New York Times Previews Pioneer-Badger Series

From: New York Times
by Nathan Sandals

Usually it’s marquee non-conference matchups that draw the most attention early in the college hockey season. But a showdown in the W.C.H.A. is just too enticing too ignore this weekend. The Wisconsin Badgers head to Denver to take on the Pioneers tonight and tomorrow in a series that should give an early indication of who sits atop college hockey’s power conference.

Denver enters the weekend ranked fourth in the country, and the player to watch on the Pioneers is Rhett Rakhshani (New York Islanders). Rakhshani is more than just a guy with a cool name on skates; he has a lot of speed and soft hands around the net, making up for his relatively small frame. Along with Rakhshani, the Pioneers return Kyle Ostrow and Tyler Bozak as sophomores. That trio made up three of Denver’s top four offensive players last season.

Goaltending is the biggest unknown for the Pioneers this season. Peter Mannino, who played in 40 of Denver’s 41 games last season, has graduated and that puts sophomore Marc Cheverie (Florida Panthers) between the pipes for this season. Cheverie might not be a big name yet, but he definitely knows people in high places. Cheverie grew up in Cole Harbour, Nova Scotia. That’s right, the same town as Sidney Crosby.

Wisconsin seems slated for a down year this season. The Badgers are the 20th-ranked team in the nation right now and went 0-2 on an East Coast swing last weekend, but a couple of freshman showed some offensive spark. Forward Jordy Murray and defenseman Ryan Little both registered a pair of points in their first collegiate weekend. Murray played his prep hockey at legendary Shattuck-St. Mary’s School in Fairbault, Minn. Murray has some N.H.L. connections, too. His father, Andy, is the coach of the St. Louis Blues.

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