December 11, 2008
Cheverie, Youngsters Spark Denver Surge
by Brad Salmen/CHN Writer
It would be easy to understand if Denver carried a bit of a chip on its shoulder at this point of the season.
After all, there is no hotter team in Division I college hockey.
Consider this: not only has DU outscored its opponents 26-3 in its last five games — all wins, of course — but the Pioneers have also played the roles of Giant Killers, handing both Minnesota and Air Force their first losses of the season, after they carried records of 7-0-4 and 13-0-0, respectively. A road sweep of Michigan Tech (6-0, 6-1) last weekend catapulted the Pioneers to an 11-5-1 overall record, and at 7-4-1 the team is just one point out of first place in the WCHA.
Yet shouldering anything other than the expectation to do your job just isn't coach George Gwozdecky's style. While he appreciated the wins against both previously undefeated squads, and his first road wins of the season in Houghton, Gwozdecky was typically low-key in his assessment of his team's recent accomplishments.
"I don't know that it's so much as giving a team their first loss as it is having success against a quality team that builds confidence," he said. "Certainly it is a boost after a disappointing performance at St. Cloud State (4-2 and 2-1 losses) ... it seems like the team has rebounded from that."
That Denver is having success this season does not come as a huge surprise. WCHA playoff champions last season, the Pioneers returned some high-powered scorers, including Tyler Bozak (7-14-21), Rhett Rakhshani (7-9-16), Kyle Ostrow (5-8-13) and Tyler Ruegsegger (8-3-11). Yet some of the production this year has been rather unexpected, as sophomore Anthony Miani (6-16-22) has already vastly increased his 15-point performance from last year, and defenseman Joe Colborne (3-12-15) and walk-on forward Luke Salazar (10-5-15) have put up eye-popping stats for freshmen.
The latter is especially welcome for Gwozdecky.
"I don't know if surprised is the right word ... you recruit certain guys because you know they can come in and contribute," he said. "But no question the least heralded (freshman) was Salazar. He's a real good goal scorer, he has great anticipatory skills, and when he has the puck on his stick he knows where to put it."
But the biggest unknown factor, said Gwozdecky, was in net. And it's been the success at that position that has contributed the most to his team's success.
"I hate to use clichés, but goaltending has been crucial to us," he said. "And Marc Cheverie has been outstanding the last five games. It's not that we've played great in front of him, not by any stretch. He's been sensational."
And therein lies the key to what might be the Pioneers' best chance at a repeat WCHA title, and a return to glory in the NCAA playoffs.
There is no doubt that the biggest question facing DU this season was in goal. Cheverie, a sophomore, played just five games last season in backing up four-year starter Peter Mannino. Yet the results this season have been nothing less than spectacular, as the Cole Harbour, Nova Scotiak, native has posted a .927 save percentage and 2.22 GAA in starting all 17 games for the Pioneers.
Cheverie, perhaps taking a page out of his coach's playbook, downplayed his success.
"My teammates have been playing well in front of me ... they do a great job of backchecking, sweeping rebounds clean and letting me see the puck," he said. "My stats reflect our team's effort more than anything."
Cheverie also credited his relationship with Mannino, now with the AHL's Bridgeport Sound Tigers, in helping him prepare for the rigors of college hockey.
"We were roommates last season, and we still talk on the phone quite a bit," he said. "He was crucial in helping me mentally know what to look for. It was an absolute privilege to play with him."
That experience, said Gwozdecky, has made Cheverie one of the top goaltenders in the league.
"Any time a veteran leaves the lineup and you have a guy who's unproven, there are a lot of question marks. I wouldn't use the term, 'nervous,' but we just didn't know how long it would take before Marc felt comfortable. There's no question even though there are still areas he knows he needs to improve, he's gaining more and more confidence at this level with every game he plays.
"It's never been a question of how hard he competes," said Gwozdecky. "But he had some habits he acquired in juniors that have changed dramatically in a real positive way and enhanced his ability to perform. There's no doubt he could be one of the best in the league by the time he's done."
