Even for tonight’s losing team, the atmosphere at Magness Arena could provide the memory of a lifetime.
The opener of the annual four-game Gold Pan series between Colorado College and the University of Denver is always special. But this year, it comes on Halloween night, with the Tigers owning the country’s No. 1 ranking and the Pioneers at No. 4.
“It’s going to be intense,” CC goalie Richard Bachman said. “This is why we play college hockey … rivalry game on Halloween night. It’s going to be a fun atmosphere.”
DU has the country’s top-ranked offense (4.80 goals per game) and CC is No. 4 in total defense (1.33). On this night, strengths will collide.
“We’re treating this game as a playoff game or tournament game, because that’s the kind of electricity and intensity that’s going to be brought to the building,” DU goalie Marc Cheverie said.
Costumes are welcome, and the sellout crowd will be in for a treat. CC is the defending Western Collegiate Hockey Association regular-season champion, and DU is the WCHA’s reigning playoff champ.
They are a combined 8-1-2 this year.
“It doesn’t really ever get much bigger than the Denver-CC series, especially this year,” Bachman said.
In five games, Bachman has allowed just five goals. But he hasn’t faced the type of relentless attack he’ll see from DU.
“I know they have an unbelievable offense, a ton of top-end talent that can put the puck in the net,” Bachman said. “I just have to focus on controlling rebounds and keeping the play simple. I don’t think we have to change much. Our defense has been outstanding so far.”
That’s the big concern for DU. Bachman (3-0-2) has a 0.97 goals-against average and .963 save percentage, partly because the defenders in front of him have played so well.
“We know it’s going to be tough to get pucks past Bachman, but we’re going to come out and do what we’ve been doing,” DU center Tyler Bozak said. “We’re going to lay the body on them, get pucks in deep, try to push their D-men back. We definitely know we can put the puck in the net. Our chances are going to come.”
DU coach George Gwoz-decky is trying to harness his team’s strengths of speed and offensive creativity. The Pioneers have had a tendency to play too up-tempo and lose sight of puck protection outside the offensive zone.
“Our whole team has great confidence in our ability to create offense and transition quickly,” Gwozdecky said. “So, you don’t want to take away their creativity by slowing things down, but you certainly want to be more aware of the decision making — when to be creative and a little more thoughtful of how you protect the puck.”
Another key for DU is to get more production from center Tyler Ruegsegger and linemates Rhett Rakhshani and Dustin Jackson. Ruegsegger and Rakhshani have a team-high 19 shots each but only three combined goals.
Ruegsegger shot high, wide or off the post more than a dozen times in last weekend’s series against Ohio State.
“We have to bury the puck,” Ruegsegger said. “We know Bachman is a phenomenal goaltender and has a very good team in front of him, but if we continue to work as hard as we have, the goals will come.”
Mike Chambers: 303-954-1357 or mchambers@denverpost.com
College hockey
No. 1 Colorado College (4-0-2, 2-0 WCHA) vs. No. 4 Denver (4-1, 2-0 WCHA)
What: WCHA two-game series
When: Tonight (7:35 p.m.) at Magness Arena, and Sunday (5 p.m.) at the Colorado Springs World Arena
TV/Radio: FSN (tonight), ESPNU (Sunday)/KLZ 560 AM, KYZX 103.9 FM
Notes: CC coach Scott Owens said he isn’t getting “overly worked up” about the series. “It’s an important weekend but it’s still October,” he said. . . . DU has scored at least three goals in every game. “Their sticks are great, they have great speed and anticipation,” Owens said. “They’re going really well, and it’s going to be a tough matchup for us.” . . . Tonight is the 268th meeting in this rivalry, which started in 1949. DU leads 152-105-10 but is 1-6-1 over the past two seasons. CC, 6-2-2 in the past 10 games, has owned the Gold Pan in nine of the 15 years of the traveling trophy. . . . The Tigers are 3-1-1 in their past five games at Denver. . . . CC senior forward Scott McCulloch will return to the lineup after missing two games with a groin injury. . . . DU has seven Coloradans on its roster. CC has two.
Bentley (1-1, 0-0 AHA) at Air Force (6-0, 4-0 AHA)
What: AHA two-game series
When: Tonight and Saturday, 7 p.m.
Where: Cadet Ice Arena
TV/Radio: None/KCSF 1300 AM
Notes: Air Force linemates Brent Olson and Jacques Lamoureux lead the country with 14 points. . . . The Falcons have the country’s best record, and are tied with Northeastern (5-0-1) and CC (4-0-2) with the nation’s longest winning streak.
Mike Chambers, The Denver Post
