DU Freshmen Shine Opening Weekend

From: Denver Post
by Mike Chambers

(left) Peter Mannino was huge in goal this past weekend against Maine

Of course, it's too early to mention University of Denver goalie Peter Mannino as a player of the year candidate and suggest that the Pioneers' freshman class can make up for the four early departures since January. But judging from what unfolded this weekend at Magness Arena, DU could have a big-time player on a nicely developing team.

The 10th-ranked Pioneers are off to a sizzling start behind their senior goalie and four freshman forwards. Mannino backstopped a 3-1 victory Saturday night over perennial power Maine and two more freshmen collected their first goals.

The victory capped a two- game sweep of the No. 15 Black Bears, who have advanced to the Frozen Four the past two years, and got DU off to a 2-0 start in its 59th season.

The Pioneers rode Mannino's 10th career shutout in a 2-0 win on opening night Friday.

"I think it's very noticeable how hard our team competes and even more noticeable that when we do make blunders how phenomenal Peter can be in making us look good," DU coach George Gwozdecky said.

Maine coach Tim Whitehead said DU "outplayed us and deserved the series" and that the Bears didn't have much of a chance with Mannino in goal.

"He's very, very impressive," Whitehead said. "He made some big stops, and timely ones, and lots of different types of saves. Saves through traffic, saves going across the net, saves on the rush. He brought out the full repertoire."

Overall, he said of DU: "We know where the bar is now."

Freshmen accounted for three of DU's five goals in the series. Kyle Ostrow scored Friday and classmates Jesse Martin and Anthony Maiani delivered Saturday.

The most heralded freshman also was impressive. Tyler Bozak took the opening faceoff that led to Brock Trotter's breakaway goal six seconds into the game, and Gwozdecky had Bozak take two draws in the final minute when Maine pulled 6-foot-7 goalie Ben Bishop for a sixth attacker.

"I like what I see right now," Gwozdecky said of his freshmen. "Maiani, Martin, Ostrow, Bozak - they've done a wonderful job. They've taken a lot in, in a short time."

Sophomore Tyler Ruegsegger centered a line with Martin and Maiani and set up the freshmen's two goals with by creating turnovers off the forecheck. Ruegsegger, whose forechecking heroics turned a 1-1 game into a 3-1 lead in the second period, had a goal and two assists for the series.

"The forecheck, we've really been trying to get in there," Ruegsegger said. "We knew Bishop would move the puck and come out and play it. We created turnovers and they turned into scoring chances."

DU played the series without sophomore Rhett Rakhshani, who had a team-high 26 assists last season. Rakhshani suffered a concussion last Sunday in an exhibition game and sat out for precautionary reasons. He likely will play Thursday when DU begins a two-game series at Notre Dame.

Last season, freshmen accounted for nearly half of DU scoring, with Trotter, Rakhshani and Ruegsegger finishing first, third and fourth on the team with 110 combined points.

Five freshman forwards, including fourth-liner Dustin Jackson, are replacing Ryan Dingle and Geoff Paukovich - who both signed NHL deals after their junior years - and the graduated J.D. Corbin, Ryan Helgason and Mike Handza.

"We're adjusting pretty well," Maiani said.

DU Announces Post Season Awards
Fisher Wins MVP, Ruegsegger's GPA Creates Buzz

From: DU Athletics Website

(left) Glenn Fisher capped off a tremendous DU Career by winning the Bill Masterton award as DU's MVP

Senior goaltender Glenn Fisher earned Most Valuable Player honors, while redshirt freshman Brock Trotter, freshman Tyler Ruegsegger and senior alternate captain J.D. Corbin earned two awards each as the University of Denver celebrated its 51st Annual Hockey Awards Evening tonight at The Cable Center on the DU campus.

In addition to honoring Fisher, the Pioneers celebrated their 2006-07 season and said goodbye to seniors Steven Cook, Mike Handza, Ryan Helgason, Danny King, Adrian Veideman, Corbin and Fisher. DU also honored junior Ryan Dingle, who left DU after three seasons when he signed a professional contract with Anaheim on March 27.

Fisher earned the Bill Masterton Memorial Award (MVP) after enjoying his finest season as a Pioneer by leading the team with a 13-9-2 overall record. He established career bests with a 2.32 goals against average and .919 saves percentage. Fisher recorded three shutouts, including back-to-back shutouts against Wisconsin and Michigan Tech, and ended Minnesota's 21-game home unbeaten streak with a 31-save shutout effort on Jan. 19. He stopped a career-high 47 shots in a 4-3 overtime win at St. Cloud State and set a personal best with a shutout minutes streak of 158:03. Fisher was named one of 10 finalists for the inaugural Lowe's Senior CLASS Award for classroom, character and community in addition to performance in the hockey rink during this season.

Trotter earned the Leading Scorer Award and "Star of the Year" Award. He made a successful return to the ice after suffering a season-ending Achilles tendon injury early last season. Trotter became the first DU freshman to lead the team in scoring since Dave Shields in 1986-87 when he netted a team-leading 40 points on 16 goals and 24 assists. He tied for the team lead with 12 multi-point games, including four three-point efforts. Trotter set a career high with three assists in DU's 5-1 win over RPI on Oct. 21. Trotter helped DU to 13 home wins and was named the No. 1 star in three games this season.

Ruegsegger was honored with the Barry Sharp Memorial Award as DU's top freshman and shared the Dr. Art Mason Award as DU's top scholar-athlete with King. Ruegsegger led the Pioneers with a +15 plus/minus rating, while finishing fourth on the team in scoring with 34 points on 15 goals and 19 assists. Ruegsegger netted two points in his collegiate debut against Miami and was named the Red Baron WCHA Rookie of the Week for Jan. 16-22. Ruegsegger tallied a 3.96 GPA in general business this year for the Pioneers, while King earned his second consecutive Dr. Art Mason Award after posting a 3.91 grade-point average in finance and marketing during his senior season.

Corbin earned his second consecutive Dr. Ken Bredesen Award for sportsmanship and first Bob Martin Memorial Award for community service. Corbin committed just two penalties for four minutes and tallied six points on two goals and four assists in 10 games. Corbin missed 30 games this season after suffering a broken leg and ankle injury in practice in October. He made a triumphant return to the lineup when he netted his first career game-winning goal in DU's 4-3 overtime win over Frozen Four participant North Dakota on Feb. 23. Corbin shared the community service award with freshman Brandon Vossberg. Corbin and Vossberg participated in the Skate with the Pioneers event to benefit the Starlight Starbright Foundation and visited local children's hospitals and elementary schools. Corbin and Vossberg volunteered for the D.U. Youth Hockey program, participated in the Qwest Food Drive and made several public appearances on behalf of the Pioneer hockey program.

