WCHA Final Five Results: North Dakota 4 - DU 3 FINAL .... St. Cloud 2 - Wisconsin 0 .... CCHA: Michigan 5 - Miami 1 .... Go DU .... Saturday: DU vs. Wisconsin @ 1 PM MST on Fox Sports-North .... Congrats to Chevy & Rakhshani - Hobey Baker Award Finalists .... Go DU

North Dakota 4 - Denver 3 FINAL

(above) Tyler Ruegsegger runs into North Dakota goalie Brad Eidsness on Friday night

The University of North Dakota did everything possible to take the Pioneers out of their rhythm on Friday night and won a thrilling 4-3 game in St. Paul. DU fell behind in the first period and spent the rest of the game playing catch up.

Miami lost to the University of Michigan 5-2, so DU is still #1 overall in the Pairwise Rankings.

DU will face Wisconsin at 1 PM MST tomorrow. The game will be televised on Fox Sports-North live and tape delayed in Colorado on Fox Sports-Rocky Mountain.

Pairwise Rankings

Denver Post Game Recap

Grand Forks Herald Game Recap

.

1st Period

7:59 UND 1 - DU 0 Goal: Chris VandeVelde (15) PP Assists: Knight (6), Frattin (7)

2nd Period

4:41 UND 2 - DU 0 Goal: Evan Trupp (7) Assists: Malone (14), Frattin (8)

18:25 UND 2 - DU 1 Goal: Matt Donovan (7) Assists: Ostrow (10), Martin (8)

19:14 UND 3 - DU 1 Goal: Evan Trupp (8) PP Assists: Marto (12), Kristo (21)

3rd Period

4:15 UND 3 - DU 2 Goal: John Lee (2) PP Assists: Philllips (4), Shore (12)

13:59 UND 4 - DU 2 Goal: Brad Malone (10) SH Assists: Trupp

19:23 UND 4 - DU 3 Goal: Knowlton (3) SH

Pilot Makes DU Hockey Freshman Sing D-Rah

Some DU fans were on the flight to Minneapolis-St. Paul that the University of Denver hockey team was was on.

The pilot made the freshmen sing the school fight song! Everyone had fun with that.

One comment overheard was "I hope they play better hockey than they sing!"

DU Will Be Pairwise #1 Or #2 At NCAA Tourney

No matter what happens tonight against North Dakota or on Saturday against either Wisconsin or St, Cloud State, the University of Denver hockey team will be the #1 or #2 Pairwise team in the Tournament. More than likely DU will either be playing in Albany, New York or St. Paul, Minnesota next week in the NCAA Regionals.

Almost certainly DU will face either Alabama-Huntsville or the champion of the Atlantic Hockey Association in the first round next weekend.

Finally Denver, Miami-Ohio, Wisconsin, Boston College, North Dakota, St. Cloud State, Bemidji State, Yale & Alabama-Huntsville have clinched spots in the NCAA Tournament. The champions of the ECAC and the Atlantic Hockey Tournament are also guaranteed spots. Every other team will be battling for the five remaining invites to the Tourney.

NCAA Tournament Predictor

LetsGoDU Welcomes Sioux Fans To Blogosphere

(above) Dave Hakstol was "Booned" four times this season

LetsGoDU is thrilled to welcome North Dakota's residents and ex-pats to our blogging community this weekend. However, we need to go over a few basic ground rules to keep things on the up-and-up here at America's Favorite College Hockey Blog™.

LetsGoDU has set up extra servers to handle the additional traffic this weekend and look forward to your patronage. Please limit yourselves to no more that three profanity-laced comments per hour so other Sioux fans can get on board a spew their earthy messages. Any language that UND's Brent Hextall uses in a game that is OK with WCHA referees (homophobic, vulgar & profanity laced tirades) are OK with us.

Finally to all fans out there, with all the drinking going on this weekend at the Final Five, please don't be like several North Dakota hockey players and get behind the wheel while loaded.

Chambers Blog Has Details on DU Hobey Finalists

Mike Chambers Blog has the details on DU's two Hobey Baker finalists. He also has quotes from Coach Gwozdecky whom he caught up with at the WCHA Awards banquet this afternoon.

Needless to say its been a big day of collecting hardware for some of DU's finest players. Lets hope they bring home a big prize on Saturday night in St. Paul.

The Hobey Finalists

• F Bobby Butler, New Hampshire
• G Marc Cheverie, Denver
• F Blake Geoffrion, Wisconsin
• F Gustav Nyquist, Maine
• F Mark Olver, Northern Michigan
• F Chase Polacek, Rensselaer
• F Rhett Rakhshani, Denver
• G Cody Reichard, Miami
• G Ben Scrivens, Cornell
• D Brendan Smith, Wisconsin

WCHA Announces End Of Season Award Winners

(above) Marc Cheverie was named WCHA Player of the Year today

From: WCHA Website

The University of Denver had four individual award winners to highlight the annual WCHA Awards Banquet and Ceremony today at RiverCentre in Saint Paul, Minn.

Marc Cheverie (Denver) - WCHA Player of the Year

Eli Vlaisavljevich (Michigan Tech) - WCHA Outstanding Student-Athlete of the Year

Brendan Smith (Wisconsin) - WCHA Defensive Player of the Year,

Danny Kristo (North Dakota) - WCHA Rookie of the Year

Rhett Rakhshani (Denver) - WCHA Scoring Champion

Marc Cheverie (Denver) - WCHA Goaltending Champion

George Gwozdecky (Denver) - WCHA Coach of the Year

University of Denver All-WCHA Selections
1st Team
Marc Cheverie - G
Patrick Wiercioch - D
Rhett Rakhshani - F

2nd Team
Tyler Ruegsegger - F

3rd Team
Joe Colbourne - F

Rookie Team
Matt Donovan - D

North Dakota & Duluth Kick Off Final Five Tonight

The University of North Dakota are slated to take on Minnesota Duluth tonight at 7 PM (6 PM MST) at the Xcel Energy Center.

