Wednesday reading: Dineen honor, Final Five previews

CC captain Nick Dineen, pictured at left, garnered a well-deserved spot on USCHO’s ALL-WCHA Unsung Team.

Here’s Minnesota’s Final Five preview notes and a feature on North Dakota walk-on freshman Dan Senkbeil, which includes a classic hockey story on how he got his nickname and created a new verb in use in the Sioux locker room. Really good stuff.

Michigan Tech has good reason for high hopes headed into the Final Five.

Wisconsin’s inability to perform “in the clutch” is why the Badgers were the No. 10 seed and are entering this offseason this week. Here’s a look at next season for UW.

Colorado Springs native Ben Holmstrom is expected to return from an unspecified injury tonight for AHL Adirondack.

UMass-Lowell head coach Norm Bazin, a former CC assistant, is the likely Hockey East Coach of the Year after taking the last-place RiverHawks to second in the league in his debut season.

Monday reading: Douglas, Prosser, polls, Pairwise, postseason

Minnesota Wild defenseman Nate Prosser (39) and Dallas Stars center Steve Ott (29) tangle during the first period of an NHL hockey game in Dallas, Saturday, Feb. 4, 2012. (AP Photo/LM Otero)

Former Tiger Nate Prosser, pictured at left, received a two-year contract extension  according to a Monday announcement. The new paperwork changed his two-way deal, meaning he was often sent down to the AHL whenever the Wild needed roster room, to a one-way NHL deal, meaning he cannot be demoted without first going on waivers.

The Gazette looks back on what was a big weekend for Air Force and CC, which moved up to No. 10 from 11 in the Inside College Hockey rankings, the U.S. College Hockey online weekly poll and the USA Today/USA Hockey poll.

CC sits in 16th in the Pairwise rankings, which would mean the Tigers would not be in the NCAA Tournament today with the 16th spot going to the Atlantic Hockey Association playoff champion.

In the USCHO poll, Boston University is the new No. 1, just ahead of Minnesota and Minnesota-Duluth, which split at Alaska-Anchorage and is 1-2-1 in its last four league games after a home tie and loss to Michigan Tech. The USA Hockey rankings have Minnesota at No. 1 followed by BU and Duluth.

Here’s an update on the new-look WCHA looking for a 10th member and a side note that the WCHA will not be back at the Xcel Energy Center in 2014. That suggests strongly that the National Collegiate Hockey Conference will hold its postseason tournament there.

Here’s an NHL.com feature on Ed Belfour.

Former CC assistants Norm Bazin and Jason Lammers continue to lead a surging UMass-Lowell team that was won 13 more games than last year.

Joey Crabb talks about the Leafs’ struggling penalty kill.

Last, but certainly not least, I want to acknowledge the passing of News 5 sports director Lee Douglas, who succumbed to kidney problems Sunday morning. I cannot say I knew him well. I wish I had.

He was always positive, pleasant and professional in my interactions with him at the Air Force press conferences and the annual hockey banquet. He was a good example for all us on how to do things right. He is missed already. RIP.

CC battles back to win Gold Pan

The Gold Pan Trophy is back where it belongs after Colorado College deliverable a memorable, gut-check performance against its hated rival.

The 11th-ranked Tigers overcame the biggest adversity they had faced this season, rallying from down 2-0 to forge a 2-2 tie and garner the annual traveling trophy from No. 13 Denver Saturday night at World Arena.

Denver jumped out to a 2-0 lead before injuries started to take a toll on the Tigers (15-9-2, 12-71 WCHA). Senior captain Nick Dineen left the game in the first period with an apparent upper body injury.

But the Tigers dug deep and found a way to win behind the heroics of Jaden Schwartz who sparked a two-goal spurt to tie the game and junior goalie Joe Howe, who later stepped in for sophomore goalie Josh Thorimbert after he was knocked out of the game in the second period after a collision from Denver’s Chris Knowlton of Colorado Springs. Thorimbert also suffered an upper body injury.

“Down 2-0, losing your captain, one of your best players and emotional leader,  tying and later losing your goalie, Josh, who was one of the hottest in the country is a lot to overcome,” Tigers coach Scott Owens said. ““We definitely earned that point and that trophy.”