Sophomore J.P. Testwuide captured the Murray Armstrong Award as DU's most improved player. Testwuide proved to be DU's most versatile player this season. He started the season as a defenseman before combining with Handza and Cook on Denver's top defensive forward line. He contributed three assists and finished third on the team with 63 penalty minutes.

Veideman was honored with the Dr. Ralph Verploeg Award as DU's most inspirational player. Veideman led the Pioneers to their sixth consecutive 21-win season and a fourth-place finish in the WCHA. The Sicamous, British Columbia, native scored 13 points on three goals and 10 assists, while recording three multi-point games. Veideman missed four games after suffering a concussion against Colorado College, but returned in time to lead the Pioneers to their 12th Wells Fargo Denver Cup championship in 15 seasons.

Sophomore Chris Butler earned the Keith Magnuson Memorial Award as DU's top defensive player. Butler earned honorable mention All-USCHO All-America honors after scoring 27 points on 10 goals and 17 assists. He earned Ice Breaker Invitational and Wells Fargo Denver Cup All-Tournament honors, while leading DU with 110 blocked shots. Butler tied for second among WCHA defensemen with 20 points and seven goals in league play. He earned Red Baron WCHA Defensive Player of the Week honors for Oct. 9-15.

DU Faculty Athletics Representative Dr. Nancy Sampson recognized DU's 10 All-WCHA Academic honorees. Zach Blom, Butler, Cook, Corbin, Fisher, Helgason, King, sophomore Patrick Mullen, Testwuide and junior alternate captain Andrew Thomas were all honored for earning a 3.0 GPA or better this season. In addition, Blom, Cook, Corbin, Fisher and King were recognized for winning WCHA Scholar-Athlete Awards for GPA's of 3.5 or better.

Thanks For A Terrific Season

Firstly and most important I want to say thank you to the Seniors. They were a part of two incredible National Championships. I often said, "If DU never won another game after Boston, I'd still owe a debt of gratitude to the players who were involved with that experience." Obviously they've tested that philospophy, but I mean it.

Thanks to Seniors Veideman, Handza, Helgason, Corbin & Cook who ALWAYS played their hearts out, often with injuries. We can't thank them enough. These guys made so many sacrifices for the Program, while others got the glory.

Thanks to Glenn Fisher who was always MONEY in the Third Period and leaves DU with one of the best winning percentages of any goaltender who played here.

And to Danny King, two rings & All-WCHA Academic Team multiple times. I'd still take King over Brett Sterling any day.

In reality the death bell tolled for this team when we lost 3-0 to CC last week. With everything on the line and so much to play for, DU couldn't answer the challange. For the first time in four years, extraordinary effort couldn't get the job done.

When you look at the second and third period last night and you see the effort extended trying to fulfill their dreams and make it to Pepsi Center, it breaks your heart. These kids wanted it badly and missed the prize by one or two wins.

This is a team that won four games in overtime. They won or tied FIVE games in the last 10 seconds of regulation or overtime. Simply amazing. The team deserved a better fate than this.

Finally to the DU fans, some of who have spent hundreds and hundreds of dollars to buy Regional tickets that are now basically worthless. You deserve more, but hopefully DU will make the Frozen Four next season and the "investment' will be worth it in the long run.
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It was an incredible season and everyone associated with the Program deserves props. I don't care if they win or lose only that they play hard. This team played their guts out repeatedly all season long, particularly during the last ten games of the season. They just weren't good enough and thats not a crime. They've introduced thousands of new fans to college hockey in Denver and revitialized the Program. Tough way to end the season but thanks again to everyone.

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And oh yeah. CC still SUCKS...

DU News & Notes From Denver Post


From: Denver Post
by Mike Chambers

• DU junior center Geoff Paukovich needed stitches Wednesday to close a gash on his arm. He was accidentally cut by a teammate's stick during practice. Paukovich will play. No word if the DU teammate who injuried Paukovich will receive the "$50 Bounty" offered on the always classy CC Tiger Hockey Message Board.

• CC senior sieve Matt Zaba is scheduled to start both games. DU likely will go with senior goaltender Glenn Fisher tonight and junior Peter Mannino in Game 2.

• DU senior wing Mike Handza said his classmates are taking heat from the coaching staff for the Pioneers' failure to lead the talented young team past inconsistency. CC coach Scott Owens, whose team mirrors DU in many ways, isn't ready to pin their six-game winless streak on his seniors. "It's more simplistic than that. It's youth," he said. "Both teams, with exception in goal, are youthful. You're going to get inconsistency."

• Nate Dewhurst, one of the few 16-year-olds playing in the United States Hockey League, committed to Denver this week for the 2008 class. The Iowa native, who plays for the Des Moines Buccaneers, also considered CC and Miami (Ohio).

New Gold Pan Unveiled

From: Denver Post
by Mike Chambers

Saturday night, nearly three years after the University of Denver lost the original Gold Pan, a new traveling trophy that signifies the state's NCAA hockey bragging rights will be unveiled at the World Arena in Colorado Springs.

At the conclusion of DU's two-game, home-and-home series against Colorado College, the new Gold Pan's manufacturer, Cripple Creek & Victor Gold Mining Co., will deliver the trophy to the winning team.

The 20-pound bronze sculpture is significantly different from the original Gold Pan, simply an authentic silver mining utensil. The new trophy is supported by three hockey sticks and a puck, with inscriptions on the face of the pan that read "DU" and "CC" in school fonts and "Rivalry since 1949."

CC coach Scott Owens oversaw the project. He was a CC assistant coach under Don Lucia when Lucia and former DU coach Frank Serratore unveiled the first Gold Pan in 1993.
"It's a big deal," Owens said.

No one has to convince DU seniors Adrian Veideman, Mike Handza and Glenn Fisher. The Pioneers took control of the Gold Pan in 2004 and have owned its rights since. But the senior class had only a brief time with the trophy as freshmen because it went missing after DU won the 2004 NCAA title.

"The senior class, especially, really wants it," Handza said. "The freshmen don't really know what it means until we either lose it or get it back."

DU needs to win both games to control the new trophy. CC needs only to tie one of the games, because the Tigers swept the Pioneers - 5-1 and 3-2 - on Dec. 1-2. The Gold Pan goes to the winner of the four-game, regular-season series, but it must be won outright.

