NCAA: Things to do in Denver

The Denver Pioneers boast a lethal offensive attack this season spearheaded by the talented sophomore Tyler Bozak. McKeen's correspondent Max Giese recently had the opportunity to take in a Pioneers' game and files notes on freshmen Patrick Wiercioch, Joe Colborne and John Lee as well as sophomore goaltender Marc Cheverie.

Patrick Wiercioch (Ott), D, Denver University

Already a dominant collegiate athlete that can control the pace of the game, Wiercioch is on the top-defensive pairing as a freshman playing along side senior Patrick Mullen .. intelligent and skilled two-way-horse-of-a-defenseman with a spacious frame to grow into .. an accomplished puckmoving defenseman that can quarterback the powerplay and jump start the offensive rush by routinely making a great first pass .. dangerous triggerman from the point with a fatally accurate shot that he gets through traffic and on net routinely .. innately identifies developing seams in opponents defenses and does a fantastic job exploiting them to create odd-man opportunities around the opponents net .. still needs to upgrade his quickness, however many of his skating issues are dissipating, as his lateral agility is coming along nicely and allowing him to further his options on the point and sustain defensive positioning down low.. filling out nicely and appears larger every time he is viewed .. employees his exceptional anticipation and defensive stickwork to actively pressure the puckcarrier .. can still take himself out of position with his defensive aggressiveness and lacks the mobility to recover .. an astute selection by the Ottawa Senators.

Joe Colborne (Bos), C/LW, Denver University

A docile pivot with a colossal frame that is buckling under the physicality and pace of the NCAA .. has all the talent and instincts to become an impact collegiate athlete, but hasn't yet achieved that status because of his soft play .. playing on the top line with Tyler Bozak and Luke Salazar, as well as seeing time on both special team units .. smooth skater that is deceptively speedy and agile due to casual and effortless mechanics, which are accentuated by naturally long extremities .. unshakable protecting the puck with his condor-like wingspan and velvety soft hands .. a perimeter player that would rather wait for his teammates to dig the puck out of the corners instead of getting aggressive in the trenches himself .. prone to bouts of laziness where he floats around and takes counterproductive routes while not consistently activating his feet .. habitually slows the game down and refuses to bull his way to the net, and is easily neutralized by the slightest body contact .. isn't enacting himself quick enough with the puck and the play is dieing on his stick far too often .. successfully congests the opponents powerplay with his engulfing reach, but leaves plenty of room for improvement on both sides of the puck.

John Lee (Fla), D, Denver University

Freshman defenseman that is playing on the third defensive pairing with sophomore John Ryder .. his body is physically developing and is no longer awkwardly gangly, but he is being manhandled physically at this level and must continue to strengthen his frame .. operating with blinders on in the defensive zone and must begin to position himself and employee his long stick properly in his own end .. utilized on the penalty kill and makes a clean first-pass .. rangy with a lean frame to develop into and hasn't looked out of place during the embryonic stages of his collegiate career so far.

Marc Cheverie (Fla), G, Denver University

Now a sophomore, this will be Cheverie's first season as the starting goaltender after only playing one game as a freshman a year ago .. a strong skater with sharp footwork and quick lateral movement .. actively plays the puck and is fairly athletic .. has good size, but he needs to do a better job at fighting through traffic and he tends to play too small in his butterfly .. doesn't anticipate the action around his net well and is guilty of losing the puck when tracking it during side-to-side movement .. loses his angles and must upgrade his positioning, as he's beaten short-side far too often .. fluid in all of his movements and sustains proper pad control when moving in and out of his butterfly .. still early, but it looks as if Cheverie could be the weak link on a talented Denver squad.