Carle More Confident On Sharks Power Play

From: San Jose Sharks Website

(left) San Jose won 2-1 on Monday night and Matt Carle had an assist and was on the ice when the game winning goal was scored. San Jose leads Detroit 2 games to 1.


The Sharks power play is one of the most effective in the NHL, so in the postseason where everything is magnetized, even one night without a tally comes to the forefront.

San Jose’s rookie point man Matt Carle knows about the scrutiny the second time around and will not let the stats from an individual night bother him.

The Alaska native is among the leading NHL rookies in playoff scoring (two goals and three assists), and is a plus four after eight contests. The fact that the power play produced Game 1’s game-winning goal, and it was scored by Carle, was long forgotten by many after the power play didn’t score in Game 2’s loss.

“After a whole year, I’m a lot more confident,” said Carle. “The game tends to be a lot easier now.”

Partly because Carle knows what will work and what won’t work at the NHL level.

“You can’t do what you made work in college,” said Carle. “The plays get picked off.”

Carle’s goal in Game 1 was reminiscent of his Denver University days. On the play, he dropped down from his point and Joe Thornton hit him in stride.

“When I was in school, I would roam round the left side and he would find me,” said Carle. “Joe makes it that much easier.”

Still, scoring now, even with the man-advantage, is much harder than the first 82 contests.

“Teams in the playoffs are all quality teams,” said Carle about playoff power play percentages shrinking across the board. “Sometimes you’re going to have off nights and sometimes you’ll struggle because you don’t get the bounce. Some nights you have all the confidence in the world and some nights you don’t.”

Carle likes his club’s chances up a man virtually every night though.

“We play five really creative players and the more creative we are, and the move we move it around, the more successful we can be,” said Carle. “If we do that, it will take care of itself.”

Plus the Wings are a very potent defense, including the penalty kill, with Dominik Hasek still performing his magic in the crease.

“Hasek has had some big saves,” said Carle. “You can’t let it get to you. In Nashville we struggled and the power play was big in Game 5. We just have to keep our confidence.”

DU Recruit Helps Team Win The Doyle Cup

April 27th, 2007 - DU defensive recruit Jon Cook of the AJHL Champion Camrose Kodiaks captured the 2007 Doyle Cup on Friday night as they defeated the Nanaimo Clippers of the BCHL. The Kodiaks have claimed the Doyle Cup four times in the team's ten year existence.

DU also had two recruits playing for the Clippers. The season is now over for Marc Cheverie and Kyle Ostrow. They will enroll at DU next fall.

Camrose trailed 2-1 after the second period, but battled back to record a 3-2 victory at the Max McLean Arena on Friday night. The best of seven series featured the AJHL Champion and the Fred Page Cup Champion of the BCHL. The Kodiaks led the series back to Alberta 2-1 after beginning the battle with three games in Nanaimo, BC.

The Camrose Kodiaks won their fourth Alberta Junior Hockey League Championship by defeating the Fort Saskatchewan Traders in the AJHL League Final on April 15th, 2007. This was the third consecutive League Final appearance for the Kodiaks. The Kodiaks have advanced to the League Final five times and won four AJHL Championships (2001, 2003, 2005 and 2007).

2007 DOYLE CUP RESULTS

Game 1 Fri Apr 20 Camrose at Clippers 1-0
Game 2 Sat Apr 21 Camrose at Clippers 4-3
Game 3 Sun Apr 22 Camrose at Clippers 2-1
Game 4 Wed Apr 25 Clippers at Camrose 2-0
Game 5 Fri Apr 27 Clippers at Camrose 3-2

Camrose will now represent the Pacific Region at the 2007 RBC Royal Bank Cup National Junior 'A' Championship on May 5th -13th in Prince George, BC.

The Kodiaks will face the host Prince George Spruce Kings of the BCHL in their opening game on Sunday, May 6th.

DU Hockey Legends
.
GUESS THE PIONEER

We have compiled pictures of 25 former DU Pioneers who were drafted by the NHL between 1970 and 1980. Not all of them ever made it to the "show."

Bonus Question: There are three drafted players from the 70's whose pictures we don't have. Who are they?
.
1st Row - Peter McNab, Cal Sandbeck, Perry Schnarr

2nd Row - Bob Young, Scotty Robinson, Ken Berry

3rd Row - Glenn Johnson, Rob Krieger, Lex Hudson

4th Row - Glenn Anderson, Lindsay Thomson, Vic Venasky

5th Row - Mike Lampman, Rob Palmer, Pete LoPresti

6th Row - Ed Hays, Mark Davidson, Mike Busniuk

7th Row - Doug Berry, Jim Bales, Bruce Affleck

8th Row - Mitch Brandt, Joe Noris, Bill Stewart

9th Row - Tom Peluso
















The Clarion Interviews DU Athletic Director
Q & A With Peg Bradley-Doppes

From: The Clarion (DU Student Newspaper)
by Brooks Kirchheimer

Peg Bradley-Doppes is in her second year as athletics director at DU. She came from the University of North Carolina Wilmington, where she served as director of athletics from 1999 to 2004. Bradley-Doppes has also coached and been an administrator at the University of Michigan, University of North Carolina and Miami University.

