Testwuide's leadership key to good start for CC hockey

Fifth-ranked Colorado College enters Friday's home Western Collegiate Hockey Association series versus Alaska-Anchorage tied for first place. Captain Mike Testwuide’s leadership is a big reason why.

“He commands respect,” coach Scott Owens said. “He doesn’t cut corners. It started with the offseason work in the spring and in captain’s practices. He’s naturally respected.”

The senior from Vail has all the tools needed to lead his teammates – hockey skills, a strong work ethic, and good communication skills. Over the past few years, he’s learned how to use them to be an effective captain for the Tigers (9-2-1, 6-1-1).

His freshman year, he watched how Brandon Straub and Lee Sweatt did it. Last year, he watched his older brother J.P Testwuide at Denver.

“They were real lead-by-example guys,” Mike said. “They worked hard in the gym and on the ice.”

That approach – mirrored by assistant captains Nate Prosser and Bill Sweatt – started to pay off in the spring, according to Sweatt. Both have enjoyed good starts with 19 points for Sweatt (eight goals) and nine for Prosser (eight assists).

Embracing the down-and-dirty plays have paid off for Testwuide personally – he has six  goals so far – including the game-winner Friday when he beat a defender to the loose puck behind the Robert Morris goalie. His work along the goal line with his big body (6-3, 220 pounds) has create space and quality shots, including the opening goals against Minnesota-Duluth in his first games back from a concussion.

“That’s his personality-type,” Prosser said. “He’ll get into the rougher areas on the ice; in front of the net and in the corners. We all knew he’d be back, playing hard.”

Consistency has been key in dealing with the variety of personalities in the locker room, Testwuide said. He learned how to get that message across from former captain Scott Thauwald.

“He could talk about anything with anyone,” Testwuide said. “I learned a lot from him about how to get freshmen under your wing and work with them.”

That’s been important for a team that has some of the WCHA’s best rookies including Rylan Schwartz (13 points, nine assists) and goalie Joe Howe (8-1-1, 2.17 goals against, .931 save percentage).

CC will continue to rely on the nation’s best power play (22-of-70, 31.4 percent) against the Seawolves (5-9, 3-7), who average 21.4 penalty minutes, third most in Division I.

Anchorage is paced by senior Kevin Clark (seven goals) and junior Tommy Grant (eight assists) with 12 points apiece while senior Jon Olthuis (2-5, 4.00, .858) and junior Bryce Christianson (3-4, 3.58, .875) split time as goalies.