Younger Players May Decide Series This Weekend

From: St. Cloud Times
by Kevin Allenspach

(left) SCSU's Garrett Roe is the leading freshman scorer in college hockey

May the team with the better youngsters win.

That’s the sentiment of Huskies coach Bob Motzko, whose team plays its first home games in more than a month this weekend against Denver.

SCSU’s Garrett Roe and Denver’s Tyler Bozak are first and third, respectively, in overall rookie scoring in the WCHA. Bozak, part of a 13-member freshman class for the Pioneers, scored both Denver goals last weekend in a split with North Dakota.

“I think the storyline is how last year both of these teams had freshmen classes that had great seasons,” Motzko said. “Now you throw in some more great WCHA talent in this year’s freshmen and it’s going to be a battle of some of the best young players in college hockey.”

Denver sophomore forwards Brock Trotter, Tyler Ruegsegger and Rhett Rakhshani have totaled 153 career points. SCSU sophomore forwards Ryan Lasch and Andreas Nödl have 122.

“The difference is they’ve got (senior goalie Peter) Mannino,” Motzko said. “He might’ve been a bit overshadowed the last couple of years with (Wisconsin’s Brian) Elliott and (SCSU’s Bobby) Goepfert in the league, but now he looks like he’s ready to take over.”

Denver has allowed two or fewer goals in all 10 wins and Mannino has every decision.

Notes: In addition to the local Charter Communications production, both games this weekend will be televised on Fox Sports Net Rocky Mountain, available via satellite & cable sports packages. Those broadcasts will have an unmistakable St. Cloud flavor in the booth. Tori Holt, who’ll call the play-by-play, is a St. Cloud State graduate. And Charlie Host, who’ll provide color commentary, is a St. Cloud Apollo graduate who went on to play at Denver from 1994-97.