It’s October 12th.
Indeed, #10 Denver is 0-2 and looked quite lackluster in their two losses to #19 Ohio State (3-2) and #6 Boston College (3-1).
But it’s October 12th.
The Pioneers have played two games, three if you count the exhibition victory over Mount Royal (which you shouldn’t). The expectations coming into the weekend were that DU would play “relentless” hockey and come away with two victories over less-talented opponents, but that didn’t happen. No, the Pios didn’t look like a particularly good hockey team for five of six periods over the weekend. But that’s no reason to panic about this team at this point.
Channeling my inner South Park, ‘member last year? ‘member when the Pios lost to Air Force to open the season? ‘member when DU was 7-7-2 at the holiday break? ‘member when the Pioneers still went to the Frozen Four last year despite all of that? ‘memberrrr?
Listen, there’s no reason to pretend like DU’s opening weekend was anything but disappointing. Everyone who supports the Crimson & Gold was looking forward to a great year complete with a fast start. The reality of the matter is this: DU lost two-thirds of its top scoring line from a year ago in addition to graduating its emotional leaders. To make matters worse, DU had a grand total of four (4) full practices heading into the Ice Breaker Tournament.
In short, the cards were stacked against the Pios from the get-go. Now, just to pile on, the Pioneers announced earlier today that Dylan Gambrell, 2nd leading scorer for the Pios from a year ago, has an “upper body injury” (he was icing his left hand on Friday night) and will be sidelined for 4-6 weeks.
Now it’s ok to panic, right?
Nope.
It was always going to be an uphill battle. That’s the nature of the beast when you lose six key players in one offseason. Even head coach Jim Montgomery noted after the loss to Boston College, “When you look at our top six [forwards], we don’t have a senior in our top six. We don’t have a junior, really. It’s going to take a while for these young men to get comfortable and be go-to guys.”
Dylan Gambrell was one of the two main “go-to guys” in the Pios’ top six (Troy Terry) before his injury. At face value, his absence from the line chart hurts. The team has already been struggling to score goals (through two games, mind you, so take that with a grain of salt), so losing one of its main sources of scoring won’t help solve that problem.
What Gambrell’s absence does provide, though, is an opportunity for other players to prove they belong on the ice and contribute to the success of this program this year. It will provide fringe top six skaters like Emil Romig and Jarid Lukosevicius with an opportunity to step up and fill the void left by Gambrell.
If you’re scrambling, grasping at straws, trying to find just one thing to be encouraged about with this team, look to the third period against Boston College. The Pios outshot the Eagles 23-5 in the final period of that game. DU didn’t manage to find the back of the net, but it was an extremely encouraging display, especially after the previous five periods, two against the Eagles and the three against Ohio State the night before. BC didn’t sit back with a one-goal lead. DU took control of the game and dictated everything both offensively and defensively in that period.
It took until the end of the second game, but finally, DU seemed to have remembered how to play Montgomery’s trademark “relentless” Pioneer hockey. So, if you’re looking for something positive to take into this weekend’s huge matchup with the BU Terriers, take the third period against BC. Take that, lean on it, close your eyes and reimagine it if you have to.
It seems the Pioneers turned a corner against BC in the final 20 minutes. It took a heroic effort in the crease to keep the Eagles alive and give them a win. Without BC’s brick Woll (sorry) in net, the Pioneers could have broken that game open in the third period.
The Pioneers will be fine. They’re a very good hockey team, even without Dylan Gambrell for 4-6 weeks. The hill may have gotten just a bit steeper this weekend, but hey, what doesn’t kill you makes you stronger.
The point of all of this is, it’s still extremely early. The results are less than ideal, but there is absolutely no reason to panic at this point. It’s true that an extremely talented #2 BU is coming to town this weekend and there’s a very real possibility that DU will be 0-4 by the end of the weekend. But it’s a long year. Seasons are not made or destroyed in October.