Schwartz jumpstarted the Tigers and the announced crowd of 7,733 with a highlight-reel goal, weaving around two Denver defenders and beating DU goalie Juho Olkinuora high stick side with a hard-angle wrist shot to make it 2-1.

“I had speed and I caught them flat-footed, I guess,” Jaden said. “We definitely battled through adversity tonight especially after losing our captain and Thorny.”

Jaden didn’t remember when he last scored such a goal.

“You don’t really remember when you have a goal like that. But I’ll remember that for awhile,” Schwartz said.

So will the Pioneers and their fans.

“I’ll be having nightmares about the Jaden Schwartz goal,” Denver coach George Gwozdecky said. “They had absolutely nothing going for them but that’s what great players do.”

CC rode the momentum from that four-on-four goal, tying the game with a Jeff Collett power-play goal a couple minutes later. Collett camped out in front and tipped in a Rylan Schwartz crossing pass.

The score came after senior defenseman Gabe Guentzel, who averaged 32 minutes this weekend, kept the puck in the zone. The goal stood after a short video review.

Howe made sure the two goals stood, making big save after save, including a leg pad stack in overtime to rob Daniel Doremus with 2:46 left.

“He lives for this stuff,” Guentzel said.  “We didn’t have any doubts that Howie could get the job done.”

Updated Wednesday reading: CC radio show, TV deal, recruits

Tonight’s monthly Scott Owens radio show is from 6:30 to 7:30 p.m. at McCabe’s Tavern in downtown Colorado Springs. No doubt they will talk about Denver, which has been getting a spark from freshman Ty Loney of late and reigning WCHA offensive player of the week Luke Salazar.

Coach Scott Owens said two players, yet to be determined, will be there toward the end of the show and radio man Ken Landau is lining up an out-of-town guest for the 7 p.m. slot.

Here are two who have made verbals to North Dakota along with other notes out of Grand Forks. That said, the UND coaches aren’t happy about some losses to the Canadian major junior leagues.

Here’s a MSU Mankato recruit update.

There’s been mixed reaction to The National Collegiate Hockey Conference’s 18-game exclusive TV deal with CBS Sports Network. I think fans may want to wait until their school finalizes their regional and local TV deals before deciding if this was a good deal or not. When you consider CBS SN broadcast 23 TOTAL college hockey games this season and will now broadcast a minimum of 18 NCHC games, including the playiff tournament semifinals and title game, it looks like a strong deal to me. Here’s some more details comparing the NCHC deal with Hockey East and the Big 10.

Odds are, this will lead to more college hockey on TV with games like RIT-Air Force and Air Force-Army likely broadcast games as well. With CBS SN signing Jim Rome to an exclusive talk show deal, it looks like the network is bolstering its lineup, which bodes well for the NCHC getting on board now.

Minnesota-Duluth’s Jack Connolly, a contender for the Hobey Baker, is a finalist for the Lowe’s senior CLASS award.

Around the WCHA: Tigers bounce back for 2-1 win

CC senior Tim Hall banged in a rebound off a shot by William Rapuzzi with 36 seconds left to lift the 11th-ranked Tigers to a 2-1 win at No. 2/4 Minnesota and only two points out of first place in the WCHA.

Hall’s goal came only 41 seconds after Minnesota had tied the game at 1-1 off a Nick Bjugstad shot.

CC sophomore goalie Josh Thorimbert (9-3) continued his excellent play of late, making 38 saves for the victory. The teams resume the series at 4 p.m. Mountain live on FS North and tape-delayed to 6 p.m. on ROOT.

CC captain Nick Dineen opened the scoring five minutes into the second period, pouncing on a Minnesota turnover and sending a backhanded shot between Gophers goalie Kent Patterson‘s leg pads for a 1-0 lead that held up through a five-minute Gophers power play in the third.

No. 1 Minnesota-Duluth 2, Alabama-Huntsville 1

DULUTH — The Bulldogs improved to 15-1-3 of late despite 52 saves by future North Dakota goalie Clarke Saunders, who will transfer to Grand Forks this summer. Jack Connolly‘s assist on the game winner increased his points streak to 21 games in a row.

Wisconsin 4, Alaska Anchorage 0

MADISON — Freshman Joel Rumpel made 23 saves for his second career shutout in a row in a home win over the struggling Seawolves.

