All Things Denver XXIX

[SoCalSiouxFan]

Re: All Things Denver XXIX

http://www.uscho.com/2011/01/03/wren...ls-winterhawks

"William has decided to leave our varsity hockey program and concentrate full-time on his hockey career,” DU head coach George Gwozdecky said in a statement. “William feels he will have a better opportunity to play on a regular basis and contribute in a more important role at the junior hockey level. He was a good teammate and was well liked in our locker room. William will be missed by our program.”

When I read this my BS gauge went off the scale. Sounds more like he just had difficulty concentraiting on school work.

[du78]

Re: All Things Denver XXIX

http://www.uscho.com/2011/01/03/wren...ls-winterhawks


When I read this my BS gauge went off the scale. Sounds more like he just had difficulty concentraiting on school work.

If he had been academically ineligible, he would not have been able to play in any of DU's December/Jan. 1 games as school ended before Thanksgiving and the grades were posted within days. In the few times in the past, DU has immediately declared a player academically ineligible as soon as the grades are posted. Current and future playing time was the issue not academics. He was the 7th d-man and with only 1 player graduating and two top notch d-men coming in next year he saw the handwriting on the wall. He came to DU with lots of potential but primarily hip and groin injuries set him back significantly. He had hip surgery after last season and had ongoing groin injuries this year. Tough to compete at this high level when you can't go all out due to injuries. I hope the best for him.

[Puck Swami]

Re: All Things Denver XXIX

http://www.uscho.com/2011/01/03/wren...ls-winterhawks


When I read this my BS gauge went off the scale. Sounds more like he just had difficulty concentraiting on school work.

Wrenn's BS or Gwoz' BS? Not sure to which you are referring.....

Wrenn is an WCHA all-academic student, and the the fact that he played last weekend means there is likely no academic issue, given final exams were in November and grades were posted in December. His problem with DU, as Gowz pointed out, was lack of playing time, which drives some drafted guys to drastic measures. Wrenn was beaten out of the d corps rotation by a string of injuires and two recruited walk ons, who took advantage of his absence to secure spots above him. Wrenn was a nice kid, but his injuries stalled his development and he just wasn't going to crack the top 6 DU lineup anytime soon, let alone play on the PP. He left the team so he could get a chance for regular playing time elsewhere. The reality is if you can't crack the DU lineup by your second year, and you can't crack the US junior final selection camp (top 29-30), your NHL chances are likely fading fast. So William followed the footsteps of two other second round pick defensemen (TJ Fast and Keith Seabrook) and headed to the WHL. Neither Fast nor Seabrook have ever played an NHL minute, and Fast is now in the ECHL and Seabrook is in the AHL.

All three guys, I think, over-estimated their abilties and would have been better served by getting their degrees, and then playing in the minors. Sure, you might sign for $200,000 but your are also throwing away a base $200,000 scholarship, and more then if you put a monetary value on the DU hockey experience.

[SoCalSiouxFan]

Re: All Things Denver XXIX

Wrenn's BS or Gwoz' BS? Not sure to which you are referring.....

Wrenn is an WCHA all-academic student, ....lack of playing time...injuries stalled his development ...chance for regular playing time elsewhere.

Sorry. Thanks for clarifying the facts. Without all the facts the article was a bit misleading. Sounded like he just wanted to get away fron school work, but obviously that is not the whole story. Hopefully he can recover fully from his injuries without having adverse long term effects that would be a major obsticle to his ambitions. One can only hope that he can be successful.

[Puck Swami]

Re: All Things Denver XXIX

Pioneer hoops wins a huge game at Western Kentucky tonight - WKU is the most decorated program in the Sun Belt with 22 NCAA appearances including a Sweet 16 run in 2008, and the Pioneers have never won there before, although they have beaten WKU at Magness.

The Pioneers have now won 5 straight games, and go to 3-0 in Sun Belt play.

[vizoroo]

Re: All Things Denver XXIX

Bozak has winning goal in the shootout for 6-5 Leafs win over the Blues.

[Old Pio]

Re: All Things Denver XXIX

Bozak has winning goal in the shootout for 6-5 Leafs win over the Blues.

