LetsGoDU

DU Treads Water During Bye Week

From: Rocky Mountain News
By: Pat Rooney

The University of Denver hockey team is not necessarily fit to be tied. The Pioneers, so far, just happen to be playing that way.

DU recorded its fourth consecutive series split, including two within the Western Collegiate Hockey Association, this weekend at league rival Minnesota Duluth.

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A .500 record (4-4-0) is not what the Pioneers wanted heading into their first bye of the season this week. But with a number of freshmen continuing to get more comfortable and productive, combined with a season-opening schedule that has the Pioneers on the road for eight of their first 10 games, the splits are keeping DU afloat in the league and national pictures.

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If the Pioneers can protect their home ice once the glut of games at Magness Arena begin, the road wins they already have recorded against St. Cloud State and Minnesota Duluth, plus a neutral-ice win against Colgate, will give them valuable points when the NCAA tournament selection process begins.

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The Pioneers, whose ultimate goal is a berth at the West Regional at the Pepsi Center, can further pad their road résumé after the bye. Next week, DU travels to Wisconsin for two games against the defending national champions.

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"In this league, the old saying goes that you sweep at home and you split on the road, and if you do that you put yourself in great position to contend," DU coach George Gwozdecky said. "Obviously, that is a lot easier said than done. But there is no question you always have to get at least one win on the road.

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"Nobody can afford to lose ground. You have to continue to try to be successful. You have to continue to win at least some games of those series, if not both games. There is no other way around it."

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While Wisconsin's Kohl Center remains one of the most daunting venues in the WCHA, the Badgers were swept there over the weekend by Boston College in a rematch of last spring's national championship game.

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The Pioneers also have been unfazed by the raucous Kohl Center faithful. DU recorded a sweep there last season and has gone 9-3-2 since the venue opened in 1998.