Hoping to lessen his team’s psychological load heading into this week’s regular season-ending series against Colorado College, University of Denver hockey coach George Gwozdecky caught himself looking ahead.
Before last week’s series finale at Minnesota State, Gwozdecky remembers thinking how nice it would be to take the Western Collegiate Hockey Association championship equation out of the CC series. To do that, the top-ranked Pioneers needed to sweep the Mavericks. DU captain Rhett Rakhshani made it happen, scoring an overtime goal with 13 seconds remaining.
The 4-3 victory gave DU its 12th MacNaughton Cup as league champion and sends the Pioneers into their rivalry weekend with alleviated pressure.
“Having won it last weekend certainly allows us to define our focus, if you will, for this weekend’s games — it’s just on the rivalry and the importance of the Gold Pan,” Gwozdecky said Monday. “That’s where the bull’s-eye is, where our only focus is. . . . The (MacNaughton Cup) is the most difficult and challenging championship in all of college hockey, and it hasn’t been easy, but now we move on.”
DU beat and tied CC in December and needs one win or two ties to reclaim the Gold Pan for the first time since 2005.
DU’s banner season.
The Pioneers, who are on a NCAA-leading 10-game winning streak, haven’t lost since Jan. 23 (at Wisconsin). The streak has shaped what could end up being one of the finest seasons in WCHA history.
DU’s four league losses are tied for second-fewest since the WCHA went to a 28-game schedule in 1997. North Dakota was 24-2-2 in 1998-99, and the 2000-01 Sioux and 2002-03 CC team lost only four times in league play.
Footnotes.
WCHA commissioner Bruce McLeod said the MacNaughton Cup arrived at his Denver-based office Monday and will be presented to the Pioneers before or after Friday’s game at Magness Arena. . . . Gwozdecky did not have an updated status of defenseman Chris Nutini, who missed last week’s series because of an ankle injury.
Mike Chambers: 303-954-1357 or mchambers@denverpost.com
Front Range rankings
1. Denver (24-6-4, 18-4-4 WCHA). Last week: Swept Minnesota State, 3-1 and 4-3 (overtime), on the road. Up next: Home-and- home series with Colorado College on Friday (in Denver) and Saturday (in Colorado Springs). Comment: Pioneers are closing in on winning three major regular-season trophies (Denver Cup, MacNaughton Cup, Gold Pan) for the first time since 2005.
2. Colorado College (17-14-3, 11-12-3 WCHA). Last week: Lost twice to visiting North Dakota, 3-2 (overtime) and 3-2. Up next: Home-and-home series with Denver on Friday (Denver) and Saturday (Colorado Springs). Comment: Slumping Tigers have lost four straight and are only 5-10 since Dec. 30.
3. Air Force (14-14-6, 14-8-6 AHA). Last week: Swept visiting Sacred Heart, 6-3 and 8-1. Up next: Falcons host Army (11-16-7, 10-12-6) in AHA Tournament quarterfinal series March 12-14. Comment: Falcons’ sweep last weekend sets up ideal playoff series against rival Army, which beat and tied Air Force on Jan. 29-30 in West Point, N.Y.
Mike Chambers, The Denver Post
