What will it take for Denver’s hockey team to return to the NCAA Tournament in 2022?

The Pioneers haven’t visited their postseason home away from home since 2019, a rare hiatus for program used to extended playoff stays. Those around the team are optimistic they have the recipe for a return.

Here is what’s cooking as the Pioneers prepare to face off the 2021-22 season:

First, and perhaps most importantly, the team was actually able to bond as a team this offseason. Last season, it was split into three cohorts. In other words, players didn’t spend time with a majority of their teammates except at games.

MORE PREVIEWS

Part 1: The goaltenders

Part 2: The defensemen

Part 3: The forwards

“We weren’t able to build that team camaraderie as well as we’re going to be able to this year,” captain Cole Guttman said. “We had to get ready in two different locker rooms. Being able to hang out is huge for building those relationships.”

Denver’s best teams have had a oneness of mission. It’s more difficult to build that remotely, and it showed in some disjointed play.

“Starting in the spring time, getting the guys who were returning to spend time with one another was really important,” coach David Carle said. “All of our incoming guys getting their six weeks here this summer with a lot of our returners around as well, so they could have that normalcy of a summer. Then getting back on campus, (DU) has done a really nice job managing Covid and things like that … so our team could be around one another at the rink and outside.

“In team sports it’s really important to be with your teammates and hang out and build relationships.”

Second, the Pioneers have an infusion of players that has made a big first impression on the coaches and returning players.

“The freshmen, I wasn’t sure what to expect, but those guys are ready to make an impact,” Guttman said.

Added assistant captain Ryan Barrow, “It will be really competitive for lineup spots and ice time. It seems like everyone can play. Spots are going to be tough to come by.”

The newcomers hold one key to unlocking the team’s potential quicker.

“It’s evident every year and important every year that the sooner we get our freshmen up to speed the better we’re going to be,” Carle said. “And this freshman group is a pretty special group.”

And third, a fast start is of the utmost importance. A 3-6-1 showing in the NCHC’s Omaha bubble last December set the tone for a season that felt like an ongoing uphill climb.

“I think the big thing is having a good start, and hopefully that rolls into being a lot better in our conference,” Barrow said. “Having a better record against NCHC teams goes a long way.”

That, too, was an up-and-down struggle, often from game to game. The Pioneers would have a good Friday night game then fizzle on Saturday, or struggle Friday then redeem themselves on Saturday. Their final record of 10-13-1 illustrated that: they were 7-7 after the bubble.

“Consistency is going to be huge. That was one of our issues last year,” Guttman said. “Playing the way we want to play day in, day out. And putting the puck in the back of the net, that was something we didn’t do as much of last year as we should have.”

The potential is there for all of these things to come together, but will they?

“I like the pace at which we can do things, the depth of the group is going to be a strength of our team,” Carle noted. “To be able to play with speed, pace and purpose as much as possible. That would be the biggest thing without having played a (regular-season) opponent.

“I think this team is going to find its way by the speed at which it can do things, the depth it has and their ability to selfless, team-first individuals.”

Past three NCAA berths

• 2019: Frozen Four
• 2018: Midwest Regional final
• 2017: National Championship

Roster composition

• Seniors: 5
• Juniors: 5
• Sophomores: 7
• Freshmen: 9

Three important players

Wing Bobby Brink: The junior won’t go until February again without scoring a goal, and the bet here is he meets or exceeds his freshman total of 11 goals and piles up assists playing with shooting machines Carter Savoie and Cole Guttman. Brink also is a vastly improved defensive player.

Goaltender Magnus Chrona: The junior has a young defense in front of him, so there is increased pressure to be better than he was last season. As he demonstrated two seasons ago, he’s abundantly capable of that.

Center Cole Guttman: The captain will score (probably 30 or more points, close to half of which will be goals), win 60 percent of his face-offs and play in every key situation.

Breakout candidates

Carle was quick to point out the seven sophomores will be heavily relied on to build on promising freshman campaigns.

“We’ve seen growth in them,” the coach said. “For us to have a great team, I think our sophomore group, as good as they were as freshmen, they need be an elite group for us to have an elite team.”

Here are four to watch:

Defensemen Mike Benning and Antti Tuomisto: They tied for the team lead in points by a D-man (11) and both will play a lot of minutes, particularly the 6-foot-5 Tuomisto, who draws more defensive assignments.

Wing Carter Savoie: Extrapolate his 13 goals and 20 points over a full season and he’s probably hitting the 20-goal mark and topping 30 points. Think about what that means if he’s improved as much as his coaches and teammates believe he has.

Wing McKade Webster: Webster debuted with nine points, and he was stationed to the left of senior passing maestro Brett Stapley and freshman draft prospect Jack Devine during last weekend’s exhibition. Webster will get his chances. He’s also a solid defensive player.

Key weekends

Oct. 22-23: at Providence and Boston College – A weekend set against the No. 11 and No. 6 teams in the nation provides both an opportunity to enhance the PairWise rating and give the roster a taste of what the grueling NCHC schedule will be like.

Nov. 5-6: at North Dakota – After a weekend off, it’s on to Grand Forks to play a No. 8 UND team with a reconfigured roster.

Jan. 14-15: vs. St. Cloud State – The national runners-up are ranked No. 2 and appear to be stacked. This will be one of two high-profile home tests in the second half.

Feb. 11-12: vs. Minnesota Duluth – This is the second of said home tests, this time against the fifth-ranked team. It typically is one of the most entertaining series you can watch because of the teams’ styles of play.

March 4-5: vs. Colorado College – What better way to enter the playoffs than by winning another Gold Pan; unless of course that was clinched back in January.

©First Line Editorial 2021