Looks like the DU hockey beat writer and the DU players are picking their words more carefully this time around. John Lee is one of my least favorite DU hockey players.
If nothing else, the University of Denver will find out this weekend how well it has recruited over the past five years. It won’t be a gauge of talent, in which the Pioneers have plenty, but a test of competitiveness and character while playing in college hockey’s toughest atmosphere.
Third-ranked DU, coming off the first leg of its difficult road stretch last weekend at No. 2 Wisconsin, faces No. 4 and simmering rival North Dakota tonight and Saturday at Engelstad Arena.
The Pioneers were boys when they pledged to play for DU, but they’ll need to perform like men against the Fighting Sioux, who arguably have the most animated and loyal fans in the country.
“It’s a product of being apart of high-profile like ours,” DU coach George Gwozdecky said of playing challenging, back-to-back road series. “There is no question that one of the big reasons why these guys decided to come to DU was to play big games, and win big games, whether it’s the regular season or postseason. Part of that is dealing with the expectations, the stress and the anxiety.”
History says this weekend’s series will be a hard-hitting, emotional affair _ similar to the teams’ two-game set in Denver Nov. 20-21. The Pioneers swept with 1-0 and 3-2 victories, both in penalty-filled and controversial fashion.
The rematch in Grand Forks figures to be just as mentally draining.
“Yeah, it’s going to be very intense, we’re going to play with intensity and emotion, but this is not winner take all, the end-all,” Gwozdecky said. “There is a balance that has to be established and I think the team has that right kind of balance.”
DU sophomore defenseman John Lee grew up in Moorhead, Minn., which is about 80 miles south of Grand Forks. Lee’s older brother, Brian, was a standout at UND when John chose Denver over North Dakota and Minnesota.
A year ago, John absorbed plenty of grief from Sioux players and fans in his DU debut at Engelstad.
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