Recap | Box Score | Notes | Photo Gallery

April 7, 2005

Lockerroom Quotes* Thursday, April 7, 2005
Jerome Schottenstein Center * Columbus, Ohio
Denver Lockerroom Quotes - Postgame

Matt Laatsch, senior defenseman

On the game
"Our forwards really controlled the pace of the game. They were very aggressive and they really did a great job of getting in there and putting the puck in the back of the net."

On the team's cohesiveness
"Guys on our team have really understood their roles. Everybody on the team this season has fit their role like a puzzle and that is what makes a good team."

Paul Stastny, freshman center forward

On beating arch rival Colorado College

"We knew that we would probably face them (Colorado College) again in the NCAA tournament. They are a great team, but to beat them in the national semi-finals does make it a little better."

On the final (championship) game on Saturday
"We just have to rest up, have a good practice tomorrow and be ready to get back out there on Saturday."

Jeff Drummond, senior left forward

On the Colorado College defensive unit
"We have played them so many times this season so we knew what we were up against."

On the mindset of the team heading into the final game on Saturday
"Last year, when we came into this game we were such huge underdogs and we surprised some people because nobody really expected us to be in the final game. This season, people know all about us which has made us take a little bit more of a business-like approach."

On the six goals
"I think we were a little surprised to score six goals against Colorado College just because they are such a good defensive team. Today, we really capitalized on our opportunities and came out with the win."

Jon Foster, senior left wing

On the (championship) game Saturday
"I think we have done a good job this season on staying very level-headed. On Saturday, we need to come out and just work harder than the other team."

Colorado College Lockerroom Quotes

Curtis McElhinney, senior goaltender

On Denver scoring six goals "I think it was a combination of things with Denver's power play being so good and I think they also got some deflections."

On the officiating "I didn't blame the referees for anything. There were some things that happened tonight that we could have avoided. It just didn't work tonight. We played extremely hard. We put 42 shots on net."

On playing his final game "It's tough to accept right now with the way things were going all year long here. But I mean we've had a lot of fun all year. This has been the best four years of my life, personally, so I can't complain. Unfortunately, we didn't get that win we hoped for tonight but the guys worked extremely hard. Everyone came out hard. We were extremely determined. I guess it just wasn't in the cards for us tonight."

On Denver's power play "I think that was really clicking and then they go a couple bounces on their second and third goals. You know, sometimes that happens and there is nothing you can really do to worry about it. You can just go out there and play hard."

Brett Sterling, junior left wing

On the game "They played us well tonight. Tonight could have gone a lot differently. We got a lot of shots and chances, we just weren't able to bury them."

On Denver's power play "Their power play played well tonight. Our penalty kill could have been better, but we took too many penalties and it came back to bite us."

On taking a large number of penalties "We just didn't play smart. We played well 5-on-5. I think we had their number 5-on-5. We just took some stupid penalties at times but that's what happens in these kinds of games."

Marty Sertich, junior center

On playing from behind the whole game "We started playing better down the stretch. We had some chances early on that we didn't take advantage of."

Brian Salcido, sophomore defenseman

On Denver's offense "They are really good at stepping up at the blueline and causing turnovers at the blueline."

On losing "All of us wanted to be there Saturday, and we thought we had a good chance."

On being ranked No. 1 all season "To be ranked first all year, I don't think those rankings mean anything. When it comes down to it, we've got to play good."