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Club Hockey back in action
By Jeff Tejcek
jtejcek@mscd.edu

File photo by Wayne Bart • bart@mscd.edu

Turner Bahn began skating before he started kindergarten. It was only natural that he fell in love with hockey.

“I actually learned how to skate from a Broncos lineman,” Bahn recalled.

Bahn, 21, has played throughout the United States and Europe. He was recruited out of high school to play in the Northern Pacific Junior Hockey League in Washington state. He said working to become a better hockey player helped him mature as a person.

Now, more experienced behind the puck, Bahn returns to the ice as part of the Metro men’s hockey team.

After two rounds of tryouts, 23 players have been selected for the 2006-07 season. They only have three practices to pull together as a cohesive unit before their season opener against the University of Colorado on Oct. 6 in Boulder.

Team captain Curtis Duffus said he was optimistic about the team’s talent this year.

“I think we are going to have more depth this season,” Duffus said. He said he is especially excited about the team’s strong goaltenders. All three goalies will be starters and will have equal rotation throughout the season.

Duffus said he hopes to improve on the team’s performance last year.

“We actually had a pretty good team last year despite a 10-16 record,” he said.

The Roadrunners’ schedule this year includes 22 games and features three matches against archrival University of Denver. The team, now in its sixth season, hopes to make it to the regional tournament for the first time. Since Auraria Campus lacks an ice rink, Metro’s home games will be played at the Edge Ice Arena in Littleton. Road games will take the team as far as Kansas and Texas.

Greg Woods, a former DU Pioneer, returns for his second season as the ’Runners’ head coach. He will try to meld 10 veterans and 13 new faces into a winning hockey team. Woods is well qualified for the job, having been a two-time NCAA All-American for the Pioneers.

Players potentially face more time in the penalty box this year in light of USA Hockey’s newly enhanced rule-enforcement policy. These rules will prevent players from using sticks or grabbing jerseys in attempts to slow opponents down.

“Players will be held accountable for acts of an intimidating or dangerous nature,” according to USA Hockey.

As a club team, the ’Runners receive limited school support and must rely on fundraising to cover expenses.

As for Bahn, he knows the odds are against him, but he hopes to someday play at the professional level.

“As long as I’m still having fun at it, then I’ll be happy with wherever I end up,” Bahn said.

For team and player information, check the club’s website at www.metrostatehockey.com.