Bad Boyz: Another BU Hockey Star Arrested

(above) Max Nicastro is held on $25,000 bail

From: BU Today

Max Nicastro, a defenseman on the BU men’s hockey team, was arrested early Sunday morning by the Boston University Police and charged with sexual assault. BU Police Chief Thomas Robbins says his department is working with the Suffolk County District Attorney’s Office, which is investigating the allegations. Nicastro is accused of sexual assault by a female student on campus. He is being held on $25,000 cash bail, and will be arraigned in Brighton District Court on Tuesday.

Michael Lynch, BU athletic director, says Nicastro has been suspended from the hockey team pending the outcome of the investigation.

Nicastro, a junior, becomes the second Terrier to be arrested for sexual assault this season. Corey Trivino was arrested on Dec. 11 and was subsequently dismissed from the team.

According to Boston.com, other than Nicastro and Trivino, fewer than five of BU’s 33,000 students this academic year have faced charges related to sexual assault, according to a school official. The hockey team appears to be cornering the market on sexual assault along the Charles River.

Charlie Coyle, a Minnesota Wild prospect, quit the BU hockey team five days after Trivino’s arrest, saying he was “done being a student-athlete’’ and wanted to focus fully on hockey.

"Spirit Week" Kicks Off At DU

(above) LetsGoDU will give away 100 Boone posters this weekend

Wednesday and Thursday the University of Denver Spirit Cart will be manned around campus by student volunteers handing out fliers and promoting the weekend's sporting events on campus.

Friday there will be a pregame concert put on by BSA in the Student Pub in the Driscoll Center from 5-7 PM featuring the artist KHLEO. The DU vs. UND hockey game will have a late 8 PM  start because it's televised nationally on NBC Sports Network.

On Saturday Greek Life will be tailgating on Driscoll Green starting beginning at 11:30 AM with the lacrosse game vs. Michigan at 1:30 PM and hockey at 7 PM. 

The DU Grilling Society [DUGS] will be hosting a free BBQ for students, alumni and fans from 5:30 PM until the food runs out before the UND hockey game.

On Sunday both men's and women's basketball games against North Texas will be at Magness Arena, starting at 1 PM and 3:30 PM respectively. These are the final home games for our Seniors, so it would be great to support their fantastic seasons with a large turnout.

DU Welcomes UND Hockey Fans With Open Arms

University of North Dakota hockey fans traveling to Magness Arena this weekend are reminded of several polices on the campus of the University of Denver.

The University of Denver's Sustainability Council has endorsed a ban on plastic water bottles.  Low-class water like Aquafina, Dasani and Arrowhead have been determined to be the cause of global warming.  Tailgaters are encouraged to use Perrier and San Pellegrino in glass bottles.  The plastic water bottle ban must be working, because since the edict was issued, Denver has had a record snowfall and global warming has been downgraded to climate change.

Magness Arena's new state-of-the-art transgender bathrooms are the envy of the college hockey community.  The University of Denver takes tremendous pride in its diversity and inclusiveness.  Fans are reminded that these bathrooms can have long lines between periods, so plan your restroom breaks accordingly.

The University of Denver became the first major university in Colorado to become smoke free in 2010.  Fans possessing cigarettes, pipes, cigars or any "smoke products" entering Magness Arena will have said items confiscated. Confiscated products will be donated to local orphanages.

Fans planning to bring Chronic, blunts or Ganja to the game are encouraged to abide by Colorado's marijuana laws.  North Dakota fans are reminded to carry documentation from a Colorado based physician affirming that he or she suffers from a debilitating condition and advising that they "might benefit from the medical use of marijuana."  Designated marijuana smoking areas around the Ritchie Center vary by event, so check with Magness ushers or security staff before going outside to spark up. 

UND fans are requested to not openly display the Fighting Sioux logo in Magness Arena.  University of Denver faculty are easily offended. Logos depicting Native Americans run counter to DU's commitment to build a diverse and inclusive campus community as a fundamental element of excellence.

Have fun this weekend at Magness Arena, spend lots of money while visiting Colorado and remember after the games; GO HOME TO NORTH DAKOTA.

Ohio State 10 - DU Lacrosse 9 FINAL

(above) DU led Ohio State until late in the third quarter

The fifth-ranked University of Denver men's lacrosse team opened its season Sunday with a 10-9 loss to Ohio State in Jacksonville, Fla. The Buckeyes improved to 3-0.

