By: Nathan Garcia

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EUGENE - “It’s over, there’s no time on the clock. Make some room in the rafters, the Ducks are raising a banner! Champions of the Pac 8 conference.” 

The Oregon Ducks Men’s Hockey Teams 2018-2019 campaign was one to remember. The Ducks dominated the Pacific Northwest during the regular season going 18-3-2. They kept their foot on the gas going into the Pac 8 playoffs knocking off #2 SDSU and #1 Boise State and topped off their historic season by taking down Cal 3-0 to win the Pac 8 championship for the first time since 2009. 

There's nothing like winning it all and once you experience throwing your gloves in the air and attacking your goalie you want to do it again and again. With multiple ducks returning for the 2019-2020 season the desire to win is now.   

The Ducks 2019-2020 season started with rivals University of Washington coming into town trying to take back the I-5 cup, a trophy that spent a great summer in Eugene. It was no surprise that this matchup between rivals combined for 26 penalty minutes in what turned out to be a very competitive game one.

The first period consisted of both teams shaking off dust from their long summers as each goalie stood their ground. Starting sophomore goalie Grayson Parks picked up right where he left off last season, stopping everything UW threw at him. 

Only two minutes into the second period, the Ducks broke through on the power play, as Austin Charnholm roofed an absolute bomb from the point to make it 1-0 (18:06 : assisted by Kass and Payne). 

Shorty after, the Ducks scored another power play goal, off a quick wrister from Trevor Shott (16:05: assisted by Lee). Shott is returning for the 2019-2020 season after putting up a Ducks record, 72 points two seasons ago. As the chippy period came to a close, the Huskies put home a rebound goal to make it a 2-1 game going into the 3rd. 

Knowing the task ahead of them Washington came out strong in the 3rd, drawing a tripping penalty just a minute in. Although it was the Ducks special teams that prevailed again, as senior forward Andrew Lee stole the puck at the blue line, turned on the jets and sniped it blocker side to make it 3-1 (17:52 unassisted). 
The Ducks didn't give Washington an inch for the rest of the game and Shott buried an empty net goal (00:09: assisted by Kass) to start their season with a 4-1 victory. 

3 Stars  1. GR - Trevor Shott (2 goals) 2. SO- Grayson Parkes (30 saves) 3. SR- Austin Charnholm (1 goal)