BCI: The Pios are consistently post-season contenders and haven’t dealt with the same level of downturn that BC has. What about the program keeps them at this consistently successful level?
LGDU: This is a great question and I think the answer starts with their recruiting strategy. With a program like Denver, and BC for that matter, the top recruits will always be interested. But I think what has set Denver aside and has ensured sustained success is the emphasis on finding the right players to fit the system (and process, for lack of a better word) rather than grabbing as many top draft picks as possible. Remember BU from 2015-16? The one with 10 draftees? That BU team got bounced from the NCAA Tournament 7-2 by a Denver team that had plenty of talent but had more reliable depth. It also helps to have a program culture that keeps players like Will Butcher, Troy Terry, Henrik Borgström, and Ian Mitchell at least a year past when ‘experts’ predicted they’d leave.
BCI: Denver has been particularly dominant against Hockey East teams in recent years - why do you think that is?
LGDU: I hate to make this an NCHC vs the world argument but I think, at least in part, that’s why. Denver and the rest of the NCHC play the most difficult conference schedules in the country The kind of hockey played in the NCHC forces teams to raise their level of play so, in a sense, playing against other conferences is almost a break. I think that’s what’s made NCHC the dominant conference in the country but Denver specifically? I’m not sure that Hockey East is necessarily any different than the WCHA or AHA for them. They went unbeaten in non-conference play last year and have only lost twice in non-conference play since the 2017-18 season.
BCI: The Pios are currently undefeated - how much should we be reading into their 4-0 record based on the teams they’ve played?
LGDU: Well, most importantly, 44-0-0 is still in play for the Pioneers. The longer that’s in play, the longer I have easy, engaging content. But I think Denver’s undefeated record is less a testament to the teams they’ve played and more to this team’s resiliency. Already in two of those four games, they’ve won games with 1:03 and :20 left in the third period. Sure, they were against Alaska Fairbanks and Lake Superior State, two teams that aren’t exactly contenders, but it was a 10-day road trip that forced them to travel to two of the harder to reach college hockey locations. To survive those trips without dropping a game is impressive. That said, I think this weekend will be Denver’s first real on-ice test.
BCI: Which Denver players should BC fans be watching out for?
Defenseman Ian Mitchell is this year’s headline grabber. His staying for his junior year instead of signing with the Blackhawks was, in a sense, a major coup (to borrow from Nate Wells). But beyond Mitchell, watch for freshman forward Bobby Brink to break out in his first home series of his young NCAA career. He has already scored twice and added two assists. Last year’s leading scorer Liam Finlay has quietly had a great start to the year as well with 5 points already. Brink’s linemates Emilio Pettersen and Cole Guttman round out a potentially explosive top line. All three are NHL draftees and have lethal shots. If they get good looks, they’ll finish.
BCI: What does BC need to do if they want a chance at winning against the Pios?
LGDU: If there is an area that might be a little shaky for the Pioneers, it’s in the crease. Devin Cooley didn’t make the trip to Fairbanks or Sault Ste. Marie and is likely out once again this weekend. That means freshman netminder Magnus Chrona will be making his fifth and sixth straight starts unless things change with Cooley. Chrona has looked-lights out at times, including during DU’s 3-0 shutout in Fairbanks but if BC can get DU’s skilled on their heels and out of position to get good looks at Chrona, they’ll definitely have a shot.
BCI: As an outsider, what is your perception of BC hockey’s team this year?
LGDU: To me, it seems that this is as strong a BC roster as there has been in quite some time, at least since the Frozen Four run in 2016. It’s no secret that things have been rough for BC in recent years but if there’s a year that they’ll make a return to the NCAA Tournament it seems like it’s going to be this year. That non-conference losing streak really was something and with this roster, I have a hard time believing the Eagles will be held down to the same degree they have been in the past. I’ll be honest, to me, it seems like BC is poised to compete at the top of the Hockey East standings once again.
BCI: Do you agree that having players from Finland is very important to a team’s success?
LGDU: It’s integral. Denver has only missed the Frozen Four once since making Finnish players a recruiting emphasis with Borgström. I shudder to think what might happen if there are no more Finns on the roster after Jaakko Heikkinen graduates next year.
BCI: Predictions for the weekend?
LGDU: This one is a tough prediction for me. My gut tells me Denver sweep since this is their home opening AND Homecoming series. Student tickets sold out in record time and there are very few tickets left so the atmosphere at Magness Arena is going to be absolutely electric (crazy talk, I know, to those who like to take jabs at DU’s fan atmosphere or lack-thereof...those like Donna) and an atmosphere like that benefits the Pios. But as much as we like to poo-poo the polls, this is #1 vs #6 and a pretty good representation of where both teams are right now, I think. If I were a betting man, I’d take a split. But my gut, well, it has a voice too.