At 5-4-1, the University of Denver hockey team has lost the same number of games it lost in its final 33 games a season ago.
While that statistic might indicate the defending NCAA champions are slumping, there’s another stat that explains why the Pioneers aren’t worried. Through 10 games, the Pioneers are a half-game better than they were a season ago, when they were 5-5. DU finished the season with a torrid 27-4-2 streak en route to its second consecutive NCAA title.
“I don’t think anybody is panicking, but there are concerns on how we’ve performed up to this point,” coach George Gwozdecky said. “We all have to take ownership that there have been numerous occasions that we’ve been outworked.”
Gwozdecky said he’s going to put his team through a grueling week of practice heading into this weekend’s two-game WCHA series against visiting Minnesota.
“We all have high expectations, every single person associated with our program,” Gwozdecky said. “With those high expectations come the characteristics of paying the price, competing and winning battles, no matter the hardships and challenges we face. We’re going to remind ourselves this week in practice.”
Injuries prevented senior center Gabe Gauthier (knee), junior wing J.D. Corbin (foot) and freshman defenseman Julian Marcuzzi (hip) from practicing Monday. Marcuzzi is listed as probable, and Gauthier and Corbin questionable for this weekend, DU spokesman Erich Bacher said.
Sweet home, Denver
DU is 19-3-1 in its Magness Arena sellout streak of 23 games, and this weekend’s games against Minnesota are sold out.
The teams have combined to win the past four NCAA championships. The Gophers won in 2002 and 2003.
Friday’s game is the College Sports Television national game of the week.
FSN Rocky Mountain will carry both games.
Minnesota is 1-2-1 on the road; the Pioneers are 3-0 at home.
Footnotes
DU slipped from seventh to 11th and 12th in the U.S. College Hockey Online and USA Today/USA Hockey Magazine polls, respectively.
Colorado College, which tied and lost at Wisconsin last weekend, fell from first to third in both polls. …
DU’s Ryan Dingle and CC linemates Marty Sertich and Brett Sterling are tied with a WCHA-leading three game-winning goals.
Mike Chambers can be reached at 303-820-5453 or mchambers@denverpost.com.
