In 1999, University of Denver forward Matt Pettinger was assigned to Canada’s world junior team, joining Wisconsin’s Dany Heatley as the squad’s only members from U.S. college hockey.
The proud Pioneers celebrated the sophomore’s rare achievement before and after he returned from Switzerland with a bronze medal.
However, a week after returning to Denver, Pettinger left the Pioneers to play for a major-junior team in Calgary. During his time with Team Canada, Pettinger was sold on the idea that playing in the Canadian Hockey League was an easier path to the NHL.
Eight years later, DU freshman defenseman Patrick Wiercioch might absorb a similar sales pitch. The Pioneers’ best puck-moving defenseman and power-play quarterback leaves today for Ottawa to attend Hockey Canada’s final world junior evaluation camp.
The 18-year-old Wiercioch (pronounced Ware-cosh) says he isn’t going to pull a Pettinger.
“As far as I’m concerned, I’m just going to camp with a mind-set of knowing I have a great chance to represent my country,” Wiercioch, from Maple Ridge, British Columbia, said Tuesday. “If I make the team, I would make a full commitment to Team Canada, but I have a full commitment to DU the rest of the season, and that’s not going to change.”
If he makes the cut from 38 to 23 players, Wiercioch will begin world junior play later this month in Ottawa, and would likely miss the Jan. 2-3 Denver Cup tournament at Magness Arena — in addition to the Pioneers’ two-game series this weekend at Minnesota State.
“If I could do both, I’d love to, but it’s always a dream to represent my country, the red and white, and I’m thankful that the University of Denver will let me pursue that,” Wiercioch said.
Is coach George Gwozdecky worried about losing Wiercioch?
“I don’t know if worry is a good word to describe it, but we know that (recruiting) is always very evident when young guys that are not a part of the Canadian junior system play for Canada’s world junior team,” Gwozdecky said. “It’s predominantly made up of major junior guys, and what comes along with that is the pressure.”
Mike Chambers: 303-954-1357 or mchambers@denverpost.com
