From: Rocky Mountain Newsby Pat Rooney
Ryan Dingle has become a marked man.
By scoring 45 goals in 68 games since the beginning of the 2005-06 season, the University of Denver's junior center has established himself as one of the top finishers in college hockey.
But with such success comes added attention from opposing defenses and the flip side of such prolific production - a goal-scoring drought.
Dingle, a junior from Steamboat Springs, hopes to get back on track when the fifth-ranked Pioneers begin a Western Collegiate Hockey Association series tonight against Minnesota Duluth at Magness Arena.
"You can't explain things like this," Dingle said. "As soon as the chances aren't there, that's when I'll begin to worry. Right now, the chances are there. Teams are scouting video all the way through the year, and some of the tricks from earlier in the year aren't going to work. As long as we're pulling out victories."
Dingle still leads the Pioneers with 18 goals, which ranks second in the WCHA, but his production has tapered the past 1 1/2 months. Dingle recorded his second career hat trick Dec. 9 against Minnesota State but has recorded only three goals in 12 games since.
DU coach George Gwozdecky typically does not hesitate to shuffle his top-line forwards if they are not producing but has not made such a move with Dingle, whose all-around play and team-leading 104 shots have kept him at the center of the Pioneers' top offensive line.
"I think he has played very well in many areas of his game," Gwozdecky said. "At this time of the year, in this league, it is very typical of teams to be much more aware of other teams' top players and how to defend against them. I think Ryan is facing that right now. But it's nothing we're concerned about because he is bringing so many other things to the table at the same time."
Dingle's longest goal-scoring drought during his 27-goal season last year was a seven-game midseason stretch, but Pioneers fans should be encouraged with how Dingle responded. After missing one game because of an injury, Dingle returned to score six goals in the next six games.
Dingle will face a Minnesota Duluth defense that ranks 48th in the nation in scoring defense (3.46 goals a game). Dingle scored three goals during DU's split at Minnesota Duluth earlier this season and has nine points in 11 games against it.
"We're in a game that depends so much on reading and reacting . . . you don't think about the old series and goals you scored," Dingle said. "It's reading and reacting. Whatever they give us, then you'll take it."
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Notes: Minnesota Duluth eliminated the Pioneers from the WCHA playoffs last year by winning two of three games at Magness Arena. . . . One win this weekend will give DU 20 victories for the sixth consecutive season. . . . Raymond is fourth in the WCHA in scoring and Trotter fifth. . . . Rakhshani recorded two goals and one assist during DU's split at Minnesota Duluth in late October. . . . Pioneers junior Geoff Paukovich has recorded a five- game points streak. . . . Freshman defenseman Cody Brookwell (sprained knee) is expected to miss his second consecutive series but could return for next week's series at Michigan Tech. . . . DU goaltender Peter Mannino leads the WCHA in goals-against average (1.81) and saves percentage (.937).
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