Ice Hockey Starts Season 3-0

Few ice hockey teams can boast two stellar goaltenders, but for

the first time ever, the Rams can boast about all three of theirs.

Elliot Ritter, Jared Hiller and Logan Huffman each stood strong

over the weekend as the CSU club hockey team won all three of its

games.

On Friday, CSU defeated the University of Denver’s club team

10-1. Goals came in pairs as Braden Grieser, Josh Bowers, Jeff Mann

and Tommy Owens all scored two goals apiece and Hiller made 22

saves for the win.

Saturday’s rematch in Denver was more of the same. CSU

controlled play most of the night and never trailed in a 5-0

victory. Playing in net, Ritter made 18 saves for the first shutout

of the season. Although the Rams’ defense held DU’s scoring chances

to a minimum, Ritter played solidly when called upon.

Sunday was the first real test for the Rams. They faced a

stealthy Naval Academy team from Maryland, a team that had decided

to take a road trip to Colorado in order to play Air Force, but

six-year head coach Rick Randazzo expressed his feelings about

coming to Colorado for the first time.

“October will tell us a lot about what kind of team we’re going

to have,” Randazzo said. “We have seven road games to open the

season and we’re glad to have the chance to play a couple of solid

teams in Colorado.”

After Navy took a 1-0 lead early in the game on a nice

individual effort by Chris Schnappinger, the Rams’ defense

tightened up in front of goalie Logan Huffman and the chances for

Navy quickly diminished.

“I’m surprised our guys are playing so well with three of our

top players out,” said Joshua McIntosh, president of Rams ice

hockey.

Head coach Dave Delozier chose to scratch a few of their top

forwards in Ryan Lewis and Jason Bowers in order to use the Rams’

depth and it paid off as Jeff Mann scored a pair of consecutive

goals to reclaim the lead; Mann’s second goal came off a nice

redirection on the power play. The Rams never trailed after that

point, and won the contest 4-3.

“They actually are a real decent team,” said Navy forward

Michael Baker about CSU’s squad.

The Rams continue their season against Montana State Friday

night at EPIC.