The University of Denver’s Dustin Jackson and John Ryder could be considered drill sergeants. At the very least, the fifth-year seniors are looked upon to lead by example and demand that the boys fall in line under their command.
Jackson, 25, is the Pioneers’ co-captain and third-line forward from Omaha, and Ryder, 22, is the team’s fierce-hitting defenseman from Colorado Springs. They joined the program together in 2007, when some of the current freshmen were 14.
Jackson is nearly seven years older than newcomers Josiah Didier and Zac Larraza, a gap that DU coach George Gwozdecky appreciates.
“It’s extremely valuable,” Gwozdecky said of having mature 20-somethings on a roster dominated by teenagers. “Our teams seem to get younger and younger, and there’s that lack of experience, lack of maturity. Not only physically, but emotionally and mentally, as their age shows. So the value of that fifth-year player, or players, around is invaluable.”
Since 2000, DU has lost 16 players before their senior seasons to NHL contracts, and four of the past five have been sophomores.
Jackson said his goodbyes to the program last spring, when he delivered his senior speech at the team banquet. But the 6-foot-3, 205-pound forward didn’t play in 2009-10 because of a broken leg and was granted a medical redshirt. Still, he didn’t intend to use it until the coaching staff asked him to come back and he was accepted into graduate school.
“The guys have really welcomed me back. I don’t feel like I’m too old for the team or anything, so it’s going well,” Jackson said. “I’m in a great situation here and really excited about this team. And, you know, I’m able to get away by going to class with graduate students. “
Ryder originally was pegged to join DU as a 19-year-old in 2008. But after former defenseman Keith Seabrook left the program midway through the 2006-07 season, Ryder came in as a true freshman.
He still feels old.
“But Dusty and I have that experience,” said Ryder, who was granted a medical redshirt in 2007-08 after a broken wrist limited him to nine games. “We won a WCHA Final Five our freshmen year (2008). We won a MacNaughton Cup (2010). We’ve been through all the rigors of battle. We’ve definitely grown with the program. It’s good to have somebody who can provide insight on what it’s like to be in pretty much every situational role, every role that a team has had.”
Having an original classmate in the locker room also helps.
“Definitely, looking across the room and seeing a guy I came in with helps a lot,” Jackson said. “(Ryder) and I keep steady and don’t get down. You don’t want to see the leaders rattled, and that’s something we can bring to the table.”
Mike Chambers: 303-954-1357 or mchambers@denverpost.com
College hockey
MINNESOTA STATE (1-3, 0-0 WCHA) AT NO. 3 DENVER (1-1, 0-0)
Notes: DU enters homecoming weekend on a 12-game unbeaten streak (10-0-2) against Minnesota State. . . . The Pioneers went 1-1 in Massachusetts last weekend, beating No. 1 Boston College 4-2 before losing to Boston University 4-3. . . . Minnesota State split a series at Rensselaer (1-0 win, 4-1 loss) before getting swept last weekend at home against Massachusetts-Lowell (4-1 and 4-2).
AIR FORCE (2-2, 2-0 AHA) AT ALABAMA-HUNTSVILLE (0-6,INDEPENDENT)
Notes: Air Force has a two-game winning streak after opening 0-2. . . . Alabama- Huntsville is the only Division I independent. The Chargers have been outscored a combined 21-5 this season. . . . The Falcons and Chargers were in the defunct College Hockey America from 1999 to 2006, with Air Force going 7-21-1. The teams haven’t met since 2006, when Alabama-Huntsville swept a series.
