Mens D2 Dominates UNM in 9-2 Victory

Forward Marius Krasauskus celebrates his second goal in a 9-2 victory over the UNM Lobos. (Photo by Zachary Muniz/Sko Buffs).

Ice Hockey returned to the University of Colorado Recreation Center early this year, and the men’s D2 team was ready.

The Colorado Buffaloes defeated the New Mexico Lobos 9-2 on Friday, Sept. 5, in their first game of the season.

A fresh-faced Buff team took to the ice with eight new skaters and one new goaltender starting in their home opener. The new guys meshed well into the Buffs system, with five of eight new  skaters registering at least one point in the 9-2 rout. Sophomore goaltender Will Baker impressed in his team debut, stopping 23 of 25 shots faced and numerous chances.

Returning Buffs also got on the score sheet. Sophomore forward Elyjah Sue, junior defenseman Will Hadrick, senior forward Marius Krasauskus and senior forward Josh Genin all led the team with two points apiece.

The Buffs entered this Big Mountain Hockey Conference matchup as the reigning regular season and playoff champions. Both the Union Pacific Brass Spittoon for the regular season and the Nick Bales BTR Trophy for the postseason were presented to the team before puck drop.

Even with the impressive hardware presented before the game, UNM looked like a tough opponent. The Lobos came into the game as the reigning conference champions of the West Coast Hockey Conference. UNM transferred from the WCHC into the BMHC this year, ready to contest for the Brass Spittoon.

It did not take long for the Buffs to get back into the swing of things as their high-pressure forecheck returned to form. New sophomore defenseman Truman Boettiger picked up CU’s playstyle from the start as he dropped down on a loose puck in the offensive zone and wrapped around the net to find Clavin Stone. Stone danced by NMU forward Axel Smith and into the crease to bury the first goal of the season at 4:36 into the first.

Halfway through the period, UNM’s Joe Gutierrez was called for a hook, and Colorado went on its first power play of the season. The newly assembled power play clicked quickly, as junior forward Dom Suchkov scored his first goal as a Buff on a rebound to extend the lead to two.

CU’s third goal was set up by a familiar face. With speed, senior forward Roman Templeton picked up a loose puck in the neutral zone, setting up a two-on-one with Genin. 

Templeton waited long enough for UNM’s goaltender Kameron Remde to bite, and he sent the pass over to Genin for his first goal of the game. While new to the D2 team, Templeton played 18 games for CU’s D1 team last season.

Up 3-0 with four minutes to go, UNM caught the Buffs too high up the ice on a turnover in the neutral zone. The Lobos went down into the offensive zone with three-on-two, before three quick passes left Baker out of position for an empty-net tap-in by Hunter Coulombe, making it 3-1 going into the first intermission.

The second frame began, and the Lobos came out ready to play. NMU  made the Buffs play on their heels by turning up the intensity on the forecheck. Their hard work paid off as Julian Martinez scored on a rebound from the point to make it 3-2.

With the Lobos breathing down their necks, newly named captain Kory Diponio took matters into his own hands. Diponio took the puck from the top of the circles into the crease and lifted one on the backhand past Remde, restoring the two-goal lead.

New Mexico got an opportunity to cut into the deficit, as Chris Kimmel headed to the box on a cross-checking call. Unlike the power play, the Buffs penalty kill unit struggled. 

The Lobos spent nearly 1:45 of the power play in the offensive zone as CU failed to dump the puck time after time. After the power play expired, NMU did not let up, maintaining the offensive zone for another 40 seconds. 

Even in the offensive zone, the Lobos could not hit the net, as  UNM missed multiple chances on their power play.

The Buffs’ defense was able to hold on and finally cleared the puck. Hadrick found Krasauskus fresh from the bench on the breakaway for his second of the game to give CU a three-goal lead.

The unsuccessful power play resulted in a goal the other way for the Buffs, leaving New Mexico demoralized. The Lobos played with their tails between their legs for the rest of the game as CU began to pile on.

Freshman forward Ethan McEneany made his mark on the game as he made a nice move in tight to make it 6-2. Sue would soon follow with a nice individual effort of his own that he would pass to Genin to increase the Buff lead to five to finish off a four-goal second period.

 In the third period, Colorado continued to control the game as both teams took their feet off the gas. Goals from Genin and Sue capped off an offensive showcase as the Buffs took the first game of the season 9-2.

What’s Next

After a strangely early home game, the Buffs will have to wait until Thursday, Sept. 24, when they face off against the University of Montana Grizzlies on the road.

They will then play four straight road games before returning to the Rec Center on Sunday, Oct. 11.