"All the credit needs to go to Ohio State because they did a great job of shutting us down and being smart with the ball," DU coach Bill Tierney said. "This was a great learning experience for us."

DU's home opener is Saturday against Michigan.

LaxPower Game Recap

DU Alums Trek To Madison For Hockey Games

(above) DU Alums were in the Kohl Center over the weekend

DU Lacrosse Opens Season Against Ohio State

(above) The journey begins on Sunday afternoon in Jacksonville, FL.

DU vs. Ohio State

Noon MT

TV: NBC Sports Network

The University of Denver men's lacrosse team will open the 2012 season in Florida on Sunday at EverBank Field, home of the NFL's Jacksonville Jaguars. The Pioneers will take on ECAC-rival Ohio State at Noon MT.

Fans can watch the game live on NBC Sports Network, formerly Versus. Live Stats will be offered along with a live interactive in-game blog through CoverItLive, all through DenverPioneers.com.

DU 76 - Louisiana Monroe 57 FINAL

The University of Denver basketball team recorded its 20th win of the season for the first time ever playing D-1 hoops at Magness Arena on Saturday afternoon.  DU made 16 three-pointers to roll to a 76-57 victory.

DU wraps up the season next Sunday at home against North Texas.  A victory would clinch the #3 seed in the Sunbelt Tournament.

Denver Post Game Recap

Wisconsin 5 - DU 2 FINAL

(above) Beat Denver buttons for sale in the Kohl Center

The University of Denver jumped out to a 1-0 lead early in the second period on Saturday night at the Kohl Center.  After that the Wisconsin Badgers went to work and came away with a relatively easy 5-2 victory.

Jason Zucker and Drew Shore scored for DU.

Pairwise Rankings

Boxscore 

Denver Post Game Recap

Wisconsin State Journal Game Recap

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WCHA Standings

DU 3 - Wisconsin 0 FINAL

(above) Great Brittain is back between the pipes and all is well in PioNation

The University of Denver continued a recent run of solid defense and timely goals to defeat the University of Wisconsin 3-0 on Friday night. DU improved to 14-3-3 all-time in the Kohl Center.

Sam Brittain recorded his first shutout this year after recently returning from offseason knee surgery.  He made 28 saves.

Luke Salazar started the scoring in the second period with an unassisted goal off of a turnover.

Jason Zucker returned from a recent injury and scored in third period. Nick Shore rounded out the scoring with a 170-foot backhanded empty netter.

DU remained in third place as the top five teams in the WCHA all won on Friday night.

Boxscore

Pairwise

Denver Post Game Recap

Wisconsin State Journal Game Recap

WCHA Standings

Saturday Night Against UND - "Sold Out"

Tickets: DenverPioneers.com

No tickets remain for the North Dakota hockey game on Saturday night, Feb. 25th.

A limited number of "single" tickets remain for the Friday night encounter at Magness Arena in the $32 & $36 price range.

Tweets From Around PioNation

Its Gameday: DU @ Wisconsin

Puck drop is set for 6 PM MT on both nights at the Kohl Center. Friday's game will be televised live on FCS-Atlantic, while Saturday's game will be carried on FSN Wisconsin. Both games will be broadcast live via radio on Denver's Sports Station 102.3 ESPN. Live blog and audio is also available on www.DenverPioneers.com.

DU is 13-3-3 all time against the Badgers at the Kohl Center.

Latest TV Info:
The game tonight will be on Fox College Sports Atlantic (Denver-Comcast #413) at 6 PM MT.  Check local listings because FCS-Atlantic is available on most cable systems in their expanded sports tier. 

Saturday's game will be televised on FSN-Wisconsin (DirecTV #669).  Game is listed on DirecTV Channel Guide.

Denver Post Profiles Shawn Ostrow

From: Denver Post

by Mike Chambers

En route to Gwinnett, Ga., from Charleston, S.C., last Friday night, former University of Denver captain Kyle Ostrow was thankful to be in what is referred to as professional hockey's "bus league."

The first-year pro and member of the ECHL's Chicago Express was enjoying the ride along with teammates and former Pioneers Anthony Maiani and Peter Mannino. Thanks to live satellite mobile television on the bus, they were watching Shawn Ostrow lead DU to a 5-3 victory over the country's top-ranked team, the Minnesota Golden Gophers [read entire article].