The Western Collegiate Hockey Association has suspended North Dakota forward Matt Frattin for tonight's game. Frattin, who was arrested twice earlier this season (disorderly conduct, fleeing from police & DUI), was suspended after he knocked out Minnesota's Kevin Wehrs with a blow to the head.

The Thursday game can be seen live on Fox Sports-Rocky Mountain in Colorado and around the country. The winner will face WCHA champion University of Denver on Friday night in the semifinals.

Redline Report Touts 2 DU Recruits For NHL Draft

(above) DU recruits Beau Bennett & Sam Brittain were mentioned as hot prospects for the NHL Draft this summer in Los Angeles

From: USA Today
by Kyle Woodlief-Former NHL Scout Nashville Predators

Just a few odds and ends we noticed in our rankings this month. First, in a continuation of the trend we've seen developing over the last six or seven years, Canada's various Jr. A loops are producing a steady stream of quality prospects.

This year's batch includes two players that will be heading to the University of Denver. Topping that group is California winger Beau Bennett, a speed demon who has been such a dominant force for Penticton in the British Columbia Hockey League that he basically has made a complete farce of the competition.

Leading the league with 41-79-120 scoring totals in 56 games, Bennett has catapulted himself into Red Line Report's first round. We certainly liked him back at the World Jr. A Challenge in November, but even we are surprised at just how quickly he has developed, and the improvements in his game over the past four months have been staggering.

Huge netminder Sam Brittain of Canmore in the Alberta Junior Hockey League. is another future Pioneer. Though he led his team to a first-round playoff upset, we expect that Canmore's season will come to an end well before the world U-18 championships get underway in Minsk next month, and we'd love to plant a bug in Hockey Canada's ear right now so they don't forget to add him to the roster. We'd love to see how he handles higher-caliber shooters on the international stage.

The other thing we noticed is that, with Bennett elevating himself to first-round status, we now have two southern California natives ranked in our first round: Bennett and Medicine Hat's Emerson Etem. That has got to be a first in Red Line's 17-year history.

Throw in Kelowna's Shane McColgan, a likely Top 10 overall pick at the 2011 draft, and California is truly becoming a hotbed of talent. What does it say about the changing face of hockey development in the United States that these three young stars represent a higher talent level than any player produced in the last five years out of a traditional hockey state such as Massachusetts?

Chambers Blog Features LetsGoDU Checklist

(above) Chambers check list is longer than ours

Mike Chambers liked our checklist so much he mentioned it in his blog yesterday. It just goes to show you how handy it is to make a list before you go shopping so you don't forget anything.

News & Notes From Around PioNation

The Toronto Star.Com has a blurb about incoming DU recruit Beau Bennett. In an article about DU Alum Tyler Bozak, The Star called Bennet, "The next Tyler Bozak." Of course the Maple Leafs may need to make a trade to get back into the First Round.

If you want to read about Tyler Bozak in Canada this week all you have to do is pick up a newspaper. It doesn't matter which one, because it seems like he is featured in just about all of the them. The National Post, CBC.com, Metro Canada, plus another 100 sites mention Bozak and the University of Denver hockey program.

The DU hockey team will fly to Minneapolis-St. Paul today. Tonight on the agenda is the WCHA awards banquet. Mike Chambers Blog is predicting a steady stream of Pioneers making their way to the podium. According to Chambers, the ten Hobey Baker finalists will be announced tonight as well. DU has a couple of candidates.

Kevin Pates of the Duluth News Tribune has a very good WCHA Final Five preview. It featues a quote from Coach Gwozdecky from Tuesday's Media Conference Call.

DU Senior Video Profile: Cody Brookwell

(above) DU Senior Defenseman Cody Brookwell discusses his college years

FSN-Rocky Mountain To Air DU Semi-Final Live

FSN ROCKY MOUNTAIN TO BROADCAST DU's SEMIFINAL OF 2010 RED BARON WCHA FINAL FIVE LIVE

The University of Denver hockey team will face the winner of North Dakota / Minnesota-Duluth game on Friday night at 6 PM MT.

FSN-Rocky Mountain will air the second semifinal of the 2010 Red Baron WCHA Final Five live from St. Paul, Minn., it was announced today.

DU earned the No. 1 overall seed after winning the WCHA regular-season title and defeating Michigan Tech in two games last week. North Dakota and Minnesota Duluth start the Final Five competition live on FSN Rocky Mountain on Thursday, March 18 at 6 p.m. Wisconsin will take on St. Cloud State in the first semifinal on Fri., March 19 at 2 p.m. The game will air via tape delay at 1:30 a.m. DU's semifinal game will be shown live at 6 p.m. on FSN Rocky Mountain. The championship game will also be televised live on Saturday, March 20 at 6 p.m., followed by the third-place game later that evening at 10 p.m.

Play-by-play duties for the three-day tournament will be split between Frank Mazzocco, Anthony LaPlanta and Jim Rich. Doug Woog and Darby Hendrickson serve as the color analysts, with LaPlanta and Kevin Gorg providing rink-side reporting throughout the tournament.

The Curse of '57 is 53 Years Old Today

Colorado College won its last National Championship 53 years ago today. But the Championship was marred by an act of poor sportsmanship that offers clues as to why CC hasn't won another championship in the past 53 years. The crack research staff at LetsGoDU looked into reports that Colorado College's hockey program is under a "Curse" that would explain why they haven't won a National Championship since 1957.