"Players on this team haven't had success with the Gold Pan, and once you get it, it's hard to get it away," Owens said.

Fisher can't imagine losing it as a senior.

"It's a big deal, and there is a lot of other stuff riding on this weekend," he said. "We win two games and we get the trophy and third place in our league."

DU cannot finish worse than fifth in the Western Collegiate Hockey Association and is in good shape to qualify for the NCAA Tournament and begin at the West Regional at the Pepsi Center. CC could finish anywhere from third to seventh in the WCHA and is on the bubble to make the 16-team national field.

Both teams have struggled lately. DU is 1-3-1 in its past five games and has not swept a WCHA opponent in six consecutive weeks. CC is on a four-game losing streak and winless in its past six games.

"Everyone is upset with the splits we've been having, and the one point we got in Michigan Tech," Fisher said. "It's not good enough. We want a sweep."

Owens says the Tigers' struggles are "our inability to score at key times and offensive in general."

Corbin's Return Has Storybook Ending

From: Denver Post
by Mike Chambers


(left) Ryan Dingle started his first game at wing this season and was flying all around Magness Arena

The game ended in storybook fashion.

Adding to the overtime drama of winning a crucial game at home Friday night was the fact University of Denver co-captain and Littleton native J.D. Corbin was the difference.

Corbin, who returned to the lineup after missing 30 games with leg and ankle injuries, scored 2:18 into overtime to propel the Pioneers to a 4-3 come-from-behind victory over North Dakota at Magness Arena.

Off an offensive faceoff won by DU's Mike Handza, Corbin redirected a shot from defenseman Adrian Veideman past goalie Philippe Lamoureux. Another Colorado native, junior Geoff Paukovich of Englewood, tied the game at 3-3 early in the third period, and Steamboat's Ryan Dingle and Lakewood's Tyler Ruegsegger also scored for DU in an impressive offensive showing from Colorado-bred players.

Corbin, playing in just his fifth game of the season, declined to discuss what his first goal of his senior season meant from a personal standpoint. "All I care about is the win," he said. "It's playoff time, and to get a win like that is great. It's really big for us."

The victory was DU's first when they trailed after two periods, and it snapped the Fighting Sioux's NCAA-best 11- game unbeaten streak. It also increased the Pioneers' lead from one to three points over North Dakota in the WCHA.

DU Stuns Nodaks In Overtime

Box Score

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(left) Rhett Rakhshani fights for the puck against the University of North Dakota on Friday night

DENVER - After missing the last 30 games due to injury, J.D. Corbin notched the game-winning goal 2:18 into overtime to propel the No. 7 Denver Pioneers to a 4-3 victory over No. 8 North Dakota in a crucial WCHA contest before a sellout crowd of 6, 117 at Magness Arena. Ryan Dingle, Tyler Ruegsegger and Geoff Paukovich also notched a goal apiece for the Pioneers and senior goaltender Glenn Fisher recorded 20 saves as DU snapped its three-game winless streak while also bringing North Dakota's 11-game unbeaten streak to a halt.

The Pioneers overcame a stellar performance from North Dakota's top line of Ryan Duncan, Jonathan Toews and T.J. Oshie, who combined for three goals and six assists.

At nearly the midway point of the extra frame, Mike Handza won a faceoff cleanly back to Adrian Veideman (Sicamous, British Columbia) in DU's zone. Veideman fired a shot toward North Dakota's net, and Corbin was able to get enough of a tip to redirect the shot past UND goaltender Philippe Lamoureux (38 saves).

"You saw two pretty good teams going at it tonight," said Denver head coach George Gwozdecky. "We got a big draw win from Mike Handza and a great shot from the point. It may have been a lucky bounce, but I think you make your own luck. We deserved the win and really earned that bounce."

The Fighting Sioux got on the board first at 17:41 when Duncan fed a pass across the goalmouth to Oshie, who buried a shot before Fisher could slide across the crease.

DU struck back before the end of the first period when Dingle netted his team-leading 20th goal of the season. Ryan Helgason (Woodbury, Minn.) fought off two UND defenders in DU's offensive zone before slipping a pass into the slot to Dingle, who shelved a backhand over Lamoureux's left shoulder at 19:18.

Ruegsegger gave DU a 2-1 lead when he netted the 14th goal of his freshman campaign at 6:57 of the second period. Dingle led a 2-on-1 rush toward the North Dakota goal before firing a shot from the right faceoff circle that was stopped by Lamoureux. Ruegsegger corralled the rebound on the far side of the goal and fired the puck past Lamoureux, who couldn't recover in time.

UND's Oshie and Duncan again teamed up to tie the game, with Duncan being the benefactor this time on a power-play tally at 12:52. Toews then gave the Sioux a 3-2 advantage at 16:14 off assists from Duncan and Oshie.

The Pioneers evened the game, 3-3, at the 2:18 mark of the third period when Tom May walked around a UND defender and fed a pass to Paukovich, who knocked the puck home from the doorstep to account for the last goal in regulation.

DU outshot UND by a 42-23 margin. The Fighting Sioux finished 1-of-3 on the power play, while the Pioneers went 0-5 with a man advantage.

The two teams will meet again tomorrow night at Magness Arena at 7:07 p.m.

Notes: Tonight marked the first time all season that the Pioneers won a game when trailing after two periods. DU came into the game with a 0-9 record when entering the third period with a deficit ... Dingle's multi-point game was his first since Jan. 13 in a 5-2 victory over Niagara University ... Prior to the start of the game a moment of silence was observed for long-time DU Board of Trustee member Phil Hogue, who passed away on Feb. 20 at age 71 after a battle with leukemia.

(above) Vossberg gets the "business" from the MTU Goon Squad

Tech Rolls Over DU
Box Score

(left) At least the boys got to see some cool ice sculptures as those pesky Huskies snapped DU's long unbeaten streak in Houghton

HOUGHTON, Mich. - DU is proving lately that they can be beaten if they fall behind early. Tonight Michigan Tech played the spoiler as DU put up a fight but was unable to overcome a one goal deicit. DU's record when trailing after two periods is 0-9-0.

The Michigan Tech Huskies used goals by Geoff Kinrade and Tyler Skworchinski and 23 saves by Michael-Lee Teslak to defeat the Denver Pioneers 2-1 in WCHA action during Winter Carnival tonight before 3,321 fans at MacInnes Student Ice Arena. Tech improves to 13-14-4 and 8-11-4 in league play, while the Pioneers drop their second consecutive game to fall to 20-11-4, 12-9-4.

