CALGARY – Max Patterson scored on the power play with just over six minutes remaining to give the University of Calgary Dinos men's hockey team a 4-3 win over the MacEwan University Griffins Thursday night in the 2023-24 season opener from Father David Bauer Arena.

The win spoils and incredible performance by MacEwan goaltender Thomas Davis, who kept things close in racking up 50 saves for the Griffins on the night.

Reigning Canada West Goalie of the Year Carl Tetachuk picked up his first win of the year, being called upon to make 14 saves on the night.

Calgary got on the board early with highly touted rookie Dallon Melin netting the first goal of the regular season just 3:57 into the opener to make it 1-0.

MacEwan was able to keep things close, however, leveling things up at the midway point of the first period on a goal by Ethan Strang as the two teams were level at 1-1 after one.

The Dinos dominated the second period. Eight minutes into the frame, Dakota Krebs picked up the puck at his own blue line and carried the puck deep into the MacEwan zone. With all the defenders drawn to him, Krebs made a perfect pass to Connor Gutenberg, who calmly netted his first of the season to make it 2-1. 

Less than two minutes later, Jake Gricius doubled the Dinos lead, blasting home another beauty of a pass, this time from Colson Gengenbach to make it 3-1 with 10:13 left in the second.

But the Griffins refused to quit, as Brendan Boyle and Sam Simard each scored early in the third to level things up and threaten to crash the Dinos banner night celebration.

Cue Max Patterson. The third-year forward positioned himself at the top of the crease. Gricius saw the big man setting up and rifled one toward the net, with Patterson deflecting it into the net to give Calgary the lead and the eventual game winner.

"It's good to get the first one under our belts," Patterson said after the win. "We know we could play better, but it's nice to get the first regular season win both for the returning guys and the new guys.

"We had a little lapse (in the third period). We were playing in their end pretty well, but then we had some mental errors. I had a couple myself. But when we're playing good, we're cycling the puck and playing hard down low. I feel pretty confident in that game."

The Dinos finished the night outshooting their opponents 54-17.

Riley Stotts also had a strong opening night, recording three assists in the win.

Calgary and MacEwan will now head to Edmonton for the second leg of the weekend series, with puck drop scheduled for 7 p.m. from the Downtown Community Arena. 

-UC-