There’s a rumbling in the gut of the hockey monster created by DU coach George Gwozdecky. And there’s only one way to feed the beast: Win another NCAA championship.
“The countdown clock has started for the postseason,” Gwozdecky said Saturday.
The Pioneers’ 5-1 defeat of Alaska-Anchorage sent 6,033 fans home happy but left the only person who really matters thoroughly unimpressed.
“We need to work on some things between our ears to avoid playing with the disinterest and lack of passion that we showed at times in this game,” Gwozdecky said. “I certainly think when we crank it up and we’re interested, we’re pretty good.”
Only a fool would suggest it’s easy to win the Frozen Four, where one hot goaltender or a single bad penalty can wreck your championship dreams.
While those seven national championship banners hanging in the rafters of Magness Arena look gorgeous, they also inspire greed for more, more, more.
After the Pioneers won back-to-back titles in 2004 and 2005, this appeared to be a dynasty in the making. DU had it all, from top-notch academics to ritzy facilities and sunny winter skies that could make any hockey player at Minnesota curse his car’s stubborn refusal to crank over before Easter.
Five straight seasons, how- ever, have ended in utter frustration for Denver, without a single victory in the NCAA Tournament.
How could that possibly be true? During the past two decades, no name in Colorado sports has been as synonymous with excellence as Gwozdecky. Yet, from 2006-10, his hockey program made the ice sizzle in January, only to turn in maddeningly mediocre performances during March.
“We won every darn title almost imaginable last year . . . and it was one and done in the postseason,” Gwozdecky said. “It was a disappointing year. It was a disappointing year for all of us.”
A year ago, the Pioneers were a team the nation feared. They were ranked No. 1 from the get-go. They could boast of bona fide All-America players on the attack (Rhett Rakh- shani), at the blue line (Patrick Wiercioch) and between the pipes (Marc Cheverie).
There was always an uneasy feeling, however, that Gwoz- decky was stuck with players coasting on their talent. Were they sneaking too many glances at the NHL to be truly passionate for the Crimson and Gold? It was a team whose dark secret was a lack of scoring balance.
Whatever the reason, when it came time for the NCAA tourney, DU rudely discovered reputation counts for zero on the scoreboard, and the Pioneers were upset by RIT. “Last year, we didn’t peak at the right time. We slowed down,” senior captain Kyle Ostrow said.
There’s a different look to this Denver team. Maybe it’s a youthful hunger in the eyes and a slow realization the regular season should be embraced as a learning experience rather than dismissed as a way to kill time.
“Our leaders aren’t afraid to call people out,” Gwozdecky said.
Despite a reliance on inexperienced goaltending, as 18- year-old freshman Sam Brittain matures with every save, this DU team has somehow crafted a 16-5-5 record that is actually slightly better through 26 games than a season ago.
There’s more to the beauty in the way the Pioneers play than a solid defense led by Chris Nutini of Centennial. You want oohs and ahs? Then check this out:
To score the goal that put Denver ahead 3-1 against Alaska-Anchorage late in the opening period, freshman winger Beau Bennett busted a move that was such a beautiful, dark, twisted fantasy that it should have been accompanied by a Kanye West beat.
“When a team’s in the right place, everything’s connecting and you trust everyone on the ice with every play. You see national championship teams do that. We’re not there yet. But that’s our goal,” Ostrow said.
Sitting in first place in the WCHA, as tough a hockey conference as you will find anywhere, proves DU can beat anybody in the country.
But can the Pioneers win when losing isn’t an option?
Mark Kiszla: 303-954-1053 or mkiszla@denverpost.com
