DU's Seniors Ready For Last Series In Magness

Special To LetsGoDU
By Pat Rooney

They hope their final season at the University of Denver does not end for about another month, most preferably with victory party at the end of the Frozen Four in Washington, D.C.

Nevertheless, one way or another it is the beginning of the end of the season, and this weekend the Pioneers’ three seniors will say farewell to Magness Arena.

The trio—forward Julian Marcuzzi, defenseman Patrick Mullen, and defenseman/team captain J.P. Testwuide—arrived at DU directly in the wake of the Pioneers’ back-to-back national championship teams of 2004 and 2005.

They have collected 88 wins and counting going into this weekend’s series against Alaska Anchorage in the first round of the Western Collegiate Hockey Association tournament. As freshmen, they played with current Colorado Avalanche standout Paul Stastny and Hobey Baker Award winner Matt Carle. As juniors, they helped DU win its 15th Broadmoor Trophy as the WCHA tournament champions and also helped lead the Pioneers into the NCAA tournament for the first time since the 2005 title run.

On the eve of their final appearance at Magness, the Pioneers’ three seniors discussed the highlights of their DU careers.

J.P. Testwuide - The Pioneers’ captain spent much of his first two seasons shuttling between forward and defense before finding a home on the blue line. Testwuide has registered career-bests in goals (three), assists (10), and points this season.

“Whenever you sweep at home, it’s always pretty special,” Testwuide said. “The guys come into the locker room and we sing the fight song, and I think it’s those kinds of moments that bring a team together. It’s pretty emotional. I think any sweep at home is the greatest memory.”

Patrick Mullen - Like Testwuide, Mullen spent much of his career at forward, averaging about 18.7 points during his first three seasons before moving to defense full-time this season. A skilled passer, Mullen is tied for second on the team with 19 assists and needs only one point to establish a new career-high.

“I remember the first game I ever played with all those guys that are in the NHL now,” Mullen said. “You always want to win the championship every year. We’re going to do our best to get back there.”

Julian Marcuzzi - Marcuzzi has dutifully played his role and has never complained as his playing time dwindled. Marcuzzi appeared in a career-most 23 games as a freshman and has been in the lineup 11 times this season.

“Regardless of the playing time, it’s special to be a part of the Denver hockey tradition,” Marcuzzi said.

“That stems from being around everyone in the dressing room, from the coaching staff to all the players and the alumni involved. It’s a great, great experience. It’s going to be the last home series, so it will be nice to get a couple wins and go out on a good note. That’s pretty important to us.”

Chamber's Blog With More News & Quotes

“We’re fortunate to have such a great program, where we can recruit these great players that would be playing at any other school,” Cheverie said. “Your job is never safe, and that’s a good thing. It pushes everyone to be their best, and I think this team is going to be scary to play in the long run, with all our depth.”

A half-healthy Patrick Wiercioch and a complete healthy dose of scratches appear to have been the keys in the University of Denver’s 4-0 upset of No. 1 Minnesota on Saturday.

The victory that snapped a three-game losing streak might serve the Pioneers the rest of the season, reminding them that Wiercioch could be the team’s only hard-to-replace part. [read rest of article]

DU 4 - Minnesota 0 FINAL

(above) Anthony Maiani celebrates after scoring DU's first power play goal since the Bush administration

(above) Chevy had it all going on Saturday night

“We felt we had to make some changes, and those changes turned out to be very effective. The players we inserted into the lineup (Cunningham, Marcuzzi, Vossberg) really brought us some energy and enthusiasm, especially in the locker room. Obviously, Brandon Vossberg scored a big short-handed goal for us. They really were the glue, I thought, for our team tonight,” Gwozdecky said.

Coach Gwozdecky pulled the old "Bench Four Starters To Lull The Other Team To Sleep" Trick tonight in Magness Arena. Goaltender Marc Cheverie recorded his first career shutout as DU rolled to an improbable 4-0 victory over the #1 ranked Minnesota Gophers.

