2009-10 WCHA MEN’S YEARBOOK PIONEERS UNIVERSITY OF DENVER THE 2009-10 SEASON he Denver Pioneers celebrate 60 years DU returns leading scorer Anthony Maiani, of varsity hockey in 2009-10 with one alternate captain Kyle Ostrow, sophomore Tof the most talented teams in college Luke Salazar and junior Jesse Martin. hockey. DU has made two consecutive Maiani led DU with 11-30-41 and was trips to the NCAA Tournament and returns named to the All-WCHA Third Team, while 21 letterwinners from last year’s team that Ostrow had 14-14=28 with four game-winning finished second in the WCHA with a 23-12-5 goals. Salazer netted 15 goals, including GWGs, overall record. and Martin added a career-best 10-13=23. Senior forwards Rhett Rakhshani and “Maiani, Ostrow, Salazar and Martin will Tyler Ruegsegger and junior goaltender Marc all play important two-way roles for us this Cheverie will lead the Pioneers in 2009-10. season,” Gwozdecky said. “All four have tasted Rakhshani bypassed a chance to sign with success in college hockey, so it will be impor- the NHL’s New York Islanders to return as team tant for them to raise their individual games captain for his final collegiate season. Rakh- to the next level. We are counting on their shani is a dynamic forward who surpassed contributions in all situations.” the coveted 100-point barrier as a junior last Seniors Matt Glasser, Brian Gifford and season and will be the first forward to captain Brandon Vossberg are veteran forwards who the Pioneers since Mark Rycroft in 1999-2000. compete on every shift, while sophomore Ruegsegger led the WCHA with 12 PPGs and Nate Dewhurst looks for increased ice time. has 40-42=82 in 106 career games. Junior Dustin Jackson will miss the season “Rhett and Tyler are two of the most tal- after breaking his leg. ented forwards in collegiate hockey,” head Shore headlines the list of freshman coach George Gwozdecky said. “More impor- forwards. The Denver native was selected by tantly, they each have three years of playing Florida in the second round of the 2009 NHL experience in the WCHA. Rhett and Tyler are Entry Draft. Shore tallied 17-32=49 for the model student-athletes and we’re excited to U.S. Under-18 Team and, along with rookies have them lead our team this season.” Wrenn and goaltender Adam Murray, helped Cheverie answered the call as DU’s No. Team USA to gold medals at the IIHF Under-18 1 goaltender last season by starting all 40 World Championships, Five Nations Cup and games, while posting a 23-12-5 record, 2.34 Four Nations Cup. goals-against average and .921 saves percent- Newcomers Shawn Ostrow and Chris age. Cheverie earned All-WCHA Second Team Knowlton will battle for immediate playing accolades and was college hockey’s player of time. Ostrow netted 31-42=73 for the Camrose the month for December. Kodiaks of the AJHL in 2007-08 before a knee RHETT RAKHSHANI “Marc has worked tremendously hard on injury sidelined him for most of last season. his game since his freshman season and it Knowlton tallied 11-13=24 for Des Moines of really showed last year,” Gwozdecky said. “He the USHL in 2008-09. was our most valuable player, and we expect “Although we lost Dustin Jackson for the him to improve and take on a leadership season with a broken leg, we are confident that role with goaltenders Adam Murray and Lars we have the depth, skill and competitiveness Paulgaard.” in our forward positions,” Gwozdecky said. Also returning for their sophomore seasons Defenseman: The blueline will be the are 2008-09 All-WCHA Rookie Team members most competitive position for Denver. The Patrick Wiercioch and Joe Colborne. Colborne playing experience of upperclassmen Cody netted 10-21-31 and provided several clutch Brookwell, Chris Nutini, John Ryder, John Lee goals, while Wiercioch is one of the top offen- and Wiercioch will be a factor early. sive defensemen in college hockey. Wiercioch Rookies Donovan, Wrenn and Paul Phillips (12-23=35) earned All-WCHA second-team will command ice time with their skill and honors after leading all WCHA rookie bluelin- talent. Donovan was named to the USHL All- ers in points, goals and assists. Star Team in 2008-09 after netting 19-32=51 DU welcomes arguably the nation’s top for Cedar Rapids and Wrenn captained Team recruiting class, led by forward Drew Shore USA to three gold medals in