The No. 6 Denver Pioneers (24-13-1) play No. 4/5 North Dakota (25-9-4) in the semifinals of the Red Baron WCHA Final Five on Friday, March 21. Puck drop is set for 1:07 p.m. MT at Xcel Energy Center in St. Paul, Minn. The game will be televised live on FSN North and tape delayed on FSN Rocky Mountain beginning at 5 p.m. MT. The game will be broadcast live on Mile High Sports Radio AM 1510. DU will play in the championship game on Saturday, March 21 at 6:07 p.m. MT or the third place game at 1:07 p.m. MT.
THIS WEEKEND'S STORYLINES
Denver is making its first appearance at the WCHA Final Five since 2005.
The Pioneers are seeking their record 15th WCHA playoff championship.
North Dakota leads the season series against Denver 3-1.
All-WCHA goaltenders UND’s Jean-Philippe Lamoureux and DU’s Peter Mannino are two of the best in college hockey.
Denver is tied for sixth in the latest PairWise Rankings.
FOR OPENERS
DU is 64-53-6 (.545) all-time in the WCHA Playoffs, including a 4-0 mark at the Xcel Energy Center.
The Pioneers are 10-10-1 (.500) against the Fighting Sioux in the WCHA playoffs and 14-11-1 (.558) in postseason play.
The Pioneers are 14-9-1 against ranked opponents.
Freshman Tyler Bozak (17-15--32) took over the team scoring lead with two goals last weekend. Bozak needed 13 games to surpass former Pioneer Brock Trotter, who finished the season with 31 points.
Sophomore Brian Gifford (2-5--7) missed last weekend’s series against Minnesota Duluth due to an ankle injury. Gifford is doubtful for this weekend.
Sophomore Tyler Ruegsegger (10-10--20) is pointless in his four games since returning from an abdominal injury March 7.
TEAM NOTES
The Pioneers have allowed two goals or less in 21 of 24 wins and three or more in 12 of 13 losses.
Pioneer freshmen and sophomore have accounted for 84% of the team’s goal scoring.
The Pioneers have won 21 or more games seven consecutive seasons.
DU is 8-9 away from Magness Arena, including road sweeps at St. Cloud State, Minnesota and Alaska Anchorage.
DU is 3-for-20 (15%) on the power play in its last three games and is fifth in the WCHA with the man-advantage at 14.2%.
DU is 27-for-30 (90%) on the penalty kill in its last seven games and second in the WCHA on the PK at 88.6%.
IN THE POLLS
Denver is ranked No. 6 in the latest USCHO.com/CSTV and USA Today/USA Hockey Magazine national polls. DU has been ranked in the top 13 in both polls all season.
MINNESOTA DULUTH RECAP
Denver avenged its 2006 WCHA playoff exit from Minnesota Duluth with a two-game sweep (6-3, 1-0) over the Bulldogs last weekend. Dustin Jackson and Tyler Bozak netted two goals each in the 6-3 win, while Anthony Maiani netted the game-winner unassisted in the 1-0 win. Senior netminder Peter Mannino recorded both wins, including his 15th career shutout with 25 saves in the series clincher.
LAST TIME VS. NORTH DAKOTA
The Pioneers suffered a two-game sweep (5-4, 4-1) in a hotly-contested series at North Dakota on Feb. 15-16. DU jumped to a 4-1 lead in the opener, but the Fighting Sioux stormed back with four consecutive goals to get the win. Andrew Kozak tallied a hat trick for UND, while Anthony Maiani, Jesse Martin, Tom May and Matt Glasser scored for DU. Jean-Philippe Lamoureux got the win with 14 saves, while Peter Mannino took the loss with 21 saves. The Fighting Sioux completed the sweep by scoring the first three goals en route to the 4-1 win. Joe Finley, Evan Trupp, Kozek and T.J. Oshie tallied goals, while Brian Gifford scored the lone goal for DU. Lamoureux got the win with 16 saves and Mannino took the loss with 24 stops. A total of 122 penalty minutes were assessed in the series finale, including two ejections.
