Tyler Bozak is among a handful of promising Front Range freshmen who will get their first taste of college hockey this weekend.
The University of Denver’s top recruit, Bozak will be in the lineup Sunday night when the Pioneers host the University of Calgary Dinos for an exhibition game at Magness Arena.
The Dinos also visit Colorado College on Saturday and Air Force on Monday.
Bozak, from Regina, Saskatchewan, is an interesting kid, er, young man. He turned 21 in March, about the time he was completing a phenomenal junior A season with the Victoria Grizzlies of the British Columbia Hockey League.
Bozak led the BCHL with 128 points (45 goals) in 59 games. He won the regular-season scoring title by seven points over Kyle Turris, the Wisconsin freshman who was picked No. 3 overall in the recent NHL draft by Phoenix.
The 165-pound Bozak, a son of a hockey coach, wasn’t an NHL selection during his draft-eligible years (18-20) but had opportunities to play NCAA hockey the past two seasons. He is glad he waited.
“I wanted to mature,” he said. “Denver was always my top choice, and now I have the perfect opportunity.”
DU graduated four senior forwards from last season and lost Ryan Dingle and Geoff Paukovich to the NHL. Senior J.P. Testwuide and junior Patrick Mullen, who both played forward most of last season, will begin on the defense.
That means Bozak and fellow scholarship classmates Jesse Martin, Kyle Ostrow and Anthony Maiani are going to play a lot. Bozak likely will begin on the second line.
“It’s definitely a little faster and decisions have to be made quicker, but I’m adjusting,” Bozak said. “I have personal goals, but I’m just hoping our team does well. The Frozen Four is here this year, and we want to be there.”
Bozak is not DU’s only 21-year-old freshman. Forwards Stephen Cunningham and Dusty Jackson and defensemen Jon Cook and Chris Nutini are also of legal drinking age.
“We get a lot of (ribbing), but there’s five of us, so we give it right back,” Bozak said.
Another promising freshman will play for CC on Saturday. Goalie Richard Bachman of Highlands Ranch likely will split time with junior Drew O’Connell as the Tigers look to replace the graduated Matt Zaba, a two-season starter.
Bachman and O’Connell are 20. Bachman, who won an AA peewee (under-12) national championship for the Littleton Hawks in 2001, was a fourth-round selection (120th overall) of the Dallas Stars in 2006.
“We’re going to give both goalies an opportunity,” Tigers coach Scott Owens said. “Richard has a lot of talent. He’s a freshman, and an ’87 birth date, but Drew is an ’87 birth date, too. He has just been around the college game a little longer.”
Mike Chambers: 303-954-1357 or mchambers@denverpost.com
