2008 Woodie Awards
DU hockey 'rights the ship' against Alaska
Pioneers sweep Seawolves at home
Bryce Evans
Issue date: 2/26/08 Section: Sports
The past two seasons, the Pioneer hockey team has faltered in the stretch. Both years, the team squandered early season success and failed to qualify for the NCAA tournament.
After a recent skid, in which DU was 2-6-1 in the past nine games, the No. 8 Pioneers were determined to right the ship and not have a repeat of past disappointments.
"This week, we talked about trying to remember 12 months ago, sitting in the locker room after losing that first round of the playoffs," Head Coach George Gwozdecky said. "[I] tried to remind (the players) that we have six games left. Last year all we needed was one more win, and each of these next games could be that one win we need."
Gwozdecky's team answered his call.
With DU star forward Tyler Ruegsegger and the fans in the DU student section noticeably absent, the Pioneer hockey team was able to pick up two much-needed Western Collegiate Hockey Association wins and clinch home ice for the WCHA playoffs.
DU smashed down the visiting Seawolves of the University of Alaska-Anchorage 4-2 Friday and 3-1 on Saturday at Magness Arena.
"It felt like a long time ago since we won our last game," Gwozdecky said. "I don't think that any of us are used to dealing with the issues that we have the last week. This was a huge win for us."
Some of the outside factors that Gwozdecky may have been alluding to were that both Ruegsegger (abdominal strain) and sophomore Brock Trotter (left team for personal reasons) were out of the line-up this past weekend.
The Pioneers were also without defenseman and alternate captain J.P. Testwuide and sophomore forward Brandon Vossberg, Friday night, who were both serving one game suspensions for fights that took place two weekends ago in North Dakota.
Despite playing short handed, the Pioneers played in complete control Friday night.
After the Seaswolves jumped to an early 1-0 win, DU tied the score when defenseman Patrick Mullen ripped a slap shot past UAA goalie John Olthuis at 11:03 of the first period. Senior defenseman Zach Blom and freshman forward Stephen Cunningham assisted on the goal.
After a recent skid, in which DU was 2-6-1 in the past nine games, the No. 8 Pioneers were determined to right the ship and not have a repeat of past disappointments.
"This week, we talked about trying to remember 12 months ago, sitting in the locker room after losing that first round of the playoffs," Head Coach George Gwozdecky said. "[I] tried to remind (the players) that we have six games left. Last year all we needed was one more win, and each of these next games could be that one win we need."
Gwozdecky's team answered his call.
With DU star forward Tyler Ruegsegger and the fans in the DU student section noticeably absent, the Pioneer hockey team was able to pick up two much-needed Western Collegiate Hockey Association wins and clinch home ice for the WCHA playoffs.
DU smashed down the visiting Seawolves of the University of Alaska-Anchorage 4-2 Friday and 3-1 on Saturday at Magness Arena.
"It felt like a long time ago since we won our last game," Gwozdecky said. "I don't think that any of us are used to dealing with the issues that we have the last week. This was a huge win for us."
Some of the outside factors that Gwozdecky may have been alluding to were that both Ruegsegger (abdominal strain) and sophomore Brock Trotter (left team for personal reasons) were out of the line-up this past weekend.
The Pioneers were also without defenseman and alternate captain J.P. Testwuide and sophomore forward Brandon Vossberg, Friday night, who were both serving one game suspensions for fights that took place two weekends ago in North Dakota.
Despite playing short handed, the Pioneers played in complete control Friday night.
After the Seaswolves jumped to an early 1-0 win, DU tied the score when defenseman Patrick Mullen ripped a slap shot past UAA goalie John Olthuis at 11:03 of the first period. Senior defenseman Zach Blom and freshman forward Stephen Cunningham assisted on the goal.
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