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DU @ UVM : The Pios explore Catamount Country

J

jcarter7669

Registered User
With a weekend of exhibitions under the belt where do these teams stand. DU is ranked 9/11 while the Cats are unranked in both polls.

Last weekend : DU splits with a big win against the USA U-18 and a loss to Lethbridge while UVM takes the loss against UNB.

What can we expect from DU ?


As for the Cat's :

Offense :

The major question mark for this team. Top returners are Stacey, Downing, Stalberg and McCarthy with D turned F Burrows in the mix. They will be complimented with freshman Conner Brickley, Matt White, HT Lenz and Anthony Decenzon.

The freshman are certainly a talented class for UVM and will contribute...the question is when. Brickley will be a top 6 forward and will have an immediate impact. The rest also have potential.

The returning offense is questionable. Burrows transitioned to Forward for the last part of the season and looked very good. He will remain at F this year. Stacey recorded 18pts a year ago that was plagued with injuries, (20g), but should lead the Cats this year. Stalberg and McCarthy both sophs had good freshman campaigns and will be the top two centers. Both missed the exhibition game and unfortunately will be on the ice for their first game of the season against DU.

Defensively

This should be the Cats greatest asset this season. There are 6 returning D-men, and two talented freshman. Lawson, Medvec, Miller, and Mackenzie are all seniors, Franzon is in his 2nd year are all solid. Bruneteau will likely see game time right from the start and hopefully can help bring UVM's PP to an acceptable level. The Cat's have the tallest (Medvec 6'7") ) d-man, heaviest d-man (Lawson 251), and largest overall Defense in the nation. They are quick and agile and will be strong, but need to be consistent. A few mistakes against UNB lead to one goal, but those things will be rectified this week, I'm sure.

Goaltending

Another strength for the Cat's is goaltending. Two Vazzano's and Madore make up the trio of goaltenders. Madore will be in net for both games, barring a terrible performance Fri, and will carry the load for the Cat's. Madore stopped all 18 shots he faced against UNB through 2 periods and looked to be in mid season form.


Overall, Madore and the defense will keep the opposing teams scoring to a minimum, unfortunately to be successfull they are going to need to...

The PK was 5-5 and should be a strength as usual

The PP was 1 for 5 and will likely again plague Sneddon and the Cats, but here's hoping.



What's the outlook from the Denver prospective ?
 
Re: DU @ UVM : The Pios explore Catamount Country

DU

Forwards - #1 line is an all Senior Line with Anthony Maiani-Kyle Ostrow-Jesse Martin. They have played together most of their careers at DU. Kyle is the captain of the team and this line is going to be relied upon for most of the scoring. DU's success is highly depenedent on their success. After that it gets real young. The junior class include Luke Salazar, Nate Dewhurst and redshirt junior Dustin Jackson. After a torrid freshman season playing with Tyler Bozak, Luke Salazar cooled off considerably to the point he was a healthy scratch for much of last season. He needs to make a big comeback this year. Dustin Jackson missed all last season with a broken leg and comes back for what should have been his senior season as a redshirt junior. He is a big guy that likes to play physical. Nate Dewhurst has been in and out of the line-up for most of his first two years and has yet to prove himslef as an everyday player. The sophomore class includes highly touted Drew Shore and Shawn Ostrow and Chris Knowlton. Drew Shore was a regular as a freshman last season who played well but had trouble finding the back of the net. Look for him to probably center the 2nd line and score more. Shawn Ostrow didn't get much playing time but was a high scoring player in junior in Canada before coming to DU. Look for him to earn a regular line-up spot. Chris Knowlton was a recruited walk-on who forced his way into the line-up last season. Look for him to play on the 3rd or 4th line but he has jumped up to the top 2 lines when needed. The highly touted freshmen; Beau Bennett, Jason Zucker and Nick Shore. Bennett was Pittsburgh's 1st round pick last June and Zucker was Minneosta's 2nd round pick. Nick Shore is a potential 1st rounder in next year's draft. Zucker had a hat trick in DU's exhibition opener. Nick Shore had 4 points and Beau Bennett had 2 points. The frosh accounted for 5 of DU's 8 goals that night. In DU's 5-2 loss to Lethbridge the following night Bennett had a goal and Shore had an assist, so the frosh scored 6 of DU's 10 exhibition game goals. If the frosh play as advertised DU will be in the hunt this year. If they play like freshman, DU will be a one line team. The parts are there, it all depends on if the boys put them together. If DU can get 3 solid scoring lines, they have a chance to do some damage offensively.