Denver Post Profiles DU Lax Player Mark Matthews

(above) Mark Matthews will try to lead DU to the Promised Land this season

From: Denver Post
by Nick Groke

Mark Matthews could be excused for feeling full of himself after his scoring prowess last season led the University of Denver lacrosse team's shocking run to the NCAA semifinals.

But if he starts getting too comfortable as a star, DU coach Bill Tierney has a plan.

"If his head gets too big, I call his mom," said Tierney, the third-year Pioneers coach. "He's deathly afraid of his mother" [read entire article].

Mile High Hoops Blog: Three Home Games Left

From: Mile High Hoops

by Brendon Loy

"Sometimes in life, you only get one shot."

That's what Denver head coach Joe Scott told his team before the Pioneers' high-profile home game against Middle Tennessee State on February 4, televised nationally on ESPN2 -- a first for Magness Arena [read entire article].

Jr. Pioneers Back In Quebec Intl Hockey Tourney

(above) The boys in Quebec

Updates Via Team's Facebook Page

For the second year in a row, the Jr. Pioneers pee-wee hockey team advanced to the Quebec International Hockey Tournament in Quebec City.  Playing under the name Colorado Jr. Avalanche, after winning the regionals, the team is off to a 2-0-0 start.

On Friday night, fans can watch the third game of the tournament live on the big screen at Crimson & Gold Tavern near DU at 7:15 PM.

The Quebec City International Pee-Wee Hockey Tournament is the largest ice hockey tournament in the world. Over 2,000 youth players (11-12 y.o. boys & girls) from over 16 countries compete annually. Held every February at the 15,000 seat Colisee Pepsi, it unofficially serves as the pee-wee World Championships.

Players who have competed in this tournament when they were younger include Wayne Gretzkey, Paul Stastny, Patrick Roy and Peter Senja.

NAHL Leading Scorer Commits To DU

Gabe Levin

Gabriel "Gabe" Levin [20 y.o. - 5'8 165 lbs], the NAHL's leading scorer, verbally committed to University of Denver of the WCHA for the 2012-13 season.

Originally from Marina Del Ray, California, Levin has played the last two seasons for the Fairbanks Ice Dogs. Over the past two seasons he has 102 assists in 98 games.

So far this season he has 14 goals, 60 assists and is +30.  He has recorded at least one point in 37 of the Ice Dogs 43 games.

His NAHL coach had this to say about Levin, "He can skate, his feet are his biggest asset and he’s got good hockey sense.  He knows where everyone is on the ice, knows how to read plays and understands his teammates.  Since he doesn’t put up a lot of goals, he may not get the credit that some other goal scorers do, but he is the key to our offense.”

He started playing youth hockey for the Anaheim Jr. Ducks and moved on to the California Titans program in Simi Valley, just north of Malibu. He is an excellent student and had been considering several Ivy League schools.

2012 Recruiting Class
F Tyler Pham (Indiana Ice, USHL)
D Dakota Mermis (Green Bay, USHL)
D Matt Van Voorhis (Sioux Falls, USHL)
F Garrett Allen (Des Moines, USHL)
D Nolan Zajac (Omaha, USHL)
F Quentin Shore (U.S. Under-18)
F Grant Arnold (Green Bay, USHL)
F Gabe Levin (Fairbanks, NAHL)

2013 Recruiting Class
F Brad Hawkinson (Lincoln Stars, USHL)
F Landon Smith (Cedar Rapids, USHL)
F Connor Chatham (U.S. Under-17)
F Ray Pigozzi (Chicago, USHL)
D Will Butcher (U.S. Under-17)

F Cody DePourcq (Penticton, BCHL)

2014 Recruiting Class
F Jared Fiegl (Colorado Rampage, U-16)
D Gage Ausmus (U.S. Under-17)
F Trevor Moore (Tri-Cities, USHL)

Chambers Tweet: DU Makes Surprise Roster Move

WAC May Be Raided By Mega-Conference

From: Bleacher Report

The University of Denver will join the Western Athletic Conference next season in several sports, most notably, basketball.  With Conference Comissioner Karl Benson jumping ship to head up DU's former conference, the Sunbelt, things are looking very unstable in the WAC.

Less than 24 hours have passed and rumors are swirling that the new "competitive agreement" formed by Conference USA and the Mountain West Conference could expand to include a total of 24 schools.

This agreement would require the addition of eight more schools, and probably means the Western Athletic Conference (WAC) and Sun Belt Conferences are likely to be targeted (again) by this new mega-conference.