Box Score

Denver Post game recap by Mike Chambers

USCHO.com game recap by Candace Horgan

DenverPioneers.com game recap

Twin Cities Star-Tribune game recap

Minnesota Gophers Website game recap

First Star: Marc Cheverie (Denver)
Second Star: Tyler Bozak (Denver)
Third Star: Brandon Vossberg (Denver)

This Week In Mike Chamber's Blog

Recently our favorite scribe has been devoting his considerable talents to blowing smoke up Colorado College's butt, as they stumble towards the playoffs. With a recent rash of "pro-Tiger" columns we're beginning to suspect that CC has offered his son a journalism scholarship. That being said, Chambers finally wrote an article about our Seven Time National Championship Hockey Program, reporting that Julian Marcuzzi suffered a second concussion in three weeks. Needless to say we wish Marcuzzi a speedy recovery though a difficult injury.

Meanwhile the Pioneers #1 cheerleader, Tyler Ruegsegger, is recovering slowly from his groin injury but is still listed as "week to week." Read all about it.

DU's Casualty List For The UAA Series

* Brandon Vossberg out Friday night via suspension

* J.P. Testwuide out Friday night via suspension

* Julian Marcuzzi may play after missing last Saturday's game

* Cody Brookwell may miss the UAA series with the flu

* Tyler Ruegsegger out for at least 3-4 weeks with an abdominal strain

* John Ryder out for season with a hand injury

* Brock Trotter out forever

DU Facing Labor Shortage Against UAA

(above) UND's Kyle Radke & J.P. Testwuide (11) mix it up in the second period Saturday night

Photo Credit: John Stennes

(left) Denver's Brandon Vossberg, bloodied in a fight between the second and third period is escorted off the ice by an official Saturday

Photo Credit John Stennes

From: Rocky Mountain News
by Pat Rooney

YouTube Video Of Vossberg-Radke fight

Already struggling to produce shots without two of its top offensive performers, the University of Denver will have to overcome additional issues when it attempts to snap out of its annual late-season funk at home against Alaska Anchorage on Friday and Saturday.

Tempers flared throughout the Pioneers' 4-1 loss at North Dakota on Saturday - it was DU's sixth loss in nine games - and forward Brandon Vossberg was assessed a game disqualification penalty for fighting North Dakota's Kyle Radke, who also dropped gloves with DU's J.P. Testwuide earlier in the match.

Vossberg suffered a cut above his left eye and will serve an automatic one-game suspension in Friday's opener against the Seawolves. It is possible the Western Collegiate Hockey Association will assess more sanctions after the teams combined for 121 penalty minutes.

With former leading scorer Brock Trotter recently signing with the Montreal Canadiens and third-leading scorer Tyler Ruegsegger out of the lineup because of an abdominal injury, the Pioneers managed only 35 shots in the two losses against the Fighting Sioux.

"We're trying to move on and we can't keep looking back at it," freshman forward Dustin Jackson said.

"We have to go on without (Trotter) and keep going. Every weekend is going to be our biggest games of the year."

DU has dropped to sixth in the PairWise rankings and third in the WCHA, six points behind co- leaders North Dakota and Colorado College.

Notes
Denver native Jon Cook made his DU debut Saturday, replacing Julian Marcuzzi in the lineup. Marcuzzi suffered a concussion in Friday's game.

DU Turns To Boxing To Get Into Shape

From: DU Clarion Student Newspaper
by Brooks Kirchheimer

(left) Patrick Mullen, left, and Brock Trotter battle as their teamates look on


To say that student-athletes look forward to summer workouts would be like saying you liked to eat broccoli and brussel sprouts as a kid.

Waking up early in the morning and running around Washington Park (near DU's campus) in the summer heat or running up the Magness stairs with weights strapped to your ankles is no one's idea of fun.

That is why strength and conditioning coach Mike Sanders came up with the idea of having the DU hockey team do a little boxing. Yeah, that is right, jabs, left hooks, knockouts, the whole nine yards. Okay, well maybe not knockouts.

"Last spring instead of doing running, we wanted to try and switch things up, so we started doing boxing, kick boxing and wrestling," said Sanders.

As with most new things, the change was greeted with some wariness.

"Initially I wasn't really sure what to think," said sophomore Brock Trotter. "It seemed like a good team-building activity and was definitely a new experience for a lot of the guys."

It all started last spring when Sanders and the returning players began to learn the different techniques of boxing and kick boxing, and then practiced some of the moves on their teammates.

This summer, juniors J.P. Testwuide and Julian Marcuzzi and sophomore Matt Glasser loved boxing so much they wanted to get more experience and learn more moves and skills.

That activity included weekly sessions of learning how to jab and shadow box, and techniques working on a 1-2 punch for rounds of 1 or 2 minutes.

