University of Denver hockey coach George Gwozdecky has suspended junior defenseman Patrick Mullen for the Pioneers’ playoff opener Friday for receiving a 10-minute misconduct in each of last weekend’s games against Colorado College.
Mullen will miss Game 1 of the Western Collegiate Hockey Association series against Minnesota-Duluth at Magness Arena. He will be eligible to play in Game 2 on Saturday and, if necessary, Game 3 on Sunday.
“Let’s call it actions detrimental to the team,” Gwozdecky said Wednesday. “This will be important, for not only Patrick, but for his teammates. Coming down the home stretch as we are, every game will be competitive and close, and they’ll be challenges. And we have to really maintain our focus and our cool.”
Mullen, son of Hockey Hall of Famer Joe Mullen, is fifth on the 22-13-1 team with 21 points (four goals).
“It’s my fault. I didn’t control my emotions, and this time of year you really need to control them,” Mullen said. “I have to keep my mouth shut.”
Mullen, who missed last year’s WCHA playoffs because of mononucleosis, likely will be replaced Friday by senior Zach Blom of Englewood.
Meanwhile, freshman defenseman John Ryder is recovering quicker than expected from a wrist injury he suffered in January. Ryder is practicing with the Pioneers and could return to the lineup by the beginning of the NCAA Tournament on March 28.
Mike Chambers
Wyoming’s nonconference schedule set.
The University of Wyoming finalized its nonconference football schedule for 2008, adding a Sept. 13 home game against North Dakota State.
The Cowboys’ other nonconference games at War Memorial Stadium are Ohio on Aug. 30 and Bowling Green on Sept. 27. Their lone nonconference road game is Nov. 8 at Tennessee.
Wyoming’s Mountain West Conference home games are against Air Force, Colorado State, San Diego State and Utah. The MWC has yet to finalize the conference schedule.
Eagles defeat rival Rage.
Jason Beatty, who had only five points on the season, stole the puck at center ice and skated past three Rocky Mountain Rage players to score an unassisted goal that put the Colorado Eagles ahead 3-2. Greg Pankewicz added an empty-netter late and the Eagles won 4-2, moving them three points ahead of the visiting Rage in the Central Hockey League’s Northwest Division with five games remaining in the regular season for both teams.