A sports-related curse is the effective action of some power or evil, that is used to explain the failures or misfortunes of specific sports teams, players, or even cities.

DU graduate students thoroughly reviewed Wikipedia's List of Sports Curses to find similarities or clues to CC's misfortune. Sports Illustrated is considered by many to be a breeding ground of curses, so a bulk of the research was conducted on back issues of SI.

Last year our researches found two possible clues in the March 10, 1958 issue of Sports Illustrated. Just five days before the University of Denver would defeat North Dakota to win the 1958 National Championship, Colorado College's then president Dr. Louis T. Benezet, threatened to revamp his school's hockey program to "reduce the number of Canadians on CC's roster." Its interesting to note that Colorado College was the defending national champion at the time.

However the DU researchers point to March 1957, when Colorado College raised a question regarding the eligibility of three University of Michigan players—John Randall, Neill Buchanan and Wally Maxwell—all of whom were declared ineligible by the NCAA eligibility committee on the eve of the national tournament in Colorado Springs. CC would go on to defeat a shorthanded Michigan team in the championship game 13-6.

The hockey gods, obviously, were not amused.

WCHA Final Five Schedule

WCHA Final Five
Xcel Energy Center
Saint Paul, MN

Thursday, March 18: No. 5 Minnesota Duluth (22-16-1) vs No. 4 North Dakota (22-12-5), 6:07 pm MT (TV - FS North, FSN - Rocky Mountain).

Games for Friday, March 19: Semi-Final: No. 3 St. Cloud State (22-12-5) vs No. 2 Wisconsin (24-9-4), 1:07 pm MT (TV - FS North); Semi-Final: Thursday’s Winner vs No. 1 Denver (27-7-4), 6:07 pm MT (TV - FS North, FSN - Rocky Mountain).

Games for Saturday, March 20: Third Place Game, 1:07 pm MT (TV - FS North, Tape Delay @ 10 PM FSN-Rocky Mountain); Broadmoor Trophy Championship Game, 6:07 pm MT (TV - FS North, FS - Rocky Mountain).

Colorado Producing Many Elite Hockey Prospects

(left) DU recruit Tyler Pham is expected to be selected for the USNDP Under-17 Team in two weeks

This weekend USA announced that 47 players born in 1994 have been invited to the U.S. Development Camp (March 27-30 Ann Arbor, Michigan). From these players, those selected will play for the USDNP-Under 17 Team next season. A couple of the invited players have University of Denver connections.

Tyler Pham has already committed to DU and will play for the Pioneers in 2012. Originally from Ft. Collins, Pham played for Team Illinois this past season. Most observers expect Pham to make the USNDT.

Hiesenberg's Website now has Dakota Mermis committing to play for DU in 2010. He plays for the St. Louis Jr. Blues and will come to DU to play with his brother, Jarrod. Dakota is considered a lock to make the USNDT.

One of Drew & Nick Shore's younger brothers, Quentin has also been invited to the Camp. Nick will play for the Pioneers next season and who doesn't want to see all three brothers in Crimson & Gold on the "Shore Line" in 2012.

Three other players invited to the Camp play for the Colorado Thunderbirds Junior program. Bradley Hawkinson is a forward from Aurora, Matais Cleland is a defenseman from Boulder and Gavin Stoick is a forward from Portland, Oregon.

Mike Chambers Blog has details on another former Thurderbird player who is now playing in Dallas. That's 7 out of 47 players that have Colorado or DU connections at the Camp.

Boonetown To Motown Checklist

(above) So far, so good

Fox 31 News Profiles Boone Mascot Debate

(above) More awesome publicity for our embattled mascot

On the night of the Colorado College "White-Out" game, Fox 31 News videographer Dave Althouse filmed Boone for six hours. He interviewed students, alumni and fans and captured some epic footage.

CC's Season Ends-DU To Face UMD/UND Winner

(above) Bodies lay strewn in the wreckage of another Colorado College hockey season last night in Duluth

From: Colorado Springs Gazette
by Joe Paisley

A season that began with such promise ended in flames as Colorado College and the Curse of '57 completed another epic meltdown. CC was ranked as one of the Top 3 teams in PairWise in early January.

Penalties kept the Tigers from developing any offensive rhythm last night as host Minnesota-Duluth pulled away for a 4-0 win at the Duluth Entertainment and Convention Center. The loss Sunday likely ends CC’s season, since the Tigers are now No. 21 in the PairWise Rankings, which mimic the 16-team NCAA Tournament selection process.

No. 15 CC was called for 11 penalties during the first two periods. The final two, 61 seconds apart, proved the most costly in the decisive Game 3 of the Western Collegiate Hockey Association playoff series.

“It was called a little tighter than the earlier games,” Tigers coach Scott Owens said. “Guys were tired and making mistakes. It made for a strange game. We couldn’t get going. Drawing a penalty six seconds into the game set the tone.”

Rob Bordson’s 5-on-3 power play goal with 16.9 ticks left in the second period gave Duluth a commanding 3-0 lead. A 5-minute major on Gabe Guentzel and another minor penalty on Nate Prosser set up the advantage.

“That was the game,” Owens said.

No. 14 Duluth’s Mike Connolly scored on a third-period power play from the same five-minute penalty to make it 4-0.

Penalties hurt CC early as well when the result was still in doubt. Two calls against the Tigers during their own 5-minute power play negated more than half their time.

It was the fourth time in five years CC was eliminated in the first round of the playoffs and second in a row at the hands of the Bulldogs.

