On the heels of an embarrassing loss at home to Alabama-Huntsville last week, the University of Denver hockey team on Monday dropped out of the USA Today/USA Hockey Magazine poll for the first time in nearly six years.
The injury-plagued Pioneers (11-8-3) lost 3-2 to the Chargers (2-22-1) on Friday at DU’s Magness Arena, blowing a two-goal lead against a team that had produced only 23 goals in its first 23 games. DU salvaged a series split with a 5-2 victory Saturday.
The Pioneers, who were missing many of their top players, including sensational sophomore winger Jason Zucker, had been ranked in the USA Today poll since Jan. 23, 2006. They were 10th last week.
Given that DU won the 2004 and 2005 NCAA championships, it has been an outstanding eight-year stretch for a program that is one of two nationally to produce 20-win seasons in each of the past 10 years. Michigan is the other.
The media poll doesn’t mean much. What matters is the PairWise Rankings, the system used to seed the 16-team NCAA Tournament, and the Pioneers fell from 14th to a three-way tie for 18th after the split with Alabama-Huntsville. They have 14 regular-season games remaining and might have to go 12-2 or 11-3 to climb back into position for an at-large NCAA berth.
DU has qualified for seven of the past 10 NCAA Tournaments, including the last four.
Front Range rankings
1. Denver (11-8-3, 6-5-3 Western Collegiate Hockey Association). Last week: Split against Alabama-Huntsville, 3-2 loss and 5-2 win. This week: Hosts Bemidji State (11-9-2, 5-7-2 WCHA) on Friday and Saturday. Comment: Banged-up Pioneers looking to sweep hardworking Bemidji State before bye week.
2. Air Force (10-6-3, 8-3-2 Atlantic Hockey Association). Last week: Tied and lost at Holy Cross, 3-3 and 4-3. This week: Hosts Bentley (6-9-4, 6-3-3 AHA) on Friday and Saturday. Comment: Since beating Colorado Springs rival Colorado College, the Falcons are on a three-game winless skid (0-2-1).
3. Colorado College (12-7-1, 9-5-0 WCHA). Last week: Lost and tied against Cornell, 3-1 and 3-3. This week: Hosts St. Cloud State (8-10-4, 5-6-3 WCHA) on Friday and Saturday. Comment: Sophomore wing Jaden Schwartz came back from Team Canada World Junior duty and spearheaded the comeback tie against the Big Red by scoring or assisting on each goal.
Mike Chambers, The Denver Post