Defense - Rock solid, veteran laden group. Only one freshman joins the backliners, David Makowski. He was defenseman of the year in the USHL and the leading d-man in scoring. He joins sophs Matt Donovan, an All American candidate, Paul Phillips and William Wren. Seniors John Ryder and Chris Nutini and junior John Lee are the physical stay-at home bangers. Ryder isn't named the "Big Yellow Truck" for nothing. Could be the best defensive corps in the WCHA.

Goal - ??????????? - Unproven sophomore Adam Murray and freshman Sam Brittain will share the goaltending duties for at least the first one-third of the season. With Chevy having turned pro after his junior year, Adam Murray leads the way with 8 games of college experience. This position is the biggest question mark on the team. In the two exhibition games played, Murray looked solid against the USA U-18 team and Bennett looked nervous like a frosh. Both came to DU as highly touted goalies. Gwoz would like to see one of them step up and grab the reigns as the starter. Hopefully both of them step up and Gwoz has to platoon them all year. I don't care how good the rest of the team is, if the goalie doesn't play well you usually don't win. With a veteran D in front of the goalies, life should be easier for both of them and let them concentrate on making the right plays.

DU is ranked #11 nationally and is the preseason #4 pick in the WCHA. For a team that spent most of last year ranked in the top 3, there is less of a target on their backs. They lost 5 of their 6 leading scorers to graduation/pros and an All American/Hobey Candidate goalie. It is up to the young players to step up and grab the ring.
 
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Re: DU @ UVM : The Pios explore Catamount Country

Should have know du 78 would give you a better overview. :)
Surprised Puck Swami hasn't checked in yet.


Forwards
Captain Kyle Ostrow-Alternate Captain JesseMartin-90 career point Anthony Maiani
All are seniors and expected to carry a big part of the offensive load. However they were pretty quiet in the exhibition games

Beau Bennett-Drew Shore-Nate Dewhurst
Jason Zucker-Nick Shore-Luke Salazar
1st rnd draft pick Bennett was a prolific scorer in BCHL (128 Points in 57 game) and 2nd rnd pick Zucker, won gold medals in the U-18s and WJC, had a hat trick in first game. Home grown talent Drew (soph) and Nick (frosh) Shore are both being depended on this year. Drew was a 2nd round pick in 2009 and Nick is expected to go at least that high in 2011. Juniors-- Salazar had a dynamite year as a freshman but was in the doghouse last year. Dewhurst started slower but has been improving. Works in process.

Jared Mermis-Dan Olszewski-Shawn Ostrow
Younger brother, Shawn Ostrow seems to be starting well. Mermis and "Danimal" Olszewski are both freshmen. Olszewski had better exhibition games. Return of Alternate Captain Dustin Jackson (strep throat) and soph Chris Knowlton are not known at this time. Jackson missed all last year with a broken leg. If either can come back this weekend, you probably won't see Mermis.

Defense
Matt Donovan-John Lee
John Ryder-Chris Nutini
Paul Phillips-David Makowski
Arguably the strongest part of DU's team. Sophomore Donovan is the cream of the crop. Freshman Makowski one of the highest scorers on D in the USHL last year. Aklternate Captain Nutini, Lee, and Ryder are all solid. Ryder does like to hit. Soph Phillips played his way into the top 6 last year. Soph William Wrenn is injured and probably will not play.

Goal
Adam Murray Sophomore
Sam Brittain Freshman
Biggest question for DU.
Plan to rotate Murray and Brittain for the first 3 series.
Murray played in 8 games last year, but did improve as the season went on. Played behind All- Everything Marc Cheverie who graduated after 3 years. Only let in 1 goal against the U-18s. Brittain had a bad start against Lethbridge. Let in 3 goals in the first period. Freshman-Deer in the Headlights syndrome.
 
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Re: DU @ UVM : The Pios explore Catamount Country

Dusty Jackson will not be making the trip to UVM as he has strep throat and mono and will be sidelined a few weeks. The poor guy can't catch a break.
 
Re: DU @ UVM : The Pios explore Catamount Country

DU Game Notes

The No. 9/11 Denver Pioneers travel to Vermont to begin regular-season action on Oct. 8-9. Puck drop is set for 5:05 p.m. each night at Gutterson Fieldhouse (4,007). Both games can be heard locally on FM 87.7 The TICKET and online for a fee at www.DenverPioneers.com. The games will be webcast for a fee on Catamount TV located on www.UVMAthletics.com. Pioneer fans can follow the game with the live interactive blog on www.CoveritLive.com.