Q: Has the athletic department turned out the way you envisioned it to be?

Peg Bradley-Doppes: I have enjoyed being here. It has been a wonderful exciting opportunity. We had had niches of national excellence and what I envisioned for this division was broad-based national success. We are building a program that is 17 sports strong and 314 athletes strong. We truly believe that in all of our sport programs. We should be in the top two or three of our conference year in and year out. Also striving to be in the top 20 percent in the country in every sport we have. We have incredible facilities. We have great coaches, our student athletes are a cut-above and now we are trying to put in systems and procedures of strategic plans that embrace excellence. We are trying to make it so every sport program we have is going person-to-person, not us playing against a jersey.

Q: What has been the sport that has been the biggest surprise this year?

Peg Bradley-Doppes: We have had a lot of them, certainly women's lacrosse. This year has had tremendous growth. Men and women's swimming and diving has had tremendous growth. We are just starting to scratch the surface of what is possible here.

Q: Has it been tough for you with the big coach turnaround of late?

Peg Bradley-Doppes: Every assistant coach I meet with, I want them to become a head coach. I don't want a lifer. I want somebody to push us and make us better. I want people around me that are smarter, more intense and that are going to push. Unfortunately, it used to be that people would come to DU, start a reputation and leave for somewhere else. Some of our coaches this past summer were being recruited to their alma mater or to other jobs, but the environment here, the quality of this institution and also that they know they can build something here very special keeps them here. Winning is a byproduct of doing things right, day-after-day. When you start winning, it is not that you like to win, but you hate losing. We start the coaches meetings off now with "take a minute or two and brag about your program." Part of that is to set the stage for expectations. We will always run a clean program. We will always have scholar athletes. Look at our skiing team. They have almost a brand new coaching staff, second in the country at NCAA's and first in the country in academics. Instead of having niches of excellence, the majority are having that excellence.
.
Q: When you came here the basketball program was on its way up and after a disappointing past season was it at a point of re-evaluating after the program had been in Division 1 for 8 years?

Peg Bradley-Doppes: I would not have taken this job if there was a tolerance that we have only been Division I for a certain amount of time. I don't care if we have been Division I for one week. With these facilities and this institution, we should be competitive. We may not win every game, but we strive to. We did this basketball search beginning to end in two weeks. We went after the best. I met with 12 folks down in Atlanta. I brought three guys here on campus and I said to our chancellor and board "these three are incredible now you tell me which one is our best fit for DU." The word across the country was, "Oh my God, Denver is serious now." Our students only have one college experience and it should be an incredible experience. When I put this list together, people would have thought I am out of my mind. I am not out of my mind. I am telling you Denver is special. All you have to do is come visit. I am not going to lie to you. Here is our budget. Here is our facilities. Here is our academic standards.

Q: Seeing our gymnastic regionals last weekend, how tough was it for you to host the hockey regional and not see the DU hockey team out there?
.
Peg Bradley-Doppes: Well, nobody would have been more disappointed than our hockey guys and the staff. For us we were young this year. It was disappointing for our guys and coaches. We still set attendance records and we do it the DU way. We are in it for the long haul and not for one year.

Q: What is your stance on the athletes leaving college early for the professional ranks?
.
Peg Bradley-Doppes: The type of kid we recruit here is going to get their degree and they have a very close relationship with our academic advising staff. If they are going to play and contribute and make sense than that is ok, but if they are going just to fill a roster than I think it is not fair to them. Our guys are too good just to fill a spot. When Matt Carle signed, he did more for this university by saying that he is where he is because of DU. We know our kids and they know the value of the DU degree at the end.
.
Q: Our student section at basketball games is not where people would like it to be. What are some things you are working on to improve that?

Peg Bradley-Doppes: It is not anywhere close. We started making a plan 18 to 20 months ago to start building basketball support. When DU made the jump to Division I a lot of our emphasis and eggs were in one basket, and that was hockey. So basketball suffered from banign neglect. We didn't market well. We didn't reach out to our students. We have to make it fun for the kids to come. We have to make it more accessible and market to the kids. People tell me how great the quality of life is here. Until we win everything, my quality of life is not going to be good.

Q: How special is it to have kids from all over the world on your athletic rosters?

Peg Bradley-Doppes: I think it is incredible. We are a global institution. We attract the top minds not only nationally but internationally. We can not just do it with local flavor. For us, to make it work it has to be a great mix.
Is Stastny The Next Brett Hull?
Helps USA Defeat Austria In First Game

From: AOL Sports

The USA defeated Austria this morning 6-2 in the first game of the World Championships In Moscow. One of the USA's brightest young stars is DU Alum Paul Stastny. Stastny had assists on the USA's third (GWG) & fourth goals.

Stastny just completed a remarkable rookie season in the NHL. He finished second among all NHL rookies in points scored with 79 (trailing Pittsburgh's Evgeni Malkin), and scored six game winning goals.

