No state produced better college hockey last season than Colorado. Not Minnesota, Michigan or Massachusetts. Not one.
Colorado College, the University of Denver and Air Force combined for a record of 75-38-8. All made the 16-team NCAA Tournament. And guess what? They each might be even better this season, which starts this weekend.
“This is a remarkable time for college hockey on the Front Range,” CC coach Scott Owens said. “Never have all three programs been this strong at the same time — and each with marquee players. It may not be fully appreciated for some years down the road.”
CC and DU are coming off terrific seasons in the Western Collegiate Hockey Association. The Tigers won the WCHA regular-season crown and the Pioneers won the league’s playoff title.
CC was the preseason pick to win the WCHA this season by the league’s coaches and media. DU was chosen third, but first by College Hockey News and second by Inside College Hockey. Upstart Air Force, meanwhile, won its second consecutive Atlantic Hockey Association tournament championship and is picked to win the league this season.
“It’s kind of the golden age of college hockey on the Front Range,” said Air Force coach Frank Serratore, who was DU’s bench boss from 1990-94. “DU and CC have been up there for the last 15 years, and hopefully we can stay up there.”
Added DU coach George Gwozdecky, “I’m really glad and proud of the fact that hockey in Colorado, not only at the college level but at the youth level, has grown to this point. We all take pride in that.”
In Colorado Springs, Serratore and Owens’ wives take the bond a step further. Frank and Carol Serratore co-own a coffee shop called “It’s a Grind.” Carol runs the place with Owens’ wife, Sally.
“They’ve become very good friends,” Scott Owens said. “Our sons were playing on the same hockey team and they became friends. Between the kids playing together and “It’s a Grind,” the girls really click. They’re kind of two peas in a pod, and Frank and I get along great.”
Owens, a former CC goal-tender and assistant coach, said his relationship with Gwozdecky is “good but more professional.”
“I have mutual respect for the number of games we’ve had battles over the years,” Owens said of the Pioneers. “They do their business, we do our business, and we both have a lot of success. As my 10 years have gone on, the respect has grown.”
Mike Chambers: 303-954-1357 or mchambers@denverpost.com
DU Pioneers
Coach: George Gwozdecky, 15th season (323-205-41)
2007-08: 26-14-1/third place WCHA, WCHA playoff champions, NCAA Tournament berth
2008-09 preseason rankings: No. 6 nationally, third WCHA
Key returnees: Eleven of last year’s top 12 forwards, including juniors Tyler Ruegsegger and Rhett Rakhshani, plus leading scorer Tyler Bozak, a 22-year-old sophomore. Senior defensemen Patrick Mullen and J.P. Testwuide, junior Cody Brookwell and sophomore Chris Nutini make up a veteran blue-line corps.
Key newcomers: Freshmen Joe Colborne, Patrick Wiercioch and John Lee have all been drafted.
What DU has: Speed, experience, depth and blue-chip freshman talent. Last season’s team was young. DU has only three seniors this season but 13 sophomores and six juniors make up a formidable veteran attack.
What DU lacks: A defenseman to trust in all situations, such as a Matt Carle or Chris Butler.
Prediction: Second WCHA, NCAA Tournament berth
CC Tigers
Coach: Scott Owens, 10th season (223-121-25)
2007-08: 28-12-1/WCHA regular-season champion, NCAA Tournament berth
2008-09 preseason rankings: No. 3 nationally, first WCHA
Key returnees: F Chad Rau led the WCHA with 28 goals, and sophomore goalie Richard Bachman is equally as heralded. Both were first-team All-Americans last season.
Key additions: Freshmen forwards Nick Dineen and David Civitarese will get their opportunities, and the defense was strengthened with the addition of freshmen Ted Behrend, Art Bidwill and Gabe Guentzel.
What CC has: Rau and Bachman are the stars, but a handful of others could join that circle. Keep an eye on veteran senior forwards Eric Walsky, 24, and Scott McCulloch, 22.
What CC lacks: A thorough search found very little that will make any opponent feel better.
Prediction: First WCHA, NCAA Tournament berth
AFA Falcons
Coach: Frank Serratore, 12th season (170-201-30)
2007-08: 21-12-6/AHA playoff champions
2008-09 preseason rankings: N/A nationally, first AHA
Key returnees: Eleven of last season’s top 13 scorers — led by senior Brent Olson and junior Jeff Hajner — plus four of the top six defensemen and G Andrew Volkening.
Key additions: Junior F Jacques Lamoureux, a transfer from Northern Michigan, will play right away. Freshmen Greg Burgdoerfer and Paul Weisgarber will battle for playing time up front.
What AFA has: Talent, depth and big-game experience. The Falcons still don’t play in a big-time league, but they have proved they can play with anyone.
What AFA lacks: Dominance at home. The Falcons went 11-3-5 at the Cadet Ice Arena last season, losing or tying some key AHA contests they should have won.
Prediction: First AHA, NCAA Tournament berth
Mike Chambers, The Denver Post
College hockey
No. 4 NOTRE DAME (0-0) at No. 6 DENVER (0-0)
What: U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame game
When: Saturday, 7 p.m.
Where: Magness Arena
TV/radio: None/560 AM
Notes: DU is 6-1 in its past seven season openers. The Pioneers’ loss during that span was in 2005, a 5-2 setback in the Hall of Fame game against Minnesota in St. Paul, Minn. . . . DU split a two-game series early last season at Notre Dame, which advanced to the Frozen Four in April at the Pepsi Center before losing 4-1 to Boston College in the NCAA championship game. . . . Irish junior forward Christiaan Minella is from Aurora, and freshman defenseman Sean Lorenz grew up in Littleton. . . . DU will be without junior defenseman Cody Brookwell, who is serving a four-game suspension for breaking team rules.
ALA.-HUNTSVILLE (0-0) at No. 3 COLO. COLL. (0-0)
What: Two-game nonleague series
When: Tonight (7:35) and Saturday (7 p.m.)
Where: Colorado Springs World Arena
TV/radio: None/KYZX 103.9 FM
Notes: CC went 18-2 at home last season, which ended with a 3-1 loss to Michigan State in the West Regional at World Arena. . . . Dating to last season, the Tigers are on a three-game losing streak. . . . Alabama-Huntsville finished 6-21-4 last season.
AIR FORCE (0-0) at SACRED HEART (0-0)
What: Two-game AHA series
When: Today and Saturday, 5 p.m.
Where: Milford (Conn.) Ice Pavilion
TV/radio: None/none
Notes: Sacred Heart returns 20 lettermen from a team that finished 16-19-3 last season. Air Force went 1-1 against the Pioneers, splitting a two-game series in Connecticut. . . . Sacred Heart was picked to finish fourth in the AHA behind Air Force, Mercyhurst and RIT. . . . The Falcons are 4-5-2 in openers under coach Frank Serratore.
By Mike Chambers, The Denver Post
