Denver vs. University of Alberta (exhibition)

Saturday, 7:05 p.m., Magness Arena

Overview

This might not be the walkover DU fans have come to expect in exhibition games. Not only is Alberta the defending Canadian university national champion, but the Golden Bears have won it three times since 2014, and 16 times overall. They’ve won five of the past six Canada West titles. This is a proud program with a rich history. … The Pioneers are pumped to begin the David Carle era and feature a roster that includes 11 newcomers, 10 freshmen and graduate transfer Les Lancaster. Heralded freshman goaltender Filip Larsson is out indefinitely with a lower-body injury.

What I’m watching for

1. Goaltending. Sophomore Devin Cooley hasn’t played so much as a full period in college yet, and you’d have to think he’ll play at least half of the game Saturday. He’s tall and athletic, so he promises to be exciting to watch. What do the Pioneers have in freshman Michael Corson? Larsson’s absence means the other two goalies need some work in game situations.
2. New defensemen. Whom will the Pioneers pair with Lancaster? He was one of the better defensemen in Atlantic Hockey for three seasons at Mercyhurst and has a skill set well suited for DU’s style. Slava Demin (a fourth-round pick of Vegas in June) gets much of the hype among the three freshmen D, and deservedly so because he boasts size, skating and a game with few holes. But fellow Californian Kyle Mayhew has elite skating skills and by virtue of that and his size will bring comparisons to graduated Adam Plant. Sean Comrie, who is on the NHL Central Scouting watch list for the 2019 draft, also will have something to say about playing time. There is a lot of new talent here; how will it mesh?
3. Sorting out the lines. The Pioneers added three NHL draft picks – Cole Guttman, Emilio Pettersen and Brett Stapley to their forward group. Where do they fit with the holdovers? Who plays with sharp shooter Jarid Lukosevicius, whose 21 goals last season are the fourth most among returning NCAA players? And how about the bevy of talented sophomores? Does the productive tag team of Ryan Barrow and Kohen Olischefski remain together after their late-season boom?
4. Physical play. Canadian university teams typically feature plenty of older, more physical players, and at times the games have tended to get rougher than usual. The last thing either team needs is an injury in an exhibition game.

About the Golden Bears

Alberta is one month into its season and has gone 5-2-1 thus far, 1-1 in games that count in the Canada West standings. Saturday’s game is its first against NCAA competition and will be followed by a game at Air Force on Sunday. … The program has existed for 111 years and has played hockey in 106 of them. … Forwards Riley Kieser (four assists) and Taylor Cooper (two goals, one assist) are the early scoring leaders. … Goalie Zach Sawchenko allowed one goal in his only league start.

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