Steamboat Express Stays On Schedule
From: Denver Post
by Mike Chambers
Ryan Dingle's two-year scoring tear continues, even though he no longer is benefiting from the extraordinary passing of Matt Carle and Paul Stastny.
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Dingle, a University of Denver junior, produced a team-high 27 goals last season while playing right wing on a line centered by Stastny, and on a power play that included Carle. When Carle and Stastny left school early to sign NHL deals, DU followers figured Dingle's production would decline.
Dingle, a University of Denver junior, produced a team-high 27 goals last season while playing right wing on a line centered by Stastny, and on a power play that included Carle. When Carle and Stastny left school early to sign NHL deals, DU followers figured Dingle's production would decline.
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Go figure. Dingle, who grew up in Littleton and Steamboat Springs, has a team-leading 11 goals in 14 games, giving him 38 goals in 50 games since the beginning of his sophomore season.
Go figure. Dingle, who grew up in Littleton and Steamboat Springs, has a team-leading 11 goals in 14 games, giving him 38 goals in 50 games since the beginning of his sophomore season.
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"Ryan is a scorer, no question about it," DU coach George Gwozdecky said. "I don't think people thought his sophomore year was a fluke, but they saw that Paul Stastny, who played with Ryan for two years, was gone, and who was going to replace Paul?"
"Ryan is a scorer, no question about it," DU coach George Gwozdecky said. "I don't think people thought his sophomore year was a fluke, but they saw that Paul Stastny, who played with Ryan for two years, was gone, and who was going to replace Paul?"
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Stastny, an impressive NHL rookie with the Avalanche, has been replaced by redshirt freshman Brock Trotter. He is tied with Dingle with a team- leading 16 points and has 21 points in 18 career games.
Stastny, an impressive NHL rookie with the Avalanche, has been replaced by redshirt freshman Brock Trotter. He is tied with Dingle with a team- leading 16 points and has 21 points in 18 career games.
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As for Carle, an NHL rookie-of-the-year candidate is not replaceable, and the 42 assists he had last season might never be duplicated by a defenseman.
As for Carle, an NHL rookie-of-the-year candidate is not replaceable, and the 42 assists he had last season might never be duplicated by a defenseman.
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Dingle is not looking back.
Dingle is not looking back.
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"We still have a bunch of talent on this team," he said.
"We still have a bunch of talent on this team," he said.
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Gwozdecky considers Dingle the most versatile.
Gwozdecky considers Dingle the most versatile.
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"As a freshman he was a checker, a great penalty killer, an energy guy," Gwozdecky said. "As a sophomore he was thrown in more of a role of a scorer, a playmaker.
"As a freshman he was a checker, a great penalty killer, an energy guy," Gwozdecky said. "As a sophomore he was thrown in more of a role of a scorer, a playmaker.
"Now, as a junior, we're asking him to blend those two roles together, and I think he's done a great job."
Streaks On The Line
Denver is on a seven-game unbeaten streak (6-0-1) and hasn't lost to Colorado College in the teams' past seven meetings (6-0-1). The Pioneers went 3-0-1 against the Tigers last season, but the last two games ended in overtime (5-4) and a tie (3-3).
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"It's going to be fun," Trotter said of the upcoming series.
"It's going to be fun," Trotter said of the upcoming series.
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Trotter severed his Achilles tendon five games into last season. He has yet to play against CC.
Trotter severed his Achilles tendon five games into last season. He has yet to play against CC.
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"I remember watching the games last year," Trotter said. "It was pretty intense, and I was in the stands really getting into it."
"I remember watching the games last year," Trotter said. "It was pretty intense, and I was in the stands really getting into it."
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Rivalry On TV
For the first time since the 2005 DU-Colorado College Frozen Four semifinal in Columbus, Ohio, the Pioneers-Tigers game will be nationally televised.
Rivalry On TV
For the first time since the 2005 DU-Colorado College Frozen Four semifinal in Columbus, Ohio, the Pioneers-Tigers game will be nationally televised.
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ESPNU will carry Friday's game at the Colorado Springs World Arena that kicks off the home-and-home series between the rivals. Saturday's game at Magness Arena will be carried by Fox Sports Rocky Mountain.
ESPNU will carry Friday's game at the Colorado Springs World Arena that kicks off the home-and-home series between the rivals. Saturday's game at Magness Arena will be carried by Fox Sports Rocky Mountain.
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