Even by the admission of head coach George Gwozdecky, they were not the prettiest goals the DU hockey team will score this season.
Yet they were gutsy, clutch and, moreover, typified exactly why senior Kyle Ostrow was voted the captain of the 2010-11 Pioneers hockey team.
With help from senior linemates Jesse Martin and Anthony Maiani, Ostrow scored two goals in the final 13 minutes of DU's series finale against Wisconsin on Saturday, rallying the Pioneers to a crucial draw that allowed them to escape the series with three points heading into this weekend's tough Western Collegiate Hockey Association assignment at North Dakota.
"Really, that first shift set the tone for them and for the rest of our team throughout that 20-minute third period," Gwozdecky said. "Obviously, neither of the goals was a 'picture' goal. They were goals based on hard work, about getting pucks on net. Neither was a fancy passing play. Neither was a goal that you look back and say that was a top-10 highlight of the year.
"We need to be able to continue to give that effort to get rebounds and get pucks on net. Our three seniors did a really good job of showing the leadership in those regards and getting it done."
The fact that it was Ostrow who scored such gritty, timely goals exemplified the sort of faith his DU teammates have put on the senior's shoulder since electing him team captain last spring.
His skills honed in childhood battles with his brother, and current DU sophomore, Shawn Ostrow, while growing up in Calgary, Alberta, Kyle Ostrow has been a mainstay in the Pioneers lineup throughout his DU career. By simply managing to remain in the lineup-Ostrow has appeared in all 128 games during his DU tenure-he believes he has gleaned the best aspects from the previous captains he played alongside, such as Rhett Rakhshani and J.P. Testwuide, while honing his own unique approach to the leadership role.
"I've just tried to learn from the past captains and past teams," Ostrow said. "You try to learn from the good things and make little changes with the bad things. As a leader, you also need to lead on the ice, and we were fortunate (against Wisconsin) to have that opportunity, and we ended up doing that. I was happy we were able to perform, and we came up big there.
"On past teams before I came here, I was usually the leader of the team. Usually you are quiet the first few years, but at the end of my sophomore year I started to be a little more vocal. I like to speak my mind when I think of things going on in the game and see things, but I also try to lead by example on the ice with my work ethic. I think that is the type of leader I am and have grown to be in my four years here."
As the Pioneers continue a demanding stretch of their WCHA schedule-DU faces instate rival Colorado College next week after visiting North Dakota-Ostrow's skills on the ice, and his presence off it, will become even more crucial.
Ostrow's two key goals against Wisconsin were his first tallies of the season. With three assists already to his credit, Ostrow is on pace to become the 92nd member of the program's prestigious 100-point club. His production has been as steady, as he has compiled between 23 and 28 points in each of his first three seasons, and his durability has been even more impressive. Barring an unfortunate injury, Ostrow will finish his career among the top 10 Pioneers in games played.
With a few more clutch performances like the one he turned in Saturday against Wisconsin, Ostrow's career will make an even bigger impression than any mark he leaves behind in the DU record book.
"He's very competitive. He was always competitive growing up, so he brings that to our team," Shawn Ostrow said. "He likes to lead by example, but he's also pretty outspoken. He's not afraid to call anyone out, or call himself out for that matter. He brings it every day and night for our team. He's not afraid to put the team on his back and try to spur the team with a big hit or scoring some goals when our team needs something like that."