St. Cloud State 3, North Dakota 1

ST. CLOUD — Freshman goalie Ryan Faragher made 41 saves and Jarrod Rabey scored the game winner midway through the second period as the host Huskies rallied for the win.

Nebraska Omaha 2, Minnesota State 1

MANKATO — Bryce Aneloski scored a power-play goal 1:37 into overtime to lift Omaha past Minnesota State. Mankato’s Adam Mueller slashed Omaha goalie Ryan Massa (39 saves) 45 seconds into overtime. Dayn Belfour came in for Massa and recorded a single save for the win.

CC’s Dineen in running for humanitarian award

For the 17th consecutive year, the BNY Mellon Wealth Management Hockey Humanitarian Award will be given out to a college hockey player whose efforts to better their communities continue to stand out.

Colorado College captain Nick Dineen, pictured at left, and St. Cloud State’s Jordy Christian were nominated.

The list of nominees includes six repeat nominees – Isaiah Carlson (Salve Regina), Alyssa Grogan (Minnesota), Aleca Hughes (Yale), Tucker Mullin (Saint Anselm), Trevor Nill (Michigan State) and Cody Reichard (Miami).

In late January, finalists will be announced, and the 2012 recipient will be recognized in a ceremony at the Frozen Four in Tampa.

Tigers jump out to 2-0 lead after one period

An excellent first period by the Tigers’ second line, centered by captain Nick Dineen, sparked No. 8 Colorado College to a 2-0 lead.

A good forecheck, led by some vicious hits by Dineen set up the opening goal. A turnover forced by CC junior Scott Winkler and controlled by defenseman Mike Boivin led to a breakaway for Alexander Krushelnyski, who scored his sixth of the season when his shot trickled between SCSU goalie Ryan Faragher’s leg pads for a 1-0 lead with 11:31 left in the opening period.

After a fast start by the Huskies and a 3-0 edge in shots, the Tigers came back, outshooting the visitors 12-6 for the period.

Dineen made it 2-0 when he banged home a rebound off a shot by Krushelnyski with 4:48 left in the period.

The Colorado College defense performed well, keeping the Huskies to only one shot below the slot.

Contrasting styles at play this weekend

Two ranked teams with contrasting styles will square off this weekend at World Arena when No. 13-ranked and ECAC-leading Cornell (8-4-1, 6-1-1 ECAC) takes on host No. 6 Colorado College this Friday and Saturday.

The Big Red live up to their name with a physical style well suited for the NHL sheet the Ithaca, N.Y. school usually skates on.

“We’ll try to take advantage of the width of the sheet because we know they’re not that accustomed to it,” Tigers coach Scott Owens said.

No doubt that was a reason the Big Red arrived in Colorado Springs a day earlier than usual, Wednesday, to acclimate to the altitude and the Olympic ice sheet at World Arena.

Dictating the style of play by making the nonconference series up-and-down games may favor the Tigers (12-6, 9-5 WCHA).

“We’ll try to keep the puck off the boards, make it an open-ice game and make them skate with us,” senior captain Nick Dineen said.

That said, Cornell looks plenty capable of winning a wide-open contest with the skill players it has, especially with the nation’s sixth rated power play (23.9 percent). CC must skate well and move its feet on defense to avoid penalties.

Defenseman Nick D’Agostino has 15 points including six power-play goals, leading the nation’s Division I defensemen, with five game-winners, tying for the national lead. Right wing Brian Ferlin and center Greg Miller are right behind with 15 and 14 points respectively.

For their part, the Tigers look ready to play well after rebounding from a home loss to Air Force with a determined defensive effort in a 2-1 win over Union.

“We’ve had a good week of practice, probably the best three days we’ve had,” Dineen said. “It will be interesting to see this weekend how that translates.”

It is the first series between the schools. Cornell leads all-time with a 3-2 mark including a 4-2 Tigers win at the Florida College Classic in 2009.

CC’s defense shines in 2-1 win over No. 10 Union

A stellar team defensive performance proved to be the catalyst for No. 5-ranked Colorado College’s 2-1 nonconference win over No. 10 Union before an announced crowd of 5,882 fans at the World Arena on New Year’s Eve night.

