Even though the annual Colorado-Nebraska football rivalry has ended, two hockey-playing schools — the University of Denver and Nebraska Omaha — figured to keep things interesting between the neighboring states in the future.
“Certainly, just because of the location of the two schools and interstate rivals, it could really evolve into a great rivalry,” DU coach George Gwozdecky said.
Tonight will be the first of many league games at Magness Arena between the Mavericks and Pioneers. The teams split a series in Omaha last season, when UNO was in its maiden year in the Western Collegiate Hockey Association.
DU and UNO are “Original Six” members of the current eight-team National Collegiate Hockey Association. The NCHA will debut in 2013, coinciding with significant league realignment.
Like DU, hockey is considered UNO’s flagship sport. The Mavericks dumped their football and wrestling programs in March to partly indulge a hockey team in a region that has supported United States Hockey League (junior-A) teams in Omaha and Lincoln for decades.
The Mavericks, who began playing hockey in 1997 under coach-turned-administrator Mike Kemp, are coming off back-to-back 20-win seasons in Dean Blais’ first two years behind the bench, including an NCAA Tournament appearance in March.
Blais led North Dakota to five 30-win seasons and two NCAA titles from 1994-2004 before beginning a three-year NHL stint with the Columbus Blue Jackets.
Blais and DU have been rivals since Blais played hockey at the University of Minnesota from 1969-73. He also served as an assistant coach for the Gophers and Fighting Sioux.
“Obviously, they have the great coaching staff and they’re going to be good for years to come,” said DU senior forward and co-captain Dustin Jackson, who grew up in Omaha. “We had some competitive games last year with them, and I’m sure this weekend will be the same.”
Gwozdecky said he and Kemp identified the potential rivalry in 1997, before UNO’s inaugural season. In the Mavericks’ seventh and eighth games in program history, they pounded five-time NCAA champion DU 6-3 and 7-5 at the Omaha Civic Auditorium in November 1997. UNO joined the Central Collegiate Hockey Association in 1999.
“We talked about developing the rivalry, but because we were in separate leagues it was really difficult to try to schedule anything on a yearly basis in nonconference,” Gwozdecky said. “But now that they’re in our conference, and will be in the new conference when we split, I see that developing in a big way.”
Mike Chambers: 303-954-1357 or mchambers@denverpost.com
Collegehockey
No. 19 Nebraska Omaha (6-5-1, 5-2-1 WCHA) at No. 11 Denver (4-3-2, 3-2-2 WCHA)Notes: DU junior goalie Adam Murray will play tonight, and Saturday’s starter will be determined before the finale. . . . UNO freshman goalie Ryan Massa of Littleton did not travel with the team and will be a healthy scratch this weekend. The 21-year-old Massa, who played Colorado youth hockey throughout high school, has started four games and appeared in five, with a 3.14 goals-against average and .878 save percentage. . . . The Pioneers are 36th among 58 teams nationally in penalty killing (41-of-51, 80.4 percent) and also 36th in power play (tied with Niagara, 6-of-40, 15 percent) and 0-for-13 its last three games. They have scored with the man-advantage in just three of nine games. . . . UNO is led by junior Terry Broadhurst (11 goals) and sophomore Matt White (12 assists), who each have a team-high 17 points. Wisconsin (5-6-1, 4-5-1 WCHA) at No. 5 Colorado College (5-2, 3-2 WCHA)
Notes: CC has played its past five games on the road, going 3-2, and tonight hosts its first game and appearance on an Olympic-size ice sheet since Oct. 15. . . . Saturday will mark Scott Owens’ 500th game behind the Tigers’ bench. In 13 seasons Owens is 286-171-41. . . . The Tigers lead the country in scoring (4.43 goals per game) and are sixth in scoring margin (plus-1.43). . . . Wisconsin is tied with Denver and Bemidji State for 47th in the country in defense, allowing 3.33 goals per game. . . . CC is 11-5-1 against Wisconsin at the World Arena after the Badgers won five of their first six games there. . . . CC has held its opponent scoreless on the power play in five of its past seven games. . . . The Tigers have scored six empty-net goals this season after producing just one in 2010-11.
Mike Chambers, The Denver Post
