(above) No current DU player has ever hoisted the Gold Pan TrophyFrom: Colorado Springs Gazette
by Joe Paisley
The Gold Pan trophy in the Colorado College hockey team’s meeting room may only measure 20-some inches tall but it is much bigger in the eyes of the seniors.
Starting Friday, this year’s senior class will try to become the first to retain the traveling trophy, given to the series winner each season, for four straight years. Never allowing a Denver Pioneer to hoist the current trophy would mean a lot.
“It would be a huge honor,” senior wing Bill Sweatt said. “It represents one of the biggest rivalries in college hockey.”
The reason fifth-ranked CC (10-3-1, 7-2-1 league) has retained the copper-colored trophy is because the Tigers have gone 7-1-5 in the past 13 meetings with No. 2 Denver (9-4-1, 7-2-1). Pioneers coach George Gwozdecky is all too aware of it.
“13 games and one win do not make anyone real happy, especially if one win is associated with us,” he said. “CC has done a great job against us in the last few series.”
The tradition of the schools' hockey rivalry, dating back to the 1949-50 season, is what makes the chance for a four-year run meaningful for the seniors.
“Having grown up in Colorado makes it that much more special,” said senior captain Mike Testwuide of Vail. “It’s hard to put into words what it means.”
The current trophy is about three years old. The original pan (used by gold prospectors) was first awarded during the 1993-94 season. It was misplaced by Denver following its 2004 national championship and has never been recovered.
In 2006, the Cripple Creek and Victor Gold Mining Co. commissioned an artist and donated the current traveling trophy, which has a small inscribed pan attached to three hockey sticks atop a wooden base. The base lists each year’s series winner. In the event of a series tie, the trophy stays with the previous winner.
The home-and-home series, may also decide which team sits alone in first place atop the Western Collegiate Hockey Association standings. That only adds to an already important rivalry.
“Everyone brings their ‘A’ game,” senior defenseman Nate Prosser said. “The fans get into it too. They roar with every big shot or big hit. It gets us going.”
The freshmen should have no trouble grasping the passion of the rivalry. The 7,343-seat World Arena should be sold out with fans from both teams expected to arrive early, adding to the energy in the building.
“They’ll have a good idea by the time the puck is dropped,” Testwuide said of the freshmen. “But you don’t really know until you’ve played in one. It’s as good as it gets.”
Starting Friday, this year’s senior class will try to become the first to retain the traveling trophy, given to the series winner each season, for four straight years. Never allowing a Denver Pioneer to hoist the current trophy would mean a lot.
“It would be a huge honor,” senior wing Bill Sweatt said. “It represents one of the biggest rivalries in college hockey.”
The reason fifth-ranked CC (10-3-1, 7-2-1 league) has retained the copper-colored trophy is because the Tigers have gone 7-1-5 in the past 13 meetings with No. 2 Denver (9-4-1, 7-2-1). Pioneers coach George Gwozdecky is all too aware of it.
“13 games and one win do not make anyone real happy, especially if one win is associated with us,” he said. “CC has done a great job against us in the last few series.”
The tradition of the schools' hockey rivalry, dating back to the 1949-50 season, is what makes the chance for a four-year run meaningful for the seniors.
“Having grown up in Colorado makes it that much more special,” said senior captain Mike Testwuide of Vail. “It’s hard to put into words what it means.”
The current trophy is about three years old. The original pan (used by gold prospectors) was first awarded during the 1993-94 season. It was misplaced by Denver following its 2004 national championship and has never been recovered.
In 2006, the Cripple Creek and Victor Gold Mining Co. commissioned an artist and donated the current traveling trophy, which has a small inscribed pan attached to three hockey sticks atop a wooden base. The base lists each year’s series winner. In the event of a series tie, the trophy stays with the previous winner.
The home-and-home series, may also decide which team sits alone in first place atop the Western Collegiate Hockey Association standings. That only adds to an already important rivalry.
“Everyone brings their ‘A’ game,” senior defenseman Nate Prosser said. “The fans get into it too. They roar with every big shot or big hit. It gets us going.”
The freshmen should have no trouble grasping the passion of the rivalry. The 7,343-seat World Arena should be sold out with fans from both teams expected to arrive early, adding to the energy in the building.
“They’ll have a good idea by the time the puck is dropped,” Testwuide said of the freshmen. “But you don’t really know until you’ve played in one. It’s as good as it gets.”
2 comments:
I hope Rhett and Gwoz get the troops fired up...I am tired of those girls in the Springs taking the Pan.
DU needs to sweep this weekend. No excuses.
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