The startling regime change last year from master coach George Gwozdecky to newcomer Jim Montgomery left many University of Denver hockey fans in a fog.
After , Montgomery took over as “the new guy.” He lived with it for months. The Pioneers’ coach, more than capable in his job, seemed saddled as the other guy in a significant transition.
On the ice, though, the Pioneers never missed a step. They finished with another 20-win season, another conference tournament title and another NCAA tournament berth.
It’s like nothing ever changed.
“As a coach, you don’t like to use the word comfortable,” Montgomery said Tuesday from Magness Arena. “But comfort is OK. The comfort level for our entire team is a lot better this year.”
Montgomery enters his second season as DU coach with new expectations. If he was passed off as Gwozdecky’s replacement last season, it’s no longer true.
DU starts its season — on Friday for a two-game series against Rensselaer at Magness Arena — ranked No. 16 in the U. S. College Hockey Online poll.
Last season, the Pioneers set a new bar with their new coach. It just happened to be the same bar as the old coach.
“We know now what DU hockey success looks like,” Montgomery said. “We expect to be good. Last year, I didn’t know what to expect. This year, average is not in our book.”
The Pioneers, winners of the National Collegiate Hockey Conference tournament championship, ranked fourth in their league, with North Dakota, Miami (Ohio) and St. Cloud State ahead of them.
“It’s why we call it the SEC of hockey,” Montgomery said.
And Denver is now attracting recruits based on its reputation under Montgomery, specifically.
“Seeing the success they had last season with Monty really attracted me to DU,” said freshman goaltender Tanner Jaillet, a 21-year-old who previously played three seasons in the Alberta Junior Hockey League.
Montgomery’s first-season results, though, didn’t start on the positive side. The Pioneers struggled to a 3-5-1 start last season, including four losses in overtime.
But DU eventually found its identity under Montgomery, of steady consistency.
The Pioneers are now no longer holdovers from the old era.
“We were better than average by the end of last season,” Montgomery said. “Players took ownership of their team.”
Nick Groke: ngroke@denverpost.com or twitter.com/nickgroke
USCHO.com Poll
Listed with record, vote totals and last week’s ranking (first-place votes in parentheses):
| 1. | Minnesota (47) | 2-0-0 | 997 | 1 |
| 2. | Union (3) | 2-0-0 | 895 | 5 |
| 3. | North Dakota | 1-1-0 | 784 | 2 |
| 4. | Ferris State | 1-0-0 | 749 | 9 |
| 5. | Providence | 1-1-0 | 745 | 3 |
| 6. | Colgate | 1-1-0 | 709 | 6 |
| 7. | Boston College | 0-1-0 | 663 | 4 |
| 8. | St. Cloud State | 1-1-0 | 652 | 7 |
| 9. | Massachusetts-Lowell | 1-0-0 | 585 | 17 |
| 10. | Michigan | 0-1-0 | 431 | 8 |
| 11. | Miami | 1-1-0 | 391 | 11 |
| 12. | Minnesota State | 1-1-0 | 384 | 13 |
| 13. | Quinnipiac | 1-0-0 | 354 | 15 |
| 14. | Boston University | 1-0-0 | 328 | 20 |
| 15. | Cornell | 0-0-0 | 273 | 14 |
| 16. | Denver | 0-0-0 | 185 | 18 |
| 17. | Ohio State | 1-1-0 | 173 | NR |
| 18. | Wisconsin | 0-2-0 | 154 | 10 |
| 19. | Alaska | 2- 0-0 | 113 | NR |
| 20. | Minnesota-Duluth | 1-1-0 | 108 | NR |
