Wisconsin, the country’s unanimous No. 1 NCAA hockey team, displayed its greatness last weekend in a two-game sweep at then-No. 5 Colorado College. Wisconsin (18-2-2) won Saturday’s series finale in mouth-dropping 9-1 fashion at the Colorado Springs World Arena.
“In my mind they are the best team in the country – by far,” Denver coach George Gwozdecky said of the Badgers, who host the Pioneers tonight and Saturday at the Kohl Center in Madison, Wis. “CC is a darn good team, one of the top teams in our league. For Wisconsin to dismantle them in their building like they did, wow, that’s impressive.”
After a 1-1-1 start, the Badgers have won 17 of 19 games to build a comfortable lead in the Western Collegiate Hockey Association. Unranked DU is tied for second in the WCHA with Minnesota, but this weekend’s games at one of college hockey’s premier settings appear to be mismatches.
The Pioneers (12-10-2, 9-5-2) have lost three of their past four games and were 26th in Thursday’s season debut of the PairWise Rankings (PWR), the computer poll that mimics the method used by the NCAA Tournament selection committee. Wisconsin leads the PWR and every other computer or media poll. CC, which visits Minnesota tonight and Saturday in Minneapolis, is No. 4 in the PWR.
“It’s going to take a lot to beat them,” DU senior co-captain Gabe Gauthier said of the Badgers, who have the country’s top-rated defense and No. 4 offense. “It’s going to take all of us playing together and not worrying so much about what they, or we, have done in the past, but what we can do right now.”
According to a College Sports Television poll, Wisconsin first-year goalie Brian Elliott is the overwhelming favorite to win the Hobey Baker Award as college hockey’s best player. The Ottawa Senators’ draft choice is the only goalie used by coach Mike Eaves and has a 1.40 goals-against average and 9.44 save percentage.
“In front of Brian they’re a big, strong team that has great depth, and is getting great play from all four classes,” Gwozdecky said. “And their health has been great all year long, which is key to any great team.”
Footnotes
CSTV’s “Training Camp Denver” makes its national cable debut at 5 p.m. today. The 30-minute documentary is a behind-the-scenes look at how the 2004 and 2005 national champions prepared for the season, and takes viewers through the Nov. 5 banner-raising ceremony at Magness Arena. CSTV will televise the show 16 times through Feb. 9. … DU freshman defenseman Chris Butler, who has missed the past four games, two with a shoulder injury, is listed as questionable tonight. … Sophomore wing Ryan Dingle, tied with CC’s Brett Sterling with a NCAA-high five game-winning goals, will serve his one-game suspension tonight for checking from behind in last Saturday’s game against St. Cloud State.
Mike Chambers can be reached at 303-820-5453 or mchambers@denverpost.com.
