LetsGoDU

Paukovich & Bina Faceoff On The Ice

From: Rocky Mountain News & Grand Forks Herald
by Pat Rooney (RMN)

(left) Robbie Bina has 18 points and leads the WCHA with two incidents with the police this season for the University of North Dakota
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Playing on a line with Tom May and Ryan Helgason, Geoff Paukovich played one of his best games of the season Friday night. DU junior Paukovich converted a pass from Tom May early in the third to tie the game.

Friday's game marked the first time Paukovich and North Dakota defenseman Robbie Bina met on the ice since a hit by Paukovich nearly two years ago left Bina with serious head and neck injuries that kept him on the sideline the 2005-06 season.

Bina spent last season working his way back from the broken neck injury and he made his return to the ice this fall. Bina, who has 18 points in his last 18 games, declined to speak about it this week.

Last season, UND's Mike Prpich hit Paukovich between the legs with his stick off a faceoff, sparking Denver coach George Gwozdecky to stand on top of the dasher boards, protesting the action.

Gwozdecky was ejected from the game and Prpich repeatedly said he was just trying to tie Paukovich up off the draw.

The well-publicized incident cast a pall over Paukovich's appearances against North Dakota last season, but he seems to have recovered his scoring touch.

"It feels good to contribute, and it's great to see Robbie out there playing," said Paukovich, who has five goals and four assists in the past 10 games.