The first full public view of the University of Denver’s freshmen class was on display Friday night, and it surely didn’t take a hockey expert to immediately pin the youngsters with one obvious trait.
They’re big.
Defensemen Scott Mayfield (6-foot-4, 200 pounds) and Josiah Didier (6-2, 205) and forwards Ty Loney (6-3, 195), Zac Larraza (6-3, 195), Daniel Doremus (6-1, 190) and Larkin Jacobson (6-1, 210) have helped make the Pioneers a much bigger team than a year ago.
Didier and Larraza made their preseason debut Friday in a 3-0 preseason victory against the U.S. 18-under team at Magness Arena after missing last week’s first exhibition game because of injury and NCAA Clearinghouse issues, respectively.
At least five of the freshmen, including puck-moving defenseman Joey LaLeggia (5-10, 180), will be in the lineup next weekend when the Pioneers begin the season with a two-game trip at Boston College and Boston University.
Injured. DU starting goalie Adam Murray was scheduled to play at least two periods against the young American all-stars, but the junior left the game after the first period with a lower-body injury. After the game, Pioneers coach George Gwozdecky said Murray was pulled for precautionary reasons.
Murray’s backup, freshman Juho Olkinuora, inherited a 1-0 lead and stopped 12-of-12 shots before giving way to walk-on Zack Hope in the third.
Gwozdecky revealed the Finnish Olkinuora will serve a three-game eligibility suspension to begin his NCAA career and Hope, a 5-7, 145-pound first-year junior, will be Murray’s backup.
Murray inherited the No. 1 job after sophomore Sam Brittain underwent major knee surgery June 17. Brittain, last season’s winner of the Keith Magnuson Award as the team’s best defensive player, could return in January.
Footnotes. Sophomore Beau Bennett had two power-play goals and Larraza also scored. . . . USA center Quentin Shore, who has committed to DU, took the opening faceoff against brother and Pioneers co-captain Drew Shore.
Mike Chambers: 303-954-1357 or mchambers@denverpost.com
