A diminutive NHL goaltender once said, “I don’t have to beat the puck up, just stop it.”

In Dayton Rasmussen’s case, the puck better beware because the Denver freshman is capable of doing both in short order.

Rasmussen came to the Pioneers after winning Clark Cups in the USHL each of the past two seasons. He’s also again making an appearance on the NHL Central Scouting list for Entry Draft prospects.

But when you get right down to it, the freshman is far more concerned with helping DU win another championship and hitting the gym as often as possible, among the topics we discussed in this edition of One-timers.

You played some Midget-level youth hockey in Colorado but grew up in Minnesota, how did that come about?

I was in a unique situation in Minnesota. I played high school hockey my eighth grade year and my freshman year for Holy Family. I was drafted by the Waterloo Blackhawks in the (USHL) Futures Draft. I wanted to experience something new, get out of the house and grow, on the ice and off the ice. It kind of fell into place. I had an advisor and he knew Angelo Ricci of the Colorado Thunderbirds, and he knew I was interested in getting out of Minnesota and playing whether it was making Waterloo or whatever situation opened up. I went to Waterloo’s camp and they wanted me to wait another year. Angelo was always open to me. I met him at a youth hockey rink in Minnesota when a younger Thunderbird was playing. He was patient. I called him one day and said I want to be a Thunderbird. They welcomed me in. It was one of the greatest experiences I’ve ever had. I played with a lot of great kids like (Tampa Bay Lightning draft pick and Kelowna Rockets star) Cal Foote, Max Gerlach (of the Saskatoon Blades), Ben Lown (Miami University), Phil Knies (Miami) and Ashton Fry (Junior A in Canada). Angelo was my head coach and he was a great coach and a great role model. Adam Foote helped out, too. Joe Sakic’s younger son Chase was on the team a year younger than me. We saw him around the rink all the time. I knew Adam would be helping out as well. I wanted to be around guys who had played in the NHL. It was awesome, and I fell in love with Colorado. That was the year I committed to Denver. It was after the season with the Thunderbirds. As soon as I got the offer from coach Montgomery, I didn’t have to think that hard or that long. It was easy. It was one of the greatest years of hockey I ever had.

Coming back and playing for Denver has been another awesome experience. The fun and the joy of my U16 year has come back. I’m very lucky in that regard.

You got to lift the Clark Cup the past two seasons, and now you and your DU teammates could find yourself lifting some more trophies this season. What is it with you and these trophies?

I don’t know if it’s luck or what not. Every (championship) team I’ve been a part of, I’ve been traded to. When I won it with Tri-City, I started off with Waterloo and around Thanksgiving I was traded to Tri-City. Then we won it there. When I won it with Chicago, I was on Tri-City until the trade deadline. I actually got traded back to Waterloo and before I even got there I was traded to Chicago. Then we won it with Chicago. I don’t really know but I can tell you that every team I’ve been a part of that’s won a championship I’ve noticed a very similar trait. It’s that all the guys have bought in and it’s a really special culture. I’ve been a part of teams that have struggled and it’s the main reason why. It’s about the relationships on the team, everyone holding each other accountable. The special bond everyone has.

Do you see some of that this season in Denver?

For sure, this is a really special group we have. It makes coming to the rink the best part of the day. All of the older guys are great. We’re constantly at their house, watching football or playing video games. If you need to talk they’re always there for you.

What is the breakfast of champions?

I get a three-egg omelet with black olives, ham, sausage and spinach. Some ketchup with that and coffee in the morning.

Sources close to the DU weight rom have told me you’re quite the workout warrior. Where did the interest start and what is a typical workout like?

When I was really young I always played hockey, lacrosse and football so I always trained for all three of those sports. My dad got me in the weight room when I was in sixth or seventh grade. I have an older brother who is five years older than me. We’re really competitive, and it’s always been a goal of mine to be as strong or stronger than him. I just trained. I was a middle linebacker and running back in football, so I wanted to be strong and wanted to be fast. In lacrosse I was a midfielder, I took a lot of face-offs so a lot of the same stuff applied to that position. I’ve been preached to my whole childhood and growing up, get in the weight room, be strong. My best friend back at home competes in some power-lifting competitions, and we train together during the summer.

So run the crease at your own risk is the message then.

I always had this motto – strength is never a weakness. It’s importance to stay lean and all that, and it’s something I’ve been working on. A lot of it is a confidence builder, how you feel off the ice is how you play on the ice. It was how I grew up. In the summer I rarely miss a day of working out. I might miss a Saturday when I go up to the lake, but I’ll work out Friday morning at 7 a.m. then I’ll drive up. I won’t go up Thursday night with my family because I want to get my workout in Friday morning. When I go back, even if it’s 10 p.m. on Sunday night I’ll be at Lifetime Fitness probably working out.

I do a lot of explosive power work and I also like to do a little body building stuff. Most of it is focusing on strength and flexibility. Coach (Matt) Shaw has been helping me out with more hockey-based training. I’m kind of addicted to it.

Is there a team comedian on DU?

Honestly there’s a lot. Henrik Borgstrom, that kid is just super goofy. I know the guys say me and Devin Cooley, we feed off each other a little bit, and probably Jack Doremus. He’s really funny.

So the freshmen bring up the humor level?

Yeah, it helps keep the locker room loose at points. I think everybody knows when and when not to.

What has been your favorite part about Denver?

Honestly, the winter. I’m from Minnesota and it’s so cold there. Every day here is so nice. If you want to get into the snow and all that you can go up to the mountains. There are a lot of activities to do outdoors, too, which I like.

If coach Montgomery were a super hero, which one do you think he’d be?

Oh boy, I don’t know. Is there one who is smart? (Yes, there are many) I don’t know my superheroes very well.

You’ve appeared on NHL Entry Draft scouting lists the past few years, is that something that occupies much of your thought process or is it just part of the game at this point and come what may?

I thought more about it last year. This year I didn’t even really expect to be listed. Someone told me (recently). I haven’t been following it at all. The position I’m in playing college hockey it doesn’t matter that much because you have so much time to develop. I haven’t been focusing on it too much. Whatever happens happens. That’s how I go about it. If you play well and do the right things maybe it will happen.

Who has the best nickname on the team?

I like Tariq Hammond’s. We call him Tarasenko. That’s pretty funny. … A lot of them are just shortened last names. … Doremechoff for Jack Doremus, that’s one of the better ones. Maybe the older guys have better nicknames because they’ve been through so much together here but I’m not 100 percent sure what those are.

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