Hockey team returns with new players, new coach and new attitude
The CU Junior Varsity club hockey team defeated Metropolitan State College of Denver 5-2, completing their two-game series season opener.
Both of the Roadrunner’s goals on Oct. 6 were scored in the first five minutes of the third period.
After ending their season early last year because of a fight, first-year coach Shawn Sullivan said the team is back and ready to play hockey.
On Oct. 5, the Buffs beat Metro State 8-5 in the first game of the series.
CU was up 1-0 at the end of the first before letting the two Metro State goals get through.
“We got ahead early and we just got too comfortable,” Sullivan said.
The Buffs came back with two more goals of their own to secure a 3-2 lead and get back control of the game.
In the third period, freshman forward Kollin Vandersluis scored the two Colorado goals.
“We came out hard in the third, and we were just all over them all game,” Vandersluis said. “We had full control of the puck the whole game in their zone.”
Sullivan said Vandersluis is an emerging star on the team this season. Vandersluis)is one of the 14 freshman of the 22 hockey players.
” We have got a lot of good, true freshman talent and the sky’s the limit,” Sullivan said.
The JV club hockey team’s season was ended early after a fight in a game against the University of Northern Colorado’s team last February. To guarantee the return of the team for this season, they agreed to no away games and to not participate in the national tournament.
“The university was pretty upset after last year,” Sullivan said. “We agreed to just play a home schedule, under 16 games, so we wouldn’t be eligible for the national tournament but we would still get the team together and get some games in.”
With only five returning players and a new coach, Sullivan said there is a new attitude on the team.
“There’s no fighting,” Sullivan said. “We just wanted to start a new thing this year with just respect one another and respect the other teams.”
With two wins over Metro State and a close loss in a scrimmage with the Varsity team last week, Sullivan said he is very optimistic for the season.
Vandersluis said he also sees success this year.
“It’s looking really good this season,” Vandersluis said.
Contact Campus Press Staff Writer Margot Schneider at margot.schneider@thecampuspress.com
