From: Rocky Mountain NewsBy Pat Rooney
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Trotter's magnificent debut with the University of Denver hockey team got derailed by a gruesome injury one year ago, yet through six games this season, he has shown no ill effects and seems to have retained his scoring touch.
After missing all but five games last season because of a torn right Achilles' tendon, Trotter has continued producing at the same rapid pace he left behind last season.
He leads the Pioneers with eight points (two goals, six assists) heading into this week's Western Collegiate Hockey Association series at Minnesota Duluth.
"I've been playing this game for a while now, so, mentally and physically, I was ready to go," Trotter said. "Obviously, with the good start I'm having, that's a bonus. It had almost been an entire calendar year since I played in a real game. It definitely was a wake-up call in that first game. Slowly, the confidence is building."
Trotter was held without a point in DU's opener but has put together a five-game points-scoring streak since, including three assists Saturday against Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute.
Trotter has played 11 games with DU but has posted two three-points games and one two-points game. Much of that production occurred early last season.
After going without a point in his DU debut, Trotter had three goals and two assists in the next three games before suffering the injury at North Dakota.
During a collision along the boards, the skate of a North Dakota player sliced through Trotter's right Achilles' tendon.
Though Trotter missed the rest of the season, a loss that was magnified as DU's lack of offensive depth contributed to its failure to reach the NCAA tournament, there was a silver lining.
Because Trotter's tendon was sliced neatly, instead of rupturing explosively as is more common in athletics, he was able to heal faster, a fact that has been reiterated by his hot start.
"We had no idea how it was going to respond," DU coach George Gwozdecky said. "We did feel good when the doctor said it was so cleanly sliced by the blade it was almost surgically done, so it was easy to repair. At the time, we didn't know if it was good news or not, but it seems like it's been good for Brock."
FAB FOUR: Trotter, who was granted a medical redshirt, has spent much of the season paired on DU's top line with fellow freshmen Tyler Ruegsegger and Brian Gifford, with classmate Rhett Rakhshani establishing himself on the Pioneers' second line.
That group has scored five goals, and freshmen have accounted for 18 of the Pioneers' 32 assists.
"I think we're really working well together," Ruegsegger said. "Everyone on the line works hard together and that definitely pays off."
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