But while the rest of Stastny's rookie classmates have to wait years before they can test the waters of free agency, Paul Stastny was a free agent of sorts this Spring.

You see, Stastny was born to a Slovak father (NHL Hall of Famer Peter Stastny) in Quebec City, Quebec and is an American citizen. What that all means is that the younger Stastny could have played for Slovakia, Canada or the United States in the World Championships.

In many ways Stastny's situation recalls that of another Hall of Famer's son. Back in 1986, after being snubbed by the Canadians for a spot on a national team consisting of mostly NHL players, Brett Hull decided to take his talents south of the border and suit up for the Yanks for the rest of his international playing days. A World Cup Championship, an Olympic silver and 741 NHL goals later, Hull seems pretty comfortable with his decision. So too will Stastny.
Carle Scores Game Winning Goal In Hockeytown
Leads San Jose Over Red Wings In NHL Playoffs

(left) Matt Carle scored his second goal of the post season against Detroit last night

The San Jose Sharks used a Power Play goal by DU Alum Matt Carle to defeat the Detroit Red Wings 2-0 in Game 1 of their playoff series last night.

Goals from Carle and Mike Grier in a 24-second span midway through the first period gave the Sharks a quick 2-0 cushion and prompted Red Wings Coach Mike Babcock to burn his timeout.

"When you get a two-goal lead in a playoff game, you don't want to sit back and just defend," Sharks Coach Ron Wilson said. "But when I look back on it now, we did a great job from that point on. They actually had more chances before it was 2-0 than they had after that."

The Sharks struck a decidedly defensive posture in the second period, which is the hockey equivalent of running with scissors against a squad as robust as the Red Wings.

But they managed to escape the second with their two-goal buffer intact despite taking three consecutive penalties that allowed Detroit to pile up a 10-3 shots advantage. The upside for the Sharks was that they blocked nine shots and also did a nice job of disrupting the passing lanes.

"In a game like this, it's a positional game, a mental game," San Jose goaltender Evgeni Nabokov said. "You don't have two-on-ones or breakaways. Those plays usually kill you. Today we didn't give up any two-on-ones or breakaways."

After their power play drooped in the first round against Nashville (2 for 30), the Sharks spent much of their practice time fine-tuning it.

They had just one power play in Game 1, which came when Nicklas Lidstrom hooked Joe Thornton, and Carle converted it.

The scoring sequence developed with Ryane Clowe advancing the puck from the right wing to Thornton near the endboards.

Thornton had two options: Bill Guerin waiting in the near circle on the right side or Carle darting down the backside from the left point. Thornton chose Door No. 2 and Carle provided the finish.

"Both guys went to Billy because I kind of eyed on Billy," Thornton said.

That widened the passing lane to Carle.

"Critical mistake on the penalty-kill: two guys covering one," Babcock said.
(above) Tyler Bozak & Columbia Fuels President Jim Smith show off the Trophy. Smith, a DU hockey alumnus, played in the 1986 Frozen Four with the Pioneers.

Bozak Earns Trophy, Scholarship & Praise From Coach

DU recruit Tyler Bozak picked up another postseason honor and earned an extra scholarship in the process. Bozak's linemates, Gary Nunn, and Jamie Benn were also recognized as BCHL award winners.

Bozak, the Grizzlies Team Captain was the league's top scorer with 128 points. He also broke the record for all-time single season scoring, which had been held by Kyle Greentree. Bozak will be heading off to the University of Denver for the 2007-2008 season.

Tyler Bozak also won the “Columbia Fuels 3 Star Selection”. He was selected the number one star more times than any player on the island and received $1500 towards his scholarship from Columbia Fuels President Jim Smith. (shown in picture above).

“It is great to see someone like Tyler Bozak with the #1 star award. Tyler is one of the most complete players I have had the pleasure of coaching and we wish him the best," commented Head Coach, Rylan Ferster.

BC Women's Hockey Coach Makes Bad Boyz List
First Bad Boyz Nominee For 2007-08

From: Boston Herald & ESPN.com

BOSTON -- Boston College women's hockey coach Tom Mutch, who took the Eagles to the NCAA Frozen Four just one month ago, abruptly resigned Tuesday after a university investigation into allegations of inappropriate conduct between him and a student-athlete.

The school gave no details of the probe. The Boston Herald, citing an anonymous source, reported the nature of the conduct involved graphic text messages allegedly sent to Mutch by 19-year-old Kelli Stack (left), who just completed her freshman season under Mutch.

"An allegation of inappropriate conduct has been raised involving" the coach, BC athletics director Gene DeFilippo said in a statement. "The university takes any such matters very seriously. As a result, the athletics department began an investigation of the alleged incident as soon as it was brought to our attention. Coach Mutch subsequently submitted his resignation, and his resignation was accepted."

BC spokesman Chris Cameron said he had no further comment. When reached on his cell phone Tuesday by the Herald, Mutch hung up and did not return follow-up messages.

Stack did not respond to the Herald's requests for comment.

Earlier Tuesday, the school had issued a statement that made no reference to any allegations, saying Mutch resigned "to pursue other career interests."