BTW, just read the Russian kids were drinking Crown Royal. That explains a lot.

[SJHovey]

Re: All Things Denver XXIX

Wrenn's BS or Gwoz' BS? Not sure to which you are referring.....

Wrenn is an WCHA all-academic student, and the the fact that he played last weekend means there is likely no academic issue, given final exams were in November and grades were posted in December. His problem with DU, as Gowz pointed out, was lack of playing time, which drives some drafted guys to drastic measures. Wrenn was beaten out of the d corps rotation by a string of injuires and two recruited walk ons, who took advantage of his absence to secure spots above him. Wrenn was a nice kid, but his injuries stalled his development and he just wasn't going to crack the top 6 DU lineup anytime soon, let alone play on the PP. He left the team so he could get a chance for regular playing time elsewhere. The reality is if you can't crack the DU lineup by your second year, and you can't crack the US junior final selection camp (top 29-30), your NHL chances are likely fading fast. So William followed the footsteps of two other second round pick defensemen (TJ Fast and Keith Seabrook) and headed to the WHL. Neither Fast nor Seabrook have ever played an NHL minute, and Fast is now in the ECHL and Seabrook is in the AHL.

All three guys, I think, over-estimated their abilties and would have been better served by getting their degrees, and then playing in the minors. Sure, you might sign for $200,000 but your are also throwing away a base $200,000 scholarship, and more then if you put a monetary value on the DU hockey experience.

USCHO has Wrenn in the lineup for every game going all the way back to the BC series. Are they wrong about that?

[du78]

Re: All Things Denver XXIX

USCHO has Wrenn in the lineup for every game going all the way back to the BC series. Are they wrong about that?

No but for most of them he was dressed as the 7th d-man who got minimal ice time. When he did play he was a step slower than everyone else and his -7 is testament to that for a team which is +60. As noted he has been battling injuries since he came to DU and no one knows if he was ever at 100% this year. His main issue this year was a strained groin which really doesn't heal without complete rest. He did miss 4 games due to that injury. Who knows what percentage his hip is at. It took A-Rod a whole year until he was 100% from his hip injury after surgery which was similar. During his return from hip surgery, A-Rod was given plenty of days off and DH'd a lot. He didn't have to skate like hockey players do. You have to give Wrenn credit for battling through the injuries and trying to continue to play. Have to give Gwoz credit as he tried to get him going by dressing 7 d-men most nights and rotating him in the d-man line-up. Gwoz could have easily sat him in the press box but didn't. I wish William well as I understand he is a great kid. It is too bad that it didn't work out for him as I expected him to be a top 4 d-man when he came to DU.

[du78]

Re: All Things Denver XXIX

BTW, just read the Russian kids were drinking Crown Royal. That explains a lot.

I hope there is no temporary shortage of this product due to this incident for your sake.

[dggoddard]

Re: All Things Denver XXIX

USCHO has Wrenn in the lineup for every game going all the way back to the BC series. Are they wrong about that?

DU dressed 7 D-men and 11 forwards every game this season unless a D-man was hurt. Factor in that Donovan gets lots of ice time and Makowski has established himself as an exceptional power play specialist and the minutes start drying up.

[co14ers]

Re: All Things Denver XXIX

So, no DU hockey this weekend. Upon looking at the schedule, I found myself frowning as our next series is at the "House of Horrors" in Mankato. Can we just call it a split and not play those games there?

[Puck Swami]

Re: All Things Denver XXIX

USCHO has Wrenn in the lineup for every game going all the way back to the BC series. Are they wrong about that?

In the lineup and dressed, but rarely saw much ice time - maybe a shift or two per period on average.

[Old Pio]

Re: All Things Denver XXIX

I hope there is no temporary shortage of this product due to this incident for your sake.

Not to worry. I have a 500 gallon tank under the patio.

[du78]

Re: All Things Denver XXIX

Not to worry. I have a 500 gallon tank under the patio.

Have you gotten the back-up ice maker? I thought we were going to have to call EMS when your ice maker broke earlier this season.