GREEN BAY, Wis. — Senior Kyle Ostrow accepts responsibility and craves pressure.
He’s not worrying about being Ostrow-cized.
As a proud member of the University of Denver’s first class to qualify for four NCAA Tournaments, the Pioneers’ captain will embrace the blame if the seniors become the first class in program history to lose four NCAA Tournament openers.
“Captains are usually judged by how far they go, what they accomplish,” Ostrow said while preparing for today’s Midwest Regional semifinal against Western Michigan. “We have a lot of experience with this now — not winning it — but I’m confident with our team compared to the last few years.
“I just feel like everybody understands it more and is more prepared for the first game, and we’re not looking past anybody.”
When Ostrow was a freshman, No. 2-seeded DU was upset 6-2 by Wisconsin at the Midwest Regional in the Badgers’ friendly confines of Madison. As a sophomore, Ostrow and the No. 1-seeded Pioneers lost to Miami (Ohio) 4-2 in the West Regional at Minneapolis. A year ago, again as a No. 1 seed, DU fell hard, 2-1, to Cinderella story Rochester Institute of Technology at the East Regional in Albany, N.Y.
Ostrow, 23, a 5-foot-8 speedster from Calgary, Alberta, doesn’t envision another first- round flameout.
“The past weekend was some of the best hockey I’ve seen our team play all year. It’s such a good sign,” he said.
Today’s winner will play either No. 1 North Dakota (30-8-3) or No. 4 Rensselaer (20-12-5) in the regional championship at 3:30 p.m. on Sunday.
Whether he plays one more game or four, Ostrow will wrap up an excellent college career by the NCAA championship game April 9. Ostrow is one of the most complete players in coach George Gwozdecky’s 17 years at DU and has done an excellent job leading a young, rebuilding team to unexpected heights.
DU finished second in the 12-team Western Collegiate Hockey Association and was runner-up in the league playoffs.
“When you look at just his contribution from a playing standpoint, he’s been terrific,” Gwozdecky said. “When you add what he’s done as captain of this team, and getting the freshmen understanding the culture, and to keep this ship sailing in the right direction through 6 1/2 months of various challenges, I think he’s done a wonderful job. I couldn’t be happier with him or what he and his teammates have accomplished so far.”
Said freshman center Nick Shore: “It’s not hard to follow Kyle’s example.”
Mike Chambers: 303-954-1357 or mchambers@denverpost.com
Spotlight on Jason Zucker: DU’s electrifying freshman left wing has been relatively quiet lately, with just one goal in his last six games. He is a clutch performer, and the Pioneers need him to produce in his first NCAA Tournament to get the program back to the Frozen Four for the first time since 2005when Zucker was 13 and playing bantam hockey in Las Vegas.
Notebook
Broncos: They finished fourth in the Central Collegiate Hockey Association regular season and second in the league’s playoffs. WMU upset No. 1 seed Michigan 5-2 in the CCHA semifinals before losing to Miami 5-2 in the championship game. . . . First-year coach Jeff Blashill, 37, has the Broncos in the NCAA Tournament for the first time since 1996. Blashill inherited a team that finished 8-20-8 a year ago. . . . WMU is 3-2 in its past five games and 4-6 in its last 10.
Pioneers: They are 3-1 the postseason, losing the WCHA championship game 3-2 to North Dakota in double overtime last weekend. . . . No changes to the lineup. Freshman goalie Sam Brittain will make his eighth consecutive start. . . . DU and WMU have never met in the postseason. The Pioneers are 4-1 against UND and 1-0 against RPI in the NCAA Tournament. . . . DU is 0-3 in its last three NCAA Tournament games after going 8-0 in winning the 2004 and 2005 titles.
