CU men’s hockey begins season in the Midwest after a lost season due to COVID
With an undecided lineup, some men are fighting for a spot on the team, but the Buffs are ready to be back on the ice.
After COVID-19 took away their 2020-2021 season, the Buffs D1 Hockey team looks to come out strong after a year off. With 18 rookies and a tough schedule against with familiar matchups, the Buffs look to build experience and get some wins in this very young season.
Sophomore Keegan Lewis said, “Our game plan is just having speed and outworking the other team as much as we can.”
Not only are the Buffs battling other teams, they are also battling each other everyday for a spot in the lineup.
With 32 players and only 20 spots in the lineup every night, there is lots of competition amongst the team. The rookies especially, with 18 of them, have something to prove to not only the coaches, but their teammates as well.
Despite the ongoing battle for playing time, the youthful and close knit team, have great leadership. Recently, this season’s captains were named to seniors Adam Trunko, Keegan Davis, Davis Mitchell and junior Jake Hager. These four veterans will be leading the team this season.
“I believe that the best way to lead such a large and diverse group of guys is through both words and by example,” Trunko said. “After being off the ice for such a long time, playing hard and doing the little things right every game and practice sets the bar for the effort every player should be giving. It can be hard for the rookies to come into such a new environment and play with confidence, so encouraging them and communicating on and off the ice is an essential part to getting them invested into the team culture. I’m excited for the responsibility of leading this team and I’m looking forward to an awesome season ahead.”
The Buffs kicked off their 2021 season with back to back road trips against two of the best teams in the nation.
First, they traveled to the 6th ranked Central Oklahoma Bronchos on Oct. 2 and 3. Their first night against the Bronchos, the starting 5 included forwards, David Mitchell, Keegan Davis and Mark Borghi, defensemen Kyle Caddo and Keegan Lewis along with goalie Tripp Hutchinson. For their second game in Central Oklahoma, 5 different Buffs took the ice first.
This second starting lineup was made up of forwards Max Pasiennik, Tommy Kleinman, Brendan Hansen, defensemen Jake Hager and Alex Hartman. Tripp Hutchinson did keep his spot in the lineup as the starting goalie for this game.
Following that trip, the team headed to Iowa State to take on the number 1 ranked Cyclones on Oct. 8 and 9.
The starting 5 Buffs for their first game in Ames included forwards, David Mitchell, Keegan Davis and Mark Borghi, defensemen Kyle Caddo and Jesse Kittay, along with goalie Liam O’Gwen. With some changes in the lineup for night two, there was again a new starting line for the team.
Forwards Adam Trunko, Tommy Kleinman, and Brendan Hansen, defensemen Kyle Caddo and Jake Hager, and goalie Liam O’Gwen took the ice first for the team for this second game.
More than hockey
This Friday’s game will be a breast cancer awareness game in order to show the team’s support during breast cancer awareness month. Along with this, the team will have Hockey Fights Cancer apparel available for sale in the near future.
