Colorado College and the University of Denver have always had a bond of sorts. They are small, private schools with exceptional hockey programs that put them on the Division I athletics map.
That bond, however, sometimes leads to jealousy and, ultimately, the very ingredients of a bitter rivalry.
This week — Gold Pan week — a touchy-feely side of the rivalry was shown by the programs’ leaders heading into their regular-season ending home-and-home series.
CC coach Scott Owens and DU coach George Gwozdecky said they are proud of each other for overcoming so much adversity en route to putting together terrific seasons.
“I think both teams should be very proud of themselves and what they’ve been able to accomplish,” Gwozdecky said. “Adversity really brings the character of the team.”
CC was involved in an incident at the beginning of the season, with captain Scott Thauwald and three others reprimanded for dressing up in blackface for a themed golf outing based on old TV shows.
In December, junior Cody Lampl was suspended for a year and senior Derek Patrosso until Wednesday for undisclosed reasons.
Star junior forward Chad Rau also was suspended for a game, and the Tigers have absorbed numerous injuries.
Still, the Tigers are in position to win the MacNaughton Cup as Western Collegiate Hockey Association regular-season champions and collect the No. 1 seed at the NCAA Tournament West Regional at the World Arena.
“This group has been as much of a team as I’ve had, as far as being on the same page and going in the same direction,” Owens said.
DU’s problems began last summer, when assistant captain and senior-to-be Geoff Paukovich signed an NHL deal and sophomore-to-be Keith Seabrook left for major junior. Previously in 2007, Ryan Dingle and T.J. Fast left the program with eligibility remaining.
More recently, DU lost leading scorer Brock Trotter to an NHL deal in January and has played the last eight games without star center Tyler Ruegsegger.
Regardless of what happens this weekend, CC and DU will qualify for the NCAA Tournament, and they have the chance to conclude their seasons at the Pepsi Center, host of the Frozen Four (April 10-12).
This year, a top-three WCHA finish is equally as impressive as a Frozen Four appearance.
“It’s a special year for our league,” Owens said.
Mike Chambers: 303-954-1357 or mchambers@denverpost.com
