Friday night’s nationally televised hockey game at the Colorado Springs World Arena promises to be an emotional clash between bitter rivals. At least, the Denver Pioneers are bitter.
DU visits Colorado College for the first time since the Tigers delivered a 9-2 whipping on Nov. 6. The Pioneers, who have gone 12-1-3 since absorbing their worst defeat since 1997, allowed six power-play goals — including three in CC’s six-goal third period.
DU only produced 17 shots.
“That game certainly bothers a lot of us,” DU coach George Gwozdecky said before practice today at Magness Arena, where this weekend’s home-and-home series concludes Saturday night. “In some ways it didn’t affect us, which was a good thing. We got past it and we got better.
“But certainly, we look back and that’s one thing that sits uneasy with us. They played really well. They forced us into a lot of bad penalties and their power play was outstanding. They stomped us pretty good and it’s etched in our memory.”
In Friday’s rematch, which will begin at 8:07 p.m. and carried live by CBS College Sports, Gwozdecky said he will start sophomore goalie Adam Murray. Murray relieved freshman Sam Brittain on Nov. 6 and allowed CC’s final four goals — on just 11 shots.
Brittain, who has split starts with Murray in the past four series, will start Saturday.
“The atmosphere, and the competition and the rivalry we have with those guys is amazing,” Brittain said of the Tigers before today’s practice. “And because of what happened (Nov. 6), we’re going to have a chip on our shoulder. We’re going to go at them.”
DU won the first game of this season’s Gold Pan series 4-1 on Nov. 5. The Pioneers will retain the Gold Pan with one win this weekend, while the Tigers need at least a victory and a tie.
The traveling trophy must be won outright.
CC coach Scott Owens said his No. 1 goalie, sophomore Joe Howe, is questionable because of a knee injury. Howe missed practice Monday and Tuesday but returned to the ice to test the knee Wednesday.
The Tigers will be without star freshman wing Jaden Schwartz, who is due back later this month. Schwartz had a team-high 26 points in 17 games before fracturing his ankle while playing for Team Canada in the World Junior Championship. He had a goal and three assists in CC’s 9-2 romp over DU.
Mike Chambers: 303-954-1357 or mchambers@denverpost.com
