Box Score

DENVER, Colo. -- The University of Denver defeated Providence College, 3-2, in the Championship Game at the Ice Breaker Tournament in Denver, Colo. on Saturday, Oct. 16. Senior Joe Ritson fired home a rebound at 4:25 of the second overtime to give Denver the win.

Denver, which held a pregame celebration for the opening of its new rink and its 50th season of college hockey, used the momentum of the festivities to its advantage as the Pioneers came out flying. Denver outshot the Friars, 14-3, and held a 1-0 lead after 20 minutes of play. The Pioneers broke the 0-0 tie at 14:03 of the first period when J.J. Hart came out of the left corner and fired a backhander through PC goaltender Boyd Ballard's legs at the 14:03 mark.

After two periods, Denver continued to hold a 1-0 lead. Denver outshot PC in the second period, 9-5, but was not able to put the puck past Ballard who made several key stops to keep the Friars within one goal.

The Friars evened the game at 1-1 when Doug Sheppard converted on a turn-around slap shot from eight feet in front of the net on a power play at 2:30 of the third period. PC took its first lead of the game with 2:29 remaining in the game when Jon DiSalvatore wristed in a rebound. Denver refused to allow the Friars the victory in regulation as the Pioneers' Jesse Cook blasted a shot from the left point past Ballard with 11 seconds remaining in the contest to send the game into overtime.

Due to NCAA rules for tournaments, the game would be played until a winner was determined. Neither team was able to score in the first 20 minute overtime period. Denver held a 9-2 shot advantage in the first extra session.

Ritson provided the heroics for Denver after 84 minutes and 25 seconds of action.

With the win, Denver raised its record to 2-0 overall while Providence fell to 1-1.

The Friars will return to action on Oct. 22-23 in a two-game series against Miami at Oxford, Ohio.

Saturday, October 16, 1999

Magness Arena, Denver, Colo.

Providence College (1-1-0)	0	0	2	0	0	-- 2		7-14	1-4

Denver (2-0-0)	1	0	1	0	1	-- 3		6-12	0-5

Per	Time	Team	Goal Scorer  (Assists) 

1	14:03	D	J.J. Hart 2 (Judd Stauss)

3	2:30	PC	Doug Sheppard 1 (Peter Fregoe, Jason Ialongo) PP

3	17:31	PC	Jon DiSalvatore 1 (Mike Lucci, Doug Wright)

3	19:49	D	Jesse Cook 1 (Judd Stauss, Bjorn Engstrom)

2nd OT	4:25	D	Joe Ritson 2 (Jon Newman, Kevin Doell) GWG
		

Saves:

Boyd Ballard (PC)	13	9	2	9	1	--34	(84:25)

Stephen Wagner (D)	3	5	8	6	4	--26	(83:29)

Penalties:

PC	3-6	2-4	2-4	0-0	0-0	--7-14

D	2-4	3-6	1-2	0-0	0-0	--6-12

Attendance: 5,403 (Magness Arena)