University of Denver coach George Gwozdecky sent out four freshmen to take the opening faceoff in April’s NCAA title game against North Dakota. Two of those rookies, center Paul Stastny and goalie Peter Mannino, made the all-Frozen Four team, and Mannino was the tournament’s most outstanding player.
The improbable contributions from Stastny and Mannino, plus solid first years from forwards Geoff Paukovich, Ryan Dingle and Tom May and defenseman Andrew Thomas, must have made quite a national impression. Because, despite having just two seniors and only two experienced defensemen, the two-time defending national champions begin the season ranked No. 1 in the U.S. College Hockey Online poll.
“Their contribution was so atypical of a freshman class,” said Gwozdecky, whose program has received a No. 1 ranking in five consecutive seasons. “As they got better, so did our team. I never expected that from that class, and I’m not going to be foolish to think any class will be that good.”
But Gwozdecky’s current freshmen might have to be similarly productive for DU to be in position to win its third consecutive crown. The onus is especially on the four defensemen who played in Saturday’s 7-1 exhibition victory over Lakehead University of Thunder Bay, Ontario.
T.J. Fast, Chris Butler, Julian Marcuzzi and J.P. Testwuide replace graduates Matt Laatsch, Jussi Halme and Nick Larson, and Brett Skinner, who left school early to sign with the Vancouver Canucks.
Fast and Butler enter college coming off prestigious junior-A careers and figure to have the fewest growing pains. Fast was selected by the Los Angeles Kings in the second round of this year’s NHL draft and Butler went in the fourth round to the Buffalo Sabres.
Gwozdecky suspects Marcuzzi, still draft eligible, also could play professionally.
“We are very pleased that Marcuzzi, Fast and Butler chose DU,” Gwozdecky said. “All three were (enticed) by the accomplishment of the ’04 team that won the national championship, and saw that we were going to need to shore up our defensive corps because of graduation in ’05.”
Second-year junior Zach Blom, who has played just six career games, also is in the mix as the last of seven defensemen.
A rash of injuries or lack of development by the freshmen could force Gwozdecky to call upon junior wing Adrian Veideman to move to the blue line. Veideman played half his freshman season at defense.
DU proved that offense and goaltending are its strength against Lakehead, which trailed 6-1 after the second period and was outshot 43-18 for the game. Stastny and junior Ryan Helgason each had two goals for the Pioneers, who open the season Friday at No. 11 Maine.
Mike Chambers can be reached at 303-820-5453 or mchambers@denverpost.com.