"You were dead afterwards. It takes a lot out of your body and it is a great workout," said senior goaltender Peter Mannino.

A workout that was particularly strange to hear about since there is no fighting allowed in college hockey. A fight in college hockey results in the player's expulsion from the game and a one-game suspension.

But with 12 new players on the team, it is the perfect activity for team bonding and fun. That is why at the beginning of the school year with the whole team back in town, the coaching staff and Sanders decided it would be an ideal way to help build camaraderie between new and returning players.

"With all the new guys here, it was a nice bonding experience and to see what everybody can do. It was good to see everyone in there having fun," said Trotter.

Coach Sanders explained why it works: "The reason why we did it is because for whatever reason when you spar against somebody, you have a mutual respect for that person and brings you a little closer with that person."

The idea led to a crimson versus gold boxing tournament, with half of the team on one side and half on the other. The showdown occurred a couple weeks ago in the workout room in Magness, on nothing more than a couple blue mats and the team surrounding the mats as the rope.

Match-ups included Trotter vs. Mullen, May vs. Vossberg and Mannino vs. Chevrie. There was not much more than bloodied noses, bruises and one popped shoulder.

"It's interesting to see how guys get in there and take it, some interesting forms," said Mannino.

"Trust me it was very humorous at first to watch these guys try and figure it out. It is not putting on a pair of gloves and start swinging away, it is a science. It is an art and it is a real challenge and a great work out," said Head Coach George Gwozdecky.

Boxing will definitely go down as one of the more interesting summer workouts the Pioneer hockey team has ever used. Some of the others include iron-man competitions, carrying teammates up stairs and WashPark and hill runs.

"I definitely have a new found respect for boxers and fighters; it definitely is a very tough sport," said Trotter.

While there may be no fighting in college hockey, the Pioneers will have a new found toughness - and unity -- on the ice this season.

NCAA in no rush to play like NHL

From: Denver Post
by Mike Chambers

(left) DU plays Minnesota Duluth this weekend at Magness Arena

From a penalties standpoint, attending a University of Denver hockey game one night and an Avalanche game the next is like watching two different sports.

The NCAA still allows many of the hooks and holds the NHL has barred.

Although the 2005 NHL crackdown on obstruction penalties occurred a year after the NCAA tightened its rules, the NCAA is in no hurry to revise its rules to match the new NHL standard.

"We tightened up the obstruction penalties before the NHL, and certainly the NHL has gone beyond that - and way past us," said Bruce McLeod, commissioner of the Denver-based Western Collegiate Hockey Association. "We haven't done it in a quantum jump like the NHL, and I think we'll probably continue with that. Some people think the NHL has gone too far, and others love the way it is. We'll just have to wait and see."

A hooking minor in the NHL typically is called if a defending player's stick touches a puck-controlling opposing player from the waist up. In the NCAA, hooking typically is called only if a player falls because of being hooked. Holding and interference calls differ in the same manner.

"We're probably going to try to find a little bit of the middle ground at some point," McLeod said. "We'll wait and see how it continues to go in the NHL. If they probably stick with it, I wouldn't doubt that we will head towards their standard."

DU on defense

Two weeks after sophomore T.J. Fast quit the team, DU could be short on trusted defensemen. The Pioneers, who played without injured freshman Cody Brookwell last weekend, went with five defensemen and 13 forwards in Saturday's 2-0 victory over No. 4 St. Cloud State.

Sophomore Julian Marcuzzi was a healthy scratch, and junior Zach Blom played sparingly.

Brookwell, who suffered a knee injury Jan. 20 at Minnesota, might return in this weekend's two- game series against Minnesota- Duluth. If the big blue-liner can't play, Pioneers coach George Gwozdecky won't hesitate to go with five again.

"I thought our defense played very well," Gwozdecky said after DU pinned St. Cloud State with just its second loss in its past 21 games. "The big three - (Chris) Butler, (Adrian) Veideman and (Andrew) Thomas - were very strong. They got a lot of ice time and played very smart."

Freshman Keith Seabrook also plays regularly and captains the No. 2 power play. DU also could put sophomore wing J.P. Testwuide on the blue line, where he played most of last season.

Postseason picture

DU, fifth in the all-important Pairwise Rankings (PWR), remains in terrific shape to play in the NCAA Tournament's West Regional at the Pepsi Center. But Colorado College is on the bad end of the bubble in making the 16-team field. The Tigers, who host Wisconsin for a two-game set this weekend, are 14th in the PWR with the .003 bonus. After automatic bids are given to the six conference tournament champions, only the top 12 or 13 PWR teams will receive at-large berths.

