(above) Anthony Maiani is DU's leading scorerSpecial to LetsGoDU
By Pat Rooney
Watching him bob and weave with the puck through much bigger defenders, it is easy to wonder how University of Denver forward Anthony Maiani has raised his game to elite levels despite his diminutive stature.
But, the truth is, Maiani does not really know any difference. From the moment he laced up his first pair of skates, Maiani pretty much has always been the smallest guy on the ice.
Raised in Shelby Township, Michigan, the 5-foot-7 Maiani was introduced to the game by his older brother and some of the Maiani family’s older neighbors across the street. Always forced to scrap and claw against the bigger boys, Maiani, DU’s leader in assists and points heading into the first round of the Western Collegiate Hockey Association playoffs this weekend against Alaska Anchorage, developed a style that has served him well during his breakout sophomore campaign.
“It actually started with the neighbors across the street. They were about four years older than me, and they got my brother started,” Maiani said. “Then a year after that I got started playing hockey with them in the street. They always put me in goal because I was the youngest. So it just started from there.
“I grew up always playing a year up, and I feel like that was a big thing because there were always bigger guys who were older and more experienced. Even playing juniors and coming to college, it was always older guys. I’m kind of used to now.”
Maiani’s emergence is a big reason why the Pioneers have all but secured a berth in the NCAA tournament as they begin their quest to defend their WCHA tournament crown. Maiani has paced an offense that has displayed much more versatility compared to a year ago, while also helping DU overcome the mid-season loss of center Tyler Bozak to a knee injury.
Maiani, owner of 11 goals and 28 assists, has been DU’s most consistent contributor throughout the season, beginning the year with seven points in the first five games and posting a team-leading 10 multiple-point games. Maiani, who collected 15 points in 40 games as a freshman, surpassed last year’s scoring total in the 14th game of the season.
“Obviously he has been a big part of picking up the slack from Tyler Bozak,” DU coach George Gwozdecky said. “I wouldn’t say he is the guy that has stepped into Bozak’s shoes, but he’s certainly taken part of the load and has done a good job. He’s an offensive player. He’s got good speed, good quickness, and he’s got a great knack for finding open people. Whether he plays winger or at center, he’s got that ability to make people around him better because he can get the puck on their stick.”
Much of Maiani’s emergence can be traced to the work he put in during the offseason with strength and conditioning coach Mike Sanders.
Originally, Maiani was slated to spend another year in the United States Hockey League before joining DU for the 2008-09 campaign. But when Geoff Paukovich signed a pro contract during the summer of 2007, Maiani wound up being fitted for a Pioneers sweater one year earlier than planned.
Maiani readily admits the pace and physical nature of the college game wore him down during his freshman season. Once DU’s offseason conditioning program began, Maiani set out to correct that shortcoming.
“Maiani is not the first kid to come in, and they get knocked around a lot and you see them get knocked off the puck a little easily,” Sanders said. “As time goes on, you put some strength on him and some size, and all of the sudden they are not getting knocked aside as easily as they once did. That’s a huge component. You take what you have and you improve on what you’ve got.”
Physically stronger and monumentally more confident, Maiani is looking to make an even bigger postseason mark than he made last year, when he tallied two goals and two assists in DU’s five postseason games, including the only goal in the Pioneers’ series-clinching victory against Minnesota-Duluth in the first round of the WCHA tournament.
“I actually stayed here most of the summer training with coach Sanders, and a lot of the guys also stayed,” Maiani said. “That’s a lot better for working out, and it got me faster and stronger so I could play with the big guys. Last year, I remember there were times around Christmas when I was tired and I was ready to go home. This year, I still feel like I’m at the top of the game. I’m not too worn out or anything.”
By Pat Rooney
Watching him bob and weave with the puck through much bigger defenders, it is easy to wonder how University of Denver forward Anthony Maiani has raised his game to elite levels despite his diminutive stature.
But, the truth is, Maiani does not really know any difference. From the moment he laced up his first pair of skates, Maiani pretty much has always been the smallest guy on the ice.
Raised in Shelby Township, Michigan, the 5-foot-7 Maiani was introduced to the game by his older brother and some of the Maiani family’s older neighbors across the street. Always forced to scrap and claw against the bigger boys, Maiani, DU’s leader in assists and points heading into the first round of the Western Collegiate Hockey Association playoffs this weekend against Alaska Anchorage, developed a style that has served him well during his breakout sophomore campaign.
“It actually started with the neighbors across the street. They were about four years older than me, and they got my brother started,” Maiani said. “Then a year after that I got started playing hockey with them in the street. They always put me in goal because I was the youngest. So it just started from there.
“I grew up always playing a year up, and I feel like that was a big thing because there were always bigger guys who were older and more experienced. Even playing juniors and coming to college, it was always older guys. I’m kind of used to now.”
Maiani’s emergence is a big reason why the Pioneers have all but secured a berth in the NCAA tournament as they begin their quest to defend their WCHA tournament crown. Maiani has paced an offense that has displayed much more versatility compared to a year ago, while also helping DU overcome the mid-season loss of center Tyler Bozak to a knee injury.
Maiani, owner of 11 goals and 28 assists, has been DU’s most consistent contributor throughout the season, beginning the year with seven points in the first five games and posting a team-leading 10 multiple-point games. Maiani, who collected 15 points in 40 games as a freshman, surpassed last year’s scoring total in the 14th game of the season.
“Obviously he has been a big part of picking up the slack from Tyler Bozak,” DU coach George Gwozdecky said. “I wouldn’t say he is the guy that has stepped into Bozak’s shoes, but he’s certainly taken part of the load and has done a good job. He’s an offensive player. He’s got good speed, good quickness, and he’s got a great knack for finding open people. Whether he plays winger or at center, he’s got that ability to make people around him better because he can get the puck on their stick.”
Much of Maiani’s emergence can be traced to the work he put in during the offseason with strength and conditioning coach Mike Sanders.
Originally, Maiani was slated to spend another year in the United States Hockey League before joining DU for the 2008-09 campaign. But when Geoff Paukovich signed a pro contract during the summer of 2007, Maiani wound up being fitted for a Pioneers sweater one year earlier than planned.
Maiani readily admits the pace and physical nature of the college game wore him down during his freshman season. Once DU’s offseason conditioning program began, Maiani set out to correct that shortcoming.
“Maiani is not the first kid to come in, and they get knocked around a lot and you see them get knocked off the puck a little easily,” Sanders said. “As time goes on, you put some strength on him and some size, and all of the sudden they are not getting knocked aside as easily as they once did. That’s a huge component. You take what you have and you improve on what you’ve got.”
Physically stronger and monumentally more confident, Maiani is looking to make an even bigger postseason mark than he made last year, when he tallied two goals and two assists in DU’s five postseason games, including the only goal in the Pioneers’ series-clinching victory against Minnesota-Duluth in the first round of the WCHA tournament.
“I actually stayed here most of the summer training with coach Sanders, and a lot of the guys also stayed,” Maiani said. “That’s a lot better for working out, and it got me faster and stronger so I could play with the big guys. Last year, I remember there were times around Christmas when I was tired and I was ready to go home. This year, I still feel like I’m at the top of the game. I’m not too worn out or anything.”
