University of Denver senior center and team captain Kyle Ostrow had emergency surgery to repair a groin-area injury Friday.
Ostrow had the surgery between the Pioneers’ pregame skate Friday and their ensuing 2-1 victory over Minnesota Friday night at Mariucci Arena in Minneapolis.
DU coach George Gwozdecky today said that Ostrow was feeling ill when the team traveled to Minneapolis on Thursday, but said Ostrow planned on playing in Friday’s game after participating in the morning skate. But Ostrow became seriously ill during a team meal at a hotel. He was vomiting and in excruciating pain, Gwozdecky said.
According to the school, Ostrow underwent “vascular surgery of the lower abdominal area” Friday afternoon and was back with the team during their postgame meal at the hotel. Ostrow told Gwozdecky and the local doctors that he had not been struck with a puck or a stick in that area this season.
“But he remembers being hit in the area four years ago as a freshman,” Gwozdecky said.
Ostrow, who is tied for fourth on the team in scoring (22 points) and is fourth in goals (10), could return to the lineup March 4 when DU hosts St. Cloud State to begin its final regular-season series. The Pioneers, who have seven remaining regular-season games, play Minnesota this afternoon before hosting Michigan Tech for two-game series next weekend and visiting Nebraska-Omaha for a two-game set Feb. 25-26.
“We’re just glad it was a situation where we can get it fixed and he’s going to be OK,” Gwozdecky said. “We know he’ll be back with us late in the regular season or early in the post-season.”
Footnotes. Gwozdecky said freshman goalie Sam Brittain, who had a career-high 36 saves Friday, will also start this afternoon. … Senior defenseman Chris Nutini took a shot off the foot Friday and is questionable. He will participate in today’s warmup, and if he cannot play, he will be replaced by senior Jon Cook.
Mike Chambers: 303-954-1357 or mchambers@denverpost.com
