Every Tuesday, FanHouse discusses the top NHL prospects found in college hockey.Two big stories emerged from a Western Collegiate Hockey Association weekend series at Mariucci Arena in Minneapolis. Unfortunately, most college hockey followers only know about one of them. While everyone is well aware of the early-season struggles of Minnesota (0-3-1 record, three goals scored in four games, and all three losses have been shutouts), they've probably dismissed the accomplishments of the Denver goalie who held the Gophers off the board for 120 minutes.
Despite facing a lineup that featured 16 NHL draft picks Friday and 17 Saturday, junior goalie Marc Cheverie (NHL rights: Florida) didn't allow a single goal.
Cheverie was very good as a full-time starter last year, winning 23 games, pitching four shutouts, and posting a .921 save percentage while leading Denver to the NCAA Tournament. However, the Pioneers were upset by Miami in the first round of regional play, and Cheverie faced competition this year from freshman Adam Murray (undrafted), who came from the U.S. National Team Development Program.
Head coach George Gwozdecky made it clear before the season that he would rotate Cheverie and Murray early in the season. Gwozdecky, who won his 500th career game over the weekend, said he had talked to Cheverie long before the season, and the veteran was well-aware of the situation going into the season.
However, that rotation only lasted two weeks. Cheverie won both his starts, getting the first game of series against Vermont and Ohio State. Murray started the next day of both series and took the loss in both games.
Cheverie then shut out Minnesota Friday night with a 30-save effort. That would be -- at least for now -- the end of the goalie rotation. Gwozdecky came back with "Chevy" Saturday night, and he was rewarded with another 30-save shutout, marking the third straight start where Cheverie held his opponent off the scoreboard.
Denver won both games by matching 3-0 scores, and they have some serious momentum as they embark on the long, taxing WCHA season.
Cheverie has good fundamentals for a goalie, but he is more aggressive than most. He likes to challenge shooters, and he plays his angles well. If he continues to play at this high a level throughout the season, he has the talent to carry a loaded Denver team far, and it's likely that he would earn a shot at professional hockey after this season.
Gwozdecky has handled complicated goalie situations very well over his tenure at Denver. He's used rotations more than a few times, only to settle on a goalie for the postseason. It usually works for him, and it's doubtful that a highly-touted goalie like Murray is going to sit too long. That said, Denver's best bet might to be to ride this "Chevy" as far as they can go.
Other Players to Watch
After a bit of a rough start for freshman Mike Lee (Phoenix) in his WCHA debut, St. Cloud (Minn.) State used junior Dan Dunn (Washington) Saturday night against Minnesota Duluth. Dunn was outstanding, stopping 31 of 33 shots faced in a 4-2 win. The Huskies were buoyed by two short-handed goals in the second period, and Dunn also stopped a penalty shot during the middle stanza.
Staying out west, senior forward Bill Sweatt (Chicago) had seven points (one goal, six assists) in Colorado College's weekend sweep of Michigan Tech. Sweatt had a hand in all four goals as CC won 4-1 Friday, then chipped in three assists in the Tigers' 8-5 comeback win Saturday.
New Hampshire's Blake Kessel (N.Y. Islanders) had a big weekend. The sophomore defenseman scored one goal and assisted on four others as the Wildcats beat Northeastern 4-2 and Maine 5-2 in Hockey East action. Blake is the younger brother of Toronto Maple Leaf Phil Kessel.
Defenseman Kevin Shattenkirk (Colorado) of Boston University assisted on two goals in a 3-2 win over Michigan Saturday, marking the defending national champions' first win of the season.
