giving the Buffs a 4-1 lead, a lead which they never relinquished. But one of the players suggested an officiating bias.

“Too many penalties were called on us by the ref, who I heard is a CU alum, and he seemed to have a conflict of interest,” Stanton said. “I’d hate to think that’s true, why we got so many penalties. We could compete as a team with them any day, just not with a man down.”

Metro freshman defenseman Johnny Bosbyshell said the team tried to play hard against CU but was done in by the penalties.

“The penalties were the deciding factor of the game,” Bosbyshell said. “It totally changed the outcome of the game. It wasn’t called fairly at all.”

Coach Duffus declined to comment on the officiating and said after the game that the team has a bright future, with as many as 17 players returning next season.

“I am very proud of how far the team has come this year with only five returning players,” he said. “We’re really looking forward to next year.”

The Roadrunners have two games remaining this season: one against the University of Denver Feb. 29 at the Joy Burns Ice Arena in Denver and one against the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs March 1 at the Colorado Sports Center in Monument.