Fortunately for the Avalanche, prized St. Louis Blues prospect Jaden Schwartz is playing another year of college hockey. Thus, he will not be with the Blues tonight at the Pepsi Center.
Unfortunately for the University of Denver, Schwartz is still playing for Colorado College.
When the Pioneers and Tigers collide tonight in a nationally televised game at the Colorado Springs World Arena, the top NHL draft pick in CC history — plus the Gold Pan — will be on display.
“At this day and age, with the NHL utilizing younger players, such as the Avalanche, I felt fortunate that he came back for another year,” CC coach Scott Owens said of Schwartz, whom the Blues made the 14th selection in the 2010 draft. “It’s good to have a first-round pick for two years, and he’s certainly been good for us.”
Schwartz, 19, is to CC what 20-year-olds Matt Duchene, Ryan O’Reilly and Stefan Elliott are to the Avalanche. All four players starred while growing up in Western Canada, represented their country in international tournaments, and appear to have long NHL careers in front of them.
“He’s got the whole package,” DU coach George Gwozdecky said of Schwartz, who has devoted his entire hockey career to his recently deceased older sister, Mandi. “Not only does he have the skill set, but he’s got the vision and temperament to play anywhere, against anybody, in any type of game, and be a huge contributor.”
Schwartz, from Wilcox, Saskatchewan, has amassed 64 points (22 goals) in 41 career games with the Tigers. He led the team in scoring last season as a freshman, despite missing 15 games, and has 17 points in 11 games this fall.
“He’s got an elite hockey sense and elite vision, and excellent hands. He can see plays develop, and he makes very, very good decisions,” Owens said. “The other thing is, he’s a team-first, unselfish player.”
Schwartz signed with CC with the help of his older brother, Rylan, a junior center who leads the Tigers with 13 goals. Rylan had back-to-back hat tricks last weekend at North Dakota, with Jaden producing four assists in the series.
Rylan, who has four hat tricks this season, is No. 1 nationally in goals per game (1.18). Jaden is his left winger and primary setup man.
“They play real well together,” Owens said of the brothers. “Good instincts together. They pull for each other. With the whole family dynamic last year, it’s really good for them to be together.”
The brothers lost their older sister, Mandi Schwartz, to cancer at age 23 in April. The former Yale women’s hockey team player battled the disease for 28 months.
“She’s always on my mind. Every time I go on the ice, she’s on my mind,” Jaden said of Mandi. “Hockey was one of her favorite things to do. Everything I do, everything I accomplish, is credited to her.”
Jaden announced in August that he hopes to honor Mandi and his family by leading Team Canada to the gold medal in the upcoming World Junior Championship in Edmonton and Calgary, Alberta. He is scheduled to report to the Calgary-based camp Dec. 10, between the first and second games of a series against visiting Alaska-Anchorage.
Jaden Schwartz played for the 19-under Canadian all-stars last year but broke his ankle in his second game. He was on crutches when the Canadians blew a 3-0 third-period lead and lost to Russia 5-3 in the gold-medal game.
If Schwartz was currently playing for the Blues, he likely wouldn’t have been given the chance to play in another WJC. His sister’s memory is partly why he returned to CC.
“We have a great team here, great group of guys, and I’m really enjoying this year,” Schwartz said. “I wouldn’t say I was really, really close to signing, but it came down to what I was comfortable with and what was best for my development. I’m really happy with the decision.”
Mike Chambers: 303-954-1357 or mchambers@denverpost.com
College hockey
No. 10 Denver (6-4-3, 4-2-3 Western Collegiate Hockey Association) at No. 8 Colorado College (7-4, 5-4 WCHA)
Notes: Tonight’s 8 p.m. start is to accommodate CBSSN’s live national “rivalry doubleheader” that begins with Boston University at Boston College. . . . DU will again without senior defenseman John Ryder (knee) and junior goalie Adam Murray (groin). . . . This is the 281st meeting between the teams. The Pioneers lead the series 157-109-14 but are 8-18-3 at the World Arena. . . . DU finished 3-2-2 in November, all home games, including 2-1-2 against ranked teams. . . . CC is 4-0 at home, where it has allowed just eight combined goals. . . . The Tigers will go with junior Joe Howe (4-3) between the pipes.
Air Force (7-4-2, 6-2-1 Atlantic Hockey Association) at American International (3-10-2, 2-5-2 AHA)
Notes: Air Force is 20-1-1 against American International, including 8-0 in Springfield. . . . The Yellow Jackets won 5-3 last season at the academy. . . . This is the only series of the season between the teams.
Mike Chambers, The Denver Post
