From: Rocky Mountain Newsby Pat Rooney
The University of Denver hockey team did not respond well in its first, and thus far only, out-of-state trip of the season.
If the Pioneers hope to start climbing the standings in the Western Collegiate Hockey Association, they will have to start packing their "A" game along with their skates and sticks.
DU will endure the always-challenging trip to Michigan's Upper Peninsula this week to face Michigan Tech in a league series that begins Friday. The Pioneers struggled during their trip to St. Cloud State a few weeks ago, losing two games by a combined 6-3 score, but coach George Gwozdecky believes that had more to do with his team's overall lackluster play than any adjustment that needs to be made on the road.
"We just weren't playing well at that point and St. Cloud played really well," Gwozdecky said. "We got a little too full of ourselves at that point. But I think we have gotten over that, and we have played better the last few games."
DU returned home and suffered a 5-2 loss to Minnesota, but the Pioneers have since won three consecutive games.
DU will leave for Houghton, Mich., on Wednesday, a day earlier than usual for a trip, in order to take a direct flight and avoid a four-hour bus ride.
"We did that last year and it worked pretty well for us," Gwozdecky said.
If the Pioneers hope to start climbing the standings in the Western Collegiate Hockey Association, they will have to start packing their "A" game along with their skates and sticks.
DU will endure the always-challenging trip to Michigan's Upper Peninsula this week to face Michigan Tech in a league series that begins Friday. The Pioneers struggled during their trip to St. Cloud State a few weeks ago, losing two games by a combined 6-3 score, but coach George Gwozdecky believes that had more to do with his team's overall lackluster play than any adjustment that needs to be made on the road.
"We just weren't playing well at that point and St. Cloud played really well," Gwozdecky said. "We got a little too full of ourselves at that point. But I think we have gotten over that, and we have played better the last few games."
DU returned home and suffered a 5-2 loss to Minnesota, but the Pioneers have since won three consecutive games.
DU will leave for Houghton, Mich., on Wednesday, a day earlier than usual for a trip, in order to take a direct flight and avoid a four-hour bus ride.
"We did that last year and it worked pretty well for us," Gwozdecky said.
7 comments:
Getting to Houghton sounds like a pain. What's the normal travel schedule for DU? Leave on Thursday for a road trip and then catch a late flight after the Saturday game? Or do they stay over Sat night and fly back on Sun?
There are three ways for DU to get to Houghton.
One is to fly into either Minneapolis or Milwaukee and bus to Houghton.
The downside is that it takes about four hours to leave DU, get to the airport, check your bags, fly and then retrieve the bags and load the buses. Then its four hours more by bus. Eight hours of travel is draining on the players.
The next method is to leave a day early and and spend the night in Green Bay. Its more expensive for the bus & hotel rental, but breaks up the trip.
The third way is to fly to either Minneapolis and then connect to Houghton or charter a plane to Houghton. Its the most expensive option, the smaller planes sometimes require that the hockey gear is sent on two flights, the connecting time in Minneapolis adds to the trip and an extra night's hotel needs to be paid for.
The fact that DU is choosing option #3, shows that Gwoz is serious about this trip. Its no accident that DU has this game scheduled during Xmas break.
Traveling to Houghton is a major pain. I went up there for games a few years ago and it sucked. Bad weather, no easy route....
I think most teams depart after the second game on Saturday to avoid having to pay for another night a hotel.....but I could be wrong about that......
Actually, the four hour bus ride is from either Duluth or Green Bay.
There are small plane conenctions into Houghton-Hancock from Minneapolis.
How about we lease them the LetsGoDU 737 corporate jet???? ;-)
The team will stay over Saturday night and catch an early flight home on Sunday morning.
anon@ 9:35 - Excellent. Partying shall be done... especially with Bozak because he's awesome!
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