Go ahead, place forward Casey Dornbach on whatever line and with whichever linemates you want. It won’t bother the Denver grad transfer one bit, and it won’t affect his production either.

The veteran, who transferred to DU last summer after graduating from Harvard, is a study in perseverance and consistency. He has points in 17 of Denver’s first 24 games, and he’s gone more than one game without logging a point just once – against Alaska Fairbanks to start 2023. He followed that up with four points last weekend, when the Pioneers swept Miami (a topic we’ll get to soon enough). His 26 points are second on the team to Massimo Rizzo.

Study also is an operative word when describing Dornbach, whose desire to play hockey might only be eclipsed by his desire to learn.

Dornbach graciously took time to chat with MagnessMayhem.com founder Chris Bayee for this Q&A.

Your family has quite a background in the game, can you tell us about that? And was there any back-and-forth between you and your dad (Greg, a former Miami standout) after last weekend’s NCHC sweep?

We definitely have a hockey family. Growing up in Edina, Minnesota, my dad, who also played college hockey, was my coach all the way up. There were all the outdoor rinks, watching the state hockey tournament with him. I always looked up to him. He was on the first U.S. World Junior team that ever won a bronze medal, and he ended up playing in Europe.

There was a little bit of banter about the games vs. Miami (Denver also swept a pair at Oxford, Ohio, in October). I don’t know if you know this, but I had been committed to Nebraska Omaha before I went to Harvard. There was a coaching change, and Harvard entered the picture. I wasn’t looked at by schools like Denver or Miami, they never really wanted me. My dad always wanted me to go where it was the best fit for me. Fast forward to this, to be able to go to a school like Denver now, play against a school like Miami. It’s pretty cool, pretty fun to have some success. When we were back there (at Miami), (senior advisor to) the AD (Steve Cady) was the coach when he was there. It was cool for him to go back there.

Obviously your dad was a big influence on you. Were there others in hockey? Or did you have a favorite player or players?

There have been quite a few. I’ve been lucky to have a lot of great mentors. Even now I really look up to (Winnipeg Jets center) Mark Scheifele. Since I’ve been here, watching guys like (Colorado Avalanche center) Nathan MacKinnon. A guy like Mitch Marner, a smaller guy, right-handed guy. I try to learn a little bit from everyone. Consider myself a nerd for the game, not just for school. … I got to play with (New York Rangers defenseman and Norris Trophy winner) Adam Fox at Harvard. He obviously plays a different position, but I learned a lot from him.

There wasn’t really one team. I’d go to Wild games, or (Minnesota) Gophers games or Duluth games. It was fun to play there after watching games there growing up.

Your path through hockey was not direct, was it?

No. I was a late USHL Phase II draft pick and played a few years at Lincoln. Whereas my friend Brock Boeser was committed early, my path was a little different. I kept dreaming I could play D-I, and it finally happened.

What have been your favorite parts about Denver?

There is so much to love about Denver, it’s such a great spot. I love being able to be out in nature, be at such a cool campus. To have the mountains so close, it’s something being from Minnesota that I’ve loved. There are the world-class facilities we have at the rink. That’s the pinnacle. We are given every opportunity to keep getting better and grow as a team. … This is an environment where a lot of guys want to grow.

You’re on pace to have perhaps your best offensive season in your NCAA career, yet you’ve been a sort of Swiss Army knife in the DU lineup, playing with all sorts of linemates. What are the keys to developing chemistry so quickly?

I definitely have been in different spots and with different people. As a player you can’t control it. You have to see the leverage it carries. We have a lot of great players, and it’s easier to get chemistry with them. I like to use my teammates and make them better, whether passing the puck or shooting it. You just adapt to whatever comes. As far as being a Swiss Army knife, by learning other positions, it will help me moving forward, and it will help the team moving forward. I just want to stay consistent, be able to bounce back.

You bring a wealth of experience to DU. What types have things have you shared with younger teammates?

There’s positives and negatives to everything. My journey has been different. I’ve only played a little over 100 games because my junior season (at Harvard) was cancelled. I don’t have the same kind of experience even though I am 25. I appreciate and see the benefits of little things such as taking care of myself outside of the rink, something I take pride in. Another benefit has been maturing as a person, knowing they’re going to be ups and downs. Sticking with the process. You can use everything as leverage. When you’re younger, you can get too high after a win, or too low after a loss, and it can affect practice the next week. I try to utilize that staying even keeled.

It’s fun to be around different age guys. I still love hockey and have big dreams. I’m kind of a kid at heart. Ask anyone, they’ll tell you I like to have fun at the rink.

Do you have a go-to meal?

I love to cook. Sometimes I’ll cook for the guys. I cook breakfast every day – eggs and oatmeal, and I’ll doctor it up with some good spices. The healthy stuff, the good olive oils. I’m not a big pregame meal guy. Guys who know me, I like to eat healthy and try new things, too. If there was one kind of food, I’d say sushi.

When you have some free time, what do you enjoy doing outside of hockey?

I am a little bit of a nerd. I love to learn. That’s reading, beyond just hockey. I try to spend an hour a day learning something about hockey, and an hour a day learning about psychology or health. Those subjects fascinate me. I love getting outside, spending time with my girlfriend or my family. In the summer, when I’m not training, I like to get out on a lake and fish. I like to fish more than I like to golf.

Who the Pioneers’ top comedians?

The funniest guys I would say are Sean Behrens and Kent Anderson. Kent’s a sleeper pick. He and (fellow freshman) Lucas Olvestad crack me up.

If you were voting for a teammate for President, who would get your vote?

What country? We’ve got Canadians and Americans.

OK, let’s say President or Prime Minister?

Definitely Justin Lee, the captain. For the U.S., let’s go with Lane Krenzen.

Do you have any favorite books or movies?

There are a couple of books – Man’s Search For Meaning by Viktor Frankl, and The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho.

As for movies, In Search of Greatness, and a tie between She’s Out of My League and Happy Gilmour. I’d put Caddyshack above Slapshot, that could be third place.

©First Line Editorial 2023