Viag...er...Niagara To Test Pioneers Tonight

From: Rocky Mountain News
by Pat Rooney

By himself, Ted Cook will cause plenty of problems for DU's defense. Add his linemates to the mix, and the Pioneers will be facing a 120-minute headache tonight and Saturday.

DU begins its final nonconference series when the puck drops tonight against the 17th-ranked Niagara Purple Eagles, who come to Magness Arena boasting one of the top offensive lines in the country in Cook, center Les Reaney and left wing Sean Bentivoglio.

All three players are ranked in the top 10 in the nation in scoring, and despite the fact Niagara plays in a thin College Hockey America, its line stacks up against anything the seventh-ranked Pioneers face in the more rugged Western Collegiate Hockey Association.

"I don't care what team you play for or what league, if you are scoring 20 goals in 20 games, that's pretty impressive," DU sophomore defenseman Chris Butler said. "We look forward to the challenge of trying to shut them down. That is one of my jobs this weekend.

"Hopefully, I'll be matched up against them and do my best."

Cook, a sophomore, leads the nation with 20 goals and 13 power-play goals, but he has been far from a one-man show. Reaney, another sophomore, is tied for second in the nation with 36 points on 14 goals and 22 assists. Bentivoglio is tied for ninth with 33 points.

That combination also has made the Purple Eagles a force on the power play. Niagara typically moves Chris Moran, a freshman forward who has collected 27 points, to the point when it has a man advantage, giving Niagara four players with at least 27 points on its top power-play unit.

Niagara is ranked ninth in the nation in scoring and its power-play is eighth, with a success rate of 21.7 percent.

Led by goaltenders Glenn Fisher and Peter Mannino, the Pioneers are ranked 13th in penalty kills.

"It should be a great test for us," DU coach George Gwozdecky said. "Their top line, I think, is as good as any line as there is in the country. It's going to provide not only a great test, but a great gauge to where we're at right now and how much we have to improve to get where we want to be by the end of the regular season."

The Cook-led line will challenge DU during a time of transition along the Pioneers blue line after the departure of sophomore defenseman T.J. Fast, a regular in the lineup who left the program earlier this week.

Fast's spot likely will be filled by sophomore Julian Marcuzzi or junior Zach Blom.

Marcuzzi probably is the better defender but has not produced a point in 37 games during his career. Blom, the son of former DU goaltender Buddy Blom, has displayed an offensive touch in limited opportunities.

Gwozdecky also will continue to use forward J.P. Testwuide, a converted defenseman, on defense during penalty-kill situations.

"We're fortunate enough to have the numbers that we can throw somebody in or we can move somebody back from forward if we have to," said defenseman Andrew Thomas, who had been paired with Fast much of the season.

"I don't think we'll have a problem adjusting."

DU Gets Defensive

(left) T.J. Fast moved his belongings to the Tri-City Americans this week

From: Denver Post
by Mike Chambers

T.J. Fast's departure this week to major-junior hockey is an example of how it's risky to recruit young Canadians with NHL dreams to play U.S. college hockey. But the University of Denver figures to benefit from the defenseman's exodus.

The Pioneers, who begin a two-game nonleague series against Niagara tonight at Magness Arena, are deep on the blue line, and Fast wasn't among the top three at the position. DU began the season with nine defensemen and went to eight when sophomore J.P. Testwuide switched to forward.

Sophomore Julian Marcuzzi and junior Zach Blom have combined to play just 17 games, but now they will have a better opportunity to play in the six-man rotation.

"Great competitors, great team guys," DU assistant coach Steve Miller said of Marcuzzi and Blom.

Blom, from Englewood, is the son of former DU goaltending great Buddy Blom, who coaches youth hockey in Littleton.

"I've got mixed feelings," Zach Blom said about Fast's departure. "T.J. is an awesome kid, but I'm excited about the opportunity. If called upon, I know I can do the job. For a guy in my situation, you have to hope to get in, and that's what gets you ready."

With the versatile Testwuide, the Pioneers are still eight-deep at defense, and only one - team captain Adrian Veideman - is a senior, so Fast's departure will not hinder depth at the position in the next couple of years. Junior Andrew Thomas, sophomore Chris Butler and freshmen Keith Seabrook and Cody Brookwell complete the top five at the position.