Perhaps, the time has come for the WAC to take a page from the "competitive agreement" playbook and make a preemptive strike to preserve their own conference and prevent further damage to their brand [read entire article].

Boone Squad To Protect Mascot During UND Series

(above) The paramilitary "Boone Squad" will protect our mascot during what's  sure to be contentious weekend

When the unwashed masses from west of the Red River invade Magness Arena the weekend of Feb 23rd, security for Boone will be a priority.  Having regained and lost the Fighting Sioux logo a half dozen times in the past few years has caused consternation in Sioux Nation.

Now that they are fighting among themselves, someone may try and steal Boone before play opens in the new National Collegiate Hockey Conference.

Tyler Bozak & Jesse Martin Have Breakfast

Denver Post: Chris Udofia Has Blossomed At DU

From: Denver Post
by Irv Moss

If Chris Udofia flew under the radar on his way to his college basketball home, did he end up finding his best target anyway?

The University of Denver sophomore believes he did. In fact, he questions whether the Pioneers are actually under the radar anymore [read entire article].

Denver Post: DU Lax Opens Season On Sunday

(above) Jamie Faus will be counted on to lead the Pioneers

From: Denver Post
by Nick Groke

A year removed from streaking to the national semifinals — a shocking finish for a team that hosted the first-ever NCAA tournament game west of the Mississippi — the University of Denver men's lacrosse team has a tall task for its encore.

"Teams are going to come after us," Pioneers sophomore goalkeeper Jamie Faus said Tuesday, "because we're one of the big boys now" [read entire article].

DU To Set Up Premium Lacrosse Tailgating Area

The University of Denver’s Department for Athletics and Recreation has announced the opening of its newest tailgating venue, the “Lax Zone”, set to debut during the 2012 men’s lacrosse season.

The “Lax Zone,” will be located in the Ritchie Center surface parking lot and will serve as the premium tailgating experience for fans, with the hopes of creating the best home-field advantage possible while also branding Denver, Colo., as the lacrosse capital of the West.

The “Lax Zone” and will feature season-long reserved spaces for fans to host their friends and family and share in the Pioneer spirit prior to face-off. Fans who purchase a “Lax Zone” tailgating spot will receive two parking spaces just steps away from Peter Barton Lacrosse Stadium. Reservations to secure your spot are first come-first serve and the parking spaces are designated for the entire 2012 lacrosse season.

Reserve your spot now and be a part of another historic season as DU men’s lacrosse looks to improve on last season’s Final Four run. “Lax Zone” tailgating spots are just $300 for the entire season and will entitle each fan to their own personal tailgating area.

To secure your Denver Lacrosse “Lax Zone” space for this season, call (303) 871-3720.

Mayfield Named WCHA Rookie Of The Week

(above) DU's Scott Mayfield spent much of last weekend bottling up Minnesota forwards along the boards

From: WCHA.com

University of Denver defenseman Scott Mayfield, who contributed two assists, four hits and two blocked shots to help the Pioneers to a two-game home-ice sweep over league-leading and Minnesota last weekend, has been named Red Baron® WCHA Rookie of the Week.

A 6-4, 200-pound freshman from St. Louis, Mo., and a draftee of the NHL's New York Islanders, Mayfield assisted on teammate Jason Zucker's game-winning power-play goal at 4:02 of the third period last Friday evening at Magness Arena as Denver collected a 5-3 victory over the Golden Gophers. 

On Saturday night, Mayfield earned an assist on Nick Shore's third period tally that evened the game at 3-3 and catapulted DU on to a 4-3 overtime win. He quarterbacked Denver to a 3-for-10 effort on the power-play over the weekend and also fired four shots on goal.

As a rookie, Mayfield has seen action in 29 of the Pioneers' 30 games this season with eight points (2g, 6a).

Tweets From Around PioNation-Valentine's Edition

News & Notes From Around PioNation

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The National Post has a very complimentary article about Tyler Bozak and what he has done as the first line center for the Toronto Maple Leafs this season.

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"Thankfully, he is a lot better than where he was when he was lying on that ice," Gwozdecky said of Jason Zucker in the Denver Post today. "It was a dangerous, dangerous hit, and it certainly could have been a lot worse, based on what we saw not only live but on (video)."  Check out the entire article.

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Thanks to Boston College winning the Beanpot Tournament last night, DU is now alone in 7th place in the Pairwise Rankings.

