From a personnel standpoint, the season generally is unfolding just as University of Denver hockey coach Jim Montgomery had hoped. His upperclassmen have provided outstanding leadership and established a keen physical presence, sophomore goalie Evan Cowley has a .925 save percentage, and two of the Pioneers’ skilled young forwards — freshman Danton Heinen and sophomore Trevor Moore — have risen to the top of the scoring charts.
“We believe in ourselves,” Montgomery said.
As for the standings, the Pioneers (11-7-1) are not where they want to be in the National Collegiate Hockey Conference (4-5, sixth place) or PairWise Ranking (17th). The Pioneers are playing well, but getting swept 5-4 and 1-0 last weekend at Nebraska Omaha interrupted what was a smooth-sailing season for a team built for the long haul.
“We played as well as we have in a very long time, and to come out with two losses, it was tough,” DU senior center Matt Tabrum said. “But we can build off what happened there and bring that energy into this weekend.”
Confidence is high heading into DU’s final 15-game, regular-season stretch that begins Friday night against visiting St. Cloud State.
“If we play like we did last weekend — possession time was probably 75 percent us — we’re going to win 90 percent of our games,” Montgomery said. “I was worried that our confidence might be shaken after last weekend, but it doesn’t seem like it’s shaken at all. An 11-7-1 record isn’t a great record. It’s a decent record, but it’s not what this team is. We have potential to do great things this year.”
Cowley, Heinen and Moore are DU’s 19-year-olds, along with freshman defenseman Adam Plant. Everyone else is 20 or older. Most NCAA players don’t begin their freshman season until 19 or 20, but Cowley, Heinen and Moore have proven that they didn’t arrive too early.
“The older guys have to put their egos aside and do things for the team,” said Tabrum, DU’s oldest player at age 24. “As a senior, myself, playing a little bit of a lesser role for those guys is the least I can do. We’re a tight-knit team.”
Heinen leads the Pioneers with 23 points, and Moore is second with 18. Each has eight goals, tied for the team lead.
“Danton Heinen has come in and is playing quality minutes on the power play, including 5-on-3, and there’s not one player in the room that doesn’t wish him the best,” Montgomery said. “That’s probably the most symbolic thing of how close our dressing room is and how everyone puts the team first. Our bench has been unbelievable the whole year and that’s supported by my one-on-one meetings. It’s a confident and very focused group.”
Cowley, who grew up in Evergreen and played in Arvada’s Tier II youth organization, will start Friday against the Huskies and, if all goes well, again in the series finale. Montgomery said he is ready to ride Cowley and use freshman Tanner Jalliet, 21, in a primary backup role.
Mike Chambers: mchambers@denverpost.com or
Terrific teenagers
Forward Trevor Moore, 19, sophomore, Thousand Oaks, Calif.
Led DU in points (31) and goals (14) last season and has 49 points in 62 career games.
Goaltender Evan Cowley, 19, sophomore, Evergreen
Ranks second among NCHC goalies in goals-against average (1.98) and third in save percentage (.928).
Forward Danton Heinen, 19, freshman, Langley, British Columbia
At 1.21 points per game, ranks second behind Boston University’s Jack Eichel (1.72) among NCAA freshmen.
This weekend
NO. 12 ST. CLOUD STATE AT NO. 13 DENVER
What: Two-game National Collegiate Hockey Conference series
Records: St. Cloud State 9-10-1, 4-5-1; DU 11-7-1, 4-5-0
When: Friday (7:35 p.m.) and Saturday (7 p.m.)
Where: Magness Arena
TV/radio: Root (Friday only)/102.3 FM
Notes: St. Cloud State swept Miami (Ohio) at home last weekend, 3-1 and 3-2. The Huskies have won three of their past four games. … DU is 8-3 at home, including 5-1 in Friday games.
NO. 8 NEBRASKA OMAHA AT COLORADO COLLEGE
What: Two-game NCHC series
Records: Nebraska Omaha 14-5-3, 8-3-1; CC 4-13-1, 0-8-1
When: Friday (7:35 p.m.) and Saturday (7 p.m.)
Where: Colorado Springs World Arena
TV/radio: None/none
Notes: CC is coming off a 4-1 victory at Connecticut on Jan. 6. The Tigers, who haven’t played a regular-season home game since Nov. 21, were idle last weekend.
ARMY AT AIR FORCE
What: Two-game Atlantic Hockey Association series
Records: Army 5-14-2, 5-11-2; Air Force 7-13-3, 6-6-2
When: Friday and Saturday, 7 p.m.
Where: Cadet Ice Arena
TV/radio: None/1300 AM
Notes: Air Force is coming off its first series sweep of the season, beating Niagara by 4-3 scores last weekend. … Army’s leading scorer is freshman wing Tyler Pham, a former Colorado Thunderbirds midget star from Fort Collins who originally committed to DU. He has 20 points (eight goals) in 20 games.
Mike Chambers, The Denver Post
