Jason Zucker, who leads the University of Denver with eight goals and 20 points, is scheduled to take a leave of absence from the Pioneers to represent his country in the upcoming World Junior Championship.
The explosive sophomore wing from Las Vegas is among 29 Americans scheduled to report to Team USA’s camp Dec. 17 or 18 in Camrose, Alberta. The final 22-player roster will be announced Dec. 22, and the 19-under tournament — hockey’s second-biggest international tournament after the Olympics — begins Dec. 26 in Calgary and Edmonton.
Zucker, 19, is pegged to play in his third consecutive WJC. Two years ago, he helped the Americans win the gold medal in Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, and last year the team captured the bronze in Buffalo. Zucker and goalie Jack Campbell, of the Ontario Hockey League’s Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds, are hoping to become the first Americans to win three WJC medals.
“It would have been a surprise if Zucker didn’t make it,” DU coach George Gwozdecky said Monday. “We’re happy for him. It’s rare anybody gets a chance to play in the World Junior Championship, let alone three straight times.”
Two other Pioneers — sophomore center Nick Shore and freshman defenseman Scott Mayfield — also attended Team USA’s summer camp, but neither made Monday’s cut.
“Little disappointed, especially for Nick,” Gwozdecky said. “Nick had a legitimate shot at making the team.”
Defenseman Seth Jones, 17, a member of USA Hockey’s National Team Development Program in Ann Arbor, Mich., is the youngest player on the active roster. He is the son of former Nuggets player and assistant coach Popeye Jones, who played youth hockey for the Littleton Hawks and Colorado Thunderbirds.
Zucker will miss at least two DU games, depending on how far the Americans go. He will be allowed to complete the Pioneers’ two-game series at St. Cloud State on Dec. 17, then travel to Camrose. DU is idle until hosting Union on Dec. 30, and Zucker also will miss the Dec. 31 game at Air Force.
Epic.
After Colorado College’s thrilling 4-3 overtime victory over DU on Friday, Gwoz- decky on his Twitter account dubbed the game an “epic” contest between the rivals.
The Pioneers, who forced OT with Beau Bennett’s goal late in the third, nearly won it in regulation with prime opportunities from Zucker and Joey LaLeggia, but CC goalie Joe Howe made terrific saves.
The game was decided by a CC sophomore wing from Bloomfield, Mich., Alexander Krushelnyski. He was tripped from behind on an overtime breakaway, leading to his game-winning, Peter Forsberg-type penalty shot against DU freshman goalie Juho Olkinuora.
Forsberg made the same move at the 1994 Olympics to win the gold for Sweden.
“The last penalty shot I had was when I was in the eighth grade,” Krushelnyski said. “I scored on that one too.”
Front Range rankings
1. Colorado College (8-4, 6-4 Western Collegiate Hockey Association)
Last week: Beat Denver 4-3 in overtime.
This week: Hosts Alaska-Anchorage (5-9-2, 2-9-1 WCHA) on Friday and Saturday.
Comment: The Tigers managed to beat DU despite zero points from the Schwartz brothers — Jaden (four shots) and Rylan (scratched because of injury).
2. Denver (6-5-3, 4-3-3 WCHA)
Last week: Lost at Colorado College 4-3 in OT.
This week: Visits Bemidji State (6-8-2, 4-6-2 WCHA) on Friday and Saturday.
Comment: Two losses at Bemidji State would knock the No. 13-ranked Pioneers out of the top 15 for the first time in nearly six years, since Jan. 23, 2006.
3. Air Force. (9-4-2, 8-2-1 Atlantic Hockey Association)
Last week: Won twice at American Int’l, 8-3 and 7-3.
This week: Idle.
Comment: Falcons are on a four-game winning streak (scoring 22 goals) but have a big break before visiting CC and hosting Denver on Dec. 30 and Dec. 31, respectively.
Mike Chambers, The Denver Post