Only Three DU Home Hoops Games Left

(above) DU's historic basketball season is winding down

The  DU men's basketball team prepares for March Madness with three Sun Belt Conference home contests.  On Thursday, DU takes on Louisiana-Lafayette with the tip set for 5 p.m.  On Saturday, DU welcomes Louisiana-Monroe for a 4 p.m. start time.

Ticket are only $9 and can be purchased online, or by calling 303-871-2336 or in person at the Ritchie Center Box Office. 

DU currently is in third place of the Sun Belt Conference West Standings, just 1.5 games out of first.  DU wraps up it's regular season schedule at home on Sunday, February 26 at 1 p.m. against North Texas.

DU Fans To Attend Wisconsin Series

DU Hockey & Post Game Party

RSVP For Event (FREE) ,

DU Hockey @ Wisconsin in Madison February 17th & 18th Puck drops at 7:07 pm CST both nights DU Fans' Post-game Party Saturday, February 18 Nitty Gritty Bar and Grill 223 North Frances Street, Madison (near Kohl Center) Reserved room in the back for DU alumni and fans! Appetizers courtesy of the Office of Alumni Relations; Cash Bar Questions? Contact Kevin Friduss

NCHC Teams Will Play 24 Conference Games

The National Collegiate Hockey Conference will feature a 24-game conference schedule when the new NCAA Division I men's hockey conference begins play in the 2013-14 season.

In announcing the plan for its inaugural campaign, Commissioner Jim Scherr said the mix for the first 34-game regular season consisting of 24 conference and 10 non-conference contests.

The conference's member institutions are: Colorado College, University of Denver, Miami University, University of Minnesota-Duluth, University of Nebraska-Omaha, University of North Dakota, St. Cloud State University and Western Michigan University.

Denver Post: Zucker To Practice Today

(above) Jason Zucker was knocked unconscious by Minnesota's Kyle Rau on Friday night

From: Denver Post

by Mike Chambers

University of Denver standout forward Jason Zucker is scheduled to practice today and will likely travel with the team to this weekend's series at Wisconsin, Pioneers coach George Gwozdecky said [read entire article].

News & Notes From Around PioNation

DU recruit Cody DePourcq scored his third goal in the last two games as the BCHL Penticton Vees won their 32nd game in a row.

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Congrats to DU recruits Connor Chatham, Will Butcher & Gage Ausmus who helped the USA Under-17 Team win the 2012 Vlad Dzurilla Under-18 Tournament in Slovakia over the weekend. With the victory, Team USA finished the tournament with a perfect 3-0-0 record and clinched the tournament title for the third straight year. 

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Over the weekend, the DU men's basketball team rolled to a 38-14 halftime lead against Florida International.  The Pioneers won 77-63 in a cakewalk.

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Beau Bennett, Daniel Olszewski, Shawn Ostrow & Paul Phillips were named WCHA Scholar Athletes for 2011-12. Congrats to those players who are getting it done in the classroom as well as on the ice.  Clearly the Ostrow brothers are smarter than the Shore boyz, as Kyle was a three-time WCHA Scholar Athlete as well.

Tweets From Around PioNation

DU's MacNaughton & Playoff Seeding Scenarios

PlayoffStatus.com's Odds To Win MacNaughton

MacNaughton Cup

WCHA Tie-Breaking Procedures

MacNaughton Cup

At the conclusion of the regular season, teams will be ranked by the number of points accumulated. If two or more teams are tied for first place, they will be declared co-WCHA champions. So to win or be co-champion of the MacNaughton Cup is based solely the number of WCHA points. Simple enough, DU is two points behind Minnesota & one point behind UMD with six games to play.

WCHA Playoff Seeding Procedures

The first round of the WCHA’s post-season tournament will be a best-of-three games format at the home site of the teams ranked higher in the final regular season standings. All twelve teams participate in the first round of the tournament. First round playoff pairings will be: #1 vs #12, #2 vs #11, #3 vs #10, #4 vs #9, 5# vs #8 & #6 vs #7.

Following the five first round series, the six winning teams will be reseeded #1 thru #6 according to their standings in the final WCHA in-season competition and will advance to the WCHA Final 5. #3 will play #6, #4 vs #5; #1 & #2 have byes. If DU finishes first or second and won the first round playoff series they will avoid a "play-in" game.

In the event that ties are encountered in the determination of WCHA ranking or designation of home teams for playoff purposes, the following procedures would be used.