Why would anyone panic? Why write this? Seriously….I do not understand the desire to quell panic that doesn’t, at least shouldn’t, exist. I am sure there is someone who recalls the ’87-88 DU team, which started 7-0 but didn’t survive the first round of WCHA playoffs….nothing is decided in the first month of — or even first half of — a season. Anyone recall ’03-04? DU was 7th in the WCHA in February but won the natty. It is frickin’ October 12th, for crying out loud.
Go on any inane Twitter rants today? Oh, yeah, you did…..
I disagree Anon. Gambrell’s 47 points combined with Heinen & Moore’s 92 points is a BIG loss. By my math, nearly 150 points. I think most knowledgeable fans are, at minimum, very concerned. But you missed the point – the point of the article was that it was early and there is no need to over-react. I am one of the fans that is more concerned than Nick about this start and the Gambrell injury – but I am not going to panic. I have Breckenridge Agave Wheat in the fridge.
Why would anyone panic? Why write this? Seriously….I do not understand the desire to quell panic that doesn’t, at least shouldn’t, exist. I am sure there is someone who recalls the ’87-88 DU team, which started 7-0 but didn’t survive the first round of WCHA playoffs….nothing is decided in the first month of — or even first half of — a season. Anyone recall ’03-04? DU was 7th in the WCHA in February but won the natty. It is frickin’ October 12th, for crying out loud.
Go on any inane Twitter rants today? Oh, yeah, you did…..
I disagree Anon. Gambrell’s 47 points combined with Heinen & Moore’s 92 points is a BIG loss. By my math, nearly 150 points. I think most knowledgeable fans are, at minimum, very concerned. But you missed the point – the point of the article was that it was early and there is no need to over-react. I am one of the fans that is more concerned than Nick about this start and the Gambrell injury – but I am not going to panic. I have Breckenridge Agave Wheat in the fridge.
It’s early but that was bad hockey on Friday night. Understand you lose some hockey games and young team hasn’t played together much, but that was effort. Completely out hustled by less talented team. Plenty of time to get better and I’m sure they will, 0-2 is nothing in the context of a season, but no excuse to get beat in that manner on home/season opener.
It’s early but that was bad hockey on Friday night. Understand you lose some hockey games and young team hasn’t played together much, but that was effort. Completely out hustled by less talented team. Plenty of time to get better and I’m sure they will, 0-2 is nothing in the context of a season, but no excuse to get beat in that manner on home/season opener.
I was at the Saturday DU game and based on what I saw in the third period, things will be fine for DU. Yah, losing Gambrell hurts but it’s not for the entire season and better now than if it happened in March. As a UND fan I read similar stuff on siouxsports.com all the time…..not identical to the DU situation but it’s worth noting that when North Dakota loses a couple of games in a row (which they will at some point) some UND fans will be wringing their hands and the “fire Berry” crowd will come out and others will fret that the season is over, etc. I’m an impartial observer and for what my opinion’s worth, DU has enough depth, talent, and awesome coaching to make it way too early for Pios fans tohit the panic button just yet.
No reason to panic. It’s a 36-game season.
Can’t wait for this series to begin. I think (hope) BU will bring out the best in DU. Two things I am eager to see: (1) will DU push the pace and play with urgency for 60 minutes and (2) will DU crash the net more and look to punch in some dirty goals.
I was at the Saturday DU game and based on what I saw in the third period, things will be fine for DU. Yah, losing Gambrell hurts but it’s not for the entire season and better now than if it happened in March. As a UND fan I read similar stuff on siouxsports.com all the time…..not identical to the DU situation but it’s worth noting that when North Dakota loses a couple of games in a row (which they will at some point) some UND fans will be wringing their hands and the “fire Berry” crowd will come out and others will fret that the season is over, etc. I’m an impartial observer and for what my opinion’s worth, DU has enough depth, talent, and awesome coaching to make it way too early for Pios fans tohit the panic button just yet.
No reason to panic. It’s a 36-game season.
Can’t wait for this series to begin. I think (hope) BU will bring out the best in DU. Two things I am eager to see: (1) will DU push the pace and play with urgency for 60 minutes and (2) will DU crash the net more and look to punch in some dirty goals.