"We turned in a sub-par performance and Tech capitalized to get the win," DU head coach George Gwozdecky said. "We didn't match their intensity and got out-played most of the game."

Kinrade staked Tech to a 1-0 lead at 11:01 of the opening stanza. Kinrade buried a cross-ice feed from Ryan Bunger stick side of Peter Mannino (14 saves) on the power play. Mullen quickly tied it for DU when he scored unassisted at 13:04. Mullen picked the puck from Alex Gagne in the neutral zone and beat Teslak high to the stick side from the left faceoff circle. Each team had three shots on goal in the period.

Skworchinski tallied the game-winning goal of the second period to give the Huskies a 2-1 lead. Skworchinski beat Mannino high to the glove side from the high slot at 2:46. Tech outshot the Pioneers, 10-9, and held a 13-12 shot advantage after two periods.

The teams played a scoreless third period, despite DU finally outshooting the Huskies 12-3. DU's last chance at salvaging a tie was thwarted when Mike Handza took a roughing penalty with 1:35 remaining in the game. Gwozdecky pulled Mannino with 1:07 remaining, but DU failed to score.

The Pioneers went 0-for-5 on the power play, while Tech was 1-for-3. DU won the shot battle 24-16.

The teams play game two of the series tomorrow at 3:07 p.m. MT.

A Game To Forget As UMD Skates Past DU, 6-4

Rakhshani tallies two goals and an assist

From: DU Athletics Website

DENVER - The Minnesota Duluth Bulldogs (10-17-3, 6-14-2) recorded five special teams goals - including three power-play tallies and two shorthanded efforts - to earn a 6-4 victory over the No. 5 Denver Pioneers in WCHA action before a sellout crowd of 6,094 at Magness Arena. The Pioneers (20-10-2, 12-8-2) received two goals and an assist from freshman Rhett Rakhshani, while Adrian Veideman and Geoff Paukovich recorded a goal apiece.

"This was a night where we weren't very good and Duluth was better," said Denver head coach George Gwozdecky. "Special teams were the difference in the game. Duluth's power play was outstanding, just as it's been all year long."

The Bulldogs took a 1-0 lead on a shorthanded goal late in the first period when Bryan McGregor snuck behind the DU defense and beat a sprawling Glenn Fisher with a backhand at 17:37.

Later on the same DU power play, Rakhshani evened the score on a blast from the low slot. Stationed behind the net, Ryan Dingle made a backhand feed to Rakhshani, who beat UMD netminder Josh Johnson (22 saves) at 18:58.

A pair of power play goals staked the Bulldogs to a 3-1 advantage early in the second period. Raymond gave the Bulldogs a one-goal lead on the rebound of a Matt Niskanen shot at 3:40 before Josh Meyers buried a shot from the slot at 5:05.

The Pioneers closed the gap to one goal on a Veideman wrist shot from just inside the blueline at 8:54 before Rakhshani tied the game, 3-3, on a shorthanded effort at 13:41. Rakhshani intercepted a breakout pass by Johnson at the blueline and walked in alone before shelving a backhand.

Raymond gave UMD a 4-3 advantage after two periods on a shorthanded goal at 15:39. Paukovich evened the game briefly in the third period off a nifty feed from Mike Handza (Glenshaw, Pa.) at 11:54, but McGregor notched what proved to be the game-winner when he beat Fisher (21 saves) at 13:10 off a feed from Niskanen. Meyers added an empty-net goal with two seconds remaining to round out the scoring.

UMD finished 3-for-6 on the power play, while DU went 1-for-9 with the man advantage. The Pioneers outshot the Bulldogs, 28-27.

DU travels to Michigan Tech for a two-game WCHA series on Feb. 9-10

Dingle Anchors DU Offense

From: Rocky Mountain News
by Pat Rooney

It was not so long ago that Ryan Dingle felt as if he had the weight of the entire University of Denver hockey program resting on his shoulders.

As the only returning player from a quartet that accounted for more than 56 percent of the Pioneers' points last season, Dingle had reason to be concerned that much of DU's offense during the 2006-07 campaign would originate through him.

But with the swift emergence of DU's freshmen and the strong supporting roles accepted by the team's veterans, Dingle finds himself leading an offense that has proved to be more balanced than last season's star-laden lineup.

With DU's four offensive lines playing its particular roles to perfection, the eighth-ranked Pioneers will take a six-game unbeaten streak and five-game winning streak into the opener of a Western Collegiate Hockey Association series tonight against Wisconsin at Magness Arena.

Dingle, whose 16 goals lead the WCHA, again is leading DU's top line, but the three pairings behind the junior center and his linemates, freshmen Brock Trotter and Rhett Rakhshani, are offering plenty of support at both ends of the ice.

"Last year, I felt the need for me to produce every single night," said Dingle, a junior from Steamboat Springs. "Now, with that pressure off, it's nice when you can fit into your role and have confidence in the other lines. How well the other lines are clicking is definitely a relief."

Dingle was one of four DU skaters to record at least 39 points last season, but behind that group, the Pioneers offense often sputtered and stalled.

This season, third-liners Geoff Paukovich, Ryan Helgason and Patrick Mullen have combined with a gritty fourth line of Steven Cook, Mike Handza and J.P. Testwuide to provide stingy defense and timely offense.

Unlike last season, when coach George Gwozdecky had to adjust the line combinations almost every game out of necessity, the Pioneers' forward lines have remained largely consistent throughout the season.

"Our upperclassmen have done a tremendous job, with the roles

they've been asked to play, of accepting willingly," Gwozdecky said.

DU enters the series in second place in the WCHA, three points behind league-leading Minnesota. Wisconsin has struggled in the wake of its 2006 national title and enters in a tie for seventh place.

The Pioneers swept the Badgers on the road in November and has had success against Wisconsin the past few seasons. DU is 6-0-1 in the past seven games against the Badgers and has lost only twice in the past 18 matchups.

"(Wisconsin) has had a couple tough weekends, but in the WCHA, any team can pull off anything," Helgason said.

DU's Penalty Kill Unit Blocks Shots

From: Denver Post
by Mike Chambers

Goaltending is undoubtedly the University of Denver's biggest strength. However, the unselfish and often overlooked penalty-killing performances from the players in front of Glenn Fisher and Peter Mannino are hidden behind the goalies' stout statistics.