Denver opens its season on the road for the first time since the 2006-07 seasoon.

DU is 8-8 in season openers under head coach George Gwozdecky and 33-23-5 all-time.

Goaltenders Adam Murray and Sam Brittain will each get a start this weekend.

The Pioneers are 66-24-1 in nonconference action since 2001-02.

DU is 4-1 all-time vs. Vermont.

Senior forward Dustin Jackson (moneucleosis) is out this weekend, while Jarrod Mermis (bereavement) and William Wrenn (hamstring) are questionable. Chris Knowlton (shoulder) is probable.
 
Re: DU @ UVM : The Pios explore Catamount Country

Should be an amazing series.

The Gut is one of the tougher arenas in the East, and the Pioneers would do well to gain a split in Burlington.

UVM and DU both lack scoring punch, and both have strong defenses. The Pioneers definitely have less experienced goaltending than UVM has.

On paper, DU has a llttle more overal talent top to bottom, but that is offset by UVMs home ice and goaltending advantage.

Prediction: Split
UVM will win the first game 4-1, and DU takes the second game, 2-1 in OT.
 
Re: DU @ UVM : The Pios explore Catamount Country

Who is expected to start in net for DU which night? Anyone have an idea?
 
Re: DU @ UVM : The Pios explore Catamount Country

DU started a recent season with a game vs. Maine at Alfond--they didn't seem ready at that time for a game against an unknown opponent in a hostile environment so early in the season. I fear a similar fate for the Pioneers in Vermont. So I'll be happy with a split.

I'd like to see Murray get both starts, cause I don't think it's good to throw Brittain into a hostile environment right after his weak showing in the exhibition game. But I'm sure Gwoz will defy me on this one....
 
Re: DU @ UVM : The Pios explore Catamount Country

Patronick - thank you for your words of wisdom, now go back to your cave and continue praying that UML does not cough up another hairball in three years when the team is 80% seniors again.
 
Re: DU @ UVM : The Pios explore Catamount Country

Considering DU's schedule for the first 10 games, a split would be acceptable. But you know we would prefer the Pioneers to sweep. :D
 
Re: DU @ UVM : The Pios explore Catamount Country

IT IS GAME DAY

GO DU!!!!!

ImageyoxIi9p42FITKnVcJMrduQ%3D%3D%5B1%5D.jpg
 
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Re: DU @ UVM : The Pios explore Catamount Country

Why do UML fans resort to negative repping someone for making a factual statement? Are you really that insecure? And please, stop imposing your self inflated superiority complex on us.
 
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Re: DU @ UVM : The Pios explore Catamount Country

A little over 2 hours until the puck drops and teh season starts. I am on my way home! :cool:
 
Re: DU @ UVM : The Pios explore Catamount Country

du78 said:
A little over 2 hours until the puck drops and teh season starts. I am on my way home! :cool:
Click to expand...

The guy just came to fill my underground tank of Crown Royal. Looking at the pictures, Gutterson remnds me of the old DU Arena (although I'm guessing it smells better). A weekend split would be dandy. Either way, I won't be feeling any pain.
 
Re: DU @ UVM : The Pios explore Catamount Country

DU 5 UVM 3 final on Friday. UVM scored a goal in the 1st period and took a 2 goal lead early in the 2nd period. DU came back and scored 4 unanswered goals to take a 4-2 lead late into the game. Drew Shore out DU on the board midway through the 2nd period. UVM pulled their goalie with almost 3 minutes left in the 3rd period and got within one with about 2 minutes to go. They almost tied it with about 42 seconds left but Adam Murray made a game saving glove save. Drew Shore iced the game with an empty netter for DU, his 2nd goal of the night. D-man Matt Donovan had a fantastic game for DU with 2 goals and Jesse Martin had DU's other goal. Great road win for the Pios. UVM went 1 for 7 on the PP and DU went 1 for 1. One of Donovan's goals was a shorty. Stacey had the hat trick for UVM as he scored all 3 goals. DU was outshot 30 to 20 but with UVM having 7 power plals to DU's one, it makes sense that they were outshot.

3 Stars from tonight
First Star: Matt Donovan (Denver)
Second Star: Wahsontiio Stacey (Vermont)
Third Star: Jesse Martin (Denver)

Box Score

The two teams do it all again tomorrow night.

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