DU ALL-TIME VS. NORTH DAKOTA
DU meets North Dakota for the 245th time in the all-time series that dates back to 1950. The Pioneers are 109-128-7 (.461) all-time against the Fighting Sioux, including a 10-10-1 (.500) mark in the WCHA playoffs and 14-11-1 (.558) record in the postseason including a 2-1 overtime win at the 2005 WCHA Final Five and 4-1 win in the 2005 NCAA title game. UND leads the season series 3-1, outscoring the Pioneers 13-7 in four games. DU is 1-4 in its last five games against UND and 4-6 in its last 10.
M-V-PETE!, M-V-PETE!, M-V-PETE!
All-WCHA third team goaltender Peter Mannino has been DU’s most valuable player this season. Mannino leads the Pioneers with a 23-13-1 record, 2.26 GAA and .916 Sv%. Mannino has started 37 of 38 games as DU’s first No. 1 goaltender since Adam Berkhoel in 2003-04. Mannino has allowed two goals or less in 20 of DU’s 24 wins this season, including six shutouts. Mannino is tied for first nationally in shutouts, 10th in minutes (2,123:41) and winning percentage (.635), 19th in goals against average and 26th in saves percentage. He is third in the WCHA in winning percentage, fourth in minutes, and seventh in goals against average and saves percentage. Mannino is a four-time Red Baron WCHA Defensive Player of the Week (Oct. 16, Nov. 6, Nov. 20, Feb. 12) honoree and finalist for Lowes Senior CLASS Award for accomplishments on and off the ice. Mannino ranks first all-time at Denver in shutouts (15), second in saves percentage (.917), third in wins (61) and tied for fourth in goals against average (2.35). Mannino is 4-5 with a 2.80 GAA and .902 Sv% in nine career games against North Dakota.
THE CAPTAIN AND THE BUTLER DID IT
Senior captain Andrew Thomas (1-7--8) and junior All-American candidate Chris Butler (3-14--17) anchor DU’s blueline. Thomas (+12) and Butler (+9) rank first and third, respectively, on the team in plus/minus. Thomas leads the team in penalties (29) and is third in penalty minutes (54), while ranking eighth on DU’s all-time penalty minutes list with 272. Eleven of Butler’s 17 points have come on the power play. Butler is DU’s current career scoring leader with 20-46--66 in 112 games. Junior Patrick Mullen (4-17--21) has played on the blueline in 31 of 37 games this season. Mullen has set career-highs in points and assists this season. Mullen has scored seven of his 21 points as a forward.
BOZAK TAKES OVER OFFENSIVE REIGNS
All-WCHA third team and All-WCHA rookie team member Tyler Bozak has emerged as DU’s top offensive player. The four-time Red Baron WCHA Rookie of the Week honoree (Nov. 6, Dec. 18, Jan. 2 and Feb. 12) is DU’s scoring leader with 17-15--32. He is third among WCHA rookie scorers and 10th in overall scoring. Bozak is second nationally with five shorthanded goals, including three against Minnesota. He earned national rookie of the month honors for December. Bozak has three game-winning goals and scoring points in 22 of 38 games.
DU ALL-TIME AGAINST COLORADO COLLEGE, MINNESOTA AND ST. CLOUD STATE
The Pioneers lead Colorado College 152-105-10 (.588) in the all-time series that dates back to 1950. DU is 1-3 against the Tigers this season, including a pair of losses (5-2, 3-1) on March 7-8. The Tigers retained possession of the Gold Pan Trophy for the second consecutive season. DU is 10-6 all-time against CC in the WCHA playoffs and 3-0 against CC on neutral ice, including a 1-0 win in the 2005 WCHA Final Five championship game. DU is 1-3-1 in its last five games against CC and 2-6-2 in its last 10.
DU is 62-92-12 (.410) all-time against Minnesota in the series that started in 1951. The Pioneers went 3-0-1 against Minnesota this season, limiting the Golden Gophers to just one goal in each game. DU is 8-4 all-time against Minnesota in the WCHA playoffs and 2-3 against the Golden Gophers on neutral ice, including a 5-2 win in the 2002 WCHA Final Five championship game. The Pioneers are 3-1-1 in their last five games against Minnesota and 4-4-2 in their last 10.
