Pios have one goal: Win a national title
The University of Denver hockey team features 12 NHL draft picks, tied for third among all NCAA programs behind only Minnesota (15) and Boston University (13).
But with the NCAA Tournament now in a single-game elimination format, that might not be an advantage.
Some future pros might have more on their minds than the task at hand. Scouts from every NHL team will monitor this weekend’s regionals, as well as the April 7-9 Frozen Four in Boston, and some will have contracts in hand for their draft picks or coveted undrafted free agents.
Denver coach David Carle insists that will not be a distraction for his NHL draft picks and highend undrafted players. The Pioneers play Massachusetts-lowell on Thursday in the second semifinal of the West Regional at the Budweiser Events Center in Loveland.
“We’ve talked about that with our leadership group, beginning about two months ago,” Carle said. “We want to make sure we’re limiting those types of distractions. They’re all going to be (in the NHL) in due time. Let’s make sure we’re focusing on the special group that we have here.”
Freshman defenseman Sean Behrens, 18, is among the Pios who will likely play in the NHL before he graduates. He was the Avalanche’s 2021 second-round selection (61st overall) and was named to the NCHC all-rookie team.
He became Colorado’s No. 1 defenseman prospect after the club traded Justin Barron and Drew Helleson in deals ahead of Monday’s NHL trade deadline.
“We have a really tight-knit group and everyone is committed to winning a national championship,” Behrens said. “A lot of our players are going to have success when their time comes to sign a contract and play pro hockey. But I don’t think that’s going to be a problem here in the near future.”
Denver (27-9-1), tied for the second-youngest team in the country (average age 21.4), is the West’s No. 1 seed and No. 4 overall in the 16-team field. Fourth-seeded UMass-lowell (21-10-3) is 13th overall and features many older players (22.5), led by 24-year-old goalie Owen Savory.
The winner will face the winner of No. 2 Minnesota-duluth (2115-4)-No. 3 Michigan Tech (2112-3) on Saturday for a berth to the Frozen Four at TD Garden.
“They’re a real good team,” Carle said of Thursday’s opponent. “They’re big, they’re heavy, they’re old. Very good goaltending.”
Playing in Loveland, home of the AHL’S Colorado Eagles, marks DU’S first opportunity to play in the NCAA Tournament in Colorado since 2004 when the Pioneers shocked top-ranked North Dakota 1-0 to advance to the Frozen Four in Boston, where they ultimately won it with another 1-0 triumph (against Maine).
“It’s exciting for our group to play in Colorado one last time this year and have those fans behind us,” Behrens said. “Our team is really confident in general.”