Three weeks ago, Michigan Tech entered Magness Arena with five victories. The Huskies left Denver with five victories. They still have only five victories.
Among 58 Division I teams, they are tied with American International and Bowling Green for the fewest wins.
So how does the top-ranked University of Denver, which has won 25 games, get up for its first-round Western Collegiate Hockey Association series against the visiting Huskies?
Easy. Just remember three weeks ago.
“It’s certainly still fresh in our minds how tough they played against us,” DU coach George Gwozdecky said. “It was a heck of a test.”
DU won those games 5-2 and 5-3 during a stretch that saw the Pioneers finish 10-1 and win the MacNaughton Cup as WCHA regular-season champions. The last-place Huskies have lost seven in a row but remember how well they played in Denver.
“We gave Denver all they could handle,” Tech coach Jamie Russell said.
“We’re going to do the same things this weekend that we did then. We’re going to work hard and compete every shift.”
This weekend’s rematch is a best-of-three series with a berth to next week’s WCHA Final Five in St. Paul, Minn., on the line. DU has made it to the league playoff championship game at the Xcel Energy Center the past two seasons, winning it in 2008. A year ago, the Pioneers lost 4-0 to Minnesota-Duluth, which entered the postseason as the WCHA’s seventh seed.
“There is such a fine line in this league, especially at this time of year, between success and failure, and if you don’t bring your best, you’re setting yourself up for failure,” Gwozdecky said. “Every team at one point has had an opportunity to advance to the Final Five and they realize what a great tournament it is, what a great atmosphere it is, what a great weekend it is. We know that better than anyone, and we’re excited.”
And so are the Huskies, who have 18 freshmen or sophomores. “We’re a team that has struggled through a lot of adversity with a real young lineup and a lot of injuries, but this is an opportunity,” Russell said.
Mike Chambers: 303-954-1357 or mchambers@denverpost.com
College hockey
(10) MICHIGAN TECH (5-28-1) AT (1) DENVER (25-7-4)
What: WCHA three-game playoff series
When: Tonight (7:35 p.m.), Saturday (7 p.m.) and Sunday (7 p.m.), if necessary
Where: Magness Arena
Radio: KKFN 104.3 FM
Notes: DU is hosting a first- round league playoff series for the seventh consecutive season. The Pioneers are 3-3 in those series. . . . DU junior defenseman Chris Nutini (ankle injury) will not play this weekend. . . . Huskies forward Malcolm Gwilliam has seven points (four goals) in his past six games.
(6) COLORADO COLLEGE (18-15-3) AT (5) MINNESOTA- DULUTH (20-15-1)
What: WCHA three-game playoff series
When: Tonight, Saturday and Sunday (if necessary), 6 p.m.
Where: DECC, Duluth, Minn.
Radio: KRXP 103.9 FM
Notes: CC has lost four of its past five games and begins the league playoffs on the road for just the second time in the past 17 years. . . . Both teams are playing with their seasons on the line. CC might have to win the WCHA playoff championship to qualify for the NCAA Tournament.
(6) ARMY (11-16-7) AT (3) AIR FORCE (14-14-6)
What: AHA three-game playoff series
When: Tonight, Saturday and Sunday (if necessary), 7 p.m.
Where: Cadet Ice Arena
Radio: KCSF 1300 AM
Notes: Air Force is 11-1 in the AHA playoffs.
