Do you see what they see? In part 5 of Magness Mayhem’s exclusive Denver player survey, which returns for a second year, we examine which Pioneers have the strongest vision and hockey sense, as well as spending some time in the circle.

This season, 23 of the 27 players, or 85 percent, on the roster responded to the 2018-19 survey. The survey includes 25 questions, broken down into various categories. Players were given multiple choices and promised anonymity for their answers. Questions pertaining to skaters only had skaters listed, same for goalie-related questions.

I hope you enjoy this fun exercise that picks the Pioneers’ brains to help shed light on which teammates they view as the strongest in various categories.

MORE SURVEY RESULTS

Part 1 (Questions 1-4) deals with skating

Part 2 (Questions 5-7) deals with strength, checking and toughness

Part 3 (Questions 8-10) unveils the Pioneers’ shooting stars

Part 4 (Questions 11-14) reveals the good hands Pioneers

Part 6 (Questions 18-22) gets defensive

Part 7 (Questions 23-25) hard work and leadership

Question 15: Which Pioneers skater has the best on-ice vision?

• Ian Mitchell – 9 votes (39 percent)
• Brett Stapley – 7 votes (30 percent)
• Michael Davies, Jake Durflinger, Cole Guttman, Jarid Lukosevicius, Kyle Mayhew, Emilio Pettersen, Jared Resseguie – 1 vote

Analysis: Mitchell and Stapley are assist machines, and this is one reason why. Both also are special teams cogs, and this is one reason why. Beyond the scoring aspect, this category speaks to advancing the puck from zone to zone, and both are exceptional at that as well. In sum, they can spot possibilities before they’re there. But they’re far from alone in this regard – seven others made this list from all corners of the roster.

Question 16: Which Pioneers player has the best hockey sense?

• Ian Mitchell – 6 votes (27 percent)
• Michael Davies, Tyson McLellan, Colin Staub – 2 votes
• Sean Comrie, Devin Cooley, Slava Demin, Erich Fear, Liam Finlay, Cole Guttman, Jaakko Heikkinen, Les Lancaster, Emilio Pettersen, Brett Stapley – 1 vote

Analysis: When I wrote about the Pioneers’ recruiting process earlier this year, it became clear there are two attributes DU looks for above others – skating and brain. So it shouldn’t come as any surprise that there are 15 players (or more than half of the roster) who received votes in the hockey sense category. Also noteworthy, three of the Pioneers’ captains were among the top four vote-getters.

Question 17: Which teammate do you want taking an important face-off?

• Jaakko Heikkinen, Tyson McLellan – 9 votes (39 percent)
• Brendan Budy, Jack Doremus, Cole Guttman, Brett Stapley, Tyler Ward – 1 vote

Analysis: Heikkinen, who was playing the best hockey of his DU career in the month leading up to the break, and McLellan take virtually every defensive zone draw when the Pioneers have a say in such scenarios. Both have been good at it since they set foot on campus. I would contend not having McLellan for most of last season due to injury was a huge blow to the Pioneers’ quest to repeat as NCAA champions. Guttman and Stapley both take a fair number of offensive zone draws, with Guttman getting more work.

NEXT: Plenty to get defensive about

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