From: DU Clarion Student Newspaperby Brooks Kirchheimer
It was the second consecutive season that started off with high hopes for the DU hockey team and ended with frustration and disappointment
"It was disappointing," said Head Coach George Gwozdecky. "If I analyzed the season my summary would be somewhat similar to last season,"
As last year's season, the just-ended season featured ups and downs and ended on a down when the Pioneers lost in the first round of the WCHA playoffs to Wisconsin.
"We had a very good first third of the season transitioning our freshmen into primary roles. A good middle third of the season when our freshmen really gained confidence and our goaltenders were outstanding and the final third of the season when we really struggled; the freshmen really started to feel the pressure and our older players were not as effective," said Gwozdecky.
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A first third of the season where the Pioneers went 3-4, a second-third that featured a solid 15-3-2 mark including a 9-1-1 stretch and a final third where DU struggled with a 3-8-2 mark. The team had a hard time getting on the scoreboard and could not put together a complete hockey game.
"I don't know if it was frustrating. We really struggled in almost every game to take a lead. It just seemed that down the stretch we were fighting from behind in almost every game and with the kind of team we had, we were always much better off taking an early lead and building on it," said Gwozdecky about the final third of the season.
The NCAA West tournament was hosted by DU and held at the Pepsi Center and Denver failed to make the NCAA playoffs for a second consecutive season.
"It has probably been a little tougher this year with the regional being here in Denver. You know back in January we looked like we were a lock with just a month to go in the season, and we missed the NCAA tournament by just a mere percentage point, we were agonizingly close," said Gwozdecky about not being in post-season play for a second straight year. The Pioneers were so close to an NCAA berth that Gwozdecky was told by the tournament committee that if the Pioneers had won one more game during the season not only would the Pioneers be in the tourney, but most likely a number two seed.
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"It was disappointing," said Head Coach George Gwozdecky. "If I analyzed the season my summary would be somewhat similar to last season,"
As last year's season, the just-ended season featured ups and downs and ended on a down when the Pioneers lost in the first round of the WCHA playoffs to Wisconsin.
"We had a very good first third of the season transitioning our freshmen into primary roles. A good middle third of the season when our freshmen really gained confidence and our goaltenders were outstanding and the final third of the season when we really struggled; the freshmen really started to feel the pressure and our older players were not as effective," said Gwozdecky.
.
A first third of the season where the Pioneers went 3-4, a second-third that featured a solid 15-3-2 mark including a 9-1-1 stretch and a final third where DU struggled with a 3-8-2 mark. The team had a hard time getting on the scoreboard and could not put together a complete hockey game.
"I don't know if it was frustrating. We really struggled in almost every game to take a lead. It just seemed that down the stretch we were fighting from behind in almost every game and with the kind of team we had, we were always much better off taking an early lead and building on it," said Gwozdecky about the final third of the season.
The NCAA West tournament was hosted by DU and held at the Pepsi Center and Denver failed to make the NCAA playoffs for a second consecutive season.
"It has probably been a little tougher this year with the regional being here in Denver. You know back in January we looked like we were a lock with just a month to go in the season, and we missed the NCAA tournament by just a mere percentage point, we were agonizingly close," said Gwozdecky about not being in post-season play for a second straight year. The Pioneers were so close to an NCAA berth that Gwozdecky was told by the tournament committee that if the Pioneers had won one more game during the season not only would the Pioneers be in the tourney, but most likely a number two seed.
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The last two seasons have been dominated by the underclassmen. This season red-shirt freshman Brock Trotter led DU with 40 points on 16 goals and 24 assists, just a year after he suffered a season-ending injury. Junior and now Anaheim Might Duck prospect Ryan Dingle finished with a team-leading 22 goals along with 15 points for 37 points. Freshmen Rhett Rakhshani and Tyler Ruegsegger enjoyed a good first year as they finished with 36 and 34 points, respectively, while sophomore Chris Butler quietly accumulated 10 goals and 17 assists.
Senior goaltender Glenn Fisher finished with a career-best 2.32 goals against average in 24 games. Junior Peter Mannino, despite battling an injury, finished with a 2.29 GAA, his best since freshman year.
Next season is particularly important since DU will be hosting the Frozen Four at the Pepsi Center. Post-season work has already started for not only the players but also the coaching staff.
"Last off-season the training was very challenging for our team. It was as tough as maybe we have ever made it. There is no question our off-season will be the same over the next six months," said Gwozdecky.
Training is different for every player on the team, "Every player has different needs, some of our younger players need to get stronger, more flexible, more agile, quicker and I shouldn't just talk about our younger players, whether young or old every player has things that they need to work on," said Coach.
Although the motivation of having the west regional in Denver this season did not work out for DU, the Pioneers and Coach Gwozdecky hope that having the Frozen Four here next season will lead to better results.
"I think it is great motivation, it was motivation for us this year for the regional. Obviously the education and motivation of not getting to this tournament, knowing how darn close we were being a number two seed, one more win, one more win," said Gwozdecky about this season's.
This season might have contained some disappointment, frustration and surprise but it is over and DU is ready to start afresh next season and begin their road to the Frozen Four in Denver.
Senior goaltender Glenn Fisher finished with a career-best 2.32 goals against average in 24 games. Junior Peter Mannino, despite battling an injury, finished with a 2.29 GAA, his best since freshman year.
Next season is particularly important since DU will be hosting the Frozen Four at the Pepsi Center. Post-season work has already started for not only the players but also the coaching staff.
"Last off-season the training was very challenging for our team. It was as tough as maybe we have ever made it. There is no question our off-season will be the same over the next six months," said Gwozdecky.
Training is different for every player on the team, "Every player has different needs, some of our younger players need to get stronger, more flexible, more agile, quicker and I shouldn't just talk about our younger players, whether young or old every player has things that they need to work on," said Coach.
Although the motivation of having the west regional in Denver this season did not work out for DU, the Pioneers and Coach Gwozdecky hope that having the Frozen Four here next season will lead to better results.
"I think it is great motivation, it was motivation for us this year for the regional. Obviously the education and motivation of not getting to this tournament, knowing how darn close we were being a number two seed, one more win, one more win," said Gwozdecky about this season's.
This season might have contained some disappointment, frustration and surprise but it is over and DU is ready to start afresh next season and begin their road to the Frozen Four in Denver.
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