That statement also praised Mutch, who led the Eagles to their first appearance in the women's Frozen Four this year and was Hockey East coach of the year.

"Tom Mutch brought our women's ice hockey program to a new level and built a strong foundation for the future," DeFilippo said in the first statement. "We wish him the best in his future endeavors."

Boston College improved in each of Mutch's four seasons as coach. This season, the team set program records in multiple categories, including wins, shutouts and goals scored.

Mutch, who is married and whose wife gave birth to a girl in September, played hockey at Northeastern from 1986-88. He became assistant coach of the U.S. women's national team in 1996 and held that position on the team that won the gold medal at the 1998 Olympics in Nagano, Japan. In 2002, he was an assistant coach on the Northeastern men's team.

Stack, a forward from Ohio, led the Eagles in assists (37) and points (54) during a 24-10-2 season that peaked in the NCAA tournament semifinals, where BC lost to Minnesota Duluth 4-3 in double overtime.

Mutch and his wife, the former Laurie Baker, 31, who he coached to Olympic gold in Nagano, Japan, in 1998 when she was a forward on the U.S. women’s hockey team, welcomed their first child Sept. 16.

Laurie Baker-Mutch (left) is head coach of the women’s varsity hockey team at Lawrence Academy in Groton. The couple wed in 2003, the same year Mutch joined BC.

Prior to Mutch ceding his position, the accusations were already creating strife on the club he inspired to a 24-10-2 season this past winter and back-to-back Beanpot titles this year and last.

Freshman forward Anna McDonald, 19, confirmed yesterday she had asked to be released from the Eagles because of the allegations about Mutch and Stack.
(above) Jason Gregoire celebrates his third goal of the game as former Maine goalie Matt Lundin looks skyward
.


DU Recruit Nets Hat Trick In USHL Playoffs
Gregoire's Heroics Not Enough As Lincoln Eliminated
.
DU recruit Jason Gregoire put up a heroic effort to stave off elimination for the USHL Lincoln Stars, but it wasn't enough Tuesday night. Lincoln lost game four and the series to Sioux Falls 8-7 in a high scoring game.
.
Souix Falls jumped out to a 4-0 lead in the first 6:34 of the game, when Gregoire went to work. He scored his first goal a minute later and Lincoln scored four more goals in the first period. Lincoln's final goal of the period was also netted by Gregoire. At the end of a wild first period the score was tied 5-5.
.
The baseball hats flew when Gregoire scored his third goal of the game midway through the second period off the prettiest pass from Brown. Brown, Gregoire and Steve Schultz, three of the Stars’ best players all season, struggled in the playoffs, but came to life last night. Brown had two goals and three assists, and Schultz five assists. If Lincoln had gotten that production throughout the playoffs, you have to wonder what could have been.
.
Sioux Falls held Lincoln scoreless over the final 27 minutes to notch the win against the Stars 8-7 and sweep the United States Hockey League first-round playoff series 4-0.
.
Gregoire was named the "First Star" of the game and was +2 for the evening.
Gauthier Successful In First Professional Season

(left) Not known as one of the sharpest dressers during his four years at the University of Denver, Gabe Gauthier still remains as one the most popular players in Pioneers history


After graduating from the University of Denver, Gabe Gauthier signed a professional contract with the Los Angles Kings organization last summer. He was assigned by the Kings to the Manchester Monarchs of the AHL.
.
His rookie season has proven to be very successful as he scored 14 goals and 28 points. He finished the regular season as the team's fourth leading scorer. The highlight of the year was being called up to the Los Angeles Kings as an "emergency injury replacement player."
.
With the Monarchs currently in the playoffs, he has two assists in four games and Manchester has a 3 games to 1 lead in the best of seven series with the Worcester Sharks.
.
During his career at the University of Denver, Gauthier ranks among the Pioneer career leaders in power-play goals (second), games played (T-second) and game-winning goals (third). He finished his collegiate career with 150 points (64-86=150) and 141 penalty minutes in 162 games from 2002-06.
.
Gabe will be forever remembered by Pioneer fans for scoring the lone goal in Denver's thrilling 1-0 National Championship victory against Maine in 2004 (left). Many call it the biggest goal in Pioneer hockey history.
Battle Of DU Recruits In Doyle Cup
(left) DU recruit Marc Cheverie watches Joe Colborne's game winner in double overtime


The Camrose Kodiacs feature DU recruit Jon Cook while the Nanaimo Clippers counter with Kyle Ostrow and Marc Cheverie.

After the first three games of the Doyle Cup series Cook's team holds a two games to one advantage. The last four games of the best of seven series will be held in Camrose.

In game #2 Kyle Ostrow scored a goal and Marc Cheverie finally saw some action in goal, but it wasn't enough as Camrose won 4-3 in double overtime. Cheverie relieved Vail's Micha Garman after 31 minutes and played the last 41 minutes of the game. He turned aside 14 of 16 shots. It was Cheverie's first action in goal in quite some time.