Fisher and Mannino rank first and second in the Western Collegiate Hockey Association in save percentage at .933 and .927, respectively. Nationally, they are fourth and ninth, and the only WCHA goalies in the top 10.

While taking nothing away from his two goalies, DU coach George Gwozdecky said fourth- line senior forwards Steven Cook and Mike Handza have been equally good in keeping the puck out of the DU net. Cook, Handza and sophomore J.P. Testwuide make up a line that takes regular shifts at even strength and is among the first two forwards to be sent out in a penalty-killing situation.

The Pioneers, who are a work in progress offensively - they rank 35th among 59 Division I teams in goals-per-game (2.82) and power plays (15.7 percent) - have not allowed a power-play goal in three consecutive games and only one in their past 19 short-handed situations. They have killed off 88.3 percent of their penalties for the season, which ranks sixth nationally.

Gwozdecky said volunteer coach Matt Laatsch, a former defenseman and captain of DU's 2005 NCAA championship team, and longtime assistant Steve Miller have developed a penalty-killing system around getting in position to block shots. The system requires absorbing shots off some of the most tender and nonpadded parts of the body - such as the stomach and inside of the forearm - and works only if forwards such as Cook and Handza are willing to take the pain.

"Matt Laatsch and Steve Miller have done a real good job of taking our strengths as an unselfish penalty-killing team and really highlighting that," Gwozdecky said. "Any good successful penalty kill is based on blocking shots. It's been emphasized, and our penalty-killers are proud of what they can accomplish with blocking shots. They've really accepted it and have fierce pride in killing penalties."

The Pioneers (14-6-2, 8-4-2, second in WCHA) take a six-game unbeaten streak (5-0-1) into this weekend's two-game series against visiting Wisconsin (8-10-2, 5-6-1 tied for seventh), the defending NCAA champion.

DU blocked 25 shots in Saturday's 2-1 Denver Cup title-game victory over Massachusetts- Lowell. The River Hawks attempted 75 shots and missed the net on only 13 of them. Fisher stopped the first 36 shots that were on target, but lost his shutout when the visitors scored with 4.3 seconds to play.

It was the only goal DU allowed in the Denver Cup and marked the 17th time in the past 18 games the Pioneers allowed three goals or fewer. Mannino backstopped a 3-0 victory over Mercyhurst in Friday's semifinals.

"UMass-Lowell played very well, and gave us fits at times, and probably had more scoring chances," Gwozdecky said. "But like we've been throughout the year, we were opportunistic at the offensive end and got a sensational performance from Glenn Fisher. I couldn't be prouder of (Fisher and Mannino). We'll ride those guys and our penalty-killers as long as we possibly can."

The "Big Week" Is Upon Us

From: Rocky Monatain News

by Pat Rooney

J.D. Corbin's injury-forced hiatus will not be any more frustrating than it will be this week as the University of Denver prepares to renew its feisty rivalry with Colorado College.

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"It's always the fun part of the year, to play in those big rivalries," Corbin said. "It will be hard to sit out."

Corbin, a senior wing who has been sidelined since he suffered a severe right ankle injury six weeks ago, is a Littleton native who has flourished against CC.

Corbin recorded two goals and four assists in four games against the Tigers last season but will remain on the sideline when the rivals begin a home-and-home series Friday in Colorado Springs.

At least by then, Corbin should be heartened by clearing a major hurdle in his recovery from a broken fibula and ligament damage in his ankle.

Corbin has been doing exercises in a pool for about three weeks, but otherwise, has had his lower leg encased in a protective boot. That boot will be removed if a series of X-rays scheduled for today reveals, as expected, adequate progress.

"The bone should be fully healed, and everything looks really good," said Corbin, who hopes to return before the end of January. "They want to take a look at the two screws that they put in to make sure those are in there pretty solid and that the bone hasn't broken around there anywhere.

"It's kind of hard to tell now, because I haven't been able to walk on it at all, but it feels good in the pool."

DU (9-4-1, 5-2-1 Western Collegiate Hockey Association) will take a seven-game unbeaten streak into the series and has gone 6-0-1 in its past seven games against the Tigers. CC (8-5-1, 5-3-0) had a five-game winning streak snapped with a loss Saturday at North Dakota.

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Return Of Gold Pan: The Gold Pan trophy DU and CC compete for finally will be resurrected before the end of the season.

The original Gold Pan went missing after DU reclaimed it in 2004, a victim of the jubilation that followed the Pioneers' first national championship in 35 years. Because the prize has to be won outright to wrest it from the team in possession, DU has not had to produce a new Gold Pan thanks to its recent dominance in the series.

The teams hope to unveil a new trophy when they meet again at the end of the regular season.

"The word from (CC coach) Scott Owens is that it's being constructed," DU coach George Gwozdecky said. "He sent me preliminary sketches and photos of the prototype. It's going to be really nice."

SHIFTED: DU's J.P. Testwuide has found a new home at forward.

Testwuide, a Vail native and a natural defenseman, has seen spot duty up front but will remain there permanently after striking some chemistry on the Pioneers' checking line with seniors Mike Handza and Steven Cook.

"It's funny how that line was just kind of thrown together," Gwozdecky said. "They like the role they play. Both Mike and Steven have asked if J.P. can be on their line full time. The way they're playing, they are going to stay together."

ETC.: DU has killed 32 of 34 penalties in the past six games . . . Trailing 3-2 in the third period, Air Force got goals from Josh Print and Brian Reese to beat Robert Morris 4-3 on Sunday in Colorado Springs. The win snapped a six-game losing streak to the Colonials.

DU Squeeks By Air Force

From: Rocky Mountain News
by Pat Rooney
Photo: Jack Dempsey @ AP
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(left) Mike Handza welcomes Air Force Goalie Peter Foster to Denver

It was a collision between the most dangerous scoring force in college hockey and the nation's hottest goaltender.

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Give University of Denver goalie Glenn Fisher the nod, though just barely.

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Fisher watched his shutout streak end but, thanks to a pair of goals by Ryan Dingle during special-teams chances in the second period, the senior netminder was able to extend his personal winning streak to three games as DU recorded a 2-1 win against Air Force in a nonconference game at Magness Arena.

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Fisher held the high-scoring Falcons to a lone goal on 23 shots, leading a rugged DU defensive effort focused on slowing Air Force junior center Eric Ehn, who entered the contest as the nation's leader in points and goals.

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DU (8-4-1) extended its unbeaten streak to six games heading into tonight's match against Robert Morris University and has won 19 consecutive games against the Falcons.

