In the inaugural I-5 Cup between the Washington and Oregon club hockey teams, Washington walked away with the trophy and bragging rights. The Huskies swept the Ducks in four games this season.
Somebody let those Dawgs out, and did so in front of a huge Oregon home crowd at the Lane County Ice Arena.
“It was rough,” said Oregon captain Tyler Shaffar of the weekend on home ice. “They’re a good team. They’ve beat us four times.”
Although the Ducks are demoralized and frustrated, there were things about the weekend to be content about. Larry Platzke netted four over the weekend.
“He played some solid hockey,” said Shaffar about Platzke. Shaffar scored his 100th career point and had a hat trick on Saturday.
On Friday, the Ducks stood a chance, Shaffar said. Oregon was up 4-1 before Washington came back and made it 4-4, then 7-4. The Ducks brought the score back to 7-6 but let the Huskies net a shorthanded goal that resulted in the final score of 8-6.
“On Saturday, we just didn’t have the touch,” Shaffar said of the game that ended in a 6-1 loss. “We self-destructed and just couldn’t hold.”
Additionally, the Ducks sustained numerous injuries, among them goalie Josh Hardin and Shaffar, which contributed to the nature of the loss, Shaffar said. However, they expect to be back soon — Hardin for the next games against Western Washington in Bellingham, Wash., this weekend and Shaffar by the championships in two weeks.