It has been a challenging second-half to the season for the DU hockey team and it will finish this weekend with a battle royal against in-state rival Colorado College.
The Tigers dominated the Pioneers 5-1 in the first meeting during winter break, but DU followed it up with a 3-2 victory the following night.
This weekend could be one for the history books for senior defenseman Zach Blom.
Blom has seen plenty of DU-CC games in his four year Pioneer career, but has yet to dress for one.
“It’s tough because they are our biggest rival. It is a rivalry I grew up watching and always wanted to be a part of, at the same time we have done pretty well in my four years here against them. I really hope I get to be a part of that this weekend,” said Blom.
This series could be the one, as Friday night will be Blom’s final regular-season home game of his career and the fact that he has played in eight of DU’s last 12 games. Although the Englewood, Colo. native did not dress for the most recent games at Michigan Tech.
Blom played in six games during his freshman campaign, 10 during his sophomore season and 10 as a junior. Including the eight games that Blom has played this season he has tallied two goals and four assists for six points in his career.
“Honestly it would really mean a lot, I got a lot of family here in town. I have never gotten to play them (CC) and I have always really wanted to and I guess my whole life I have wanted to play in that game,” said Blom.
Blom was a part of the second of the back-to-back NCAA championships his freshman season and knows that this weekend’s series could be huge to propel DU to success in the playoffs.
“I think it would be big for our confidence. The last couple years we have not done very well down the stretch and to come out big against CC and give ourselves a chance to win both games would do a number on our confidence,” said Blom.
Last season the Pioneers went 0-3-1 against the Tigers and gave back the Gold Pan Trophy. The final game of the four-game series ended with a bang. DU was trailing 5-3 in the final minutes of the game and with 36 seconds left Keith Seabrook cut the lead to 5-4 and then with four seconds remaining Ryan Dingle stunned the CC crowd as he found the net and tied the game.
This is just one of the 15 Denver vs. CC games that Blom has sat in suit and tie on the sidelines and watched.
“I think Zach has been a key member of our team since freshman year. He has done a great job in every aspect of his responsibilities with the program. When he has been asked to suit up for us, he has done a great job,” said Head Coach George Gwozdecky.
You may be wondering if the drought will finally end and Blom gets to play in the series that he grew up watching?
“I have no idea at this point whether he (Blom) will be in the line-up on Friday night or not. We won’t make those decisions until Friday at noon. Like a lot of players right now it is pretty much up in the air,” said Gwozdecky.
It is a series that has always been full of suspense and it won’t be any different this weekend as we wait to see if Blom will get to fulfill his dream. A dream that is being on the ice and helping the team in the maroon and gold beat the bad guys, CC.
