Freshman goalie Sam “Great” Brittain has a ways to go to solidify his media-created nickname, but from a statistical standpoint, so far it is deserved.
Among freshmen, the burgeoning University of Denver star leads the NCAA with a .934 save percentage. Overall, he is eighth.
With his 1.95 goals-against average, he is second among freshmen nationally and 12th overall.
“I’m not surprised, just because I know the quality of work Derek Lalonde does with our goaltenders,” DU coach George Gwozdecky said of his No. 2 assistant. “Sam has done a terrific job.”
Brittain (7-3-2) has made 11 consecutive starts, mostly because he played so well when sophomore Adam Murray missed four games with a groin injury last month. A platoon system was in place at the beginning of the year, until Murray went down before the fifth game.
Brittain has not allowed more than two goals in DU’s past four games, and six of the last seven. He already has surpassed Murray in career starts (12 to eight) and games played (12 to 11).
“Sam certainly is our No. 1 guy right now, but that doesn’t mean Adam is not going to get playing time,” Gwozdecky said. “I don’t foresee Sam playing a similar role to what Marc Cheverie did last year.”
Cheverie tied a single-season school record by playing in 40 games last season as a junior. The first-team All-American and Western Collegiate Hockey Association player of the year signed a contract with the Florida Panthers in April to pave the way for Brittain, 18, to join DU a year earlier than originally scheduled.
In June, Brittain was Florida’s fourth-round selection in the NHL draft.
Martin update.
DU senior center Jesse Martin began outpatient therapy at Denver’s CU Sports Medicine on Monday. He was released Saturday from Craig Hospital and returned to the DU-area condo he shares with teammate Luke Salazar, and later attended the Pioneers’ game against Bemidji State.
Martin, who did not want to make a public appearance, watched the game on television from the player’s lounge. He continues to make dramatic improvement after suffering life-threatening fractures to his C2 vertebra in an Oct. 30 game at North Dakota, and undergoing surgery Nov. 8 in St. Paul, Minn. The numbness in his fingertips continues to decrease.
“Every day I notice a little bit of improvement,” he said. “Nerves are the slowest thing to heal.”
Martin said he will remain in Denver through this weekend’s Denver Cup at Magness Arena, and then return to his hometown of Edmonton, Alberta, and spend Christmas with his family. He plans on returning to DU in January when the winter quarter begins, and completing the school year.
Footnote.
DU linemates Drew Shore and Jason Zucker are first and tied for second, respectively, in WCHA scoring (league games only). Shore has a league-most 13 points, and Zucker, who is tied with five others with 12 points, has a WCHA-high nine goals (tied with North Dakota senior Matt Frattin).
Mike Chambers: 303-954-1357 or mchambers@denverpost.com
Front Range rankings
1. Denver (8-4-2, 7-2-1 WCHA). Last week: Swept Bemidji State, 3-1 and 4-2. This week: Hosts Denver Cup, plays Lake Superior State (5-7-2) on Friday and Air Force (4-6-1) on Saturday. Comment: Pioneers put their four-game winning streak on the line in the earliest Denver Cup and 19th all-time.
2. Colorado College (5-6-1, 2-4 WCHA). Last week: Idle (previously beat Air Force 6-4 and lost to Yale 5-1). This week: Hosts Alaska-Anchorage (3-7-2, 2-5-1 WCHA) on Friday and Saturday. Comment: Fresh Tigers return to action hoping to climb up WCHA standings.
3. Air Force (4-6-1, 3-3-1 AHA). Last week: Tied at Canisius (1-1) and won at Niagara (7-4). This week: Denver Cup versus Clarkson (6-4-2) on Friday and Denver (8-4-2) on Saturday. Comment: Falcons getting terrific production from 21-year-old freshman Jason Fabian, who has a team-leading six goals.
Mike Chambers, The Denver Post