The Pioneers are 35-27-4 (.561) against St. Cloud State in the all-time series that began in 1988. DU went 2-0 against the Huskies this season with a pair of 3-2 wins in St. Cloud on Dec. 7-8. DU is 1-2 all-time against the Huskies in the WCHA playoffs. The Pioneers are 3-2 in their last five games against St. Cloud State and 7-3 in their last 10.
WHO’S HOT? WHO’S NOT?
Freshmen Tyler Bozak (17-15--32) and Dustin Jackson (4-8--12) tallied two goal each against Minnesota Duluth last weekend. Freshman Kyle Ostrow (10-13--23) has scoring points in six of his last eight games. Cody Brookwell (1-2--3) has one point in his last 19 games, while Brandon Vossberg (2-4--6) has one point in his last 13 games and Chris Nutini (1-3--4) is pointless in his last 14 games.
POWER-PLAY UPDATE
DU has tallied at least one power-play goal in six of its last eight games and is 7-for-50 (14%) during that span. The Pioneers are fifth in the WCHA with the man-advantage overall at 27-for-190 (14.2%), including a 2-for-13 effort against Minnesota Duluth last weekend. Rhett Rakhshani leads DU with seven power play goals, while Tyler Ruegsegger is second with five. DU is No. 39 nationally on the power play.
ABOUT THE PK
The Pioneers are 156-for-176 (88.6%) on the season. DU is 16-5-1 when holding opponents without a power-play goal and 8-8 when allowing one or more power-play goals. DU is second in the WCHA and fourth nationally on the penalty kill.
DEFENSE WINS GAMES
Denver has allowed 2.9 goals per game during its last 17 games after allowing just 1.7 gpg during its 17-4 start. The Pioneers also scored 3.4 gpg in their first 21 games and just 2.4 during the last 17. DU is 21-1-1 when limiting opponents to two goals or less. The Pioneers have tallied six shuouts and held opponents to one goal in nine games. The Pioneers were 18-4 in 2006-07 when holding opponents to two goals or less.
LARGEST FRESHMEN CLASS HAS CONTRIBUTED
Head coach George Gwozdecky’s largest freshmen class of 13 student-athletes has made immediate contributions. In addition to Tyler Bozak and Kyle Ostrow, Jesse Martin (7-5--12), Anthony Maiani (6-6--12), Dustin Jackson (4-8--12) and Marc Cheverie (1-0, 1.70 GAA, .925 Sv%) have made strong contributions. Maiani has netted three game-winning goals, while Jackson has two.
FIRST GOAL = BIG GOAL
The Pioneers have tallied the first goal in 21 of 38 games. DU is 17-3-1 when scoring first this season. Rhett Rakhshani has scored DU’s first goal a team-leading four times.
SECOND PERIOD MAGIC
The Pioneers are 22-1-1 when leading after two periods and own a +16 scoring differential margin in the middle stanza. DU also owns scoring differential margins in the first period (+3) and third period (+4).
DU VS. RANKED TEAMS
The Pioneers are 14-9-1 against ranked teams this season. DU finished last season with a 9-8-1 record against ranked teams and were 7-8-2 against ranked opponents in 2005-06.
DU ON BIG ICE, THAT’S NICE
The Pioneers are 6-2 on Olympic-sized ice sheets, including a two-game sweep at Minnesota.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO DU
DU’s Rhett Rakhshani (3/6), John Ryder (3/6), Brandon Vossberg (3/8), Tyler Bozak (3/19) and Stephen Cunningham (3/28) celebrate birthday’s in March.
TROTTING HIS WAY TO THE NHL
Redshirt sophomore Brock Trotter (13-18--31) left DU after signing a pro contract with the Montreal Canadiens Feb. 7. Trotter was DU’s current career scoring leader with 32-44--76 in 69 games. Last season, Trotter became the first DU freshman to lead the team in scoring since Dave Shields in 1986-87. He tallied five points in 2005-06 before a season-ending Achilles tendon injury.
RYDER HAS SEASON-ENDING SURGERY
Freshman defenseman John Ryder had season-ending surgery on his right hand Jan. 24. Ryder injured his hand during the Wells Fargo Denver Cup and tallied one goal in nine games.
