How young is Denver’s hockey team?
Consider this. The four players recently chosen to wear letters for the Pioneers represent 40 percent of DU’s entire population of upperclassmen on the roster.
The leadership group is headlined by senior center Cole Guttman, who was selected captain. His assistants will be senior wing Ryan Barrow and two juniors – wing Bobby Brink and defenseman Justin Lee.
“Top to bottom the four of them are as good as a group as we’ve had in that all of them are unique and bring different things to the table as a leadership group and to the team as well,” DU coach David Carle said recently. “All of them play in key moments. They’ve all grown in different ways during their time here, which has gained them the trust and respect of their coaches and teammates.”
One important task for the quartet is guiding a group of 16 underclassmen, including nine freshmen. Those two classes will comprise the backbone of this edition of the Pioneers, and several will have no choice but to play large roles.
That isn’t to say the Pioneers are worried in the least about that prospect.
“We have a really good (leadership) group,” said Guttman, who was voted the team’s MVP last season after leading DU with 22 points and 14 assists. “With the younger guys, they’re got a lot of leadership qualities on their own. I’ve seen it in practice and workouts, they’re ready to make an impact right away, and it doesn’t usually happen like that. That’s what I’m most excited about. They’re going to come in and help the team win right away.”
Guttman’s next regular-season game will be his 100th at DU, and he has 76 points (including 36 goals) in his first three seasons. A sixth-round pick of the Tampa Bay Lightning in the 2017 NHL Entry Draft, he’s been a pillar of stability in a once-deep and talented class that has been beset by injuries (Brett Stapley), early departures to the pros (Emilio Pettersen and Filip Larsson) and transfers (Taylor Ward and Slava Demin). Just he, Stapley and defenseman Kyle Mayhew remain, and all will be key contributors this season.
Guttman, 22, also has plenty of experience wearing a C, having done so in junior with Dubuque of the USHL and as a Bantam and Midget in youth hockey in his native California.
Denver forward Bobby Brink has played for Team USA in the past two World Junior Championships. Photo courtesy of Denver Athletics
Like Guttman, Brink was a highly recruited player for Denver, plucked from the State of Hockey. What made his move west a bit surprising was his father, Andy, played at the University of Minnesota.
A second-round pick of the Philadelphia Flyers in 2019, Bobby Brink, 20, was a finalist for the NCHC’s top rookie honor in 2020, when he had 24 points, including 11 goals, in 28 games. He had 11 points in 15 games last season. He appeared in the World Junior Championships in both of those seasons, and he helped Team USA win a gold medal last January.
“Obviously Gutter and Bob, they’re two of our best players, if not our best players, so everyone is going to follow them on the ice,” Barrow said. “Everyone respects Leeser for his work ethic, and he’s not scared to say what’s on his mind. When he speaks everyone listens.”
Justin Lee
Lee’s work ethic should come as no surprise given that the junior relishes a good day’s work, an attribute he honed working long hours on the family farm in Waskada, Manitoba. His reliability – and availability – have been godsends to the Pioneers’ blue line the past two seasons, when he’s played in 55 of 60 games.
Never one to back down from a physical challenge either, he showed a bit more of a goal-scoring flair last season, netting four – double what he had as a freshman – and leading his D corps peers in that category.
Lee, 21, wore an “A” during his one season playing in the Manitoba Junior Hockey League, then spent another season in the USHL.
Senior assistant captain Ryan Barrow leads a deep group of Denver forwards. Photo courtesy of Shannon Valerio and Denver Athletics
Barrow, who graduated in March, returned to the Pioneers under the NCAA’s exemption granting players who were on rosters last season a fifth season of eligibility. This is the second season in a row he will wear an “A” for the Pioneers.
The Banff, Alberta, native has been a mainstay on the penalty kill during his 127 games at Denver because of his size (6-foot-2), speed and intelligence (a four-time NCHC Distinguished Scholar).
Barrow, 24, has found his way onto the power play and has a skill set that is transferrable to any line or situation. He’s had from 9 to 14 points every season he’s been at DU.
The next task is abundantly clear to the quartet: “We have to lead by example,” Lee said. “That is the key for our leadership group. We have to bring it every day, showing (the younger players) what it means to be a Pioneer. They’ve done a really good job so far.”
©First Line Editorial 2021
They were in almost every game last year, but lost a lot of one goal game/EN/OT games. They just didn’t seem to have enough scoring power up front to beat the NCHC Teams that made the Tournament. Looking at this years Roster, they added some serious offensive talent, which should help guys like Brink, Guttman, Savoie, & Webster. And they’re deep upfront. They have veteran D, with some serious offensive skill. Other than Lee, they aren’t real physical, back there, could be an issue? But long as Magnus gets off to a solid start, and DC has the Freshman committed to his Defensive systems, they should make the Tournament. With so many new players, the key is building confidence in each other early. ASU / BC-Prov are huge weekends for this Team to find their identity.
Can’t wait for the season to start!!!!
SEMPER FI
Caponi
This is going to be a fun team to watch. I consistently have had players tell me that they feel they need to be better with team defense. There is a lot of optimism, and I think it’s warranted.