It didn’t take long – actually one weekend – for Denver fans to see what all the excitement was about with the Pioneers’ freshman class.

Every member played in the sweep of Arizona State, and four of them (Massimo Rizzo, Jack Devine, Carter Mazur and Sean Behrens) combined for 11 points.

Each had their moments, but Rizzo announced his presence loudest with a goal and an assist Friday and DU’s first two goals Saturday. The NCHC took note, selecting him its co-rookie of the week.

Junior assistant captain Bobby Brink, who along with fellow forward Carter Savoie also had a four-point weekend, went so far as to say after Saturday’s game that the Pioneers don’t win both game without the newcomers.

Finally, games to play

What makes Rizzo’s rapid assimilation to the college game all the more impressive is he’s accomplishing it without the benefit of having played games last season because of the British Columbia Hockey League’s pauses and eventual cancellation of its season. That’s right, Rizzo had not played more than a game in more than 18 months.

“If you used him as the barometer, it’s not a very hard transition,” DU coach David Carle quipped before adding. “For most people I think it would be a huge challenge.”

Rizzo was the only one of DU’s nine freshmen in that category, although Carter King and Jack Works started their DU careers in January when it became more clear the BCHL might not play games.

When DU’s schedule came out, Rizzo focused on Oct. 8-9 like a laser.

“It was a tough year obviously with Covid. I would have liked to get some games,” he said. “When it came time to get some games in in a pod I got banged up in practice and wasn’t able to finish the year. I played one game in November.

“I definitely was looking forward to getting (to Denver) and playing these games.”

Instead of languishing during a down time, RIzzo put his time off to good use, training constantly. It’s an attribute that has helped him make a strong first impression at Denver.

“What makes Massimo a good hockey player and on a path to being a great hockey player is his ability to prepare,” Carle said. “He’s very detail oriented. He’s always doing extra work on the ice, off the ice.

“He didn’t play much last year, but he wasn’t not getting better. He was working on his game, he was on the ice, he just wasn’t playing games. He was working on his body and his game through various outlets he had back home in Canada. I think the kid’s really driven, he wants to be great. He lives a lifestyle that’s got him on a path to do that.”

Familiar faces in new places

That the good-natured Rizzo takes a serious approach to the game shouldn’t come as a surprise.

At 17 he was selected captain of his junior team in Penticton of the BCHL. The next two seasons he played on the Canada West U19 entry at the World Junior A Challenge. In between those seasons the Carolina Hurricanes took a seventh-round flyer on him in the 2019 NHL Entry Draft.

The international competition meant Rizzo wasn’t a completely unknown quantity within the DU locker room. The second World Junior A Challenge team he played on included Savoie, defenseman Mike Benning and fellow Pioneers freshmen Owen Ozar and Matt Davis.

“”I got to build relationships with them,” Rizzo said. “I played on Sav’s line a bit and with Oz on a line, too. A tournament like that has a high caliber of play so to forge friendships there was nice.

“We have a great group here. Talking to (older players) and getting their input on things to do with your schedule to make life easier and not get overwhelmed has helped.”

Freshmen skill shines through

While others have helped Rizzo get up to speed off the ice, he and his cohort wasted no time making themselves at home at Magness Arena. He set up Mazur’s even-strength goal Friday then completed DU’s scoring with a power-play tally of his own in the closing minutes. In between, Mazur also struck on the power play.

On Saturday, Rizzo scored Denver’s first two goals. Devine had an assist on the first one, and the second one finished a nice a give-and-go play with Behrens.

“The really key part about the Behrens exchange was (Brett) Stapley and (McKade) Webster both changed before they were tired, allowed Rizzo and Mazur to get on the ice fresh against a really tired Arizona State unit,” Carle said. “So Rizzo changed for Stapes and 12 seconds later he’s put the puck in the back of the net. … Rizzo’s ability to give it, then jump around the defender, present his hands and then finish was really special.”

The play exemplified one of Rizzo’s strengths, the coach added.

“The biggest thing that stands out to me is he’s not afraid to get inside the dots at all,” Carle said. “The tendency with skill players is to think they’re perimeter guys but Massimo attacks people. He gets inside the dots, he’s not afraid to go to high traffic areas, and he does it with some patience and purpose.

“I also would say he is very coachable. Watching video with him, we’ve already seen improvement in his play without the puck. In those areas he wants to get better and learn.”

Rizzo, who plays on the second power-play unit, teams up with Mazur and graduate transfer Cameron Wright on a line. Wright, who came to DU after 144 games and 101 points (including a 20-goal season) at Bowling Green, has plenty of experience with different college centers. He, too, gave Rizzo and Mazur favorable reviews.

“They’re confident and ready to play, and that’s super exciting for a guy like me that’s been around for a bit,” Wright said. “(Rizzo) does remind a lot of a couple centers I’ve played with in terms of his work ethic. Every day in practice he’s grinding out there, you can see he wants to win, he wants to be a big part of this team.”

The irony of Rizzo’s three-goal weekend, Wright added, is that’s not the game he focuses on in practice.

“He’s very deceptive, good with the puck, a really good skater,” Wright said. “That helps a lot. As a winger I like to get lost on the ice and try to find the open areas, so it makes it easier when he’s the one carrying the puck up the ice and making plays.

“He’s scored three goals but honestly he’s a pass-first guy. At practice every day he’s looking to move pucks. It’s been impressive to watch his shot and see him score. He’s an unselfish player, so he’s really nice to play with.”

It was a happy return indeed.

©First Line Editorial 2021