From The Gazette
By Hugh Johnson
Legendary Colorado College goalie Marty Wakelyn wore the visiting team’s jersey to Ed Robson Arena on Sunday.
No one can fault him.
Between the pipes for CC from 1982-86, Wakelyn is the Tigers’ all-team leader in saves with 3,630. His 1,184 saves in the 1984-1985 season stand as the program’s highest season total, and his sum from his sophomore season the year before ranks among CC’s top 10. He is second all-time in games played by a goaltender with 121.
Despite his storied history with the black and gold, Wakelyn was firmly in UNLV’s camp Sunday in support of his son Doug, who got the start as the Rebels’ goaltender in the team’s exhibition against CC.
“Playing here is one thing, and then him wanting to follow my footsteps and wanting to play for CC growing up and that. It’s just exciting that he’s got this opportunity to step out on the ice around the Colorado College Tiger fans that I got to do for four years,” Marty Wakelyn said. “There’s a lot of meaning to us this week as well. When I was a freshman, my dad passed away Jan. 1. The anniversary is two days away, and here’s my son, who’s named after my dad, getting to play here.”
While the outcome wasn’t favorable for UNLV, an 8-0 loss, Doug cherishes the opportunity to compete against team his father played for and one that he grew up supporting.
Doug attended Doherty High School and played hockey for the Pikes Peak Miners AAA team, the Colorado Springs Tigers and the Pueblo Bulls of the United States Premier Hockey League. Wakelyn said he even had the opportunity to practice with CC one summer before COVID.
When the Rebels landed this weekend, Doug was ecstatic to be home.
“First step out of the plane and coming out of the airport just having that deep breath of air. I miss that,” Doug said. “I always love the mountains. Vegas has some hills in there so it’s not as bad, but I love driving down here from Denver, being able to see all that, driving through campus, just was able to name everything driving by.”
Doug finished with 40 saves on Sunday to cap a challenging schedule for the Rebels.
They played CC at 3 p.m. after playing at No. 5 Denver at 7 p.m. at Magness Arena on Saturday. UNLV made Sunday’s challenge even harder by doing the unthinkable, essentially beating the defending NCAA champions on their home ice as an American Collegiate Hockey Association Division I team.
Despite Denver outshooting UNLV 39-12 in the first two periods, the Rebels took a commanding 5-1 lead into the third. The Pioneers mounted a furious comeback, outscoring UNLV 5-1 to send the game to overtime. With no score in the 3-on-3 overtime period, the game went to a shootout where UNLV prevailed.
Doug did not play in that game, but whether cheering for UNLV or CC, the Wakelyns always enjoy the opportunity to beat DU.
“That was another dream come true, being a Tigers fan growing up, still am,” Doug said. “Being able to beat DU is nothing short of fantastic. Even though I didn’t get to play in that game, it was something I was very, very happy to be a part of.”
(Originally published at https://gazette.com/sports/cc-hockey/legacy-meets-family-as-wakelyns-celebrate-unlvs-historic-weekend-at-denver-and-colorado-college/article_c53fab96-c65b-11ef-93db-a36398b7fe4a.html)