“I thought both team’s defenses were good tonight,” Tigers coach Scott Owens said, “When you’re taking on the top-rated defensive team in the country you know it will be a tight, one-goal game.”

Union came into the game allowing only a Division I-best 1.94 goals, but it was CC’s defense that proved decisive.

A hard check along the boards led to Colorado College’s opening goal early in the second period.

Freshman defender Peter Stoykewych collided with a Union wing, forcing a turnover that was hauled in by sophomore wing Dakota Eveland. He passed across ice to junior defenseman Mike Boivin, who then sent a long pass forward to senior center David Civitarese just before he crossed the Union blue line.

He split the two Dutchmen defenders and charged toward the Union net. He beat sprawling sophomore goalie Troy Grosenick with a backhander with 14:35 left in the second for the 1-0 lead.

Boivin’s assist gave him a point in a team-high 14 games, one ahead of junior Rylan Schwartz (13) and two ahead of sophomore Jaden Schwartz (12).

A Dutchmen turnover led to a goal for senior captain Nick Dineen, who scored from the slot with 1:01 left in the second to make it 2-0 Tigers (12-6-0, 9-5-0 Western Collegiate Hockey Association).

It proved to be the game-winner after Union junior wing Wayne Simpson scored with 39.7 seconds left in the third with the Grosenick pulled for the extra attacker.

CC sophomore goalie Josh Thorimbert made 20 saves in a solid performance to improve to 7-2-0 on the season. Union fell to 9-5-5, 3-2-2 ECAC after losing to No. 15 Denver 3-1 on Friday.

“Josh was great tonight,” Boivin said.

The Tigers’ back checking and sound play from the blue-liners kept a good Union offensive team (17^th in Division I) under control.

“The forwards, led by David Civitarese, did a good job getting back in support,” Owens  said. “We knew we had to play that way. Even then we were worried for the final 40 seconds because they can put six dangerous players out there.”

The win garners CC a split on the nonconference weekend after falling 2-1 to crosstown foe Air Force.

“It doesn’t take the sting completely away from Friday but this win will help us later this season in the Pairwise (rankings),” Owens said.

Colorado College hosts No. 13-ranked Cornell Jan. 6-7.

Friday reading

Captain Nick Dineen and senior Tim Hall (pictured) may not be honored by the midseason awards, but both are big reasons the Tigers are in third and four points out of first place in the WCHA halfway through the season.

It’s time to look at the first half of the WCHA season. Here’s Bucky’s Fifth Quarter’s take which honors Rylan and Jaden Schwartz, Mike Boivin and Gabe Guentzel.

Here’s more on the Canada captaincy of CC sophomore Jaden Schwartz, including a feature touching on the influence of his sister Mandi.

Former Tiger Mike Testwuide looks due for a breakout later this season.

Minnesota’s Nick Bjugstad remains day to day for Team USA at the world juniors. Here’s an update on the Americans.

Nebraska-Omaha picks up a goalie commit.

Here’s a Gazette feature on AFA’s Kyle De Laurell, a product of the Colorado Rampage club in northern Colorado Springs.

CURRENT WCHA STANDINGS

		WCHA Games								Overall
		GP	W	L	T	Pts	GF	GA		W	L	T	GF	GA
1	Minnesota	14	11	3	0	22	51	28		14	5	1	83	41
	Minnesota Duluth	14	10	2	2	22	59	32		12	3	3	73	44
3	Colorado College	14	9	5	0	18	59	48		11	5	0	67	50
4	Nebraska Omaha	14	7	4	3	17	46	43		9	8	3	62	60
5	Denver	14	6	5	3	15	47	45		8	7	3	59	55
6	North Dakota	14	7	7	0	14	39	37		9	8	1	51	50
7	Michigan Tech	14	6	7	1	13	41	43		9	9	1	54	55
	St. Cloud State	14	5	6	3	13	43	41		7	9	4	64	62
9	Bemidji State	14	5	7	2	12	36	46		9	9	2	55	56
10	Wisconsin	14	4	8	2	10	40	50		7	9	2	57	59
11	Alaska Anchorage	14	3	10	1	7	29	54		6	10	2	46	63
12	Minnesota State	14	2	11	1	5	37	60		5	14	1	55	75