From Rocky Mountain Newsby Pat Rooney
The University of Denver alternate captain hoped to return for the fifth- ranked Pioneers' final two out-of-state games of the regular season, a series at Michigan Tech that begins tonight.
But after testing his surgically repaired right ankle in a full-contact practice Wednesday, Corbin and Denver's coaching staff decided to err on the side of caution.
Corbin, who has not played since Oct. 14 because of a broken fibula and ligament damage he suffered during practice the next week, did not make the trip but should return in two weeks, when Denver hosts North Dakota after next week's bye.
"Every day it's getting noticeably better," Corbin said. "I feel like I'm 100 percent up to speed right now. It's just the whole contact part, taking contact from guys, that is the biggest factor."
Because junior Tom May did not return from a season-opening suspension until after Corbin's injury, the Pioneers have not played with the complete lineup they anticipated after ending the 2005-06 season.
Denver's lineup will get shuffled again this weekend. Freshman defenseman Cody Brookwell is expected to return after missing the past two series because of a sprained knee.
But the Pioneers will play without senior forward Steven Cook, a key fixture on Denver's checking line, because the management major is taking the LSAT test.
"You always like taking those road trips - you against the world, and you get that bunker mentality," said Pioneers assistant coach Steve Miller, whose team has been on the road only once since mid-December.
"It is going to be a great challenge playing a very good Michigan Tech team that has a couple very good goalies. We're playing a team that is on the bubble for the NCAA tournament and fighting for home ice in the league."
The Pioneers recorded a win and a tie against the Huskies at home in November and can further pad their postseason credentials with a similar performance this weekend. The Pioneers are fifth in the PairWise rankings, which replicate the selection process for the NCAA tournament, and Michigan Tech is tied for 19th.
Once road bonus points are factored, the Pioneers remain fifth, but the Huskies move to No. 16, leaving Michigan Tech on the NCAA bubble while offering the Pioneers a chance to improve their PairWise equation.
"It will be good for us to get back into a competitive atmosphere on the road," Denver captain Adrian Veideman said.
"It's a huge weekend for us, not only in that we're playing a great team, but we need to rebound from last Saturday's loss (against Minnesota Duluth)."
Notes: The Pioneers are tied for second place in the WCHA with St. Cloud State and are one point ahead of fourth-place Colorado College, which plays at St. Cloud State tonight and Saturday. . . . Denver is 10-0-2 in its past 12 games at Michigan Tech. . . . Denver goalie Peter Mannino is tied for second in the nation in saves percentage (.935) and is ranked fourth in goals-against average (1.83). . . . Dingle has produced nine points in 10 games against the Huskies. . . . Trotter recorded two goals and one assist in two games against Michigan Tech earlier this season. . . . Ruegsegger has collected two goals and five assists during a five-game scoring streak. . . . Pioneers junior center Geoff Paukovich has recorded a point in seven consecutive games.
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