FRONT RANGE NCAA HOCKEY
DU hedging bets on its surprising firepower
It’s homecoming week for the University of Denver, and a good time to be a Pioneers hockey fan.
The school’s top athletic program is in top form and will showcase its offensive firepower in this weekend’s two-game homecoming series against Ohio State.
The Friday and Saturday night games against the Buckeyes at Magness Arena figure to be filled to capacity, which would increase DU’s regular-season home sellout streak to 81 games.
The No. 4-ranked Pioneers (3-0) lead the country in nearly every offensive category, including goals per game (6.00).
Sophomore center Tyler Bozak is No. 1 in points per game (2.67), senior Patrick Mullen leads the country in points per game by a defenseman (2.00), and freshman wing Luke Salazar and freshman defenseman Patrick Wiercioch are tied for first in points per game by rookies (1.67).
Salazar, a 5-foot-7, 150-pound surprise from Thornton, is also tied for first in game-winning goals (2).
DU is averaging 39.3 shots.
“I remember saying at our preseason press conference that we felt we had depth up front and probably one of our strengths was going to be our offensive firepower, and so far we’ve been able to show that, and not only up front, but from guys like Mullen and Wiercioch, who are doing some things offensively that are really helping us, especially on the power play,” DU coach George Gwozdecky said.
The Pioneers, who returned 20 lettermen from a team that finished 26-14-1 last season, opened with a 5-2 victory against Notre Dame, the defending NCAA runner-up. Last weekend, DU swept Wisconsin 6-5 and 7-4 to begin Western Collegiate Hockey Association play.
The fact that sophomore goalie Marc Cheverie is 55th in the country in goals-against average (3.67) is not a big concern, given that DU is unbeaten playing the run-and-gun style, and Cheverie owns a career record of 4-0.
“I can’t complain, 4-0 is 4-0, and the only thing that matters are the W’s,” he said.
DU’s 18 goals have come in a variety of ways, and from a variety of players. Eight skaters are averaging more than a point per game.
“It’s pretty fun to watch,” Cheverie said of the offense. “They’re driving the net hard, and not all the goals are pretty. Some of them are really nice and some are just from banging away in front of the net. That’s what you have to do in hockey.”
No. 3 Colorado College (4-0) and soon-to-be-ranked Air Force (4-0) also play this weekend, but on the East Coast. The Tigers visit Clarkson in Potsdam, N.Y., and the Falcons travel to American International in Springfield, Mass.
Combined, DU, CC and AFA are 11-0 and have four of the five top scorers in the country.
Falcons junior Jacques Lamoureux, a first-year transfer from Northern Michigan, leads the NCAA with 10 points.
Mike Chambers: 303-954-1357 or mchambers@denverpost.com
NCAA hockey scoring leaders
Rk. Player Team GP-G-A-Pts PPG
1. Jacques Lamoureux Air Force 4-5-5-10 2.50
2. Garrett Roe St. Cloud St. 4-1-8-9 2.25
2. Brent Olson Air Force 4-1-8-9 2.25
4. Chad Rau Colorado Coll. 4-3-5-8 2.00
5. Tyler Bozak Denver 3-3-5-8 2.66
TV GAME OF THE WEEK
Broncos visit Pats.
“Monday Night Football” undoubtedly figures to be the most-watched sporting event in the region this week. So what if Tom Brady won’t be quarterbacking the New England Patriots? This is still a huge measuring stick for Denver, which is 1-1 on the road. Catch the game from Gillette Stadium on ESPN and KDVR-31, beginning at 6:30 p.m.
AVS IN ACTION
Two home games on tap.
The Avalanche plays in L.A. against the Kings tonight before returning home to welcome Edmonton and Buffalo on Thursday and Saturday, respectively.
After losing its first three games, Colorado has won two in a row with backup goalie Andrew Raycroft between the pipes.
CHL RIVALRY
Back in action.
The Broomfield-based Rocky Mountain Rage host the Colorado Eagles of Loveland in the Rage’s home opener Wednesday at the Broomfield Event Center.
The Rage is off to a rocky start, losing 7-1 and 7-2 last weekend at the Laredo Bucks. The Eagles are 2-0 after winning twice in shootouts against the visiting Rapid City Rush.
FOUR TO GO
Johnson creeps closer to tying record.
Two-time defending NASCAR champion Jimmie Johnson won Sunday’s race in Martinsville, Va., to increase his lead in the standings and his chances of tying Cale Yarborough, who is the sport’s only driver to win three consecutive titles.
The Chase for the Sprint Cup is all but over. Four playoff races remain, beginning with Sunday’s event in Atlanta, but Johnson has a 149-point lead over second-place Greg Biffle. Only an extraordinary collapse would prevent Johnson from making it three in a row.
FALCONS FLY SOUTH
Air Force hopes to improve to 6-2.
Among the four Division I-A Front Range football teams, Air Force has the best shot to get to a bowl game. The Falcons (5-2, 3-1 MWC) host New Mexico on Thursday night in a game that will be televised by CBSCS.
New Mexico (4-4, 2-2 MWC) is coming off one of the country’s most dominant victories last weekend. The Lobos waxed San Diego State 70-7 on Saturday in Albuquerque.
