TAMPA, Fla. — Grant Arnold, the first Colorado-born player to captain the University of Denver hockey team for two seasons, is done playing for the Pioneers. But he never will stop “playing” for his coach.
The life lessons instilled in Arnold by DU coach Jim Montgomery are endless.
“Coach Montgomery, I’ve learned more than you can ever imagine from him. And we’ll be lifelong friends,” Arnold said Thursday night after DU was eliminated at the NCAA Frozen Four by a 4-2 loss to North Dakota. “That’s what Denver hockey is. It’s a family and we love each other.”
Arnold is one of four DU seniors, along with fellow forwards Quentin Shore and Gabe Levin and defenseman Nolan Zajac. Levin has been accepted into Harvard Law School. Arnold, Shore and Zajac will play professional hockey at various levels. The future is bright for each, and all expect big things from Montgomery’s next DU team.
With or without leading scorer Danton Heinen — the sophomore wing might sign with the Boston Bruins — Montgomery’s fourth DU team could become his best. The returning cast and incoming freshmen will have a good chance to continue the Pioneers’ trend of improving in each of Montgomery’s three seasons.
His first team lost in the first round of the NCAA Tournament to Boston College. The second lost in the quarterfinal round to Providence. And the third lost in the semifinals to North Dakota, which scored in the final minute of regulation Thursday to break a 2-2 tie.
Montgomery’s teams are built for the long haul, and his players play hard for him. Even a 2-0 deficit in the third period against North Dakota didn’t deter enthusiasm. The Pioneers dominated the third period until the final minute.
“We all had a mentality: First one’s the jab, second one is the right hook and the third one is the uppercut to finish ’em,” said DU junior center Matt Marcinew. “And that’s the way we had to play. We got the first one, we got the second one and, unfortunately, they made the play at the end to uppercut us instead.
“It’s obviously disappointing; it’s frustrating more than disappointing. We have a great team.”
The Pioneers flew home Friday morning. Via telephone, Montgomery said of his next team: “I do think we’re going to be very good again. We’re going to have every junior back (nine), and these are the guys who have gone through the steps with me. Having learned — especially from Grant — they’re going to know how to handle the team away from the ice and in the locker room. So I’m very confident what our leadership core will be like.”
DU’s incoming freshmen include signed forwards Liam Finlay and Kevin Conley and defenseman Michael Davies. DU is on the brink of signing Finnish forward Henrik Borgstrom and defenseman Erich Fear, a 6-foot-5, 215-pound teenager from Illinois.
Goaltenders Tanner Jaillet, a sophomore, and junior Evan Cowley will return to give the Pioneers excellent talent and experience in net.
Mike Chambers: mchambers@denverpost.com or @mikechambers
DU hockey has four out the door:
The DU hockey team will lose at least four players from its Frozen Four club that went 18-3-4 since Jan. 1.
Seniors:
F Grant Arnold — 153 games played, 34 points
F Quentin Shore — 151 games, 98 points
F Gabe Levin — 158 games, 63 points
D Nolan Zajac — 160 games, 95 points
Likely NHL departure:
F Danton Heinen, sophomore (Boston Bruins) — 81 games, 93 points
NHL potential but likely to return:
F Trevor Moore, junior (free agent) — 121 games, 120 points
F Dylan Gambrell, freshman (draft-eligible) — 41 games, 47 points
D Will Butcher, junior (Avalanche) — 115 games, 65 points