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AFA (7-7-1), which outshot its Front Range rival 23-22, hosts Robert Morris on Sunday. DU held the Falcons to an 0-for-6 effort on the power play and has allowed only two power play goals in 30 chances during the past five games.

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"(Air Force) works just has hard as any team in the NCAA," said Fisher, who posted shutouts in his previous two starts. "They have got a good (top) line and they have been putting up points. We knew we had to beat them and stay disciplined to keep them off their power play. Everyone is buying into our PK system. Everyone is communicating really well and it's paying off."

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Dingle put the Pioneers on the board during a power-play chance at the 3:52 of the second period, charging the far post to convert a pass that Brock Trotter slid through the crease.

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A DU penalty moments later gave the Falcons a chance to regain the momentum, but Dingle raced out of the Pioneers zone after an AFA turnover to record a short-handed goal on a breakaway, giving DU two goals in a span of 1:32.

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Dingle increased his team-leading goals total to 10, and his power-play tally moved the junior from Steamboat Springs into a tie for ninth place among DU's all-time leaders in power-play goals since that statistic was first tracked during the 1977-78 season.

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"It's always good to let the other guys move the puck around," Dingle said. "As long as I can sneak into the backside or find a nice opening, we'll take it."

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Fisher kept his scoreless streak intact even after the Falcons twice drew iron on scoring chances, but Ehn finally ended Fisher's streak at 158 minutes, 3 seconds when he scored his 15th goal with less than 2 minutes remaining in the second.

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AFA, though, could not produce an equalizer despite a furious flurry after it pulled goaltender Peter Foster with 1:41 remaining. Fisher and DU coach George Gwozdecky both credited DU's fourth offensive line of center Mike Handza, Air Force transfer Steven Cook, and Vail native J.P. Testwuide for slowing the Falcons' prolific top line of Ehn, Mike Phillipich and Andrew Ramsey

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"Glenn played well and our special teams performed well," Gwozdecky said. "I thought the line of Cook, Handza and Testwuide did a great job of keeping their top line in check. Their top line is scary."

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DU Lineup vs. Air Force

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Trotter - Dingle - Mullen

Gifford - Ruegsegger - Rakhshani

Vossberg - Paukovich - Helgason

Cook - Handza -Testwuide

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Veideman - Seabrook

Thomas - Marcuzzi

Butler - Brookwell

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Fisher

DU's Road Trip Assistance Team Hits Madtown

Editor's Note: I'd like to apologize for the length of this article, but certain DU fans, who couldn't get permission from their spouses to go to Madison, are "Badgering" me for EVERY detail from this weekend. Its sad really to think that their lives have been reduced to going on a boyz weekend via a blog....The following is a recap of last weekend as four DU fans embark on a journey to find the perfect Bratwurst. Oh yeah, the DU hockey team happens to be in Wisconsin the same weekend. What are the odds?

Chicago 2 PM (Friday) - Hertz Car Rental in Chicago. The "gang" arrives on schedule. Brad from LA, Kent & CO14ers from Denver, and yours truly from Texas. We have 5 hours til faceoff. Plenty of time to get to Madison and down a few pregame brats & beers. The SUV has a DVD player and "DU's Championship Run 2004-05" is whirling away.

Chicago 2:05 PM - Traffic in Chicago has not moved an inch in over 5 minutes as we attempt to get on I-90. We decide to drive via Milwaukee, despite the longer distance, at least we're moving.
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Somewhere South of Milwaukee 4 PM - The traffic slows to a crawl and the next 50 miles takes two hours. Still no Brats on the side of the freeway. What kind of a state is Wisconsin?

Brookfield, WI 4:30 PM - Now it starts sleeting, we're an hour and a half behind schedule and faster than you can say, "Snow blindness and pitch dark at 4:30 in the afternoon" it starts snowing...

Between Brookfield & Madison 5:30 PM - We're crawling along at 20 MPH, its snowing like crazy and its looking doubtful for making the game on time. The 140 mile trip will exceed 5 hours.

Brad: (helpfully mentions) "Next time lets pay the extra $50 and fly directly into Madison or Milwaukee."

dg: "Man Law"

The Gang: "Man Law"

Did I mention its cold? It turns out that over 50 cars crash on and off the freeway that night. Cars have run into freeway signs, each other and are stuck in the mud. Its the first snowfall of the season.

Kohl Center 7:30 PM - We arrive in our seats with five minutes remaining in the first period. Luckily its still 0-0. That's the great thing about watching the Badgers & Brian Elliott. You can miss the whole first period and you'll never miss a goal.
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Kohl Center 7:35 - Bucky Badger's crack security staff is on to us from the get go. Kent's Cow Bell has been confiscated within five minutes and a Boone poster was denied admission because "he didn't have a ticket." And we thought Magness security was tight. Sheesh.

The Wisconsin Student Section is fantastic. They bump and grind, sing along with the Band and dance in sync. However, its not really intimidating. Its more like watching a Broadway production with catchy showtunes (think Guys & Dolls or Cats). DU goaltender Glenn Fisher only has two career shutouts and both of them are in Kohl Center. Clearly he's not intimidated. Glenn apparently likes showtunes.

1st Intermission Kohl Center - Brad and I can't wait to have a brat, so we have one at the Kohl Center. They're not bad, but we didn't come a thousand miles for this. Brad orders a second brat. They're served on a hot dog bun, which I've learned from my pre-trip research is immoral.

Kohl Center 9:30 PM - Its the 3rd Period and Mike Handza scores on a rebound off Elliott. Whats the biggest mortal lock in college hockey? A one goal lead over the Badgers. Their offense is terrible and DU's defensemen and forwards have blocked 22 shots. Game over and DU eventually wins 2-0.

State Street, Madison 10 PM - We agree on dinner at Gino's Italian Restaurant on State Street. No brats dang it, but we're starving.
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At Gino's we have a real sassy waitress from Kosovo named Emma. Since she's from a war-torn country, I leave her an extra large tip. She's sexy in a "Wartorn-refugee-kind-of-way."
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dg: "When you hit forty years old, any waitress that sort-of-kind-of flirts with you automatically gets a 30% tip."

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The Gang: "Man Law"

Somewhere off State Street, Midnight - We're trying to get back to our car, but its so bitterly cold that we seek refuge in bars every four blocks to "warm up." This is how we end up at the Doubletree's "Badgerland Bar" and say "hello" to several of the National Champs from DU's 1968 & '69 teams.