Camrose scored a goal in the third period of game #3 to hold off Nanaimo 2-1. No stats are available as of yet.
Craig Patrick Is Candidate For NHL G.M. Job

Craig Patrick (on right) is seen here with current Penguins coach Michel Therrien


Former DU hockey star Craig Patrick is one of four candidates up for the General Manager's job of the Columbus Blue Jackets in the NHL. Other candidates include Dave Taylor, former GM of the Los Angeles Kings; Steve Tambellini, assistant GM of the Vancouver Canucks; and Rick Dudley, assistant GM of the Chicago Blackhawks.

Patrick attended DU where he helped guide the Pioneers hockey team to back to back National Championships in 1968 and 1969. He played on the US National Team for 1969-70 & 1970-71 and played over 400 games in the NHL.

He is probably best known for serving as the Assistant General Manager and Assistant Coach under Herb Brooks for the 1980 US Gold Medal winning hockey team, the Miracle on Ice. He was also the general manager for the 2002 US Olympic team, which won the silver medal -- the first US hockey medal since the 1980 team.

Patrick has served as the General Manager for the New York Rangers and Pittsburgh Penguins as well as Athletic Director at the University of Denver for one year.
North Dakota Hockey Players Plead Guilty
Towes & Oshie Avoid Lock-Up: For Now

From Grand Forks Herald
by Susanne Nadeau



Two underage UND hockey players charged after being caught at a Grand Forks bar changed their pleas from not guilty to guilty Friday as part of a plea agreement.
.
Jonathan Toews, 18, and T.J. Oshie, 20, pleaded guilty to "minor not allowed on liquor premises," a Class B misdemeanor, Friday morning in Grand Forks District Court.
.
The two were charged after Grand Forks police responded to a call Jan. 28 at Judy's Tavern, where Toews and Oshie were part of a group that included another UND hockey player, Robbie Bina.
.
Bina, 24, was charged with escaping custody the same night for allegedly opening the door of a police car that held one of the other hockey players. No one escaped.

Toews, who has faced similar charges before, was sentenced to 10 days in jail, which will be suspended for one year, meaning he won't serve the time unless he commits another crime, according to Grand Forks municipal prosecutor Kristi Pettit.

He also must serve 30 hours community service, according to court records, and pay a fine of $425 in court fines and fees.

Toews was charged in September with minor in consumption and noisy party gathering. The noisy party gathering charge was dismissed, according to his attorney, Richard Olson.

Oshie was sentenced to unsupervised probation for one year and to pay about $225 in fines and fees. Once the year is complete, the file will be sealed, according to court documents.

The three were first charged in Grand Forks municipal court, but they had the option to request a jury trial in state district court. In February, all three pleaded not guilty to the charges and requested a jury trial, which moved the cases from municipal court to district court, Pettit said.

The maximum penalty for minor on the premises of a liquor establishment is the same in municipal and district court a $1,000 fine and 30 days in jail. One difference between the two courts is that mandatory fees and fines apply in district court, Pettit said.

"It's more than what is imposed at the municipal level," she said.

Both Oshie and Toews were sentenced to pay $225 in mandatory fees. Toews was ordered to pay an additional fee because the charge in February was considered a second offense.

Bina has pleaded not guilty to the escaping custody charge. He's scheduled to appear in a pretrial conference on May 10.

Topsy Turvy Night For Past & Future Pioneers

In the NHL Matt Carle's San Jose Sharks finished off the Nashville Predators 3-2 to win their playoff series 4 games to 1. Carle was on the ice when the game winning goal was scored.
.
In the Doyle Cup, Kyle Ostrow had an assist on the only goal of the game as Nanaimo won Game One, 1-0 over the Camrose Kodiacs. Other DU recruits Jon Cook had a couple of penalties for Camrose, while Marc Cheverie did not play in goal for Nanaimo.

In the NAHL, Dusty Jackson's Southern Minnesota Express won Game One of their playoff series against Fargo-Moorhead 5-1.

USHL Playoff Roundup
In the USHL, things didn't go so well for DU recruit Jason Gregoire who was -4 in the game as his Lincoln Stars lost to Sioux Falls 5-1. Lincoln trails in the best of seven series 2 games to 0.

John Lee had an assist and was +1 for the game as Waterloo upended the Chicago Steel for the second straight game 2-0.

Jesse Martin's Tri-City Storm were shut out by Sioux City 4-0.
.
Nate Dewhurst did not dress in Des Moines 3-2 victory over Omaha.
DU Recruit Jackson Wins Team MVP Award

OWATONNA, MN - DU recruit Dusty Jackson (Omaha, NE) had difficulty deciding where to play his final season of junior hockey this season. After two years in Billings, the Bulls’ (NAHL) leading scorer had the luxury of choosing from multiple opportunities when the franchise ceased operations in the summer of 2006. In the end, he opted for the Southern Minnesota Express, a decision he has not regretted.

“I was struggling over the summer but I feel like I made the right decision to come here,” Jackson told the Owatonna (MN) People’s Press. “I couldn’t be happier.”

Neither could his Express teammates, who recently voted the 20-year-old forward the team’s Most Valuable Player. With 16 goals and 47 points in 61 games, Jackson led Southern Minnesota’s incredibly balanced attack. Jackson has committed to play college hockey at University of Denver in WCHA.

