From: Denver Post
by Mike Chambers
(left) DU speedster JD Corbin had screws removed from his ankle last Friday
The University of Denver hockey team won't meet its goal of getting co-captain J.D. Corbin back in the lineup this month.
Corbin, who broke his right leg and had ankle surgery in October, said he probably wouldn't be ready until the Feb. 9-10 series at Michigan Tech.
The senior wing from Littleton will miss his 25th and 26th consecutive games tonight and Saturday when the No. 5 Pioneers host No. 4 St. Cloud State in a Western Collegiate Hockey Association showdown at Magness Arena.
Corbin last played Oct. 15 at St. Cloud State, and was hoping to return against the Huskies, who have lost just once in their past 19 games (14-1-4).
"I'm in shape, but that kind of shape is not the same as hockey shape," said Corbin, whose primary exercise has been swimming. "I could be back earlier than Michigan Tech, but not this weekend."
Corbin, the first Colorado native to be drafted by the Avalanche, began skating two weeks ago with screws in his ankle. Doctors removed the screws last Friday, and Corbin said he would resume skating after his stitches are removed Monday.
Corbin has considered applying for a medical redshirt, but said he would rather try to help the team in the final six regular-season games and playoffs. Corbin is 20, young for a college-hockey senior, and if he completes his eligibility this season, he likely would spend next season in the minor leagues.
"The team is in the hunt; we're doing awesome this year, and we got a chance to do great things," said Corbin, who won NCAA titles as a freshman and sophomore. "Plus, this is my senior year, and I want to play with my senior class and make one more run at (a third NCAA title)."
DU could get another key player back this weekend. Junior goalie Peter Mannino, who has missed two scheduled starts in the past four games because of a groin injury, is close to 100 percent.
"He's too valuable to our team to risk throwing him in there if he's not 100 percent," coach George Gwozdecky said.
Mannino has a 1.99 goals-against average and has allowed just two goals in his past four starts. He said he's "feeling good and waiting for Coach to give me the signal."
Senior goalie Glenn Fisher (2.09 GAA) has led the Pioneers to victories in three of their past four games, allowing no more than two goals in each of the three wins.
St. Cloud likely will pepper whatever goalie DU goes with this weekend. The Huskies, who produced a school-record 15-game unbeaten streak (12-0-3) from Nov. 4 to Jan. 6, are No. 8 nationally in scoring (3.67 goals).
DU, tied for 35th in scoring (2.75), isn't worried about a letdown after playing perhaps its best hockey of the season last weekend in an emotional two-game split at No. 1 Minnesota.
"The key is intensity, whether we're playing the Gophers at their place or St. Cloud here," DU junior Geoff Paukovich said. "It's a big confidence boost for us that we had a good crack at Minnesota and judged ourselves against the best."
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