even against PioneersWith all due respect to his alma mater, former University of Denver captain J.P. Testwuide said he was “ecstatic” about how Colorado College rallied to tie the Pioneers 4-4 last Saturday at Magness Arena.
“I don’t want to say this the wrong way, and I hope people understand,” Testwuide said with hesitancy via phone from Houston, where he is a rookie with the Aeros of the American Hockey League. “I love DU with everything I have, but blood is thicker than water.
“It’s hard to say that. I love the guys in the DU locker room, and they know that. But when your brother gets a hat trick in that building, it doesn’t get much bigger than that.”
When CC captain Mike Testwuide completed his first career hat trick with short-handed breakaway and penalty-shot goals to force overtime, blood ran thicker than the bitter 59-year, 273-game rivalry between the schools.
J.P., who served as the Pioneers’ captain last season, was thrilled that DU didn’t lose and his brother was the player of the game.
“I was ecstatic, and speechless,” J.P. said. He added, “Coming up so big like that, I know what it meant to him.”
Decade dandy. In coach Scott Owens’ 10 1/2 years behind the CC bench, he has witnessed many great games against DU. But the latest, he said, is one of the greatest.
“From an intensity, hard work and interest level, it ranks up there in the top five for me,” Owens said.
Testwuide’s penalty shot was awarded with 47 seconds remaining, after DU defenseman Matt Donovan intentionally dislodged the Pioneers’ net with CC trailing 4-3.
“Are you kidding me? Forty-(seven) seconds to go, in the archrival’s rink?” Owens said. “But we have Mike Testwuide, who oozes with character. He put the team on his back.”
Footnotes. The knee injury that forced DU defenseman Patrick Wiercioch out of Saturday’s game is not considered serious. Pioneers coach George Gwozdecky said Wiercioch will try to practice today. . . . DU defenseman Chris Nutini, who suffered an ankle injury Friday and did not play Saturday, is expected to practice today. . . . Air Force junior Jacques Lamoureux, who had six points (three goals) in last weekend’s two-game sweep over American International, was named the Atlantic Hockey Association player of the week.
Mike Chambers: 303-954-1357 or mchambers@denverpost.com
Front Range rankings
1. Denver (10-4-2, 8-2-2 WCHA)
Last week: Beat and tied Colorado College, 2-1 and 4-4. This week: Visits Minnesota-Duluth (10-5-1, 7-4-1 WCHA) on Friday and Saturday. Comment: For selfish and unselfish reasons, the Pioneers are thrilled to know the knee injury to standout defenseman and Team Canada World Junior Championship prospect Patrick Wiercioch is not serious.
2. Colorado College (10-4-2, 7-3-2 WCHA)
Last week: Lost and tied Denver, 2-1 and 4-4. This week: Visits St. Cloud State (8-6-2, 7-4-1 WCHA) on Friday and Saturday. Comment: Tigers captain Mike Testwuide, 6-feet-3 and 225 pounds, might be playing his way into a lucrative NHL free-agent contract.
3. Air Force (8-5-3, 8-1-3 AHA)
Last week: Swept American International, 5-3 and 6-2. This week: Hosts Mercyhurst (8-9-1, 8-5-1 AHA) on Friday and Saturday. Comment: The Falcons are having their way with AHA competition, but are they good enough to play with the big boys? Mike Chambers, The Denver Post
