Recruiting has gone well since Denver won its second consecutive NCAA hockey title last spring. But because the Pioneers only have two seniors to replace, they are taking advantage of their success by getting commitments for the 2007 class.
Three forwards have given DU oral commitments to attend in 2007. Among them is Lakewood native Tyler Ruegsegger, a senior at Shattuck St. Mary’s High School in Faribault, Minn. Ruegsegger produced 80 points in 63 games last season and was an assistant captain for the USA under-17 and under-18 select teams. In 17 games this season, he has 20 points and leads the team with 30 penalty minutes.
Ruegsegger is scheduled to become a classmate of forwards Kyle Ostrow of Calgary, Alberta (Nanaimo Clippers, British Columbia Hockey League), and Jesse Martin of Edmonton, Alberta (Spruce Grove Saints, Alberta Junior Hockey League).
That threesome will sign along with four others who will make up DU’s 2006 incoming class.
Next season’s scholarship freshmen will include forwards Brian Gifford (Indiana Ice, USHL), Matt Glasser (Fort McMurray Oil Barons, AJHL) and Rhett Rakhshani (U.S. under-18 team), and defenseman Cody Brookwell (Williams Lake Timberwolves, BCHL).
Gifford is a 2004 third-round draft pick of the Pittsburgh Penguins. Glasser was drafted by the Edmonton Oilers in July.
Footnotes
DU sophomore wing Ryan Dingle of Steamboat Springs was named Western Collegiate Hockey Association offensive player of the week. Dingle had four goals and an assist in last weekend’s 5-2 and 4-3 wins against Michigan Tech. Dingle leads DU in goals (eight), power-play goals (four) and game- winning goals (three). … No. 7 DU takes a three-game winning streak into its two-game WCHA series at Minnesota State this weekend. Top-ranked Colorado College, riding a seven-game winning streak, visits No. 5 Wisconsin on Friday and Saturday in a battle for WCHA supremacy.
Mike Chambers can be reached at 303-820-5453 or mchambers@denverpost.com.