Southern Minnesota Express (#7) will face the Fargo-Moorhead Jets (#5) in the second round of the NAHL playoffs.

Clarion Looks At Coup d'État That Overthrew Boone

(Above) Hobey Baker winner Matt Carle is "Pro-Boone"

From: The Clarion (DU Student Newspaper)
By Kenna Gair
April 17, 2007

So what does a red-tailed hawk have to do with the DU Pioneers?

In 1999 the university changed its mascot from a coonskin-capped mountaineer named Denver Boone to a Ruckus, whose red cape supposedly looks like the feather of a red-tailed hawk that used to make its home on the prairie and the in the foothills during the pioneer era.

Denver Boone, the official DU mascot since 1968, was unceremoniously retired. At that time the reasons for dropping Denver Boone ranged from his obvious lack of sophistication to his portrayal of the Western stereotype of a guy. After all Denver Boone was a male pioneer and that could be awkward for the women's lacrosse team.

But Denver Boone had some pretty special antecedents. Walt Disney drew him and this cute, smiling guy in a lopsided coonskin cap had adorned everything from DU bulletin boards to hockey memorabilia.

He did not fit in with the sophisticated branding DU was about to undertake. The same company that designed the logos for Denver Avalanche and Nuggets teams also designed the DU logo featuring the hawk.

In a Sept. 17, 1984 Clarion article by Rachelle Scott, the then Director of University Relations Harry Spetnagel raised both the un-sophistication and the gender problem of Denver Boone.

"This is, after all an urban and sophisticated city and the people at this campus are sophisticated young people. I can't imagine they would think the little Boon character would represent them," said Spetnagel.

He also went on to say that the school would prefer a mascot that did not have a gender, like a bird (although there are male and female birds).

Others thought the mascot should be changed because little, coon-capped Boone was not "manly" enough. In an Oct. 1, 1985 Clarion column, writer Steven Liebman noted that new mascots that the students were polled on by the administration were more aggressive male.

"All of the choices were rough tough ragged men. All had muscles, weapons, but no personality," said Liebman.

In 1999 Boone was dispatched to the archives in the basement of Penrose Library and Ruckus, the red-tailed hawk, was presented by the Department of Athletics at a rally near the Schwayder Art Building. Former Athletic Director M. Dianne Murphy said in a Sept. 9, 1999 story in the Denver Post by Mike Chambers that the red-tailed hawk had more of the traits DU wanted in a mascot.

"We also believe that when the settlers came west, red-tailed hawks [frequented] this area," said Murphy.

Should DU dust-off the coonskin cap and bring Denver Boone Back? Send an e-mail to duclarion@du.edu

DU Recruit Wins USHL Playoff Opener
DU Recruit John Lee (left) had an assist in Waterloo's 2-0 victory over the Chicago Steel last night. Waterloo leads the series 1 game to 0.
.
Nate Dewhurst, Jason Gregoire & Jesse Martin will have playoff games with their respective USHL teams tonight.
.
Meanwhile up in Canada tonight, DU recruits Kyle Ostrow, Marc Cheverie & Jon Cook will face off in the Doyle Cup as Nanaimo plays Camrose.
.
In the NHL playoffs, Matt Carle & the San Jose Sharks look to close out the Nashville Predators.
Denver Post Profiles DU's Three Newest Recruits

From: Denver Post
by Mike Chambers

Defenseman Jon Cook of Denver and two other Colorado natives have agreed to join the University of Denver hockey team as recruited freshman walk-ons next season.

Cook, brother of outgoing Pioneers senior forward Steven Cook, is a rookie in the Alberta Junior Hockey League, playing for the Camrose Kodiaks. The league champions are ranked No. 2 in the Canadian junior-A system, and Cook has played in 75 of the club's 77 regular-season and playoff games heading into the national tournament, which begins Friday.

Cook's sister, Dominique, is scheduled to marry former DU star Mark Rycroft, who just finished his first season with the Avalanche, in June. Dominique also attended DU.

"For me to be able to come back home and play is an absolute dream," Cook said from his Canadian billet home. "I'm so happy to have the opportunity, and whatever the team asks me to do that's what I'm doing."

Cook, who graduated from Colorado Academy, will become a DU classmate with defenseman Chris Nutini of Aurora and forward Steve Cunningham of Boulder.

Nutini, who attended Regis High School, plays for Wichita Falls of the North American Hockey League. Cunningham, from Fairview High School, plays for Burnaby of the British Columbia Hockey League.

Cook, 21, said he doesn't know Nutini and Cunningham, but given that Cook is older and didn't play hockey from the ages of 12 to 17, that's not surprising. Cook quit the game after pee-wees, then picked it up again as a high school junior after seeing his older brother develop at DU.

Steven Cook, who played four years of Colorado prep hockey at Kent Denver, overcame injuries and became a valuable fourth-line checking winger as a junior and senior at DU.

"I'd watch him and say, 'Man, that's a good time out there,"' Jon said of his 23-year-old brother. "That definitely had something to do with me coming back.