Duluth advanced to play North Dakota Thursday to open the WCHA Final 5 Tournament. The winner of that game will face the University of Denver on Friday night.

"Tyler Bozak Line" Making Waves In Toronto

(above) DU Alum Tyler Bozak has 18 points is 23 games for the Toronto Maple Leafs

From: CBC Sports.ca
by Malcolm Kelly

Suddenly the Toronto Maple Leafs seem to have a top line.

After general manager Brian Burke basically rebuilt his hockey club in the month leading up to the trade deadline, the organization went into "next year" mode, with much talk about looking at the youngsters up front.

Enter the Tyler Bozak line, scheduled to make another appearance in its early run of success on Sunday afternoon on the road against the New York Islanders (5 p.m. ET).

Bozak, the former University of Denver star who turns 24 next week, signed as a highly sought free agent at the end of last season by Burke. He has been working between Phil Kessel, 22, and Nikolai Kulemin, 23, since the housecleaning, and they are producing.

On Saturday against the Edmonton Oilers they combined for eight points, with Bozak getting a goal and two assists, Kessel two scores plus a helper and Kulemin one plus one.

That led the Leafs (23-33-12) to their first three-game winning streak of the season.

"We're fighting hard to get points," said Bozak, who has 18 points now in his 23 NHL career games (five in the last two outings). "We're on a little roll here.

"I hope we can keep it going."

DU 4 - Michigan Tech 2 FINAL

(above) DU's John Lee scored his first collegiate goal last night

The University of Denver hockey team punched their ticket to the Final 5 in St. Paul next week with a 4-2 victory against Michigan Tech. DU put the game away with two late goals in the second period.

With Miami's upset loss to Ohio State, DU remains #1 in the Pairwise Rankings.

Denver Post Game Recap

1st Period

DU 1 - MTU o Jesse Martin (13), assist: Ostrow K

DU 1 - MTU 1 Ryan Bunger (1), assists: Cousens, Gwilliam

2nd Period

DU 2 - MTU 1 John Lee (1), assists: Donovan, Colborne

DU 3 - MTU 1 Colborne (21), assist: Rakhshani

3rd Period

DU 3 - MTU 2 Peter Rohn (1), assists: Gwilliam

DU 4 - MTU 2 Kyle Ostrow (16), assists: Martin, Maiani

NCAA On Campus Interviews Antje Maempel

(above) Antje Maempel was profiled by NCAA On Campus eariler this year

DU Wins School's 21st NCAA Skiing Championship

(above) Kate Dolan, Antje Maempel & Mari Elden closed out DU's 21st National Championship in the Freestyle Cross Country on Saturday

(above) The University of Denver Ski Team won its third straight NCAA Championship today

NCAA Official Results

The University of Denver ski team held a healthy lead heading into the fourth and final day of the NCAA National Championships. With the University of Colorado ready to pounce, DU was going to need an improved effort from their men's Freestyle Cross Country team to hold off the Buffaloes.

In the morning session the Denver men turned in an inspired effort and held their ground with a 4th, 18th and 21st place finish. When DU's Harald Loevenskiold crossed the line in fourth place and CU wasn't able to gain many points in the standings, the meet was all but over. Andrew Dougherty finished 18th and Kristian Soerlund finished 21st to hold off CU's skiers.

All that remained was for DU's über-skier Antje Maempel to work her magic for three laps on Steamboat's 5K Cross Country course and the title was in the bank. Maempel won by six seconds over a pair of CU skiers. Mari Elden finished 8th for DU and Kate Dolan finished 11th to pad the margin of victory for the Pioneers.

It was a sensational week for the Pioneer skiers. Five 1st place finishes out of eight events.(Lief Kristian Haugen won the Giant Slalom). Two second place finishes for Lindsay Cone and a third place finish for Mari Elden.

The best news? Maepel is just a Junior.

Skiing National Championship On The Line Today

(above) DU's National Championship hopes will ride on the shoulders of Ante Maemple today

Antje Maempel was born in Ilmenau, a small town in former East Germany, in the middle of the Thuringian Forest. In 10th grade she qualified for the German National Cross Country Ski Team.

After graduating from high school she became a soldier in the German Army with the opportunity to focus on her career as an athlete. She attended the University of Darmstadt until transferring to the University of Denver.

Today she will attempt to lead the DU Ski Team to their third consecutive NCAA National Championship.

Live Scoring Updates

Saturday: Cross Country
Men's 20K freestyle, 9 AM MST
Women's 15K freestyle, 11 AM MST

Results After Friday Night
1. UNIVERSITY OF DENVER - 589.5
2. UNIVERSITY OF NEW MEXICO - 535.0
3. UNIVERSITY OF COLORADO - 504.0
4. UNIVERSITY OF UTAH - 472.0
5. UNIVERSITY OF VERMONT - 423.5

Friday Night Hero Brian Gifford's Senior Video

(above) DU Senior Brian Gifford talks about his four years at DU

DU 2 MTU 1 Final

The University of Denver defeated Michigan Tech 2-1 on Friday Night in a hard fought game to close in on their quest for the Final Five. Even though DU outshot MTU 40-20, Techplayed a close checking, tight game. Josh Robinson, the Tech goalie, was outstanding limiting DU to just 2 goals.

Jesse Martin put DU on the board at the 37 second mark of the 1st period. Assists were given to Anthony Maiani and Kyle Ostrow. On a weird play in which Marc Cheverie was screened, Carl Nielsen backhanded a puck towards the net and it trickled in to tie the game at one at the 15:31 mark.

Brian Gifford got the game winner and put DU up 2-1 at the 15:45 mark of the second with assists to Drew Shore and Chris Knowlton. There was no scoring in the 3rd period. DU is still #1 in Pairwise but it is oh so close with Miami.

