Photo by: Rachael Roark
With the radar off DU for the first time in several years, the Pioneers can focus on playing hockey and some of that has an added benefit for a few players.
Those players include, team captain Kyle Ostrow and his little brother Shawn as well, as another duo, the Shore brothers, Drew and Nick.
All four play forward, but both pairings see the opportunity to turn heads collectively, rather than compete individually.
“I think we see our rank [No. 11 overall] as a good thing. We can come in as an underdog this year, under the radar, which we have not had in the past three years which is kind of a good thing,” said Kyle.
As for his brother, Shawn, the sophomore feels good about finally getting a chance to share the ice with his older brother.
“I never had the chance until last year and I am looking forward to having another year with him,” said Shawn.
The Ostrow brothers, natives of Calgary, Alberta are looking forward to the year coming up which starts for the Pioneers with their regular season home opener against Boston College on Oct. 15.
“Hopefully as a team we can surprise a lot of people and make another run at the end of the year again,” said Shawn.
The Pioneers are looking to silence the critics, according to Kyle who had 26 points in all 41 games last season.
Kyle was on the honor roll four all four years in high school and that kind of knowledge helps him become a smarter player.
As for the Shore brothers, Denver natives, the young pair are looking forward to playing hockey together at a high level in front of their home town crowd.
“I love it [playing with my brother],” said older brother Drew, a sophomore forward who was drafted by the Florida Panthers of the NHL before arriving at DU. “I have been looking forward to this opportunity for a long time, just having him at school and on the team.”
Little brother Nick, a freshman, says he has never had the opportunity to play with his brother on this kind of level before.
“It’s one of the reasons why I came to DU, so I am kind of excited,” said Nick.
Drew is looking to build off a strong freshman season where he tallied 19 points in 41 games.
Nick is looking to carry over the success that he had on the United States National Team Development Program in Ann Arbor, Mich., last year.
The Shore’s, however, have career goals of winning a national championship and playing in the NHL, but for now their focus is on the Pioneers.
“Growing up here I have always come to the games and to wear the colors now is just amazing,” said Nick.
Coach George Gwozdecky looks forward to seeing his two sets of brothers on the ice together but also says that they are here because of their hockey play, not because they are related.
“We are fortunate that we are able to recruit outstanding talent sometimes they are brothers and sometimes they are not,” said Gwozdecky. “It makes it easier for us because we know the older brother so we know the family well.”
The Pioneers look for players who fit the academic, athletic profile and the character profile, according to Gwozdecky.
Look out for the pairs of brothers as the Ostrows and the Shores, look to take the Pioneers to an NCAA championship this year.
Alex
