Last weekend’s series between the University of Denver and visiting Nebraska Omaha offered Mavericks coach Dean Blais a unique side opportunity.
The distinguished coach got a chance to scout two Pioneers hoping to play for him on the U.S. National Junior Team that will compete at the upcoming World Junior Championship in Edmonton and Calgary, Alberta.
DU sophomore forwards Jason Zucker and Nick Shore are expected to make the preliminary U.S. roster and report to Blais with the rest of the American hopefuls on Dec. 18, the day after the Pioneers conclude a two-game series at St. Cloud State.
“It will be fun to go up there and try to (win another) gold medal,” Blais said Saturday after a 3-3 overtime tie at Magness Arena. “Jason has one around his neck right now, and a nice ring.”
Zucker, who played for the previous two U.S. World Junior teams, including his first year in 2009-10 when Blais led the Americans to the gold medal in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, is a lock to make the team if he remains healthy.
Shore will have to earn a spot in camp. His older brother, DU junior center Drew Shore, played with Zucker in last year’s World Junior team that won the bronze medal in Buffalo.
“It’s an unbelievable tournament, and I really hope he makes it,” Drew Shore said of Nick, who scored two power-play goals in Friday’s 7-3 rout over UNO. “I think he played well over the weekend. The two goals he scored were pretty big goals. He can definitely shoot the puck.”
Blais said he thought Nick Shore “played real well” last weekend. “I thought he was noticeable almost every time he was on the ice,” Blais said. “He made good plays, made good decisions with the puck, and got open when he should have.”
Blais had special praise for Zucker, who went pointless Friday, but was sprung by Drew Shore for a breakaway goal in DU’s comeback from a 3-0 deficit Saturday. Zucker briefly lost the puck after splitting two defenders, but regained control and snapped a shot over the goalie’s shoulder.
“Not a lot of guys in college hockey can make that goal,” Blais said. “You get speed and a way to get the puck in the net, and Zucker is going to do it. He’s going to find a little hole, and that’s what he found.”
Footnotes. DU didn’t practice Monday. Injury updates to senior defenseman John Ryder (leg) and junior goalie Adam Murray (groin) will be announced today. . . . Pioneers freshman goalie Juho Olkinuora, who replaced Murray on Saturday, has played at least 33 percent of the team’s minutes and is recognized in national statistics. He is 14th in goals-against average (2.11) and 27th in save percentage (.918).
Mike Chambers, The Denver Post
Front Range rankings
1. Denver (5-3-3, 4-2-3 Western Collegiate Hockey Association). Last week: Beat and tied Nebraska Omaha, 7-3 and 3-3. This week: Hosts Princeton (2-6-1) Friday and Miami, Ohio (6-6-2) Saturday in Denver Cup. Comment: Pioneers’ offense has proved to be a formidable four-line attack.
2. Colorado College (7-2, 5-2 WCHA). Last week: Swept visiting Wisconsin 4-2 and 4-1. This week: Visits North Dakota (4-7-1, 2-6 WCHA) Friday and Saturday. Comment: Sophomore goalie Josh Thorimbert (.923 save percentage) has taken over the No. 1 job from junior Joe Howe (.923).
3. Air Force. (5-4-2, 4-2-1 Atlantic Hockey Association). Last week: Idle. This week: Hosts Connecticut (4-5-2, 3-2-1 AHA) Friday and Saturday. Comment: Rested Falcons have four AHA games to prepare for the big nonleague contests against CC and DU on Dec. 30 and Dec. 31.
Mike Chambers, The Denver Post