Box Score

Pairwise

Denver Post Recap

USCHO Recap

Day 3 - DU Still 1st in NCAA Skiing Championships

(above) DU's Ida Dillingoen finished 10th on Friday night

With one day remaining in the NCAA Skiing Championships, the University of Denver was able to maintain their lead. The men placed 11th, 17th and 22nd in tonight's slalom and the women placed 2nd, 10th and 18th. Tomorrow the Men's 20k and Women's 10k Freestyle Cross Country races wrap up the meet.

1. UNIVERSITY OF DENVER - 589.5
2. UNIVERSITY OF NEW MEXICO - 535.0
3. UNIVERSITY OF COLORADO - 504.0
4. UNIVERSITY OF UTAH - 472.0
5. UNIVERSITY OF VERMONT - 423.5

Men's Slalom Results
11 AJ Arvin
17 Andreas Kilde
22 Leif-Kristian Haugen

Women's Slalom Results
2 Lindsay Cone
10 Ida Dillingoen
18 Jennifer VanWagner

DU Today Video Profile: Matt Glasser

(above) Matt Glasser talks about his four years at DU

Last Week DU Today Blog profiled DU Seniors Rhett Rakhshani & Tyler Ruegsegger. This week Matt Glasser, Brian Gifford (tomorrow) and Cody Brookwell (Sunday) are featured. Next week Brandon Vossberg will round out the Senior Class.

From Boonetown To Motown: The Journey Begins

Lets Go DU Skiing & Hockey Teams .... No TV Coverage This Weekend .... Games Are On PioneerVision

DU Expects Michigan Tech To Be Playoff Ready

From: Denver Post
by Mike Chambers

Three weeks ago, Michigan Tech entered Magness Arena with five victories. The Huskies left Denver with five victories. They still have only five victories.

Among 58 Division I teams, they are tied with American International and Bowling Green for the fewest wins.

So how does the top-ranked University of Denver, which has won 25 games, get up for its first-round Western Collegiate Hockey Association series against the visiting Huskies? (read rest of article)

DU Alum Tyler Bozak Leads Leafs Comeback

(above) DU Alum Tyler Bozak scored with less than four minutes remaining last night to send the Maple Leafs-Lightening game to Overtime. He then assisted on Phil Kessel's OT goal.

2nd Day - DU Leads NCAA Skiing Championships

(above) DU cross country skiers Antja Maempel & Mari Elden on the podium on Thursday

(above) DU's Lief-Krista Haugen won the Men's Giant Slalom on Wednesday

Live Scoring Updates

Steamboat Pilot Wednesday Recap

Steamboat Pilot Thursday Recap

Day Two of the four-day NCAA Skiing Championships kicked off this morning in Steamboat Springs, Colorado. The University of Denver was even more dominant in the morning session than yesterday, with two Pioneers on the podium in Nordic Cross Country Skiing. In the Men's Cross County event the University of Colorado moved back into contention, but DU finishes of 18th, 19th & 23rd kept the Pioneers safely out in front of the CU.

Friday, March 12th
5:15 PM MST - Men’s Slalom (first run) – Howelsen Hill
6:30 PM MST - Women’s Slalom (first run) - Howelsen Hill

Men's Cross Country - DU skiers Kristian Soerlund finished 18th, Andrew Doughtery came in 19th and Harald Loevenskioldr crossed the line 23rd.

(left) DU's Golden Girl Antje Maempel won the NCAA 5K Classical Cross Country Skiing Championship for the second year in a row

Women's Nordic Cross Country - The University of Denver ski team is making a mockery of the NCAA Skiing Championships in Steamboat Springs Colorado. DU's Antje Maempel won the Women's Nordic Cross Country Championship for the second year in a row. She has also now won three consecutive NCAA cross country championships in a row. DU's Mari Elden finished third and Kate Dolan came 13th.

Maemple's margin of victory this morning was by an astounding 43 seconds. In a sport winning is sometimes by a tenth of a second and ties have occurred, 43 seconds is massive margin in a 5K race.

(left) DU's Lief-Krista Haugen, who skied in the 2010 Vancouver Olympics for Norway, won the NCAA Giant Slalom Championship yesterday in Steamboat

The Men's Giant Slalom yesterday - DU's Lief-Krista Haugen won the Men's Giant Slalom to pace the University of Denver's ski team to a massive opening day at the NCAA skiing Championships in Steamboat Springs, Colorado. Haugen's teammates A.J. Arvin & Andreas Kilde finished 5th and 8th respectively.

(left) DU's Lindsey Cone finished 2nd in the Giant Slalom yesterday

Women's Giant Slalom - The University of Denver Skiing Team was in 1st place after the Women's Giant Slalom yesterday morning. Lindsey Cone paced the DU skiers with a 2nd place overall finish, while her teammates Ida Dillingoen and Jennifer Vanwagner finished 5th and 9th. Dillingoen's performance was particularly impressive since she was seeded 23rd in the event.

DU Hockey Fans Take Over CC's World Arena

Evil Empire Of The North National Anthem

Sweet Caroline/CC Sucks Remix

DU Leads At NCAA Skiing Championships

Live Scoring Updates

The Men's Giant Slalom was contested this afternoon. DU's Lief-Krista Haugen won the Men's Giant Slalom today to pace the University of Denver's ski team to a massive opening day at the NCAA skiing Championships in Steamboat Springs, Colorado. Haugen's teammates A.J. Arvin & Andreas Kilde finished 5th and 8th respectively.