international and defensemen Matt Donovan and William competition last season. Phillips recorded Wrenn. Shore and Wrenn were standout 8-25=33 with Donovan in Cedar Rapids last members of the U.S. National Developmental season. Team Program in Ann Arbor, Mich., while Jon Cook and Joey Brehm will provide Donovan was the top scoring defenseman depth and experience as juniors. in the USHL. “Our depth and skill on the blueline will Two-time National Coach of the Year again be one of our strengths,” Gwozdecky Gwozdecky and the Pioneers’ goals are to said.” become a team, secure home ice for the Goaltenders: Cheverie will begin the sea- WCHA Playoffs, advance to the WCHA Final son as DU’s No. 1 goaltender, but Gwozdecky Five and make their third consecutive NCAA plans to platoon the junior with rookie Adam Tournament appearance. DU will also gun Murray early in the season in hopes of devel- to reclaim the Gold Pan Trophy from in-state oping a two-man goaltender rotation that rival CC. The Tigers have held possession of proved to be successful during the national the trophy for three consecutive seasons. championship seasons of 2004 and 2005. “Our players and staff have worked Murray posted a 22-10-1 mark with a 2.94 extremely hard to prepare for the many GAA and .902 SV% with two shutouts for the challenges this season,” said Gwozdecky. Under-18 Team in 2008-09. Lars Paulgaard Forwards: DU will have plenty of depth, will be the No. 3 goaltender after serving as talent and experience at forward this season. Cheverie’s backup last season. In addition to Rakhshani and Ruegsegger, MARC CHEVERIE 33 2009-10 WCHA MEN’S YEARBOOK DENVER PIONEERS 2009-10 DU SCHEDULE OCTOBER Date Game Time 4 CALGARY (x) 6:07 pm MT 9 VERMONT (nc) 7:37 pm MT 10 VERMONT (nc) 7:07 pm MT 15 at Ohio State (nc) 7:05 pm ET 16 at Ohio State (Nationwide Arena) (nc) 7:05 pm ET 23 at Minnesota (WCHA) 7:07 pm CT 24 at Minnesota (WCHA) 7:07 pm CT 30 MINNESOTA STATE (WCHA) 7:37 pm MT 31 MINNESOTA STATE (WCHA) 7:07 pm MT NOVEMBER 6 at Alaska Anchorage (WCHA) 7:07 pm AT 7 at Alaska Anchorage (WCHA) 7:07 pm AT 20 NORTH DAKOTA (WCHA) 7:37 pm MT 21 NORTH DAKOTA (WCHA) 7:07 pm MT 27 ST. CLOUD STATE (WCHA) 7:37 pm MT 28 ST. CLOUD STATE (WCHA) 7:07 pm MT DECEMBER 4 at Colorado College (WCHA) 7:37 pm MT 5 COLORADO COLLEGE (WCHA) 7:07 pm MT 11 at Minnesota Duluth (WCHA) 7:07 pm CT 12 at Minnesota Duluth (WCHA) 7:07 pm CT JANUARY 1 WELLS FARGO DENVER CUP St. Lawrence vs Boston Coll. (nc) 4:37 pm MT Nebraska-Omaha vs DU (nc) 7:37 pm MT 2 WELLS FARGO DENVER CUP ANTHONY MAIANI St. Lawrence vs Neb-Omaha (nc) 4:07 pm MT Boston College vs DU (nc) 7:07 pm MT 8 ALASKA ANCHORAGE (WCHA) 7:37 pm MT 9 ALASKA ANCHORAGE (WCHA) 7:07 pm MT 22 at Wisconsin (WCHA) 7:07 pm CT 23 at Wisconsin (WCHA) 7:07 pm CT 29 at North Dakota (WCHA) 7:37 pm CT 30 at North Dakota (WCHA) 7:07 pm CT FEBRUARY 5 MERCYHURST (nc) 7:37 pm MT 6 at Air Force (nc) 7:07 pm MT 12 MINNESOTA (WCHA) 7:37 pm MT 13 MINNESOTA (WCHA) 7:07 pm MT 19 MICHIGAN TECH (WCHA) 7:37 pm MT 20 MICHIGAN TECH (WCHA) 7:07 pm MT 26 at Minnesota State (WCHA) 7:37 pm CT 27 at Minnesota State (WCHA) 7:07 pm CT MARCH 5 COLORADO COLLEGE (WCHA) 7:37 pm MT 6 at Colorado College (WCHA) 7:07 pm MT (x) exhibition; (nc) non-conference; (WCHA) conference TYLER RUEGSEGGER 34 2009-10 WCHA MEN’S YEARBOOK DENVER PIONEERS 2009-10 DU ALPHABETICAL ROSTER NUMERICAL ROSTER No. Name (NHL Draft) Yr Pos Ht Wt S/C Age Hometown / Previous Team / League No. Name Pos 20 Joey Brehm JR D 6-2 190 L 21 Edina, MN / Edina HS 1 Marc Cheverie (FLA) G 25 Cody Brookwell SR D 6-4 215 R 23 Calgary, AB / Williams Lake (BCHL) 3 Jon Cook D 1 Marc Cheverie (FLA) JR G 6-3 180 L 22 Cole Harbour, NS / Nanaimo Clippers (BCHL) 4 Matt Donovan (NYI) D 12 Joe Colborne (BOS) SO F 6-5 195 L 19 Calgary, AB / Camrose Kodiaks (AJHL) 5 John Lee (FLA) D 3 Jon Cook JR D 6-1 200 R 23 Denver, CO / Camrose Kodiaks (AJHL) 6 Chris Nutini D 37 Nate Dewhurst SO F 5-9 160 R 19 Johnston, IA / Des Moines Buccaneers (USHL) 7 Paul Phillips (CHI) D 4 Matt Donovan (NYI) FR D 6-0 190 L 19 Edmond, OK / Cedar Rapids (USHL) 8 Dustin Jackson F 22 Brian Gifford (PIT) SR F 6-2 205 L 24 Moorhead, MN / Indiana (USHL) 9 Rhett Rakhshani (NYI) F 17 Matt Glasser (EDM) SR F 5-10 180 L 22 Calgary, AB / Fort McMurray (AJHL) 11 Chris Knowlton F 8 Dustin Jackson JR F 6-3 200 R 23 Omaha, NE / So.