It was a war of words that led to intense hitting, that led to a frightening-looking injury, that led to a thrilling finish and, finally, to a Colorado College victory.
Everything was normal in a CC-University of Denver showdown Saturday night except the seemingly serious injury and anticipated outcome.
The Tigers, who entered the weekend winless in their past seven games against DU, scored with 3:31 remaining in regulation to beat the Pioneers 3-2 before 6,079 fans at Magness Arena. CC’s two-game, series-capping victory was tarnished by the head injury sustained by DU captain Adrian Veideman.
Before DU rallied to tie from a 2-0 deficit, and before CC sophomore Chad Rau scored the winner off his rebound off the right post, Veideman banged his bare head on the ice during a scuffle with CC co-captain Brandon Straub.
In one of a dozen or so after-whistle incidents that are typical in two-game series finales between the rivals, Veideman tangled with Straub against the DU boards at 3:40 of the second period. Veideman’s helmet came off just before he was wrestled to the ice. Straub landed on top, and Veideman’s head absorbed the impact to the ice what his shoulder could not.
After about a 10-minute delay to mobilize Veideman, he was taken off the ice in a sled and rushed to Porter Memorial Hospital. Long after the game, DU spokesman Erich Bacher said Veideman suffered a concussion, and CAT scans were negative. The senior defenseman was scheduled to be released late Saturday or early today.
“I didn’t see it,” DU coach George Gwozdecky said of Straub’s takedown. “But I know our coaches (in the press box) saw the whole thing and have some very strong opinions on what happened.”
Straub was whistled for holding and roughing minors. Veideman was called for roughing, but the Pioneers created little offense on their ensuing power play and finished 1-of-8 for the game.
CC scored 1:16 after the incident, on a play DU goalie Peter Mannino vehemently argued. He was tripped down by CC’s Derek Patrosso and a back-checking teammate – long enough for Scott Thauwald to take a quick feed from Cody Lampl and put the puck in an empty net for a 2-0 lead.
DU also lost senior forward Ryan Helgason to an arm injury in the second period, but the Pioneers rallied with goals from Ryan Dingle (5-on-3 power play) at 8:50 of the second period and from Brock Trotter 4:13 into the third. DU failed to capitalize on the game’s final two penalties.
After celebrating CC’s sweep, Rau said the Tigers would be thinking of Veideman.
“No matter who you’re playing, you don’t want to see anything happen like that,” he said. “It shouldn’t happen and it’s an unfortunate play.”
CC coach Scott Owens was unavailable for comment.
The Tigers ended their winless skid against DU with a 5-1 victory Friday at the Colorado Springs World Arena.
“Losing there was enough, and then losing again and getting swept here hurts,” Mannino said.
Tigers 3, Pioneers 2
Colorado College 1 1 1 – 3
Denver 0 1 1 – 2
First period – 1, Colorado College, L. Sweatt 4 (Polich, McMillin), 12:57 (4×3 pp). Penalties – Helgason, DU (hooking), 1:40; Lampl, CC (interference), 4:53; Connelly, CC (unsportsmanlike conduct), 11:22; Handza, DU (unsportsmanlike conduct), 11:22; Rakhshani, DU (holding), 11:43; Testwuide, CC (hooking), 11:43; Testwuide, CC (unsportsmanlike conduct), 11:43; Cox, CC (roughing), 14:00; Paukovich, DU (roughing), 14:00; Vossberg, DU (roughing), 14:00; Paukovich, DU (tripping), 18:54.
Second period – 2, Colorado College, Thauwald 5 (Lampl, Patrosso), 5:26. 3, Denver, Dingle 12 (Seabrook, Trotter), 8:50 (5×3 pp). Penalties – Straub, CC (holding), 3:40; Straub, CC (roughing), 4:30; Veideman, DU (roughing), 3:40; L. Sweatt, CC (cross checking), 7:15; CC bench (too many men), 8:13; Paukovich, DU (diving), 9:43; Straub, CC (interference), 13:24; Paukovich, DU (elbowing), 18:44.
Third period – 4, Denver, Trotter 7 (Paukovich, Ruegsegger), 4:13. 5, Colorado College, Rau 5 (Kilpatrick), 16:29. Penalties – Trotter, DU (cross checking), 7:19; L. Sweatt, CC (tripping), 11:36; Kilpatrick, CC (tripping), 17:55.
Shots – CC 11-8-7-26. DU 4-7-9-20. Power plays – CC 1 of 6. DU 1 of 8. Goalies – CC, Zaba (7-4-1) 20 shots- 18 saves. DU, Mannino (2-3-1) 26-23. A – 6,079.
DENVER POST THREE STARS
1. Chad Rau – CC sophomore broke a 2-2 tie by slapping in his own rebound off the post.
2. Brock Trotter – Had a goal and assist for DU.
3. Matt Zaba – CC goalie faced just 20 shots Saturday but only allowed three goals in the series.
WHAT YOU MIGHT HAVE MISSED
Two players that have been around this rivalry since they were children – DU’s Geoff Paukovich of Englewood and CC’s Brandon Straub of Colorado Springs – combined for seven penalties. Paukovich had four, including diving.
NEXT
Denver vs. Minnesota State, Friday, at Magness Arena.
Mike Chambers can be reached at 303-954-1357 or mchambers@denverpost.com.
