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All Things Denver XXXVII

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A Shot and a Goal said:
After Neb-O swept Denver in Magness Arena--on the basis of overtime goals by Josh Archibald earlier this season--I suggested the Pioneers keep on eye on him when the teams met in Omaha. That advice went unheeded as Archibald scored a third consecutive game winning goal versus the Pioneers.

Before last weekend's series I suggested the Pioneers keep an eye on Chase Balisy and Shane Berschbach. The Denvers did a splendid job in holding Berschbach to a mere three assists and Balisy to just four goals--including a hat trick and the game winning goal on Saturday.

As Denver prepares for its series against Miami I will offer the advice that the Pioneers pay particular attention to Austin Czarnik and Riley Barber. When the formation and alignment of the NCHC was announced the one player I was most eager to see in person was Austin Czarnik. Small in stature and perhaps generously listed as being 5-9/150 pounds, Czarnik is nevertheless a dominant force when on the ice. Coming to the conclusion of his junior year he has already amassed well over 100 points [35-82-117]. While just six of his goals have come on the power play an astonishing seven have been short handed goals. In short, Czarnik is a superb skater and penalty killer. Denver is well advised to be aware of Czarnik every shift he takes.

Riley Barber is a sophomore who has already scored 77 points in his career--exactly the same number Czarnik posted through his first two years at Miami. It's safe to say Barber will eclispe that number either this weekend or in the playoffs. In tandem, Barber and Czarnik have scored 29 of Miami's 92 goals this season, nearly a third of the team's goals. If Denver doesn't do a better job of defending Czarnik and Barber than it did versus Archibald, Balisy and Berschbach it may be a long and disappointing end to the regular season for the Pioneers.

Because Miami is locked into eighth place in the NCHC standings the Redhawks may approach this series with the notion there is nothing to lose by pressing the attack and paying somewhat more attention to offense than defense. While that could provide Denver some openings for counter attacks, it also would require Denver to scrutinize Czarnik and Barber closely when either or both are on the ice.
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I think you forgot about Blake Coleman. Besides that, spot on...I guess...
 
Re: All Things Denver XXXVII

Tough beat down in the third tonight. Out shot 24-7. Ouch! Work ethic sub par and difficult to see when a team is supposed to be fighting for home ice. Weird choice to move senior ceremony to post game. Very anti-climatic send off. Who came up with that idea?
 
MagnessMan said:
Tough beat down in the third tonight. Out shot 24-7. Ouch! Work ethic sub par and difficult to see when a team is supposed to be fighting for home ice. Weird choice to move senior ceremony to post game. Very anti-climatic send off. Who came up with that idea?
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Miami forwards skated circles around our Pios' D in the 3rd.

I'm sure Enrico isn't crying himself to sleep that his team made DU travel with that 3rd period beat down.
 
Re: All Things Denver XXXVII

Chris said:
You have your opinion. I have mine. Lets just just say they differ just a bit.

I won't get into the specifics of the so-called "Gwoz Rules" but lets just say he made his own bed. A great guy like Ron Grahame, who lives and breathes DU hockey as much as anyone ever will, would not have been so supportive of the move if it wasn't done for the right reasons. I trust and respect Ronnie more than anyone in the program and DU will be just fine with Coach Montgomery.
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Ron is aces with me and always has been. And I'll take you at your word about his attitude on the firing. What's done is done. DU will be "fine" with Montgomery, but it will have to start next season. Because this one has been spectacularly un-DU, just about any way you cut or slice it. Particularly Saturday's 3rd period corn holing.
 
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Re: All Things Denver XXXVII

Ahh, what foresight! What piercing clarity into the future to see how the season will unfold! Have a look at this poll. So how'd the current regular season turn out for the #1 ranked team in the poll? Yeah, those pre-season and early in the season polls are just so important. :rolleyes:
 
Re: All Things Denver XXXVII

Extremely disappointing game last night. I can't believe DU only managed one goal, especially after a good showing on Friday. Full credit to Miami, though, for last night--those guys came out in the 3rd like they were shot out of cannons, and DU had no answer.

Very tough task ahead, trying to win two games against UNO. I'm trying to be optimistic, but it's not easy.
 
Old Pio said:
The handling of the Dora incident, both before the NC game and at the WH, shows the class he brought to our program.
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Well, in that vein, remember back to the beginning of the season when various players were suspended for "not doing the right thing."
 
Re: All Things Denver XXXVII

Old Pio said:
Which is why it's so important to lower the barriers and overcome the objections and let the Ricketts family drop half a billion on restoring and preserving Wrigley Field.
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You may have seen me post about this elsewhere.

There was/has been conjecture that the Ricketts family would move the Cubs to Omaha and also undertake some sort of upgrade of TD Ameritrade Park here in Omaha that might require if they didn't get their way.