The University of Denver Skiing Team was in 1st place after the Women's Giant Slalom in the morning. Lindsey Cone paced the DU skiers with a 2nd place overall finish, while her teammates Ida Dillingoen and Jennifer Vanwagner finished 5th and 9th. Dillingoen's performance was particularly impressive since she was seeded 23rd in the event.

Three days remain in the Championships with skiing and cross county events still to go.

Rhett Rakhshani Roller Hockey Video

Why Do Colorado College Fans Hate America?

(above) Shhhhhh. The CC fans want to hear the choir

Reading the Colorado College Tiger Hockey message board (cctigerhockey.yuku.com) is always good for a laugh. Now they are accusing DU hockey fans of singing the National Anthem too loudly on Saturday night in World Arena.

NCAA Skiing Championship Begins Today

(above) DU's Antje Maempel is the defending National Champion in Feestyle & Nordic cross country skiing

Live Scoring Updates

Full DU Skiing Info & Profiles

The two-time defending champion University of Denver ski team looks to win its 21st national championship, when they head to Steamboat Springs, Colo., for the NCAA Championships from March 10-13. The Pioneers have won an NCAA-record 20 team championships, including two-straight and six since 2000.

DU is sending the maximum 12 skiers to compete in the 2010 NCAA Championships. Teams can qualify up to three men and three women from both alpine and Nordic to compete. Colorado and Utah are the only other RMISA teams sending 12 skiers, along with Dartmouth from the EISA, followed by 11 from both Alaska Anchorage and New Mexico, and 10 from Vermont.

DU Must Pass Michigan Tech On Way To Detroit

(above) The month long drive to Detroit begins this weekend against Michigan Tech

From: Minnesota Daily.com
by Max Sanders

#1 Denver (25-7-4, 19-5-4) vs. #10 Michigan Tech (5-28-1, 4-24-0)

Denver, the nation’s top-ranked team, is led by Hobey Baker favorite Marc Cheverie, who is tied for the national lead in save percentage (.937). He also leads the nation in shutouts (6) and finished the year allowing less than two goals per game .

The Pioneers, though, are not just a defensive powerhouse. They boast the nation’s fourth-leading point scorer in senior forward Rhett Rakhshani, who has 48 points on one of the top-scoring lines in the country. Rakhshani also lead the WCHA in scoring this season.

Paul Stastny (2005-06) was the last Pioneer to win the league scoring title and Wade Dubielewicz (2001-02) was the last DU player to win the goaltending crown.

Denver will be hosting a Michigan Tech team that won just four games in conference play all season and scored a paltry 59 goals in league action.

The two teams met twice this regular season, with the Pioneers winning both matchups, 5-2 and 5-3.

It would be an upset of major proportions if the Huskies even manage to take one game from a Denver team that is among the favorites to win the NCAA Tournament.

Recruit To Visit DU North Dakota & Notre Dame

(above) Rocco Grimaldi from California will visit three schools including DU this summer

2011 Recruit Rocco Grimaldi talks about playing for the U.S. National Development Program. He was recently promoted from the Under-17 team to the Under-18 team and is playing with future Pioneers Jason Zucker and Nick Shore.

Grimaldi may be the #1 college recruit in the country for 2011. Needless to say recruiting coordinators will be nervously watching his "Road Trip" back to California with keen interest.

DU Recruit Beau Bennett Had Epic BCHL Season

(above) Beau Bennett will be a familiar sight in Magness Arena next season

From: BCHL Website
by Chad Klassen

Every Batman needs his Robin. For the BCHL Penticton Vees, this couldn’t be more true when it comes to the superstar tandem of Denver Manderson and University of Denver recruit Beau Bennett. Bennett will play for DU next season.

Bennett had been close to selecting Boston College and Colorado College, before finally selecting DU. It was after his verbal commitment to DU that he went on a scoring tear and drew the attention of NHL scouts.

The high-scoring duo were electric together during a season in which both players finished in the top-three in British Columbia Hockey League scoring. Bennett ended up tying for the BCHL's scoring title with Salmon Arm’s Mark Zengerle 120 points, while Manderson finished the season as the most productive player in the BCHL with 113 points in just 50 games.

"They’re both very driven individuals and they both want to play hockey for quite some time," says Vees head coach and GM Fred Harbinson. "Denver’s obviously our captain and has been a big key to our success this year, and Beau’s had one of the best rookie seasons in a long, long time in this league."

Bennett is projected to be an early second-round selection in the upcoming NHL Draft.

“He sees a lot of plays that other players don’t see, and he’s a good passer and a good finisher. It’s been good to play with him,” says Masterson about Bennett.

Bennett recently moved from the wing to center and went on a tear. The California native was already red-hot, having put up 30 points in 11 games to kick off 2010, but he upped his game down the stretch with 26 points and five four-point games in the month of February.

It was an opportunity for Bennett to shine as a solo act and receive some much-deserved attention from around the hockey world, according to Harbinson.

“Beau did an outstanding job in those 10 games when Masterson was injuried,” he says. “Everybody knew what Denver could do, because he’s been in the league for the last couple years. Maybe it was easy for certain critics to pick apart and say ‘Beau’s production had a lot to do with Denver.’ I think he silenced a lot of those critics very quickly in those 10 games.”

The time apart also proved that Manderson and Bennett don’t necessarily need each other to create offense.

“Both players are great players on their own. Denver Manderson doesn’t need Beau Bennett to make him a player, and Beau Bennett doesn’t need Denver Manderson. They’re both outstanding. So obviously when you have two players on your team, it definitely doesn’t hurt,” their coach adds.

Indeed, when the two are together on Penticton’s top line, it makes for offensive fireworks on most nights.

