University of Denver hockey coach George Gwozdecky reportedly delivered one of his better speeches during the second intermission of Saturday night’s game against visiting Michigan Tech.
It was, after all, homecoming.
And the Pioneers’ 2005 NCAA championship banner had been raised to the Magness Arena rafters in a pregame ceremony.
DU, playing before a sellout crowd of 6,136, had just blown a two-goal lead and was tied with a team looking for just its third victory in its last 32 games against the two-time defending national champions.
“I just felt we had to remind them of some of the things that we stand for and believe in,” Gwozdecky said.
Perhaps all Gwozdecky needed to do was demand more of the same from his No. 1 line, made up of All-America senior center Gabe Gauthier and red- hot sophomore wings Paul Stastny and Ryan Dingle.
The trio accounted for DU’s first two goals and delivered in the clutch with Dingle tallies 1:04 and 3:58 into the third period, leading the Pioneers to a 4-3 victory and a two-game sweep of the Western Collegiate Hockey Association series.
The line – used both at even strength and on the power play for the past three games – accounted for nine of DU’s 11 points. Dingle finished with four goals and five points in the series, and the Steamboat Springs native leads the Pioneers with eight goals, including five in his past three games.
“The puck is bouncing my way, and I’m getting in good positions for my two great linemates to set me up,” Dingle said. “And I’m feeling it.”
Stastny has known the feeling since he first donned the crimson and gold sweater. He had a hand in each of DU’s goals and leads DU (5-3, 3-1 WCHA) with 14 points. The son of NHL Hall of Famer Peter Stastny and 2005 WCHA rookie of the year scored the second on the power play and assisted on Gauthier’s game-opening goal.
On Stastny’s first shift of the third period, his forecheck created a Michigan Tech turnover and his pass set up a Dingle short-handed goal that made it 3-2. Stastny had the second assist on Dingle’s second goal, a tip-in beside the crease off an Adrian Veideman feed from the point.
It was Stastny’s fifth multipoint game this season and 10th point in his past three games, all DU victories.
“I played with Dingle all last year, and me and Gauthier have good chemistry on the power play, and we always joked around, (begging the coaches) to put us together, and they finally did when (freshman Brock) Trotter got hurt last weekend,” Stastny said.
Michigan Tech (1-8-1, 0-3-1) made it interesting late, scoring with 4:25 to go and finishing the game on a 6-on-4 advantage after DU freshman Patrick Mullen was whistled for slashing and goalie Rob Nolan (35 saves) was pulled.
“We battled. We competed. But we need to get over that hump,” Huskies coach Jamie Russell said. “(Dingle’s) shorthanded one hurt – it was an opportunity for us. That certainly changed momentum.”
That play can be traced to Gwozdecky’s locker room speech.
“Definitely motivating,” Dingle said. “He kick-started some engines and it worked out. …We never want to let him down.”
Denver Post three stars
1. Paul Stastny. The sophomore sensation had a hand in each of DU’s goals, scoring one and assisting on three.
2. Ryan Dingle. The Steamboat Springs native scored two third-period goals for the Pioneers, giving him four for the weekend.
3. Chris Connor. The Michigan Tech senior had a goal and assist.
What you might have missed
DU defenseman Andrew Thomas served a one-game suspension for head-butting in Friday’s 5-2 victory over Michigan Tech. The sophomore was replaced by second-year junior Zach Blom of Englewood.
Next
Friday, at Minnesota State.
Michigan Tech 0 2 1 – 3
Denver 1 1 2 – 4
First period – 1, Denver, Gauthier 3 (Stastny, Carle), 11:37. Penalties – Malekoff, MTU (cross checking), 6:48; Saittakari, MTU (roughing), 12:32; McMorris, DU (roughing), 12:32; Paukovich, DU (slashing), 14:20.
Second period – 2, Denver, Stastny 3 (Gauthier, Dingle), 6:24 (pp). 3, Michigan Tech, Schwartz 3 (Helminen), 8:52 (pp). 4, Michigan Tech, Desmet 4 (Conner), 11:26. Penalties – Batovanja, MTU (interference), 5:58; Handza, DU (holding), 7:44; Carle, DU (hooking), 14:55; Paukovich, DU (slashing), 19:10.
Third period – 5, Denver, Dingle 7 (Stastny), 1:04 (sh). 6, Denver, Dingle 8 (Stastny, Veideman), 3:58 (pp). 7, Michigan Tech, Connor 7 (Shelast, Helminen), 15:35 (pp). Penalties – Shelast, MTU (hooking), 3:46; Connor, MTU (tripping), 8:36; Testwuide, DU (tripping), 11:51; Blom, DU (tripping), 14:47; Wilkens, MTU (holding), 16:09; Mullen, DU (slashing), 18:19.
Shots on goal – MTU 5-16-4 – 25. DU 16-11-12 – 39. Power play opportunities – MTU 2 of 7. DU 2 of 5. Goalies – Nolan (1-4-1) 39 shots-35 save. DU, Mannino (3-1) 25-22. A – 6,136.
Mike Chambers can be reached at 303-820-5453 or mchambers@denverpost.com.