"I always think, 'Man, why did I ever quit. I would be so much further along.' But I really respect the game now. It's like a new-found love."

Colorado College Update

From: Colorado Springs Gazette
by Kate Crandall


Colorado College received a commitment from what is believed to be the world's smallest defenseman, Brett Wysopal last week. Wysopal, a 5-foot-8, 165-pound native of LaGrange, Ill., fits the bill.

In 55 games for the Tri-City Storm of the USHL, Wysopal has five goals, 15 assists and a plus-13 rating.

CC Coach Scott Owens had hoped to bring in defenseman Ryan Lowery this fall, but Lowery broke his jaw and dislocated his left shoulder in a post-practice fight in December, effectively ending his season. This contunes a long standing tradition of Colorado College recruits who catch Mono, break bones or tear ligaments after they sign a Letter Of Intent with CC.

Lowery is not expected to arrive at CC until 2008, meaning next season’s defensive corps will feature only six players.

Sweatt to NHL Combine
Bill Sweatt, who led CC freshmen in scoring, has been invited to attend the NHL Combine from May 29 to June 2 in Toronto.

The invitation comes as little surprise since Sweatt attracted numerous NHL scouts in the final weeks of the season.

Even though Sweatt is rumored to be a first-round pick in June’s NHL draft, the NHL’s Central Scouting Bureau will not release final rankings until April 25. Sweatt was left out of the midterm rankings after missing games because of mononucleosis in October and then when he was with the U.S. National Junior team in December and early January.

Among the 105 players invited to the combine, Sweatt is one of three NCAA prospects and one of six current or future Western Collegiate Hockey Association players.
Past & Future Pioneers In Playoff Action Last Night
DU Alum Matt Carle's San Jose Sharks won game four of their playoff series with the Nashville Predators. Carle was held off the scoresheet, but the Sharks gained a comanding 3 games to 1 series lead.

In the developmental USHL, DU recruit Jason Gregoire scored the first goal of the playoff opener for the Lincoln Stars. It wasn't enough, however, as Lincoln was whipped by Sioux Falls 8-2. Lincoln led after one period 2-0, but Sioux Falls scored eight unanswered goals including a couple of empty netters in the middle of the 3rd period.

2008 recruit Nate Dewhurst did not dress for Des Moines USHL playoff opener against Omaha. Sixth seed Des Moines was able to upset top-seeded Omaha in Game 1 of the series 4-2.

DU recruit John Lee and the Waterloo Black Hawks begin their USHL playoff series tonight against Chicago.
Four Recruits Begin USHL Playoffs
The playoffs begin tonight for four DU recruits looking to win the USHL's Clark Cup Trophy. The best-of-seven series will determine the six teams that advance to the 2nd round.

John Lee - Defenseman
East #1 Waterloo Black Hawks vs. #6 Chicago Steel

John Lee started the season with the Waterloo Black Hawks, went home to Moorhead, Minnesota to finish his senior season playing high school hockey and then returned to Waterloo for the remainder of the season. While in Minnesota he was named a Mr. Hockey Finalist.

Waterloo earned the title of the USHL’s best regular-season team with a franchise record 39 victories and 82 points. Waterloo also recorded a 25-3-2 mark at home.

Lee had 2 goals and 7 assists in 29 games for the Black Hawks this season. He is going to be DU's youngest recruit next season at 18 years of age. Lee is expected to be drafted on the first day of the NHL draft this summer.

Nate Dewhurst - Forward (2008 or 09 Recruit)
West # 6 Des Moines Buccaneers vs. #1 Omaha Lancers

Nate Dewhurst is one of the youngest players in the USHL and just turned 17 two weeks ago. He had 0 goals and 5 assists in 46 games for the Buccaneers this season. He's expected to play a bigger role next season for the Buccaneers.

Omaha led the regular season series 5 games to 3 and won the last 5 games in a row, but three of those victories came via the shootout or overtime.

Jesse Martin - Forward
West #2 Tri-City Storm vs. #5 Sioux Cities Musketeers

Jesse Martin is very highly regarded by Hiesenburg's recruiting website and was drafted by the Atlanta Thrashers last summer.

Martin led the Storm this season with 37 assists to go along with 19 goals. He also tied for the team lead with a plus/minus of +20.

Despite Tri-City's 2nd place finish in the Western Division, they only went 1-5-1 against Sioux Cities.

Jason Gregoire - Forward
West #3 Lincoln Stars vs. #4 Sioux Falls Stampede

Jason Gregoire is just 17 years old but dominated in a season that was interupted by an ankle injury. He led the team in plus/minus despite playing in only half of the team's games. Due to his sensational return from injury, there's speculation that Gregoire could go anywhere in the first three rounds of the NHL Draft.

