from: Denver Post Colorado College freshman goalie Richard Bachman on Thursday answered the phone at his parents' house in Highlands Ranch, and was planning to go to his brother's place in Lone Tree for an afternoon Thanksgiving dinner. Later, he was scheduled to take Interstate 25 south to Colorado Springs and practice with the No. 4-ranked Tigers, who host No. 3 University of Denver tonight to begin a home-and- home series. He might not realize it now, but Bachman — considered a traitor by some DU fans — has upped the ante in the DU-CC rivalry. Since 1949, the nature of this rivalry was based on program similarities. Small private schools. High academic standards. Conference foes. And the coaching staffs went head-to-head to recruit some of the best young Canadian or northern U.S. players. The only missing element was having homegrown Front Range players star for both teams. Bachman has become that player for CC, just like Lakewood native Tyler Ruegsegger and others before him have done for DU. Ruegsegger, a sophomore who is DU's second-leading scorer, is tied for the team lead in goals, with six. "I'm excited to be a part of great tradition, a great rivalry, and it's awesome for Colorado youth hockey, because we're proving you can get this far," Bachman said. "It's a great opportunity for us." Beating Mannino won't be easy. The senior is 8-2 with a 1.31 GAA and .949 saves percentage, and has allowed more than one goal in just two games. "It's going to be a battle," Bachman said. "He's a great goalie, maybe the best in college hockey." DU coach George Gwozdecky said he isn't surprised at Bachman's success. Gwozdecky's staff recruited the Colorado native, thinking he could become Mannino's successor. Ultimately, the Pioneers decided to go with Marc Cheverie, a freshman from Cole Harbour, Nova Scotia, who has yet to see action as Mannino's backup. Former DU assistant coach Seth Appert, a former goalie, swung the vote, and then Bachman chose CC over Harvard and Cornell. "We made the decision based on Seth's input," Gwozdecky said. "Richard has stepped into a good situation. He got the opportunity and he's made the most of it." Bachman and Cheverie were selected in the 2006 NHL draft. Bachman went 120th overall to Dallas, and Cheverie to Florida with the 193rd pick. Mannino, who is 6-1-2 against CC, said of Bachman: "I know he's playing great hockey right now. You hear he's doing great things for his team. I'm looking forward to playing against him. Taking on so much as a freshman is good to see. Great to see someone have immediate success like that." 
(left) Seth Appert may be coaching RPI tonight against American International in Troy, NY, but his coaching legacy at DU will be on the line tonight in Colorado Springs
by Mike Chambers
Bachman (photo left), who grew up playing youth hockey with Ruegsegger in Littleton, has been nearly as good as DU All-America candidate Peter Mannino heading into this weekend's 264th and 265th meetings between the programs. Bachman is 7-1 — 7-0 against Western Collegiate Hockey Association foes — with a 1.62 goals- against average and .947 saves percentage.
Later, he was scheduled to take Interstate 25 south to Colorado Springs and practice with the No. 4-ranked Tigers, who host No. 3 University of Denver tonight to begin a home-and- home series.
He might not realize it now, but Bachman — considered a traitor by some DU fans — has upped the ante in the DU-CC rivalry.
Since 1949, the nature of this rivalry was based on program similarities. Small private schools. High academic standards. Conference foes. And the coaching staffs went head-to-head to recruit some of the best young Canadian or northern U.S. players.
The only missing element was having homegrown Front Range players star for both teams. Bachman has become that player for CC, just like Lakewood native Tyler Ruegsegger and others before him have done for DU.
Bachman, who grew up playing youth hockey with Ruegsegger in Littleton, has been nearly as good as DU All-America candidate Peter Mannino heading into this weekend's 264th and 265th meetings between the programs. Bachman is 7-1 — 7-0 against Western Collegiate Hockey Association foes — with a 1.62 goals- against average and .947 saves percentage.
Ruegsegger, a sophomore who is DU's second-leading scorer, is tied for the team lead in goals, with six.
"I'm excited to be a part of great tradition, a great rivalry, and it's awesome for Colorado youth hockey, because we're proving you can get this far," Bachman said. "It's a great opportunity for us."
Beating Mannino won't be easy. The senior is 8-2 with a 1.31 GAA and .949 saves percentage, and has allowed more than one goal in just two games. "It's going to be a battle," Bachman said. "He's a great goalie, maybe the best in college hockey."
DU coach George Gwozdecky said he isn't surprised at Bachman's success. Gwozdecky's staff recruited the Colorado native, thinking he could become Mannino's successor.
Ultimately, the Pioneers decided to go with Marc Cheverie, a freshman from Cole Harbour, Nova Scotia, who has yet to see action as Mannino's backup. Former DU assistant coach Seth Appert, a former goalie, swung the vote, and then Bachman chose CC over Harvard and Cornell.
"We made the decision based on Seth's input," Gwozdecky said. "Richard has stepped into a good situation. He got the opportunity and he's made the most of it."
Bachman and Cheverie were selected in the 2006 NHL draft. Bachman went 120th overall to Dallas, and Cheverie to Florida with the 193rd pick.
Mannino, who is 6-1-2 against CC, said of Bachman: "I know he's playing great hockey right now. You hear he's doing great things for his team. I'm looking forward to playing against him. Taking on so much as a freshman is good to see. Great to see someone have immediate success like that."
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