Doom's Day for DenverBy Jess Myers
We can think of a few recent Saturdays in April that will go down in Denver hockey history as memorable dates. By contrast, Friday, December 30, 2005, is a day that Pioneers coach George Gwozdecky and company should seek to have stricken from all future school media guides.
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The trouble started at Magness Arena, where the Denver Cup began with everyone anticipating a Denver-Boston College showdown in the tournament finale. Instead, the Pioneers fell victim to one of the bigger upsets of the season, as Princeton rallied with four unanswered goals to upend the host school, 4-1.
The trouble started at Magness Arena, where the Denver Cup began with everyone anticipating a Denver-Boston College showdown in the tournament finale. Instead, the Pioneers fell victim to one of the bigger upsets of the season, as Princeton rallied with four unanswered goals to upend the host school, 4-1.
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“Princeton completely out-played us in many facets of the game,” said Gwozdecky of the upset. “That was as disappointing an effort and an outcome as I’ve been involved with in a very long time with this team.”
“Princeton completely out-played us in many facets of the game,” said Gwozdecky of the upset. “That was as disappointing an effort and an outcome as I’ve been involved with in a very long time with this team.”
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As that was happening in Colorado, there was further trouble for the Pioneers brewing on the other side of the Rockies in Vancouver. During Team USA’s game that evening at the World Junior Championship – a 2-2 tie with Switzerland – USA/Denver defenseman Chris Butler was ridden hard into the boards and suffered a shoulder injury. Gwozdecky says Butler might be out of the lineup for all of January.
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As that was happening in Colorado, there was further trouble for the Pioneers brewing on the other side of the Rockies in Vancouver. During Team USA’s game that evening at the World Junior Championship – a 2-2 tie with Switzerland – USA/Denver defenseman Chris Butler was ridden hard into the boards and suffered a shoulder injury. Gwozdecky says Butler might be out of the lineup for all of January.
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Butler’s injury is the latest in a growing list of ailments that have the Pioneers bringing a third goaltender on the road with them just to fill out a full traveling roster. With rookie forward Brock Trotter out for the year and junior forward Adrian Veideman still not at full strength, Gwozdecky says he’s thankful the Pioneers have the coming weekend off before St. Cloud State comes to visit for a pair on Jan. 13-14.
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The good news to come out of Vancouver for Pioneer fans was Geoff Paukovich, who scored his first goal of 2005-06 in the Switzerland game. After scoring a dozen times as a freshman, the sophomore jinx has hit Paukovich hard, as he has just three assists in his first 20 games for Denver. Still, Gwozdecky says Paukovich is making an important contribution to the team even if he’s not putting pucks in the net, and they look forward to his return from Vancouver.
The good news to come out of Vancouver for Pioneer fans was Geoff Paukovich, who scored his first goal of 2005-06 in the Switzerland game. After scoring a dozen times as a freshman, the sophomore jinx has hit Paukovich hard, as he has just three assists in his first 20 games for Denver. Still, Gwozdecky says Paukovich is making an important contribution to the team even if he’s not putting pucks in the net, and they look forward to his return from Vancouver.
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“We really miss him for other things he brings to our lineup,” Gwozdecky said. “He’s tough, physical, really good on draws and so strong defensively. Teams aren’t as good in our zone when he’s on the ice.”
“We really miss him for other things he brings to our lineup,” Gwozdecky said. “He’s tough, physical, really good on draws and so strong defensively. Teams aren’t as good in our zone when he’s on the ice.”
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