As a freshman in 2008-09, Luke Salazar tied big-name upperclassmen Rhett Rakhshani and Tyler Ruegsegger with a team-leading 15 goals. In his second year with the University of Denver, however, Salazar went from a regular scorer to a usual scratch.
After failing to produce a goal in his first 10 games last season, the 5-foot-7, 155-pound Legacy High School graduate was scratched. He played in only seven of the next 31 games and finished with one goal.
“I just couldn’t get anything going offensively and started to get less and less ice time, confidence went down and down, and I couldn’t stop the steamroll,” Salazar said while preparing for this weekend’s series against visiting Bemidji State. “Coming to the rink and not seeing your name in the lineup, you just think, ‘This is rough.’ “
The rough stretch is over. As a junior, Salazar is again one of DU’s top snipers. His seven goals are tied for second on the team with freshman Jason Zucker, one behind sophomore Drew Shore.
Salazar, 22, also is tied for second on the team in points, with 10. He leads the Pioneers with a sizzling shooting percentage of .538 (7-of-13) while mostly playing on a line with Zucker and Shore.
“Coming into this year, I just wanted to get back in the lineup. That’s all I wanted to do,” Salazar said. “I definitely took my first year for granted. I thought my sophomore year would be the exact same.”
Salazar joined DU as a recruited walk-on from the North American Hockey League, a lower-level junior-A league. He had an excellent training camp and was put on a line with then-sophomore Tyler Bozak, who is in his second year with the Toronto Maple Leafs.
In what turned into his final year at DU, Bozak suffered a serious knee injury three months into the season, and Salazar’s production began to dramatically tail off.
“You have to give credit to Tyler Bozak for allowing Luke to be able to play the way he did early in his career,” DU coach George Gwozdecky said. “Tyler Bozak was able to give Luke the puck in the scoring area, and that’s Luke’s strength.”
Salazar had to reinvent himself by proving he could score while playing with typical NCAA players and become a better defender.
“Through some trial and error, through some tough times, he’s learned what it takes to play at this level and how to become more of a multidimensional player,” Gwozdecky said. “He’s much more responsible defensively and better with the puck in all areas of the ice.”
Mike Chambers: 303-954-1357 or mchambers@denverpost.com
This weekend’s games
Bemidji (Minn.) State (2-5-1, 2-5-1 Western Collegiate Hockey Association) at No. 13 Denver (6-4-2, 5-2-1 WCHA)
What: WCHA two-game series
When: Tonight (7:35 p.m.) and Saturday (7 p.m.)
Where: Magness Arena
TV/Radio: FSN (tonight only)/87.7 FM
Notes: DU is 5-0 all-time against Bemidji State, but tonight marks the first WCHA game between the teams. The Beavers and Nebraska-Omaha are first-year WCHA members. . . . DU freshman goalie Sam Brittain (2.04 GAA, .935 save percentage) will make his 10th consecutive start. . . . Pioneers redshirt junior wing Dustin Jackson is scheduled to play in his first game since March 27, 2009. The alternate captain broke his leg in September 2009 and was diagnosed with mononucleosis in September. . . . Defensemen John Lee (broken hand) and Paul Phillips (groin) are questionable.
Air Force (3-6, 2-3 Atlantic Hockey Association) at Canisius (4-5-3, 3-4-3 AHA)
What: AHA game
When: Tonight, 5 p.m.
Where: Buffalo (N.Y.) State Sports Arena
TV/Radio: None/1300 AM
Notes: Air Force also plays at Niagara (5-3-2, 4-1 AHA) on Saturday at Dwyer Arena in Niagara Falls, N.Y., to conclude its two-game AHA weekend. The Falcons are coming off a 4-3 upset over then-No. 3 Yale on Saturday.
Mike Chambers, The Denver Post