I saw an actual news story postulating about this. In a Chicago Paper, if I remember correctly.

Of course, I consider it nutty. I doubt the MLB owners would allow it and I am certain the Kansas City Royals would strenuously object since Omaha is part of their "territory" irrespective of the fact that their Triple A farm team is here. I'm pretty sure the Royals would have an absolute veto of any such move. Methinks this "story" was just someone trying to stir the pot.
 
Re: All Things Denver XXXVII

HoosierPioneer said:
Well, in that vein, remember back to the beginning of the season when various players were suspended for "not doing the right thing."
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Assuming that it's not counterfeiting or stock fraud or drug dealing, I'm always of two minds when I hear about that stuff. Sorry that they're screwing up. Happy that the coach, especially a new coach, is establishing some boundaries and expectations. One thing for which we should all be eternally grateful is that our game isn't infected with the shiza we see in football and basketball. There comes a time when you run out of rationalizations for bad behavior. You're spot on. We had a little early outbreak of "not doing the right thing," but it seems like they've been vaccinated and it's stopped.
 
Re: All Things Denver XXXVII

Red Cows said:
You may have seen me post about this elsewhere.

There was/has been conjecture that the Ricketts family would move the Cubs to Omaha and also undertake some sort of upgrade of TD Ameritrade Park here in Omaha that might require if they didn't get their way.

I saw an actual news story postulating about this. In a Chicago Paper, if I remember correctly.

Of course, I consider it nutty. I doubt the MLB owners would allow it and I am certain the Kansas City Royals would strenuously object since Omaha is part of their "territory" irrespective of the fact that their Triple A farm team is here. I'm pretty sure the Royals would have an absolute veto of any such move. Methinks this "story" was just someone trying to stir the pot.
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A much more probable scenario (and it's nearly impossible to imagine) would be the Cubs taking up the various offers from out in the 'burbs to build a park there. It would certainly make it easier for fans to get to and find parking at a new stadium. And a new ball park would be closer to the Cubs fan base, which is more suburban than urban. Just the opposite of the White Sox. They aren't going to leave Chicago or Wrigley. They have to figure out a way to overcome objections by those greedy parasites who own the "roof tops." I'm sure you're aware that these are businesses. With web sites and menus and the whole nine yards. The days when the people you'd see up there having a beer and a brat were actual residents of those buildings are long gone. And the idea that these people, along with one g.d. alderman, are in a position to slow down this redevelopment is insane. Chicago ought to be having a parade for the Ricketts. Imagine, wanting to spend their own money to improve and update their own ball park. What a concept!
 
Re: All Things Denver XXXVII

Chris said:
Then use it constructively....moaning doesn't do yer limited bandwidth justice...
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Point taken. You're right. Wounds take time to heal, though.

As a two-time alumnus, volunteer, and general booster, I do care about DU much more than it seems right now. It's just been an up/down 11 months, I'm sure we can all relate. I am genuinely excited about the ski team's win, looking forward to getting into lacrosse season, interested in what sort of direction they go with the next chancellor, and to be fair I have caveated many of the negative things I've said recently. But when it comes to things you care about, one can be upset while still being supportive and wanting the best. If everything is always great or never right I don't think it makes for as sophisticated a fan.

But my extra bandwidth will take a while to trickle down to the debate team (long story, short of it is some absurd funding demands they were making back when I was heavily involved with student orgs). If they have success, great for them and DU I guess.
 
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Re: All Things Denver XXXVII

Political pundit James Carville once noted, "The economy, stupid." In that same vein, but with an eye toward hockey, "The offense, stupid."

In the recently concluded NCHC regular season, Denver allowed just 58 goals--the best figure in the conference. On the offensive side of the game, Denver scored just 60 goals in conference play. The only teams scoring fewer goals in NCHC play were Miami [58] and Colorado College [52]. Not coincidentally those two teams were the only teams to finish below Denver in conference play.

In overall play Denver allowed just 81 goals, again the best overall figure by any of the teams in the NCHC. Making this figure all the more impressive is the fact Denver played 36 regular season games while all other NCHC teams played but 34 regular season games. The flip side of this coin is that Denver scored just 92 goals in thirty-six games. The only team scoring fewer goals than that was Colorado College [66]. Now consider Miami. The Redhakws scored 96 goals--four more than Denver--while playing two fewer regular season games. The figures do more than suggest Denver played solid overall team defense with superb goaltending provided by Sam Brittain. Apart from that...

The offense, stupid.
 
Re: All Things Denver XXXVII

And another thing...when will the PairWise Predictor be activated so I can determine just how high a seeding Denver will have in the NCAA tourney? :confused:
 
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