“They can make plays that a lot of guys at any level can’t. Both would tell you that when there’s no play to be made, either one of them can find a way to make a play and create offense,” says Harbinson.

After a sweep over the Centennials, the two will lead the Vees into battle against the Westside Warriors in the second round of the BCHL playoffs – an Interior semi-final series that begins Tuesday at the South Okanagan Centre.

Beyond that, many are looking to a potential Vernon-Penticton series in the Interior Finals, particularly after an epic regular season battle for conference supremacy. The Vees missed out on first place by five points. However, while one might be waiting in anticipation for that matchup, Harbinson says anyone overlooking the Westside Warriors hasn’t done their homework.

“I don’t think anybody in this area is taking Westside lightly. They’re a very dynamic hockey club, they work hard, they’ve got great goaltending. You’ve got [Trevor] Bailey, who had over 40 goals, Cam Reid who’s an NHL draft pick to Nashville, and kids like [Grayson] Downing, who is off to a great playoff start (five goals, two assists), then Alex Grieve is one of the better defensive forwards in the league,” he warns.

In that semi-final meeting with the Warriors, Bennett and Manderson will be relied upon to put up similar numbers, but a balanced attack offensively is an absolute must if the Vees are to take the playoff series.

Colorado College Coach Owens Blasts DU Fans

(above) DU fans turn their backs to the ice as Colorado College players are introduced

From: Denver Post
by Mike Chambers

Some DU fans attending Saturday's regular-season finale at Colorado Springs were criticized for inappropriate behavior before the game. They screamed obscenities and booed while the public-address announcer introduced the Tigers' nine seniors in their final appearance at the World Arena.

"It was embarrassing, to be honest with you," Tigers coach Scott Owens said. "I would have been embarrassed if it (happened) up there. Kids that have been here four years and put their heart and soul in — I was extremely unimpressed."

Coach George Gwozdecky was in the DU locker room at the time, but upon being made aware of what happened, he said: "That's totally uncalled for. What a shame."

Dakota Mermis Commits To DU

(above) Reports have Dakota Mermis committing to DU last week

Edit: Its now official. Dakota Mermis will play for DU in 2012.

There is no official confirmation yet from any of the usual sources, but LetsGoDU has reports that defenseman Dakota Mermis (5'10 170 lbs) committed to the University of Denver last week. Most likely on the same day that his older brother, Jarrod said he would attend DU next Fall. While this must still be classified as a rumor, we're fairly certain that its a firm verbal agreement.

Dakota just turned 16 in January and is a Sophomore in high school in Alton, IL. He is considered to be an elite recruit and will most likely play for the U.S. National Development Program in Ann Arbor next season if he is selected. He would attend DU in the Fall of 2012.

Dakota is a very talented defenseman who was being watched by several OHL Major Junior teams for their upcoming OHL Draft. He is described by scouts as a smooth skater with a rocket for a shot. The best news is that he is yet another hockey playing honor student with a 4.0 GPA.

Dakota played two games for the Lincoln Stars in the USHL this season despite being just 15 years old at the time (players in the USHL can be as old as 20). He also attended the Stars Try-Out Camp before the season to gain additional experience. The Black & Blue Blog reported at the time that could have easily made the team, but perhaps his parents felt he was too young to endure the rigors of a USHL season. He would have been one of the two or three youngest players in the league.

Needless to say that if its true, and we have a second hand confirmation that it is, its a big commitment.

2010 Recruiting Class
F Jason Zucker (U.S. Under-18)
D David Makowski (Green Bay, USHL)
F Nick Shore (U.S. Under-18)
F Beau Bennett (Penticton, BCHL)
F Dan Olszewski (St. Louis, NAHL)
F Jarrod Mermis (Lincoln, USHL)

2011 Recruiting Class
D Scott Mayfield (Youngstown, USHL)
F Zac Larraza (U.S. Under-17)
G Sam Brittain (Canmore, AJHL)
F Garrett Allen (Fargo, USHL)
D Matt Van Voorhis (U.S. Under-17)
D Daniel Doremus (Colorado Thunderbirds, AAA)

2012 Recruiting Class
F Tyler Pham (Team Illinios)
D Dakota Mermis (St. Louis Jr. Blues, AAA)

W.T.F.G.P.?

(above) DU Students gather by the glass to see the Gold Pan

The idiots that run World Arena in Colorado Springs wouldn't let the University of Denver hockey team skate with the Gold Pan on Saturday night. Frustrated DU hockey fans, students and parents were left hanging.

Needless to say the Colorado College Zamboni drivers will be booed mercilessly next year.

2010 Magness White-Out Slideshow (updated)

Slideshow generated with Smilebox

(above) Updated Slideshow from Friday Night's White-Out including Stastny video

Boone's Checklist

Stastny Brings His Silver Medal To Magness

(above) Former DU hockey star Paul Stastny showed off his Silver Medal earned at the 2010 Vancouver Olympic Games. He then ripped off his USA jersey to reveal his University of Denver jersey

Mermis Brothers Both Won Youth Titles In 2007

(above) Jarrod Mermis is DU's newest recruit

In the past week Jerrod Mermis committed to attend the University of Denver next Fall. There are unconfirmed rumors that his younger brother, Dakota, may be in DU's pipeline as well. We found this story online from April 2007 about the Mermis family. Its a great read.

From: The Alton Telegraph
by Peter Hayes
April 16, 2007

These sorts of things are supposed to happen just once in a lifetime - if they happen at all. Winning a championship can elude even the best teams and athletes, no matter what sport. But for the Mermis family of Alton, Illinois once-in-a-lifetime is becoming routine.

