Veideman Named Captain of 2006-07 Hockey Team

DENVER - Senior defenseman Adrian Veideman has been named captain of the 2006-07 University of Denver hockey team, while senior J.D. Corbin and juniors Paul Stastny and Andrew Thomas will serve as alternate captains, announced today by two-time National Coach of the Year George Gwozdecky.

Gwozdecky announced all four captains after a team vote. Veideman becomes the seventh consecutive defenseman to either co-captain or captain the Pioneers. He tallied 17 points on six goals and 11 assists in 31 games last season after missing eight games with a shoulder injury. Veideman has been one of DU's most versatile players the past three seasons seeing action at forward and defense.

"Adrian has earned the respect of his teammates on-and-off the ice," Gwozdecky said. "He has played on two NCAA National Championship teams and knows what kind of leadership is necessary for our team to be successful. His selfless play, toughness and willingness to play both offense and defense have been immeasurable."

Corbin moves into the leadership role after showing steady progress for three seasons. The Littleton native tallied a career-best 20 points on five goals and 15 assists in 38 games last season. He earned the Dr. Ken Bredesen Award for sportsmanship and was a co-recipient of the Dr. Art Mason Award for top scholar-athlete. In addition, he was one of DU's top forwards during the second half of last season.

"J.D. is another in a long line of Colorado natives who have played important leadership roles within the Pioneer hockey program," Gwozdecky said. "He is one of the fastest players in the WCHA and throughout his career has proven to be one of the top penalty killers in college hockey. J.D. is a hard worker who leads by example and we anticipate a strong senior season from him."

Stastny earned the "A" after leading the WCHA in conference scoring and tying for the team lead with 53 points. He has amassed 98 points on 36 goals and 62 assists in just 81 games. Stastny earned National Rookie of the Year honors from USCHO.com in 2005 and All-WCHA First-Team and RBK West Second-Team All-America accolades in 2006.

"Paul is one of the top forwards in college hockey and one of the most-liked players on the team," Gwozdecky said. "His confidence and personality are contagious and his teammates are ready to follow his lead."

Thomas is DU's most experienced returning defenseman. The 6-foot-2, 220-pound blueliner has played in 80 of 82 games in two seasons as a Pioneer and will lead a young defensive corps in 2006-07. Thomas and Veideman will expand their roles after the departure of 2006 Hobey Baker Memorial Award winner Matt Carle.

"Andy brings a strong physical presence to our blueline," Gwozdecky said. "He learned a lot from playing alongside Matt Carle for two seasons and we expect him to continue mentoring our young blueliners."


DU's 2005-06 Schedule

Thanks to Puck Swami for piecing together an approximate schedule for DU next season. If you see any errors let me know...

A quick glance at the schedule reveals a diet heavy on nonconference cupcakes. I haven't seen a schedule this soft since the Gemans rolled through Western Europe in 1940 (just 17 years before CC won its last National Championship). I hope DU doesn't go into diabetic shock when they finish the nonconference component of the schedule.

If accurate the schedule looks real good for DU. Bye weeks before UND & Minnesota series as well as easier non-conference weekends before Wisconsin (twice) & CC weekends. This schedule was designed to win the MacNaughton. Lets hope the team has the goods to pull it off.

Schedule

Sept 30 Calgary (Cupcake Exhibition)
Oct 6 @ Miami (Cupcake Icing Tourney - Oxford, OH) (NC)
Oct. 7 @ UVM or Colgate (Cupcake Icing Tourney - Oxford, OH) (NC)
Oct 13-14 @ St. Cloud State
Oct 20-21 RPI (Homecoming/Parents Weekend/Cupcake Buffet) (NC)
Oct 27-28 @ Minnesota-Duluth
Nov 4-5 Air Force/Robert Morris (Double Cupcake Weekend)
Nov 10-11 @ Wisconsin
Nov 17-18 Michigan Tech
Nov 24-25 Niagara (Falls Cupcake)
Dec 1-2 Colorado College (Home and Home)
Dec 8-9 MSU-Mankato
Dec 15-16 @ Alaska Anchorage
Dec 30-31 Denver Cup (Brown, Mercyhurst and Lowell) (The Denver Cupcake Tourney)
Jan 5-6 Wisconsin
Jan 12-13 Bye Week?
Jan 19-20 @ Minnesota
Jan 26-27 St. Cloud (Minn.) State
Feb 2-3 Minnesota-Duluth
Feb 9-10 @ Michigan Tech
Feb 16-17 Bye Week?
Feb 23-24 North Dakota
Mar 2-3 Colorado College (Home and Home)
Mar 9-11 WCHA First Round Playoffs
Mar 15-17 WCHA Final Five (@ St. Paul, Minn.)
Mar 23-25 NCAA Regionals (@Denver)
April 5-7 NCAA Frozen Four (@St. Louis. Mo.)
Boston College Students Try Hockey Boxing

This video link shows why BC only has one National Championship in almost 60 years. To get the true "flavor" pump up the volume...
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Casket bearers wear UND Sioux jerseys in honor of longtime fan John Hjelmstad as his widow, Terri, follows at his funeral Friday in Grand Forks.

John Hjelmstad, one of UND's most dedicated fans, goes out with a Fighting Sioux funeral

Grand Forks, ND - UND hockey's most dedicated fan passed away Monday, but his commitment to the team will live on (Just what we need...Another UND fan calling the shots from the grave).

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John Hjelmstad, wearing his green cowboy hat and vintage jersey, attended his first hockey game in the 1970s and became addicted to the sport immediately (Obviously a "bandwagon fan." Where was he when DU was destroying UND in 60's?). For nearly 30 years since then, he attended every UND men's hockey home game, including every game ever played in the old Ralph Engelstad Arena (what a dump that place was).

His streak has ended, but not without a fitting Fighting Sioux sendoff from fellow fans (Is it too late to bury the rest of the UND Faithful?).

Hjelmstad's passion for the team was evident in all aspects of his life. A room at his house was filled with (hostile & abusive) memorabilia, a collection that "would be worthy of a small museum," according to friend Dan Rustvang (Somebody call Sotherby's. All that stuff must be worth 50 bucks). This passion was evident in his funeral as well.

Per his request, Hjelmstad was wearing his beloved Sioux hockey jersey when he was buried (What...he wasn't able to find a Holy Cross Jersey in time for his funeral?).

When family members met to discuss plans for the funeral, they thought of the perfect way to honor his memory (My suggestion of a six pack of beer and a Red Baron Pizza was shot down). Decked out in hockey jerseys old and new, black, green and white, family and friends showed up at Friday's funeral to pay their last respects in a way that would have made Hjelmstad proud (Great, another gathering of fat guys in tight fitting hockey jerseys).

Fick said it was the first time he has ever seen a funeral where the audience's dress had a theme (The NCAA has banned hostile and abusive logos and mascots at all future funerals, weddings and Bar Mitzvah's).