If two or more teams are tied, head-to-head competition during the regular (conference) season will be used to break the tie. DU was 0-1-1 vs. Minnesota-Duluth and 2-0-0 against Minnesota. UMD was 0-2-0 against Minnesota. DU would win a three-way tie breaker.  DU would have the two-way tiebreaker over Minnesota.  UMD would have the two-way tiebreaker over DU; Minnesota would have the two-way tiebreaker over UMD.

DU's remaining schedule: @ Wisconsin, UND & UNO

UMD's remaining schedule: @ Mankato, CC & @ SCSU

MN's remaining schedule: BSU, @ UNO, Wisconsin

DU 4 - Minnesota 3 FINAL OT

On a night when the University of Denver sent a message by starting five Colorado natives plus Canadian goaltender Sam Brittain, Nick Shore was the hero for the Pioneers.  Shore was not only born in Denver, but both his parents attended DU.

After scoring the game winning goal with less than two minutes remaining, Shore scored the game winner just 17 seconds into overtime, giving DU the 4-3 win.  The victory put the University of Minnesota on the losing end of a sweep for the first time this season.

Following the loss, the Gophers sit just one point ahead of No. 3 Minnesota Duluth and two points ahead of Denver, with three weekends remaining in the race for the WCHA crown.

DU now sits tied at #7 in the Pairwise rankings.

Boxscore

Star Tribune Game Recap

Pairwise Rankings

DU Hockey Twitter: Zucker Will Not Play Tonight

Boone Sweatshirts Available On Saturday Night

Look for Boone sweatshirts on Saturday night.  $25 Each.

Denver Boone Facebook Page

Video: Kyle Rau Hit On Jason Zucker

From: WCHA

The men's Western Collegiate Hockey Association today announced a one-game suspension to University of Minnesota hockey player Kyle Rau for his actions in the February 10 game vs the University of Denver.

Rau's suspension was determined after a review of the incident under the WCHA's Supplementary Discipline Policy and Procedures. At the time of the incident, he was assessed a 5:00-major penalty for boarding and a 10:00-game misconduct.

Rau will be required to serve this one-game suspension in his team's next regularly scheduled game on Saturday, February 11 vs the University of Denver.

Denver 5 - Minnesota 3 FINAL

The University Of Denver extended the Friday night woes for the #2 Gophers, finishing off Minnesota 5-3.

The 14th-ranked Pioneers put on a show for their hometown fans as they peppered Minnesota goaltender Kent Patterson with 34 shots, including 19 in the first period. They also staked themselves to an early 3-1 lead, beating him up stick-side, five-hole and glove-side in a span of just over eight minutes.

Denver Post Game Recap

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Denver Post Photo Slideshow

Star-Tribune Game Recap

Boxscore

Pairwise

50/50 Raffle Tickets Available This Weekend

(above) Lucky ticket #1957

DU vs. #1 Minnesota

8 PM MT Friday

TV: NBC Sports Network

Don't forget to buy several 50/50 raffle tickets this weekend.  Last Friday night the Raffle tickets sold-out and the prize was $1,000.

Proceeds from the 50/50 Raffle go to the DU hockey program.

Denver Post Profiles Sam Brittain

From: Denver Post
by Mike Chambers

With a nickname that fits nicely as his middle name, sophomore goalie Sam "Great" Brittain offers the University of Denver a chance. Only eight regular-season games remain, and the Pioneers are on the bad side of the NCAA Tournament bubble.

They must be great the rest of the way to qualify for a fifth consecutive bid to the NCAAs, and the 6-foot-3 Brittain — who has played in just two games since returning from major knee surgery in the offseason — is capable of putting this talented but injury-prone team on his shoulders.

He has been cleared to compete in back-to-back games, beginning tonight in the two-game series against top-ranked Minnesota at Magness Arena [read entire article].

USA Hockey Magazine Profiles David Carle

(above) David Carle's role on DU's coaching staff has expanded over the past four years

David Carle had a budding hockey career when, in April 2008, he signed his National Letter of Intent to play for the University of Denver.

He was eager to follow the decorated tracks of his older brother, Matt, who won two NCAA titles and a Hobey Baker Award with the Pioneers before becoming an established NHL blueliner.

He was also primed to join fellow DU recruit Joe Colborne on the NHL draft board. The Central Scouting Service’s final ranking had him placed at No. 60 among North American skaters.

