Even though it was their last two games before playoffs, the Oregon club hockey team had their focus elsewhere. For seven seniors, it would be their last home games as Oregon Ducks and, for some, their last competitive ice hockey games period. For these two nights against the College of the Canyons Cougars, the number on the board didn’t matter as much as playing with friends and playing for fans and family.
“It’s always nice having my parents here,” senior Oregon forward Stephen Casey said. “I always happen to try a little bit harder when they’re here, so it’s nice to have them.”
The first game against the Division 3 Cougars was a blowout. The Ducks, who had significantly more players than the California school, took it home 13-1 with freshman Ty Anderton in goal.
“(Starting these games) definitely does mean a lot,” Anderton said. “I understand not playing against UW because that was definitely a tough series in the I-5 Cup and I’m the freshman goalie … but it was nice to get back out on the ice, especially for the last couple of home games.”
Oregon won the second game 8-1 with seniors being responsible for all but one goal, which was only fitting on seniors night. Senior Trevor Peterson also got his turn in the Ducks net.
After an early goal two minutes into the second game by COC defenseman Tyler Nizinski, the Ducks took over and never looked back.
Oregon’s Connor McBride scored the first goal for the Ducks and the first goal of what would eventually become a hat trick for the 22-year-old forward.
Just over 6 minutes later, the Ducks’ captain followed suit. From the blue line, Tyler Halverson fired off a rocket that cleanly found its way to the back of the net. Then, to end the first, defenseman Nick Kuehl dangled around Cougars goalie Taiyoh London to get the third and final goal for the Ducks.
The second period had two more goals. Stephen Casey, who eventually had a two-goal, two-assist night, scored on the Ducks power play while COC defenseman Mason Yuen sat for a hooking call. McBride got his second of the game with assists from Patrick Sgarlata and Trevor McCarty. For both Sgarlata and McCarty, it was their second assist of the game.
The pair of goals were punctuated by a chain of big hits in neutral ice. Oregon forward Pat Taylor crunched defenseman Jonathan Shin. Forward Matthew Ackman immediately did the same to COC’s Edward Trogdon, and then Oregon defenseman Nick Kuehl checked forward Tommy Pang into the boards.
The third was more of the same. Both Casey and McBride scored another set of goals, McCarty got his third assist and Alex Sulitzer got two assists of his own, one of which came on the final goal of the game made by grad student Dan Sulitzer.
“It was kind of an emotional game,” Casey said. “Last home game. I think it went well. [I got] a couple points, so that’s the perfect way to end it. I couldn’t have asked for more.”
Once the final buzzer sounded and the players shook hands, the Ducks started their second task of the night — “Skate with the Ducks”. In an effort to give back to the fans, the Ducks hosted an open skate where anyone who bought admission to the game could rent a pair of skates for free and join the team on the ice.
“It’s very important for the players to interact with the fans,” Oregon head coach Rich Salahor said of event. “It shows appreciation back to the fans who come in and support the team and it’s great to see the smile on the kids’ faces when they get to go out there and the boys pay attention to them. It’s great all the way around.”
While some players pushed fans and each other around the ice in chairs, others slowly skated around the rink with their parents or friends. Some skated from group to group, saying hello and introducing themselves. No matter how the time was spent, smiles could be seen all around.
“When we connect like this with the fans, we get a chance to interact,” Ducks forward Patrick Taylor said. “They get to know us and we get to know them a little better. … It’s a fun, good way to end the regular season.”
Follow Anne Yilmaz on Twitter @anneyilmaz
[Originally published here by the Daily Emerald on February 2, 2014]