You might have seen the bumper sticker: “Give blood, play hockey.”
But Brock Trotter’s bloody injury was nothing to joke about. A year ago this weekend, when he was a University of Denver freshman doing his best Paul Stastny impersonation, he had his right Achilles tendon severed by North Dakota defenseman Matt Smaby’s skate.
The touted Trotter-Stastny combination ended when Smaby’s skate got lodged between Trotter’s heel and rear boot protector. At the time, Trotter was leading the team with five points in five games.
Stastny went on to become the Western Collegiate Hockey Association scoring champion and an All-American, and his decision in June to turn professional with the Avalanche created an offensive void at DU. A healthy Trotter was the playmaking answer the Pioneers were looking for, but nobody was sure he would come back in pre-injury form.
Six games into this season, there is little doubt Trotter, who received a medical hardship and is a redshirt freshman, is DU’s best young forward since Stastny. Despite having a knot above his heel the size of a lemon, Trotter leads the Pioneers with eight points and has 13 points in 11 career games. Stastny had 17 points in his first 11 games at DU.
“I probably won’t ever feel 100 percent, but it’s as good as it’s going to be,” Trotter said of his injury, which was surgically repaired the night of the accident in Grand Forks, N.D. “I really don’t notice it on the ice, but I feel it when I train in the gym or running. Each month it feels better and it’s become more of a mental thing than anything. I’m getting my confidence back each game.”
DU begins a two-game WCHA series tonight at Minnesota-Duluth. The Pioneers are coming off their best offensive outing of the season, beating RPI 5-1 on Saturday behind Trotter’s three assists.
“We’re really pleased that he was able to get back and not have the injury have a negative effect on his hockey career,” DU coach George Gwozdecky said of Trotter, from Brandon, Manitoba. “He’s worked extremely hard to get himself back when nobody really knew if he would regain full form.”
Mike Chambers can be reached at 303-954-1357 or mchambers@denverpost.com.
COLLEGE HOCKEY
No. 13 UNIVERSITY OF DENVER (3-3, 1-1 WCHA)
Opponent: Minnesota-Duluth (1-1-2, 0-1-1 WCHA)
What: Two-game series
When: Tonight and Saturday, 6 p.m.
Where: DECC, Duluth, Minn.
Radio: KCKK 1600 AM (tonight), KKFN 950 AM (Saturday)
Notes: Senior goalie Glenn Fisher l will likely start both games if he performs well tonight. … The Pioneers are 6-3-1 in their past 10 games against Minnesota-Duluth, but the Bulldogs eliminated DU from NCAA Tournament contention in March by winning a three-game WCHA playoff series at Denver.
No. 20 COLORADO COLLEGE (3-2-1, 0-0 WCHA)
Opponent: No. 3 Minnesota (4-1, 0-0 WCHA)
What: WCHA two-game series
When: Tonight, Saturday, 6 p.m.
Where: Mariucci Arena, Minneapolis
TV/radio: FSN (live Friday, tape-delayed at 9 p.m. Saturday)/1039 AM
Notes: CC junior Scott McCulloch leads the country with five power-play goals and is second overall with seven goals. … The Tigers were swept last season at Minnesota but are 12-9-1 at Minnesota’s current venue.
AIR FORCE (2-4)
Opponent: Ala.-Hunstville (1-4-1)
What: Lightning College Hockey Classic, semifinal
When: 3 p.m.
Where: St. Pete Times Forum, Tampa, Fla.
TV/radio: None
Note: AFA will face Army (3-0-1) or Notre Dame (4-1) in Saturday’s tournament consolation-championship game.