But even before the prologue to his promising story was complete, Carle’s hockey career took an unforeseen turn.

One day prior to the draft in Ottawa, Carle anxiously awaited the results of a test at the Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minn., ordered after something suspicious had emerged at the pre-draft scouting combine. Upon hearing from the medical staff, he learned he had hypertrophic cardiomyopathy, a thickening of the heart that can trigger cardiac arrest during strenuous activity [read entire article].

DU Recruit Scores Two Goals In Slovakia

From: USA Hockey

University of Denver recruit Connor Chatham scored two goals and recorded an assist, as the U.S. National Under-17 Team defeated Switzerland, 6-1, in the 2012 Vlad Dzurilla Under-18 Tournament opener on Thursday at the Piestany Ice Arena.

Chatham netted back-to-back goals, one with the man advanatge, 52 seconds apart in the third period to ice the game for Team USA. The U.S. National Under-17 Team continues tournament play against Germany on Friday at 5:30 AM MST.

Mike Chambers Blog Has Injury Updates

There is no chance DU sophomore defenseman David Makowski and sophomore wing Beau Bennett will play in this weekend’s two-game series against No. 1 Minnesota at Magness Arena, Pioneers coach George Gwozdecky said [read entire article].

Gophers Top Line Will Keep DU Busy

(left) The #1 ranked Minnesota Gophers invade Magness Arena this weekend

From: Fox Sports North
by Brian Hall

Two are former Minnesota Mr. Hockey winners, the third might have been able to take home the same trophy if it weren't for an injury. All three players were selected in the top three rounds of the NHL draft and were among the top high school recruits in the country their senior seasons.

Zach Budish, Nick Bjugstad and Kyle Rau ended up together with the Minnesota Gophers men's hockey team. When Minnesota started practicing this season, coach Don Lucia decided the trio best fit on the same line.

Now that they are together, the Budish, Bjugstad and Rau aren't thinking about being split up — at least not yet.

"We just want to focus on this, what we have at hand," said Rau, the freshman left wing. "If things go well here, other things will play out for us."

Together, the three have formed one of the top lines in all of college hockey and helped the Gophers return to prominence as the No. 2 ranked team in the country heading into this weekend's series at No. 14 Denver. Minnesota (19-9-1, 15-5-0 WCHA) also leads the conference with 30 points.

Rau is the speedy newcomer, slight in stature at just 5-foot-8 and 172 pounds, but he's made his mark with 13 goals and 14 assists in his first 27 college games. Rau's plus-19 rating is sixth in the country. Bjugstad is the big sophomore center with the bigger numbers. The 6-foot-5, 211-pounder is second in the nation with 21 goals to go with 12 assists. Budish, the redshirt sophomore right wing, is the surprise veteran leader as an assistant captain with six goals and 16 assists.

"It's fun playing with guys as skilled as they are," said Budish, who suffered a knee injury playing football and missed the entire his entire senior hockey season at Edina High School.

"They are good defensively and they play an all-around game. Obviously they put up a lot of points. That's what most people notice. We do things that don't show up. Kyle blocks a bunch of shots. Nick's phenomenal on faceoffs…I think those guys bring other things to the table other than scoring" [read entire article].

Chicago Blackhawks Practiced At DU Yesterday

From: Chicago Tribune
by Brian Hamilton

The puck hit the back of the net Wednesday and, from the point, Patrick Sharp let out a whoop that echoed throughout the University of Denver's Magness Arena. The Blackhawks forward then threw both arms in the air and pumped them triumphantly.

Moments later, Jonathan Toews scored and raised his stick high on a short victory lap. It was merely a practice, and the moments did nothing to alter the reality of a six-game losing streak, but any discernible pulse in the team's comatose power-play unit was worth celebrating.

"It really has been letting us down and could be a key part of us winning games," winger Patrick Kane said.

The team worked on the power play Wednesday and made schematic adjustments. Now must revitalize an offense that carried them before and must do so again.

Tweets From Around PioNation

Last night the New York Islanders, including DU alum Rhett Rakhshani, played the Philadelphia Flyers with Matt Carle.  A tweet indicated that Rakhshani appeared to have suffered another injury, but there was no mention of it in the news accounts of the game.

The Islanders won 1-0 in a shootout.

Denver Post Profiles DU Guard Brian Stafford

(above) DU guard Brian Stafford comes from a family of athletes

"You can see in this building, the energy that's here now. That's what we wanted to do. This is going to be our program for the rest of our lives. We wanted to leave it headed in the right direction. And we've got more to do this year."

