The BYU hockey team kicked off the Mountain West Collegiate Hockey League Tournament with a 3-7 loss to Denver University Thursday night.
The Cougars started the game quickly, scoring three goals in the first period.
“We scored three goals early, figured the game was over, and we sat back and let them back in the game,” head coach Ed Gantt said. “They just took it from us and never let us have it back.”
The game was relatively clean, and few players were forced to the penalty box, but BYU was unable to stop the Pioneers from scoring. Denver claimed a 4-3 lead in the third period with a short-range goal. The Cougars struggled to stop Denver’s momentum, which was able to score two more quick goals shortly thereafter. With only 13 seconds left in the game, the Pioneers would get the cherry on top with their seventh goal of the game.
“We thought we had the game, got out of our flow and couldn’t get back in,” BYU forward Josh Patrick said. “We have a lot of regrouping to do. We can’t do that again.”
The Cougars play again tomorrow at 4 p.m. at the Peaks Ice Arena.
“Tomorrow we get to see Montana State again, so we will put this all in the past and focus on playing our game,” Gantt said.
The MWCHL Tournament continues through Saturday night, with the championship game scheduled for 7 p.m.
