Four road games, including this weekend’s two-game set at St. Cloud State, separate the University of Denver hockey team from Christmas break. Fortunately for Pioneers forwards Rhett Rakhshani and Tyler Ruegsegger, all four are on Olympic-size ice sheets.
On Dec. 16, the day after the Pioneers conclude a two-game series at Anchorage-Alaska, players will head in different directions for the holiday break. Rakhshani and Ruegsegger, however, will go straight into practice mode after reporting to Ann Arbor, Mich., for the prestigious U.S. World Junior Team.
Each of the World Junior games will be on Olympic-size ice — 15 feet wider than NHL sheets — in Pardubice and Liberec, Czech Republic.
“That works out splendid, because it’s tough sometimes, switching back and forth,” Rakhshani said. “When you haven’t practiced on the Olympic size, it can sometimes be a surprise.”
Eighteen of the 22 players on the team play in the NCAA. Three are from the Canadian-based major-juniors, and one is from the U.S. Development Program in Ann Arbor.
They will be teammates in the world’s second-biggest international hockey tournament, behind the Olympics. After two exhibition games, including the Dec. 22 European opener in Ceska Trebova, Czech Republic, Team USA begins round-robin play Dec. 26 against Kazakhstan. The quarterfinals begin Jan. 2.
“Very exciting, and a big honor, obviously,” said Ruegsegger, a Lakewood native. “There are so many kids playing hockey in the U.S., so to have an opportunity to represent your country is pretty amazing.”
Ruegsegger has little experience with USA Hockey, but Rakhshani lived in Ann Arbor, and played for the U.S. under-17 and under-18 teams before joining Denver.
“I’ve always watched this tournament growing up, so it was an awesome feeling to see my name called,” Rakhshani said. “Representing your country is special. I tried to never take it for granted when I played for the under-17 and under-18 teams. It’s been a while since I wore that jersey, but this will be at the highest level yet. It’s even more meaningful.”
Rakhshani and Ruegsegger will miss only DU’s two games in the Denver Cup at the end of December.
DU has a bye the first weekend of January, then hosts Wisconsin on Jan. 11-12. Rakhshani and Ruegsegger will have been back in Denver a week then.
“I don’t want to look past this weekend’s games at St. Cloud, but we’re very happy for them and very proud of them,” DU coach George Gwozdecky said of his two U.S. hockey ambassadors. “As we’re following their progress, I’m sure they’ll be following our progress in the Denver Cup.”
Mike Chambers: 303-954-1357 or mchambers@denverpost.com
This weekend
NO. 5 DENVER AT NO. 14 ST. CLOUD STATE
What: WCHA two-game series
When: Tonight and Saturday, 6:05 p.m.
Where: National Hockey Center, St. Cloud, Minn.
Records: DU (10-4, 7-3 WCHA), SCS (7-5-2, 3-4-1 WCHA)
TV/Radio: FSN/KCKK 1510 AM
Notes: St. Cloud’s Garret Roe (22 points) and DU’s Tyler Bozak (12) rank first and third, respectively, in WCHA freshman scoring. DU goalie Peter Mannino is 4-0 with a 1.20 goals-against average against St. Cloud. The Huskies and Pioneers have split their past three series. DU is 8-4 against ranked teams; St. Cloud is 3-3.
AIR FORCE VS. CANISIUS (BUFFALO, N.Y.)
What: AHA two-game series
When: Today and Saturday, 5 p.m. Where: Cadet Ice Arena
Records: CC (3-10-2, 3-6-1 AHA), AFA (9-4-1, 7-4-1 AHA)
TV/Radio: None/none
Note: A series sweep likely will lead to Air Force’s first regular-season national ranking. Based on the number of votes, the Falcons — 4-1-1 in their past six games — are 22nd in the U.S. College Hockey Online top 20 poll, and 18th in the USA Today/USA Hockey Magazine top 15.
Mike Chambers
