Photo by: Ryan Lumpkin
Numerous injuries on the Pioneer hockey team this season have made room on the starting lineup for freshman forward Ty Loney, allowing him to establish himself as an important member of the team.
Despite his rookie status, Loney has been a major contributor to the Pioneers this season. Fortunately, Loney was no stranger to the sport before coming to DU and was able to adapt to the collegiate atmosphere quickly.
Loney’s father, Troy Loney, played for the Pittsburgh Penguins and was a key player in the Penguins’ back-to-back Stanley Cup championship teams in 1991 and 1992 and helped the team win the Presidents’ Trophy in 1993.
“I grew up playing a lot of hockey, obviously. My dad taught me a lot,” said Loney. “Last year I think was kind of my breakout year. I played for the Youngstown Phantoms and I got a lot of playing time, played with some good guys, and I think I developed a lot as a hockey player.”
After playing in the United States Hockey League for the Youngstown Phantoms, Loney said DU’s style was a change of pace.
“I don’t think [the change was] that bad,” said Loney. “The first couple games, the speed was a little different, but the USHL was a really good league last year and I think the step made it a lot smoother.”
Head coach George Gwozdecky said he has watched many freshmen make this transition, and Loney was no exception.
“I think [Loney], along with many freshmen around the country, had that adjustment period where all of the sudden, they’re almost overwhelmed with all the things they’re expected to do and the type of intensity level they’re expected to do it at as far as work, commitment and attitude, and I think it was a difficult adjustment for him,” said Gwozdecky.
“He wasn’t used to practicing at the pace we practice at and playing at the intensity that we play at. But over the course of his first three months, you could see him making that adjustment. Certainly following the break, given the opportunity that he got, he made the most of it, and certainly you can see the results speak for themselves, which is great.”
After playing 21 games this season, Loney has tallied eight goals and eight assists, giving him a total of 16 points thus far. The DU hockey program did not expect anything less of Loney.
“Certainly, one of the things we expected Ty to be able to do when he came in here was to be able to develop into and to continue to develop into a scorer like he was in junior hockey prior to coming here,” said Gwozdecky.
Loney was named co-rookie of the week on Jan. 17 and is currently tied for 10th in Western Collegiate Hockey Association rookie overall scoring. He had also recorded three or more points in each weekend for the three weekends prior to last weekend and was riding a seven-game point streak with 12 points on seven goals and five assists before his suspension last weekend.
Loney was suspended last week, announced Wednesday, and served his punishment by missing the Colorado College game Friday.
“Loney has been indefinitely suspended based on breaking some team rules, team policy,” said Gwozdecky, who lifted his punishment and allowed Loney to return Saturday.
Loney came up with zero points for the first time in seven games this weekend, recording no goals or assists in Saturday’s game.
“I think part of that development process is learning how hard you have to work, how committed you have to be on a day-to-day basis as a student athlete at this level,” said Gwozdecky. “It’s not just about stepping on the ice on a Friday night or a Saturday night and all of the sudden the puck comes to you and you put it in the net. It doesn’t work that way.”
Loney was given the opportunity to prove himself after numerous injuries plagued the Pioneer roster, forcing Gwozdecky to utilize his younger players.
Denver has been playing without sophomore forward Beau Bennett, the team’s third best scorer, since he had wrist surgery in early December.
Redshirt senior defenseman John Ryder has been out since his Nov. 19, 2011 injury, and freshman forward Zac Larazza was injured in the Bemidji State matchup Jan. 13-14 and missed the games against Alaska Anchorage and Friday’s game against CC before making his return to the Pioneer lineup Saturday against CC. Sophomore defenseman David Makowski is also on the sidelines.
The Pioneer lineup is filling back up with the return of Sam Brittain, Larazza and Ryder, but Loney has continued to be a key player on the team.