Jarrod Mermis and his younger brother, Dakota, played key roles in helping their respective club hockey teams capture national championships recently. In fact, they did it on the same weekend - more than 300 miles apart.

“It’s definitely been a roller-coaster ride, to say the least - a good way,” said Jolene Mermis, the boys’ mother. “I think this could be a first.”

Indeed. But that’s not all - the national title was the second straight for Jarrod Mermis and the fourth consecutive for his team, the St. Louis Junior Blues, who captured their Junior B crown April 1 in Grand Rapids, Mich.

While Jarrod was helping his team stage a dramatic comeback en route to a national title, kid brother Dakota was in Buffalo, N.Y. helping his Affton Americans skate to the USA Hockey 12-and-under Tier III national championship.

And what about the boys’ dad, Bil Mermis? Even though he coaches Dakota’s Affton team, Bil Mermis was able to catch his older son’s title-game win.

“(Affton’s) championship game was Sunday and Jarrod’s team played Monday,” Bil Mermis said. “I was able to rent a car in Buffalo, go up and around through Canada and back to Grand Rapids. We got there before the third period their semifinal game.

“It was a phenomenal experience.”

Winning a tournament, a conference or a state championship is difficult enough - just ask any coach or player. Just winning games is difficult, period.

“We set some really high goals for our team this year,” said Bil Mermis, who is a fourth-grade social studies and math teacher at Forsythe School in Clayton as well as the head coach of the Alton High hockey club.

“It was just a question of whether we’d put the pieces together and be playing our best at the right time.”

The Americans defeated the Phoenix Firebirds 2-1 in the national championship game. Dakota Mermis scored the game’s first goal just 1:53 into the first period. In the semifinals, they defeated the San Jose Junior Sharks 4-2. Other wins were over Saratoga, N.Y., Indianapolis and Hatfield, Pa.

To advance to the tournament, Affton grabbed two wins in the Missouri Amateur Hockey playoffs and four more in the USA Hockey Central District qualifier. In all, the Americans won 12 consecutive games to win their national crown.

Meanwhile, back in Michigan, the Junior Blues actually came close to seeing their string of national titles end at three. Facing elimination after a second-round defeat, they found themselves needing to defeat Boston Junior Bruins by at least 10 goals to stay alive.

Final Score: Blues 11, Bruins 1.

Jarrod Mermis, a junior at Alton High School, scored a pair of goals in the Junior Blues’ dramatic victory. After the rout over Boston, they defeated Suffolk, Mass 6-2 to advance to the national championship showdown with the New Hampshire Monarchs. St. Louis skated to a 4-0 win on four first-period goals, including one by Mermis.

In the national tourney, Mermis had seven points on four goals and three assists.

Jarrod Mermis, an MVCHA All-Star and two-time Telegraph All-Area selection, had 25 goals and 31 assists for the Junior Blues and had three game-winning goals.

Any sibling rivalry at the Mermis home when it comes to hockey?

“Not overtly,” Bil Mermis said. “If any, it’s more of a positive thing. I think they’re happy for each other.

“Dakota went with me to watch Jarrod’s games and when the (Blues’) coach found out we were there, he had somebody bring Dakota down to the dressing room with his national championship medal. He laid the medal out for all the players to see and said, ‘Here’s one national championship medal - now you guys do out and win another one.’”

They did.

DU's Latest Recruit May Come With A Bonus

(left) Jarrod Mermis will attend the University of Denver next season as a "recruited walk-on"

Several internet recruiting sites are now confirming that Lincoln Stars forward Jarrod Mermis (5'7-165 lbs) from Alton, Illinios will attend the University of Denver next Fall. It is believed that Mermis is a recruited "walk-on."

Jarrod Mermis has 3 goals and 6 assists for the Stars this season. This is his third year in the USHL and will be yet another recruit with great speed. DU is really loading up on forwards with quick feet in the upcoming recruiting classes. Black & Blue Blog has more info on Mermis' season with the Lincoln Stars.

It turns out that Jarrod isn't the only hockey player in the Mermis family stable. Younger brother Dakota Mermis (5'10-170lbs) is one of the top 16 year old defensive prospects in the country. It is believed that he will join the USNDT-Under 17 Program next season in Ann Arbor, Michigan. Dakota will play college hockey in 2012.

Many major college hockey programs will be after Dakota, but it believed that DU will have the inside track enabling the parents to see both sons play on weekend visits. There is even some online chatter that Dakota may have already verbally committed or is about to commit to the University of Denver.

The Mermis brothers would join the Ostrow and Shore brothers as sibling hockey players at DU. There have been several others back in the day.

2010 Recruiting Class
F Jason Zucker (U.S. Under-18)
D David Makowski (Green Bay, USHL)
F Nick Shore (U.S. Under-18)
F Beau Bennett (Penticton, BCHL)
F Dan Olszewski (St. Louis, NAHL)
F Jarrod Mermis (Lincoln, USHL)

2011 Recruiting Class
D Scott Mayfield (Youngstown, USHL)
F Zac Larraza (U.S. Under-17)
G Sam Brittain (Canmore, AJHL)
F Garrett Allen (Fargo, USHL)
D Matt Van Voorhis (U.S. Under-17)
D Daniel Doremus (Colorado Thunderbirds, Tier I)

2012 Recruiting Class
F Tyler Pham (Team Illinios)

FSN - Rocky Mountain Adds DU Sidekick

(above) Tom Helmer & Boone provided the highlights on Friday night

The battle between Fox Sports North & FSN-Rocky Mountain to become the highest rated college hockey network took an unusual twist on Friday night. Boone was brought in by Rocky Mountain to counter Doug Woog at Fox Sports North. The overnight ratings were sensational.