Bears beat down Rams, 5-2

Games against in-state rivals always tend to be a little more physical than normal and Friday night's University of Northern Colorado club ice hockey game proved to be no exception.

UNC overpowered the Colorado State Rams 5-2 Friday night in a game which featured a total of 77 penalty minutes. Bears coach Al Brown, however, said his team competed well with the Rams' aggressive style of play.

"Yeah, I mean that's kind of their M.O.," Brown said. "Actually, they probably were a little less physical than they have been, but CSU was still very, very physical and we can play with that."

With the physical nature of the game, special teams proved to be the deciding factor as UNC went four for 17 on the power play while the Bears penalty kill held the Rams to only 16-of-18 on their power play.

"Our power play was superior to theirs, our penalty kill was superior to theirs and it may have been those special team groups that really made a difference in the score," Brown said.

Bears' defenseman Brady McQuinn emphasized that defense was a major focus throughout the game.

"Defense first," McQuinn said. "That was our biggest motto tonight, to play defense first."

UNC goalie Brian Straub came up big for the Bears, who were out-shot 40-33, as he finished the game with 38 saves and a save percentage of .950. The 34 penalty minutes the Bears racked up didn't make matters much easier for him either.

"You know I basically, just with all the power plays, just bared down and made sure that the ones I needed to stop I did," Straub said.

UNC forward Travis Hitt opened the scoring 53 seconds into the game with the only even strength goal of the night. CSU struck back shortly thereafter with a power play goal by Nick Burge to even the score at 1-1.

The Bears, however, took the lead for good 3:01 into the first period with a power-play goal by forward Zeff Gillespie. Assistant captain Brooks Hazelton scored the eventual game-winning goal 10:36 into the second period as UNC took a commanding 3-1 lead. Hazelton finished the game with a team leading two points.

With a rematch in Fort Collins looming on Friday, Brown knows his team must not lose focus.

"Well, you know we cannot rest on our laurels with this win," Brown said. "We go over there into their building. I mean they are a really good team."

The Bears will also lose home ice advantage, a facet of the game Straub admitted played a big part in the win.

"You know our fans are a huge part," Straub said. "Everyone that comes out is just amazing and having home ice and, you know, having our fans behind our backs is an unbelievable thing for us tonight."