After his return from the injury, Lincoln became on of the best teams in the USHL. Lincoln enters the post-season as the league's hottest team having won 15 of their last 20 games.
Trotter Bounces Back From Injury
Recovers To Lead DU In Scoring

From: The Clarion
(DU Student Newspaper)

by Brooks Kirchheimer

(left) Boone supervised much of Brook Trotter's physical therapy and recovery (click photo to enlarge)


The black puck was hit to the opposite end of the glassy ice when then-freshman Brock Trotter swiftly skated down to fore check. As he approached the puck, he collided with the captain and defenseman of North Dakota, Matt Smaby. Trotter fell first and Smaby, instead of striking the ice, saw his skate and blade slide down the back of Trotter's leg.

Trotter tried to push himself up and return to action, but he quickly realized his leg was numb and blood was trickling down his now blood-stained white socks. UND goalie Jordan Parise saw the cut, the blood and the painful looking face on Trotter and quickly called over medical help.

Trotter woke up the next morning in a Grand Forks hospital following surgery. He would soon hear the devastating news. He would be out for the season with a severed right Achilles tendon.

Not only was it a learning experience for Trotter, but for the doctors too.

"They said there was no way I would be playing this year. The doctors had never really seen an Achilles torn by a skate before. We just went one step at a time with rehab," said Trotter.

Just like that, just five games into what figured to be a very promising freshman season, was done, finished, over. In just four full games, Trotter had been named WCHA rookie of the week for scoring three goals and dishing off two assists.

No doubt while he was lying in the hospital bed hockey was in the forefront of his head. "Hopefully I will be able to play hockey again was the first thing. You never really know the extent to the injury until you get diagnosed by one of the doctors, I was trying to stay positive and go from there," Trotter said.

Trotter's hockey career started at the age of two in Brandon, Manitoba, when he would skate around the pond in his backyard.

"All my older brothers started playing, so I just kind of was brought up with it. I had an ice rink right in my backyard so hockey was just kind of always a part of my life growing up, I guess."

A part of his life that would grow stronger year by year and lead to a very successful junior hockey career. He would play for the Lincoln Stars of the U.S. hockey League in the 2004-05 season and score 22 goals and 41 assists for 63 points in 64 games.

It was in junior hockey when Steve Miller and the rest of the DU coaching staff first started to recruit Trotter, who they would later sign.

"I choose DU because they were looking at me from the get-go. They were the first team that really contacted me. The way they conducted themselves and how well the program was doing was a good situation for me to come into."

Trotter knew that college hockey, especially in the WCHA was no piece of cake and that he would have to work hard.

"I wasn't really sure what to expect, I knew it was going to be a much faster pace than juniors. Each step you go up, you just got to be ready to be better every year, just come in and fit in with the guys and go from there. Just one step at a time."

If his first four games of his freshman campaign showed anything, he was climbing up those steps very quickly. Steps that he would have to take a break from because of the injury and sit back and watch his team perform for the remainder of the season.

"It definitely is not fun watching your own team play. You root for them and everything, but it is a lot different than being out on the ice. But it makes you think and you hope that something like this doesn't happen again," Trotter said.

The start to the season especially with Trotter's injury was no pretty sight and the ending would figure to be the same as DU would miss the NCAA playoffs after winning back-to-back NCAA Championships.

"It is never good to miss the playoffs like that, but it motivates you that much more to have a good off-season and come in the next season stronger."

It was a different off-season for Trotter because he had never experienced an injury of this magnitude before and lots of physical therapy and rehab would take up much of his spring quarter and summer.

"While I was injured I would still do upper body workouts and keep in shape as much as I could and once I could move around on my leg, two hours a day of rehab and get the mobility back into it and then just strengthen it. It feels really good now."

It would be no easy return to the ice for Trotter, who after months of not skating or even hitting a puck for that matter would need a few games to warm up.

"Just getting back into the game, you don't really get your speed back for a while. Being sidelined for so long it is tough to get the pace of the game back. You can practice all you want but there is nothing that can prepare you for being out there in the game, I just got more confidence with each game and just started playing how I used to."

After scoring two goals and dishing out five assists in his first six games, the red-shirt freshman would go on to lead the team in points for the season with 40, second in goals with 16 and also second in assists with 26 playing in all 40 games.

"I don't know if it was surprising. I didn't really know what to expect this year. I was happy with the outcome, but it would have been nicer if our team went deeper in the playoffs. I definitely think it was a good season."

It was good season that he has many reasons to be grateful for after suffering such an intense injury.

"We didn't know how severe it was going to be or how the rehab was going to go. It was always in the back of my mind, its all part of life and just be grateful for what you have and don't complain and do it as long as you can."

It was a past couple years for Trotter that saw some big ups and some big downs, but now he is back on that ladder and will continue to take it one step at a time.
Ostrow Leads Nanaimo To BCHL Championship

For the second time in two days, DU recruits won another championship up in Canada.
.
Last night Kyle Ostrow & Marc Cheverie won the British Columbia Hockey League's Championship with the Nanaimo Clippers.
.
Ostrow was described as "a slick playmaker who made everyone around him better throughout the series."

Nanaimo scored with 36 seconds left to win 3-2 and won the best of seven series 4 games to 2 over the Vernon Vipers.

Nanaimo will now face DU recruit Jon Cook and the Camrose Kodiaks from Alberta for the right to represent the Pacific Region in the Canadian Junior A Championships.