Opinion: CC hockey coach has opportunity to demonstrate coaching promise in rebuilding season

Scott Owens coaches the third best college hockey team in Colorado and the second best team in Colorado Springs.

After a savage offseason, Owens is left with a depleted squad in a state that features frighteningly powerful rivals.

Denver — the evil empire of the North — dreams of a national title, and Air Force expects a long ride in the NCAA Tournament.

Meanwhile, Owens searches for answers in the wreckage of his roster.

When last season ended, it seemed probable that goalie Richard Bachman and defenseman John Moore would be the stars of a revamped team.

Didn’t turn out that way.

For years, Owens and his Tigers have been jammed with talent. From 2000 to 2008, Owens’ teams averaged 25.6 wins per season. That includes last season’s baffling, infuriating 16-win disappointment.

During much of his CC career, Owens has been overshadowed by his team’s stars — Peter Sejna, Marty Sertich, Brett Sterling, Mark Stuart — but next season will be, more than ever before, the Scott Owens Show.

He looks forward to the challenge. Sure, his task would have been easier — a lot easier — if Bachman and Moore were around, but he has no plans to surrender.

“On paper, sure, on paper you can total up the returning players and say, ‘Hey, it could be a tough year,’” Owens said. “But you know what? We got a lot of freshness and a lot of young people.”

Be sure to hear Owens clearly. He’s not promising a 30-win season. He’s not promising to shock the hockey nation.

This will be a rebuilding year at CC. Owens knows this. Everyone knows this. There’s no way around it.

Don’t expect Owens to apologize for the scenario.

“I think our fans, if they see our players working hard and see some new fresh faces, they’ll be excited by what they see,” Owens said. “And they’ll be positive.

“You know what? We’ve had a heck of a run. It’s been 16 years without a losing record. Are you kidding me? And you know what? We got hit hard by pro signings and graduation.”

The latest bad news arrived Tuesday afternoon when Moore called Owens to say he would spend next winter in Kitchener, Ontario, instead of at CC.

Owens never has needed a freshman more than he needed Moore, who would have been the star of the team. Moore’s importance multiplied when defenseman Brian Connelly bolted to the pros in March.

 “We needed him,” Owens said. “We needed him to fill that hole. There’s no doubt about it. It’s very disappointing.”

Owens describes Moore as an “A” recruit, and a coach only gets a chance at so many of those. He said CC regularly signs “A-minus” and “B-plus” prospects.

But even the A-minus and B-plus types will be hard to find next season. This will be the year when Owens reveals his coaching strength.

And if the Tigers somehow find a way to soar, this will be Owens’ finest hour.