From: Rocky Mountain Newsby Pat Rooney
(left) Geoff Paukovich played played for Team USA last winter
Geoff Paukovich's up-and-down career at the University of Denver has reached another peak.
The junior center hopes to remain there through the season's stretch run.
Known as one of the hardest hitters in the Western Collegiate Hockey Association, Paukovich has regained a scoring touch that has mostly been absent since his freshman season, and he will take a seven-game points streak into DU's league series this week at Michigan Tech.
That will be the Pioneers' final out-of-state trip of the regular season.
"I'm playing with good guys and we're getting the puck to the net," Paukovich said. "And on the power play, we're shooting the puck more than we did at the beginning of the year. If we're shooting the puck more, it gives me more opportunities for tips and rebounds, and that's where I'm going to get my points."
Paukovich struggled as a sophomore in the wake of a postseason hit against North Dakota's Robbie Bina in 2005 that left the Fighting Sioux defenseman with serious head and neck injuries.
Paukovich's production dropped from 22 points to 10, and he registered only one assist in the first 11 games this season. But the 6-foot-4 Englewood native has four goals and three assists during his current streak while becoming a more active force in front of the crease.
Four of Paukovich's seven goals have been game-winners.
"On a personal basis, it always feels good to contribute," Paukovich said. "But I've been through scoring slumps and scoring streaks. As cliché as it sounds, it's all about getting wins. It would have been more fun (Saturday) if my goal would have counted in a win than a loss."
NOT WELL-TRAVELED: The Tech series will be only the second trip for DU in about two months. Following their split at home against Minnesota Duluth, the Pioneers would benefit greatly from a strong road showing against a Huskies team that remains on the outskirts of the NCAA tournament picture.
DU (20-10-2, 12-8-2 WCHA) pulled into a second-place tie in the league with St. Cloud State in the WCHA, but St. Cloud and fourth-place Colorado College, which trails the Pioneers by one point, have played two fewer league games than DU. The Pioneers remain fifth in the PairWise rankings.
INJURY UPDATE: Senior forward J.D. Corbin (ankle surgery) and freshman defenseman Cody Brookwell (sprained knee) will test their injuries at practice this week in hopes of returning against Michigan Tech.
Corbin, a speedy winger who has been sidelined since he suffered ligament damage and a fractured right fibula Oct. 16, has been skating but has not participated in a full practice and has not taken contact, obstacles he hopes to clear Wednesday or Thursday.
If either player is unable to go this week, he will have extra time to heal. DU enjoys a bye next week before returning home to face North Dakota on Feb. 23.
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