Denver’s hockey program will be in the news quite a bit more, and not just because it re-took the No. 1 ranking in two major polls on Monday after a one-week break.

According to the Dubuque Fighting Saints’ website, team captain Cole Guttman has committed to the Pioneers. Guttman was a sixth-round selection of the Tampa Bay Lightning in June’s NHL Entry Draft.

Cole Guttman

The rub here is until recently Guttman was committed to St. Cloud State, last week’s No. 1-ranked team by the way, which was deposed by DU over the weekend in an intense series at Magness Arena. As you might imagine, the change is causing quite a stir in cyberspace and the Upper Midwest (at least).

Guttman confirmed his decision Monday night via a text message.

Now some background. For the past decade I have written about grass-roots hockey in California, and as recently as the summer had an in-depth interview with Guttman after the draft. I believe him to be intelligent and level-headed. Whatever his reasons were for committing to DU, I am certain he reached his conclusion after careful and lengthy consideration.

This is a great get for DU, and I feel more confident typing that than just about any other prospect the Pioneers have landed in my three years covering the program.

Here’s why: I have watched Guttman play in person since he was a Pee Wee, and his skating, skill and reads are elite. He was part of the first team from California to win the Elite Division at the prestigious Quebec International Pee Wee Tournament in 2012. His teammates included Brannon McManus (Minnesota freshman), San Jose Sharks drat pick Jake McGrew (Spokane/WHL), Yale commit John St. Ivany, Minnesota Wild draft pick Ivan Lodnia (Erie/OHL) and U.S. Women’s National team member Cayla Barnes (Boston College). His youth teams with LA Hockey Club / Selects and the LA Jr. Kings regularly fared well in the Tier 1 Elite Hockey League and in state, Pacific District and Nationals competition.

He knows how to play with elite players and he knows how to play in pressure-packed situations.

Also bear in mind that there is a pretty good Dubuque to Denver connection, starting with coach Jim Montgomery (a solid 2013 recruit by DU), and continuing with Evan Janssen, Dylan Gambrell, Blake Hillman and Michael Davies.

Guttman, a 1999 birth year, will come to Denver for next season, along with at least three other players who signed National Letters of Intent on Monday.

He had 54 points in 53 games for Dubuque and was plus-21 in his first full season in the USHL. His 27 goals included five game-winners and eight on the power play. This season, he has eight points through 10 games. His four goals include a winner and three power-play tallies.

Here is an audio clip from our post draft interview. Bear in mind it is California hockey centric. I reference St. Cloud State at the end because at the time of the interview he was headed to the State of Hockey.

Copyright First Line Editorial 2017