A goalie’s best friend isn’t always the crossbar or goalposts. Sometimes it’s the unheralded defenseman who only cares about clearing the zone.
Junior Chris Nutini, a recruited walk-on from Centennial, is that kind of guy for University of Denver goalie Marc Cheverie.
“I love when he’s out on the ice,” Cheverie said of Nutini, who attended Regis Jesuit High School in Aurora before playing two seasons of junior-A for Wichita Falls of the North American Hockey League. “We have a lot of offensive D-men, but sometimes you really appreciate having the guys that are willing to stay back and sacrifice the points.”
Heading into tonight’s and Saturday’s games against visiting St. Cloud State, Nutini doesn’t have a point in 10 games. But he doesn’t spend much time in the offensive zone. He works so hard in the defensive end, he usually skates to the bench for a change when the Pioneers forge an attack.
“He’s just very dependable, on and off the ice,” Cheverie said. “He’s a good team guy, and you can really trust him. He’s a stay-at-home D-man but he’s got very good hands, very good hockey sense. He makes the simple play, and doesn’t take too many risks.”
Nutini was a healthy scratch in the first two games of the season because DU wanted its three high-profile freshman defensemen to gain experience. Nutini and sophomore John Lee are the only defensemen to have played in each of the past 10 games.
“I knew that was going to happen,” Nutini said of missing the season- opening Vermont series. “My role at that point was to push other guys to go hard. The freshmen are really good players, but it takes time for them to get going and make the adjustment. I knew I would get my chances.”
Nutini is one of the few players to find success at a major Division I program after playing hockey at the Colorado High School Activities Association level. Typically, players with college dreams focus on club hockey while in high school. Nutini did both as a junior at Regis.
“Chris has certainly come in here and surprised a lot of people by the way he was able to step in and be a contributing member of our defensive corps pretty much from his freshman year on,” DU coach George Gwozdecky said. “He’s arguably one of our hardest workers, one of our strongest players. His training habits are tremendous. He’s very dedicated and committed.”
Nutini is on pace to play in more than 100 career games at DU. As a freshman, he saw action in 35 of 41 games. Last season he played in 27 of 40, missing 10 because of a serious shoulder injury.
“I know my role, and I’m just trying to play up to that,” he said. “I’m not an offensive guy. My job is to be physical, to push other guys in the lineup and get the energy of the team up, and, of course, play solid defense.”
Mike Chambers: 303-954-1357 or mchambers@denverpost.com
St. Cloud State (5-5-2, 4-3-1 WCHA) at No. 2 Denver (8-3-1, 6-1-1)
What: WCHA two-game series
When: 7:35 p.m. tonight; 7 p.m. Saturday
Where: Magness Arena
TV/radio: FSN (tonight only)/KKFN 104.3 FM
Notes: DU defenseman Patrick Wiercioch (knee injury) is questionable. . . . Goalie Marc Cheverie is expected to start both games for the Pioneers.
Alaska-Anchorage (5-9, 3-7 WCHA) at No. 5 Colorado College (9-2-1, 6-1-1)
What: WCHA two-game series
When: 7:35 p.m. tonight; 7 p.m. Saturday
Where: Colorado Springs World Arena
TV/radio: None/KRXP 103.9 FM
Notes: CC is 30-2 against UAA in Colorado Springs, including 19-1 at the World Arena. . . . The Seawolves have produced Saturday night upsets over North Dakota, Denver and Minnesota State.
Mike Chambers, The Denver Post