From: Denver Post
by Tom Kensler

Denver senior guard Brian Stafford can't say for sure where he got that poker-faced ability to maintain his composure in crunch time.

Did he inherit it from a grandfather, who played basketball on California's 1959 NCAA championship team? [read entire article]

Clarion Editorial Rips Boone Mascot

(above) As Boone becomes more popular on campus, the PC Police jump into action

From: DU Clarion

by Makayla Cisneros

When it comes to school spirit, the trickiest part is trying to unify the entire student body behind a symbol, such as a mascot. At DU, Denver Boone, sketched by Walt Disney specifically for the use of the university, was the mascot for most of the 20th century.

Daniel Boone, who was the inspiration for Denver Boone, was a pioneer who fought in the revolutionary war in Kentucky, which primarily involved British settlers against Native American tribes.

It is these battles that he is most known for. It is because of Daniel Boone's bloody history and involvement in battles which engaged in the slaughter of Native Americans that he was removed as the DU mascot in the first place; also in part because of his sexist implications as a male representing a multi-gendered athletic community [read entire article].

Denver Post: DU Hockey Faces Uphill Climb

DU vs. #1 Minnesota

8 PM MT Friday

TV: NBC Sports Network

From: Denver Post

by Mike Chambers

The University of Denver didn't just relinquish the Gold Pan to Colorado College last weekend. The Pioneers continued to fade in the NCAA Tournament picture as well.

DU is now 17th in the PairWise Rankings (PWR), well out of contention for an at-large berth in the 16-team NCAA Tournament. After five automatic bids are awarded to conference tournament champions, as few as 11 at-large berths will be given to the top PWR teams [read entire article].

News & Notes From Around PioNation

(above) Inside Lacrosse profiles the Pioneers

Late Start on Friday Night: The ice hockey game against Minnesota at Magness Arena will start at 8 PM because it is being televised nationally on NBC Sports Network (formerly Versus).

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The NCAA Division I men's lacrosse quarterfinals will be at Lucas Oil Stadium in Indianapolis in 2013. DU hosted the first ever NCAA lacrosse tournament game west of the Mississippi last season.

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Inside Lacrosse has a complete breakdown on the University of Denver lacrosse team's upcoming season.

Brendan Loy Recaps Saturday's Hoops Experience

(above) DU students storm the court

Mile High Mids Blog

Brendan Loy has been blogging about the University of Denver basketball program for the past year and a half.  His recap contains many cool photos of the student section and his article is a must read.  Check it out.

Colorado College Missed Out On Hometown Recruit

John Ryder

From: Colorado Springs Gazette
by Brian Gomez

DU defenseman and crowd favorite John Ryder would have considered Colorado College. If the Tigers had considered him.

“I was not recruited by CC at all,” Ryder said. “They didn’t give me any looks.”

The 2007 Rampart High School graduate, a defenseman, carries no regrets about a five-year career with Denver in which he has appeared in 128 games and been around for 116 wins, four NCAA Tournament berths, a Western Collegiate Hockey Association regular-season title and a WCHA Final Five title. He has played just 15 games in a redshirt senior year, recently returning from a fractured left kneecap that he suffered in November.

“When you play for Denver, you don’t like CC,” said Ryder, who will graduate with two degrees in the spring. He added, “Everybody knows those games are at a different level. No matter how each team is doing, they’re big games. And I try to play at my best.”

DU 75 - Middle Tennessee 60

(above) Boone whipping up the students pre-game

photo credit: Andrew Fielding

(above) The students were en fuego

photo credit: Andrew Fielding

(above) DU students storm the court

(above) How sweet it is

"When DU plays like that, they could beat a lot of top-20 teams. They had a fantastic crowd. It was set up for them to play well."

-Middle Tennessee Coach Kermit Davis

Forward Chris Udofia scored a career-high 27 points, as the University of Denver won 75-60 to give Middle Tennessee its first Sun Belt Conference loss of the season in front of a national television audience on ESPN2 at Magness Arena on Saturday.

Redshirt-senior forward Rob Lewis tied a season-high with 17 points, and freshman guard Royce O'Neale rounded out DU's double-figure scoring trio by adding 14 points off the bench.

DenverPioneers.com Game Recap

Denver Post Game Recap

Denver Post Photo Slideshow