Miller said the sophomore Fast's scholarship likely would be used to expand the 2007 incoming freshman class to five.

"It will give another guy an opportunity to play here, a guy who wants to be a part of our tradition," Miller said.

Veideman said he and his teammates support Fast, who played in all 39 games as a freshman but was a healthy scratch five times this season, including once for academic reasons. The 19-year-old Calgary, Alberta, native joined the Tri-City Americans of the Western Hockey League. Fast was a second-round pick of the Los Angeles Kings in the 2005 draft.

"T.J. left to pursue other things, and we support him all the way," Veideman said. "At the same time, we're here, and we have to get over the fact that he's gone. We're deep back there, and we have guys who want to be in a lineup, and they'll get a chance."

Fast, who had 11 points (one goal) in 58 games at DU, also played on the lacrosse team.

Notes: Niagara (6-3-1 College Hockey America) is riding a five-game winning streak and is 11-1-2 since Nov. 3. The Purple Eagles have two of the country's highest-scoring players in sophomores Les Reaney (22 assists, 36 points) and Ted Cook (20 goals, 34 points). ... DU is 20-0 against CHA teams. ... DU junior goalie Peter Mannino likely will start tonight.

Fast Departure Leaves DU Puzzled

From: Rocky Mountain News
by Pat Rooney

(left) TJ Fast reading to group of future Pioneer hockey players (click to enlarge)

An unexpected change of heart has left the University of Denver hockey team thinner along the blue line, as sophomore defenseman T.J. Fast has informed coach George Gwozdecky of his decision to leave the program.
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Fast had sporadic conversations with Gwozdecky during the past two months about his growing unhappiness but, according to Gwozdecky, Fast told the coach he intended to remain with the program before the holiday break.

Fast evidently changed his mind while spending the holidays in his hometown of Calgary, Alberta, and informed Gwozdecky on Monday of his decision to leave school and play Major Junior hockey full time.

"This has been kind of ongoing the past couple months," Gwozdecky said. "T.J. has been figuring out what he wants to do with his academic and hockey careers. If I was surprised, it was because he flip-flopped."

As a freshman, Fast recorded seven points and was one of six DU players who appeared in all 39 games.

A second-round selection of the Los Angeles Kings in the 2005 draft, Fast was a healthy scratch for five games earlier this season, a period that became a source of his dissatisfaction, but he had played in the past 11 games and finished with four assists in 19 games.

Fast's departure likely will mean more opportunities for junior Zach Blom and sophomore Julian Marcuzzi.

DU looks to Regroup for Gopher Series

Saturday's 4-0 loss to Minnesota State University was as thorough as DU has had in quite a while. DU only had 5 shots on goal in the first half the game. Gwoz's Saturday pregame comments on MSU's Radio broadcast set the tone for the evening.

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MSU played well both nights. He feels DU needs improvement in almost every area. He said that DU didn't create enough scoring chances, particularly even strength. He was a little confused and frustrated with Friday's nights performance. My quess is that it was doubly true for Saturday night. DU had injuries to Gauthier (knee sprain), Marcuzzi (hip) & Corbin (bruised foot) on Friday night and they didn't dress Saturday, but they should be back for the Minnesota series. He feels that if everyone sticks to the "Denver System," DU will be OK in the long run.

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He was pleased with Fishers effort on Friday. The first goal was unfortunate, but after that Fisher put DU in a position to win. Mannino has an advantage in getting to scout the opponents on Fridays and has used that edge to play well for DU. The DU injuries creates opportunities for new guys to step up.

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After the Saturday loss Gwoz added, "This is a tough pill to swallow. For a proud program and proud team to come in here and play as lackluster as we did tonight is disappointing, and quite obviously will be a wake-up call to some of the young guys who haven't played up to their level or the standards that we've set."

2005-06 SEASON PREVIEW

Overview: The University of Denver Pioneers attempt to become only the second team in history to win three consecutive NCAA Division I Hockey Championships (Michigan '51, '52, '53). Co-captains Matt Carle and Gabe Gauthier led an eclectic bunch of superstars, role players and overachievers into the WCHA fray in 2005-06. This years team will rely on a talented goaltender tandem, the best defenseman in college hockey and two superstar forwards.

