BOX SCORE
DENVER, Colo. - After more than a monthlong break, the Alaska Anchorage Seawolves returned to action on Friday night with a 1-1 tie against the No. 2 Denver Pioneers in a Western Collegiate Hockey Association game. Sophomore Curtis Leinweber scored the equalizer for the Seawolves in the first period.
The Seawolves (6-12-1, 4-10-1 WCHA) came out with the first shot of the night, but it was the Pioneers (13-5-3, 9-3-3 WCHA) who were the first to strike with a goal by senior forward Tyler Ruegsegger at 7:13. Ruegsegger picked up his 10th tally of the season with assists by sophomores Patrick Wiercioch and Joe Colborne.
On just UAA's third shot of the evening, Leinweber put the Seawolves on the board with his first goal since Nov. 7 -- a 7-3 home victory over the same DU club. Leinweber, playing as a forward, was able to go high, glove side over the WCHA's leading goalie, Marc Cheverie, at 13:08. Freshman Mitch Bruijsten was credited with his second career assist.
Getting his feet wet with the second assist on Leinweber's goal was sophomore defenseman Brad Gorham -- a transfer from Ohio State who was playing his first game with the Seawolves. Gorham was also tagged for three penalties in his debut.
Both teams battled back and forth in the final two periods, but neither was able to find the back of the net, sending the game into overtime at Magness Arena.
Backstopping UAA's defensive efforts was senior goaltender Jon Olthuis. Olthuis (3-6-1) produced a stellar night between the pipes for the Seawolves with 31 saves, while facing some of the top skaters in the conference.
Cheverie (11-2-2) recorded 27 saves for the Pioneers.
The Seawolves out shot Denver 11-9 in the first period, before the Pioneers led UAA, 12-10 and 9-6, in the second and third periods, respectively.
Both teams were scoreless on the man advantage, as UAA was 0 of 3 and Denver 0 of 4. The Seawolves were whistled for eight minutes of penalties to DU's six.
The Seawolves remain in ninth place in the league standings with nine points, while Denver maintains the top position with 21.
The Seawolves-Pioneers rematch will commence at 5 p.m. AST Saturday.
