Youth hockey has taken off in the Denver area, and proof is in the University of Denver’s power play, penalty kill and every other key situation the Pioneers find themselves in while shooting for a third consecutive NCAA championship.
Former Littleton Youth Hockey Association teammates Ryan Dingle and J.D. Corbin have become two of DU’s top skaters, playing the wings on a line centered by Western Collegiate Hockey Association scoring champion Paul Stastny.
“What I remember about those two guys is both had a great work ethic and passion for the game, and they were a pleasure to coach,” Littleton Hawks pee-wee coach Kent Murphy said of Dingle and Corbin.
Other Denver-area youth hockey players have preceded the former Hawks in making a mark at DU, but the latest are certainly the greatest.
Entering this weekend’s best-of-three WCHA playoff series against visiting Minnesota- Duluth, Dingle leads the Pioneers with 25 goals, tied for fifth in the NCAA, and the sophomore’s 15 power-play goals are tied for first nationally. Corbin, a fierce hitter and DU’s quickest skater, is sixth on the team in scoring.
Corbin, who became the first Avalanche draft pick with Colorado roots when he was selected in the eighth round in 2004, said his and Dingle’s success “could be credited to how we were coached as kids.”
“I think we have a similar game, as far as our work ethic and how hard we play every game,” Corbin said.
The Avalanche helped Dingle and Corbin dream big. Dingle said he and his father, Jim, attended the Avs’ first regular-season game in 1995 against Detroit with Corbin and his father, Michael. Ryan Dingle was 12, a year older than J.D. Corbin.
Dingle, whose family moved to Steamboat Springs after his final pee-wee season with Murphy, said the dream to play for the Avs always went through DU.
“Being near the program that we grew up playing for, it’s fun to step back and see the little guys coming to our games, because that’s what we did,” Dingle said. “Way before the Avs I had season tickets to DU hockey, and I loved it. I remember looking forward to every game, to watch and talk to guys like Brent Cary. It’s cool to be a part of their lives like the older guys were a part of our lives.”
The Littleton products are among nine former Colorado youth players on DU’s 25-man roster, and six who will be in tonight’s 20-man lineup.
Junior wing Steven Cook of Denver played for the Hawks and their rivals at Arvada. Sophomore center Geoff Paukovich of Englewood played under former DU star Angelo Ricci at Arapahoe. Senior forward Ted O’Leary of Arvada was with his hometown club before moving to the Midget AAA team at Vail, where freshman defenseman J.P. Testwuide was born and grew up playing.
“We’ve been here for 12 years, and when we first got here, the idea of recruiting a Colorado player – we just didn’t think about it,” DU coach George Gwozdecky said. “As Colorado hockey has continued to develop, especially since the Avalanche came to town, we have reaped the benefits.”
Footnotes
Don’t expect DU to look past this weekend. Despite being the WCHA’s No. 2 seed, the Pioneers likely must advance to next week’s WCHA Final Five to get an NCAA Tournament bid. Ninth-seeded Minnesota-Duluth, which has 11 freshmen and 16 underclassmen, has lost six consecutive games and 13 of its past 14. The Bulldogs have scored just three goals in their past six games and have been shut out in three of their past four. … Tickets remain for this weekend’s series, which continues Saturday (7 p.m.) and, if necessary, Sunday (7 p.m.). For information, visit the Ritchie Center box office or call 303-871-2336.
Mike Chambers can be reached at 303-820-5453 or mchambers@denverpost.com.