WORLD JUNIORS RECAP
DU sophomore forwards Rhett Rakhshani and Tyler Ruegsegger helped Team USA to a fourth-place finish at the 2008 IIHF World Junior Championship in the Czech Republic. Team USA posted a 4-0 record during the preliminary round, but dropped a 4-1 decision to Canada and 4-2 loss to Russia in the medal rounds. Ruegsegger, who served as an alternate captain, and Rakhshani each tallied 2-2--4 in the tournament.
BOZAK NETS NATIONAL ROOKIE HONORS
Tyler Bozak, who twice earned WCHA Rookie of the Week honors and tallied 10 scoring points, was named the HCA National Division I Rookie of the Month for December. Bozak helped the Pioneers to a 6-1 record in December with a three-goal, seven-assist month.
COLORADO FLAVOR
The 2007-08 DU roster sports seven Coloradans. Zach Blom (Englewood), Jon Cook (Denver), Stephen Cunningham (Boulder), Chris Nutini (Centennial), Tyler Ruegsegger (Lakewood), John Ryder (Colorado Springs) and J.P. Testwuide (Vail) all hail from the Centennial State.
OH BROTHER
Freshman defenseman Jon Cook is the brother of former Pioneer Steven Cook (2005-07). Their sister, Dominique, is married to former Pioneer and Avalanche player Mark Rycroft.
NHL DRAFT PICKS
The Pioneers boast eight NHL Draft picks on this year’s roster. DU has one third round pick (Brian Gifford), three fourth round picks (Chris Butler, Andrew Thomas and Rhett Rakhshani), one sixth round pick (Tyler Ruegsegger) and three seventh round picks (Marc Cheverie, Jesse Martin and Matt Glasser).
NHL PIONEERS
Five former DU Pioneers are currently playing in the National Hockey League. Matt Carle (San Jose), Wade Dubielewicz (New York Islanders), Connor James (Pittsburgh), Matt Pettinger (Washington) and Paul Stastny (Colorado) are former DU players playing in hockey’s premier professional league.
AHL PIONEERS
DU has 11 former players competing in the American Hockey League. Adam Berkhoel (Grand Rapids), Ryan Caldwell (San Antonio), J.D. Corbin (Lake Erie), Kevin Doell (Chicago), Gabe Gauthier (Manchester), Aaron MacKenzie (Peoria), Gavin Morgan (Rockford), Mark Rycroft (Syracuse), Brett Skinner (Providence), Brock Trotter (Hamilton) and Kevin Ulanski (Milwaukee) are all currently in the AHL. Ryan Dingle (Augusta), Glenn Fisher (Stockton), Luke Fulghum (Elmira), Geoff Paukovich (Stockton) and Adrian Veideman (Augusta) are competing in the East Coast Hockey League.
HALL OF FAME SON
Junior forward Patrick Mullen is the son of Hockey Hall of Famer Joe Mullen. Patrick’s dad tallied 1,063 points in 16 NHL seasons and helped the Calgary Flames (1989) and Pittsburgh Penguins (1991 and 1992) to Stanley Cup championships.
USHL CONNECTION
The DU roster has 11 players that honed their skills in the United States Hockey League. Chris Butler (Sioux City), Brian Gifford (Indiana), Anthony Maiani (Sioux City), Peter Mannino (Tri-City), Jesse Martin (Tri-City), Tom May (Des Moines), Patrick Mullen (Sioux Falls), John Ryder (Ohio), J.P. Testwuide (Waterloo), Andrew Thomas (Waterloo) and Brock Trotter (Lincoln) joined DU from the USHL. DU’s roster also has six players from the British Columbia Hockey League and five from the North American Hockey League.
MAGNESS MAGIC
DU has sold out 76 consecutive regular season games at Magness Arena (6,026). The streak started with a sellout crowd on Oct. 22, 2004, when the Pioneers raised their sixth NCAA National Championship banner prior to puck drop against St. Cloud State. The Pioneers are averaging 6,057 fans this season after 19 home dates.
CHAMPIONSHIP HOCKEY
The Pioneers are tied for second in NCAA Division I men’s ice hockey with seven NCAA National Championships. DU captured national championships in 1958, 1960, 1961, 1968, 1969, 2004 and 2005.
