Tyler Bozak, out of the University of Denver lineup since suffering a knee injury Dec. 12 at Minnesota State, said he is scheduled to begin skating this week, and the star center remains focused on returning about a week before the NCAA Tournament, which begins March 27.
Question is, will the Pioneers be fielding a lineup during that time?
DU is tied with North Dakota atop the Western Collegiate Hockey Association with 29 points, a point ahead of third-place Wisconsin. Typically, playing for the MacNaughton Cup at this time of the season means an at-large national tournament berth awaits.
This year, however, the Pioneers, Fighting Sioux and Badgers could fail to advance to the 16-team NCAA field. The last MacNaughton Cup champion to miss the NCAAs was Colorado College in 1994, and it has not happened since the NCAA field expanded from 12 to 16 teams in 2003.
DU is in the driver’s seat with the WCHA’s best Pairwise Ranking (No. 8). But the Pioneers could quickly fall closer to the bubble, around No. 13, because their final five games are against teams below them in the computer poll that mimics the process used by the NCAA selection committee.
The Pioneers begin a two-game series at Wisconsin (No. 15 Pairwise) on Friday, and then host St. Cloud State (No. 19) on Feb. 27-28 before finishing at home against Colorado College (tied at No. 20) on March 7.
Even if DU wins the MacNaughton Cup or finishes in the top three, it might also have to win its March 13-15 WCHA first-round playoff series to obtain an at-large berth. Bozak said his return target date is “at or before” the March 19-21 WCHA Final Five in St. Paul, Minn. But at that time, the Pioneers’ season could be over.
Slippery slope.
DU was reminded of how touchy the Pairwise Rankings can be after Friday’s 3-3 tie at CC. The Pioneers fell from seventh to 10th, but improved to eighth after Saturday’s national results.
Future Pioneers beat Tigers.
Three incoming DU freshmen played big roles in the U.S. under-18 team’s 3-2 exhibition victory at CC on Sunday.
Goalie Adam Murray made 44 saves, forward Drew Shore had two assists and defenseman William Wrenn was tremendous on the blue line. Each has signed with DU and will join the Pioneers this fall.
U.S. left wing Ryan Bourque broke a 2-2 tie with 4:47 remaining in the third period. Bourque is the son of former Avs defenseman Ray Bourque.
CC rested some of its regulars and had third-string goalie Tyler O’Brien in net, but Tigers coach Scott Owens told reporters he was “very disappointed” to lose to the high school all-star team.
Mike Chambers: 303-954-1357 or mchambers@denverpost.com
Front Range rankings
1. Denver (17-9-4, 13-7-3 WCHA)
Last week: Tied at Colorado College, 3-3. This week: Visits Wisconsin (16-11-3, 13-7-2 WCHA) on Friday-Saturday. Comment: The Badgers are 16-5-2 since beginning 0-6-1 and won’t allow 13 DU goals like they did in October in Denver.
2. Air Force (20-8-2, 17-5-2 AHA)
Last week: Split at Bentley, 3-2 win and 4-1 loss. This week: Hosts Holy Cross (10-15-5, 9-12-3 AHA) on Friday-Saturday. Comment: Four games remain, and AHA title and No. 1 league playoff site within reach for AFA.
3. Colorado College (14-9-8, 10-8-5 WCHA)
Last week: Tied against visiting Denver, 3-3. This week: Hosts Minnesota (13-9-6, 10-8-4 WCHA) on Friday-Saturday. Comment: The Gopher games could be a preview of No. 5 vs. No. 6 for WCHA first-round playoffs, with home-ice advantage at stake.
Mike Chambers, The Denver Post