Church Key Bar on State Street 1 AM - Somehow we end up back on State Street with some young UW students as tour guides. The Church Key Bar looks sort of like a Church, except that the drunk parishioners keep flipping off CO14ers in his Denver hockey jersey.
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A student challenges me to a beer chugging contest. The same thing happened to Clint Eastwood, every time he rolled into a new town. Some young gunslinger would challenge him. I tell the kid he's not ready, hoping he'll go away. Not to be denied he steps up the banter and inevitable happens. The kids loses and he has an incredulous look on his face.

"I've never lost before," he stammers and he looks hurt. I'm thinking its a good thing he wasn't a gunslinger or he'd be boots up on State Street right now.
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Saturday Noon - State Street Brats has come highly recommended, so we head there to watch the Badger football game. Surprisingly most of the older Wisconsin fans aren't eating the brats. I ask one guy why and he says, "Triple Bypass" and points to his heart. He sadly looks at my brat literally oozing with mustard, onions and fixin's.
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Turns out the guy's name is Bill and although he can't eat brats because of his heart condition, he's got a ton of funny stories about Wisconsinites. He claims that people in Northern Wisconsin, "eat so many brats that the only vegetables they eat in the winter are ketchup and pickles." Scurvy & heart disease must be a big problem in Wisconsin.
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Bill gets so excited when the Badger football team scores a touchdown, he spills his beer all over the table. I'm wondering what his heart surgeon had to say about alcohol.
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Saturday 2:30 PM - I stagger down State Street because I'm so full of brats. I've eaten three brats and I'm trying to figure out how Kobayashi eats 56 hot dogs at Nathans.
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Saturday 5 PM - Pregame is at a restaurant/bar named Nitty Gritty, which is a Madison institution. Its packed to the gills and there has to be 500 plus people jammed in there. It a sea of red as Badger fans binge drink cocktails before the game.
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Kohl Center - DU and Wisconsin battle for almost 65 minutes and DU wins on a miracle shot with 14 seconds left in overtime. This means two things, DU improves to 11-1-2 all-time in the Kohl Center and we're going to be showered with obscenities as we walk down State Street tonight..
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Dinner @ Ginos 10 PM - Over dinner, I offer to buy the Kohl Center and UW Student Section for $120 million from the University of Wisconsin. To me it seems like a no-brainer. DU finally gets a Home Arena that they can win in, Wisconsin moves back into Dane County Coliseum where they were unbeatable and Madison gets 3,000 drunks off the streets. I'm still waiting to hear back from the UW Board of Regents.
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Sunday 10 PM - Somehow I made it home after spending half the day at O'Hare Airport. DU won't be playing in Madison next season due to the WCHA schedule rotation. This means two things: DU will have two less victories next season and it will be at least two years before I get another good bratwurst.

DU Leases Wisconsin's Kohl Center

It might be time to rename the Kohl Center "The Aquarium," because the Fish has the joint in lockdown mode. Thats Glenn Fisher who ran his Kohl Center scoreless streak to over 120 minutes and turned in a stellar effort with 27 saves.

Fellow senior Mike Handza tallied the game-winning goal as the Denver Pioneers blanked Wisconsin 2-0 tonight before 13,684 fans at the Kohl Center. The Pioneers also improved to 10-1-2 all-time at the Kohl Center since the building opened in 1998.

"Glenn was really good in net for us tonight," DU head coach George Gwozdecky said. "We picked up our play as the game went along and played a good third period. Our penalty kill was very effective and Mike gave us the goal we needed to get the win."

The shutout was Fisher's second of his career and second against the Badgers at the Kohl Center. Fisher improved to 4-2 this season with his third consecutive strong outing. After two scoreless periods, Handza slid a shot past All-American goaltender Brian Elliott off a rebound from a shot by T.J. Fast at 2:29 of the third period for the game-winner. The game-winning goal was the third of Handza's career. Both of his goals last season were game-winners.

Redshirt freshman Brock Trotter iced the game with a goal at 17:15 off a great feed from defenseman Chris Butler. DU killed off all five Wisconsin power-play opportunities and outshot the Badgers 32-27 in the win.

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Gifford - Dingle - Rakhshani

Trotter - Ruesegger - Mullen

Glasser - Paukovich - Helgason

Cook - Handza - Testwuide

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Butler - Veideman

Seabrook - Fast

Thomas - Marcuzzi

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Fisher

DU blows lead, falls to RPI

RPI 2, DENVER 1

By Mike Chambers
Denver Post

The protégé beat the mentor.

This wasn't as bad as last season's losses at home to Princeton or Ferris State, but the University of Denver's 2-1 loss to visiting RPI in the Pioneers' home opener Friday night hurt in a different way.

Engineers coach Seth Appert, a former assistant for DU until accepting the top job at RPI in April, registered his first career victory against his mentor, George Gwozdecky, before a sellout homecoming crowd of 6,112 at Magness Arena.

The Pioneers (2-3) outshot RPI 39-24 but blew a 1-0 lead and failed to convert on two 5-on-3 power plays, finishing 1-of-9 with the man advantage and falling to 5-of-40 for the season. RPI (1-0-1) got a 5-on-3 power-play goal from captain Kirk MacDonald to tie it at 1-1 midway through the second period, and Seth Klerer scored the winner 5:10 into the third period on a nifty wrist shot from the left circle.

Goalie Peter Mannino (0-2, 22 saves) took the loss for DU, which is 1-2 in nonconference play after splitting a two-game Western Collegiate Hockey Association series last weekend at St. Cloud State. RPI, which tied Boston University last week, is certainly headed in the right direction with Appert at the helm.

"We knew that RPI coming in was a very competitive team, playing with a lot of enthusiasm," Gwozdecky said. "Seth has done a wonderful job, and we're proud of him. However, any loss is a difficult loss to accept. It's homecoming, and we want to do well in front of our fans and hockey alumni, and to not to perform better and execute better is disappointing."

DU's offense is focused on its young forwards: freshmen Tyler Ruegsegger, Brock Trotter and Rhett Rakhshani, and sophomore Patrick Mullen. Trotter scored DU's goal and, along with the other youngsters, looked to have the potential for a productive career.

The Pioneers are getting little help from upperclassmen forwards - junior Geoff Paukovich and seniors Ryan Helgason, Mike Handza and Steven Cook remain pointless.

"There's no question, it's a concern," Gwozdecky said of the foursome's offensive struggles. "We need to be able to rely on more than just one line to create offense. We had some really terrific opportunities, but we have certain guys that are squeezing the stick hard, certain guys that aren't competing well in an offensive manner."

