From: Rocky Mountain Newsby Pat Rooney
At least once a season, University of Denver hockey coach George Gwozdecky invites a Pioneers legend to address his team. He does it to bridge a gap between the current team and the program's storied history.
This week, it was Gerry Powers, goaltender for DU's national championship teams of 1968 and 1969, who spoke to the Pioneers before their workout Wednesday. Powers backstopped the first shutout in NCAA Championship history in a 4-0 victory over North Dakota and out-dueled Cornell's Ken Dryden in 1969 to complete the second of DU's three back-to-back National Championships
One of Powers' lasting marks, his program-best 13 shutouts, likely will be toppled soon by senior goaltender Peter Mannino, who trails Powers by one.
But Powers probably will keep his 38-year-old mark for at least another week.
While Mannino is capable of leading DU to a pair of victories in a Western Collegiate Hockey Association series that begins tonight at St. Cloud State, registering even one shutout will prove difficult.
The Huskies are one of the top-scoring teams in the country and feature two of college hockey's top four scorers.
"Every opponent has their top guys, and St. Cloud really has some offensive talent there," Mannino said. "We just have to stick to our game. We know they're out there. We respect their talent and respect what they have to offer. We'll scout them and get ready to go, but we'll stick to our game plan. We have to just work hard at what we're good at."
Like the Pioneers, St. Cloud State has relied heavily on young talent to spark an offense that is averaging 3.57 goals a game, tied for fourth-best in the nation.
Huskies sophomore Ryan Lasch is second in the nation with 23 points. Garrett Roe is the nation's top-scoring freshman with 22 points and is one of four players to register at least seven power-play goals.
"It's a great matchup," said Gwozdecky, whose Pioneers rank third in the nation in scoring defense. "Right now, you've got a contrast in two different styles. They're a team that's very good offensively. Their power play is very good."
This week, it was Gerry Powers, goaltender for DU's national championship teams of 1968 and 1969, who spoke to the Pioneers before their workout Wednesday. Powers backstopped the first shutout in NCAA Championship history in a 4-0 victory over North Dakota and out-dueled Cornell's Ken Dryden in 1969 to complete the second of DU's three back-to-back National Championships
One of Powers' lasting marks, his program-best 13 shutouts, likely will be toppled soon by senior goaltender Peter Mannino, who trails Powers by one.
But Powers probably will keep his 38-year-old mark for at least another week.
While Mannino is capable of leading DU to a pair of victories in a Western Collegiate Hockey Association series that begins tonight at St. Cloud State, registering even one shutout will prove difficult.
The Huskies are one of the top-scoring teams in the country and feature two of college hockey's top four scorers.
"Every opponent has their top guys, and St. Cloud really has some offensive talent there," Mannino said. "We just have to stick to our game. We know they're out there. We respect their talent and respect what they have to offer. We'll scout them and get ready to go, but we'll stick to our game plan. We have to just work hard at what we're good at."
Like the Pioneers, St. Cloud State has relied heavily on young talent to spark an offense that is averaging 3.57 goals a game, tied for fourth-best in the nation.
Huskies sophomore Ryan Lasch is second in the nation with 23 points. Garrett Roe is the nation's top-scoring freshman with 22 points and is one of four players to register at least seven power-play goals.
"It's a great matchup," said Gwozdecky, whose Pioneers rank third in the nation in scoring defense. "Right now, you've got a contrast in two different styles. They're a team that's very good offensively. Their power play is very good."
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