Certainly DU's top players can play with anyone, but its been Coach Gwozdecky's ability to squeeze remarkable play out of his role players in the past two seasons that has separated DU from the other college hockey powers. The 2004 National Championship team was built around a relentless trapping defense that blocked shots, tough physical checking and forming a wall around Adam Berkhoel. The 2005 edition, featured an attacking, opportunistic offense that led the country in scoring most of the season. Due to graduation losses and Brent Skinner's NHL defection, this year's team will need a third identity. I see a team more effective in special team situations, even faster than last year but obviously less experienced.


THE FRESHMEN: Like last season, championship hopes will depend heavily on the performance of the Freshman Class. Assistant coaches Steve Miller and Seth Appert have seemingly done it again, recruiting one of the top classes in the country (INCH ranked #6). Incoming recruits T.J. Fast, Brock Trotter, Chris Butler, Julian Marcuzzi, Patrick Mullen & J.P. Testwuide will need to produce for DU to win it all again. Word around Denver is that Brock Trotter (58 pts, USHL Lincoln Stars) has been sensational in early practice. If the form holds, he will get plenty of time on the power play. How far DU gets in the playoffs will probably depend on the play of defensemen T.J. Fast (Calgary, Alberta) and Chris Butler (St. Louis, Mo.) a USHL all-star last seaon. Speedy forward Patrick Mullen (37 points last season for the Sioux Falls Stampede) will get an opportunity to play on one of the four lines. Julian Marcuzzi (N. Vancouver, BC) is a highly regarded defenseman who played for Salmon Arm last season in Canada. Marcuzzi was the #1 rated college bound defenseman to come out of British Columbia last season. Finally, Vail native J.P. Testwuide played for Waterloo last season in the USHL.


THE OFFENSE: Denver graduated a bunch of scrappy goal scorers like Luke Fulghum, Kevin Ulanski, Jeff Drummond & Jon Foster. Nonetheless the standouts return, lead by 2004-05 DU MVP Gabe Gauthier and INCH's ROY Paul Stastny. Both players will be all-WCHA candidates and should vie for the team scoring title. They are excellent two way players and both excell in big game situations. Once again Stastny will quarterback the Power Play. Assistant Captain Ted O' Leary, J.D. Corbin, Geoff Paukovich, Ryan Dingle, Tom May, Adrian Veideman, Michael Handza & Ryan Helgason will be counted upon to replace the goalscorers that graduated last summer. Dingle is very much an under-rated talent and if paired with Stastny again, will surely see his numbers rise. Adrian Veideman is Gwozdecky's super-sub, rotating from line to line, mixed in with a little "D" on the PP. Gwoz tinkers with Veideman almost obsessively, but you can always count on him to play very hard and give maximum effort. Corbin, who is the fastest player on the team, will be counted on for more goals this season.


THE DEFENSE: Denver's usually superior blue line will have some fresh faces this year. Lead by future San Jose Shark Matt Carle and the uber reliable sophomore Andrew Thomas, DU's defense will rely heavily on the Freshmen. If the Freshmen D-men falter, DU will be in for a long season. Denver's recent success has been built about shrewd recruiting and an airtight defensive scheme orchestrated by Coach Gwozdecky. DU's recent playoff successes have been in no small part due to offensive contributions from Ryan Caldwell in 2004 and Matt Carle last season. Freshman T.J. Fast supposedly has an offensive flair that will be needed to replace Brent Skinner. Andrew Thomas will benefit from Skinner's departure and will see his assists totals rise on the Power Play. Zack Blom should see more ice time this season.


THE GOALTENDERS: The goaltenders are first class with Frozen Four MVP Peter Mannino and Edmonton Oilers draftee Glenn Fisher manning the pipes. Mannino (2.19 GAA) led the team with 18 wins and was fantastic throughout the season. Certainly, he won't have the security of a Senior laden defensive corps in front of him this season. Glenn Fisher (2.89 GAA), will be looking to increase his save percentage this season, had a 14-5-1 record. Fisher had some big wins during the season and was named one of DU's two most improved players.


THE VERDICT: All in all, DU has most of the pieces in place to make another run at the title. Certainly the loss of Captain Brent Skinner to the Vancouver Canucks was a huge loss, but Gwozdecky and staff have had the magic touch lately. Carle & Gauthier should be Hobey Baker candidates, an award never won by a DU player. With most of the top players in returning, who's to say they can't win it all a third straight time?

Once again I expect to see you & DU at the Frozen Four in Milwaukee....

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