Sophomore defenseman T.J. Fast served a one-game suspension for academic reasons, and sophomore defenseman Chris Butler will be out of the lineup in Saturday's two-game series finale for the same infractions.

DU Gets The Train Back on Track

Pioneers show turnaround, going 3-of-9 on PP

By Mike Chambers Denver Post Staff Writer

Oxford, Ohio - This was no ordinary consolation game. It felt like a preview.

After absorbing an opening-night loss Friday to fired-up Miami (Ohio), No. 9 Denver positively identified itself Saturday in a 3-2 victory over No. 14 Colgate.

The IceBreaker Invitational third-place game didn't seem like a one-goal affair - the much-quicker Pioneers dominated in every area except finishing.

At even strength, DU failed to convert on countless odd-man rushes, but the Pioneers' power play produced three second-period goals, plus a fourth that was disallowed because of a faulty peg that dislodged the net to keep the Raiders alive.

The Pioneers (1-1) finished 3-of-9 on the power play after going 1-of-15 in Friday's 5-2 loss to tournament host Miami. Chris Butler, Ryan Dingle and Patrick Mullen got the goals Saturday, and senior goalie Glenn Fisher (24 saves) spearheaded a solid defensive effort.

"The power play was our big weapon, and after (Friday's) debacle, to have it turn around and be effective was a good sign," DU coach George Gwozdecky said. "I really believe the capability and potential of this team is huge."

Butler tied it at 1 early in the second period with his second rising wrist shot in as many games. After Adrian Veideman's 5-on-3 power-play goal was waved off at 8:59, Dingle gave DU the lead at 9:48, stuffing in a rebound.

Mullen's game-winner was a between-the-circles redirect from a shot by freshman defenseman Keith Seabrook at 18:52.

Colgate (0-2) got within 3-2 with 3:20 remaining by capitalizing on a tripping penalty by DU freshman forward Brian Gifford, but the Pioneers hung on.

Afterward, their only concern was the lack of success with finishing in transition. The Pioneers created turnovers and made breakout passes that led to oddman rushes, but their creativity in front of the net was weak.

"This weekend we had our ups and downs, but we need to focus on the good," Dingle said. "As long as we get the transition game going we're going to be good."

Dingle centered the No. 1 line with freshmen Brock Trotter and Rhett Rakhshani. Freshman Tyler Ruegsegger centered the second line with sophomore Mullen and senior J.D. Corbin. Seniors Mike Handza and Steven Cook played on the checking line with Gifford, and junior Geoff Paukovich and senior Ryan Helgason spot-shifted.

DU used seven defensemen and 11 forwards to gain more experience for its deep blue-line corps. Freshman Cody Brookwell was the extra defenseman, making his collegiate debut, and freshman Matt Glasser was scratched.

DENVER POST THREE STARS
1. Chris Butler - The sophomore defenseman got DU's second-period rally going with his second goal in as many games.
2. Tyler Burton - Had both goals for the Raiders.
3. Glenn Fisher - Pioneers' senior goalie was solid throughout.

WHAT YOU MIGHT HAVE MISSED
The goal-peg malfunction that disallowed Adrian Veideman's goal also forced two stoppages of play and nearly disallowed DU's ensuing goal before officials ordered up a power tool to drill deeper holes in the ice to stabilize the south net.

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DU Lineup vs. Colgate

Offense
Steven Cook - Michael Handza - Brian Gifford

Brock Trotter - Ryan Dingle - Rhett Rakhshani

Patrick Mullen - Tyler Ruegsegger - J.D. Corbin

Geoff Paukovich - Ryan Helgason

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Defense

T.J. Fast - Keith Seabrook
Adrian Veideman - Andrew Thomas

J.P. Testwuide - Chris Butler

Cody Brookwell
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Goaltender
Glenn Fisher

How much longer til the Frozen Four?

The High Priced Talent Takes a Break
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Von Ryan Express Leads DU to Victory

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Mystery, Alaska - DU's new line of Ryan Dingle, Ryan Helgason and Mike Handza have scored a pair of goals in each of their two games together. Thanks to their efforts DU is finally scoring even strength goals and winning hard fought games at a critical point of the season.

DU had to know that Alaska-Anchorage's record when taking less than 25 shots in a game was 1-13-1. Credit the Pioneers to holding UAA to just 15 shots in the entire game and escaping with a 3-2 victory. Late in the game with DU clinging to a one goal lead, UAA had a 5 on 3 power play for 1:45 and only got one shot off. The Ryan's, Helgason and Dingle, contributed a goal and assist each and Matt Carle notched two assists back in his hometown.

The story of the game was UAA third string goaltender Mike Rosett who was called into duty when Nathan Lawson went down with a knee injury (photo above) at the eight minute mark of the First Period. He played a great game and held the Pioneers to three goals.

DU was able to use the same line combinations for the second game in a row for the first time in what seems like forever. Perhaps the continuity led to the great team defense.

With Minnesota's victory over Wisconsin the Pioneers are just two points out of first place in the WCHA.

Denver Lineup
LW Steven Cook - C Geoff Paukovich - RW J.D. Corbin
LW Patrick Mullen - C Gabe Gauthier - RW Paul Stastny
LW Ryan Dingle - C Michael Handza - RW Ryan Helgason
LW Tom May - C Ted O'Leary -RW Jon James

LD Matt Carle - RD T.J. Fast
LD Adrian Veideman - RD Andrew Thomas

LD Chris Butler - RD J.P. Testwuide

G Glenn Fisher

Duluth Blows Another Lead
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For those of you keeping score at home Duluth has held a lead over the University of Denver in seven straight games. The good news is that DU is 5-1-1 in those games. Of course there was the Frozen Four collapse, followed by two straight third quarter blowups last year in Duluth that resulted in a win & a tie for the good guys. Then another win and a loss in Denver last season. Which sorta kinda brings us to this past weekend. Dualing 1-0 leads that quicky evaporated under a Pioneer onslaught.

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Saturday night was a textbook collapse. After out shooting DU 10-2 and seizing the aforemented lead in the First Period, DU came back with three straight goals by Chris Butler and Michael Hanza in the Second Period and everyone's All-American Paul Stastny in the Third to round out the scoring.

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It wasn't a dominating victory by any stretch of the imagination, but a road sweep in the WCHA against determined opposition is always welcome. DU also held the Bulldogs without a Power Play goal all weekend.