“I think every year I’ve been here we have had a special team, and I think our team this year is also a special group and that’s the goal every year is to win a national championship,” Devine said about winning the NCAA title in 2022. “So, for me, it was an extreme blessing to do that back in my freshman year. And I think it’s something that all of us are hungry for to do again.”

Devine was involved in both the 2022 and 2017 championships, as he was present in the stands for the Pioneer win over Minnesota-Duluth in 2017. It was at that moment he decided he wanted to attend the University of Denver and help defend their eight titles.

He desired to attend one of the best hockey schools in the nation for various reasons.

“You can tell from the first time I was here that there’s emphasis on winning,” Devine said. “There’s an emphasis on trying to win a championship every year. Another big thing for me was the coaching staff. The coaching staff when I was getting recruited, they were awesome, and even now, like the things they told me about how important development is, how important developing both as a hockey player and a person, that has really been important to me. And I think lastly, it’s both a great academic and athletic program and that was something that was very important to me.”

Devine has started the year out hot, stacking up four goals and two assists in just two games against Alaska-Fairbanks.

He shot an amazing 80% over the opening weekend and worked top-line minutes. At one point, Devine would have the first Pioneer hat trick of the season, but it was later changed to an assist after a tip from McKade Webster.

Jack Devine tallies his 2nd marker of the game as the Pioneers convert on a 5-on-3.

DU 4 | UAF 1 | 8:27 2nd#GoPios pic.twitter.com/au8L5sLTUr

— Denver Hockey (@DU_Hockey) October 9, 2023

“I think all the credit is to my teammates,” Devine said about the opening weekend. “I think for a weekend like that, you’re just going in and focusing on getting two wins. And I think for me, it was just trying to do anything I can to help our team win. So obviously it’s nice to be successful there. And I think my teammates helped contribute to that and put me in a good position.”

Devine participated in the Florida Panthers’ development camp for the first time in his young career. He could join all the Panthers’ prospects in drills and get tips from the NHL coaching staff.

“You’re just trying to take tidbits and take little things you can learn,” Devine said about the camp. “I think you try to take anything you can learn here to be successful in the season now.”

Everything that Devine has done in the last two years has been to the benefit of his teammates. But he insists that his success is because of them.

He is a hardworking young man who strives to be the best at everything he has done so far. You are going to want to monitor Jack Devine; this kid is going places.

The post DU’s Jack Devine credits teammates for his success appeared first on The Rink.

Game One Observations

• Jack Devine (FLA prospect) will be a scoring leader on the team this season. Netting two goals in game one, Devine has a quick snap shot with some deception to it.
• Kent Anderson, a defenseman, used his powerful wrist shot to have a successful offensive game and earn his first multi-point game.
• Goaltender Matt Davis had his first career opening night start. He was staring post-to-post and has a quick glove.

Game two was a different tale to start. The Nanooks’ strategy to congest the neutral zone against the Pioneers was effective. Until the second period, when they accrued a bunch of penalty minutes. Alaska started off the scoring once again and Denver scored five unanswered. They scored two goals with a man advantage and one was shorthanded. The final for game two would be only 5-2 with Denver walking away with their second victory of the weekend.

Game Two Observations

• Denver has a problem with their neutral zone play. If the opposition stacks their defense, it slows down the Pioneers.
• DU is dangerous on the power play as they can strike from any direction. It is like the Colorado Avalanche power play.
• The Pioneers are skilled at moving the puck in any situation. Their offense and defense have no issues communicating and can move the puck once they get momentum.

Conclusion

Experts chose Denver before the season as the NCHC Division Champions and I can see why. They dealt with any challenges this weekend effortlessly. Despite their youth, they played impressively on the ice this weekend. They possess a fearsome ability to play with grit, aggression, and speed simultaneously.

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