DU Braces For Expected Crime Wave This Weekend

(left) DU's security forces will be on high alert this weekend as Denver's recent immigrants from North Dakota invade Magness Arena

Denver, CO.- It is estimated that over 1,000 Fighting Sioux hockey fans will be Magness Arena drinking green dyed beer, swearing like sailors and cutting in line at the urinals each night.

In order to reduce crime around campus after the games, DU will be hosting a "Job Fair" to pair up local contractors with North Dakota fans to get them off campus as soon as possible. DU security will also have heightened forces patrolling the parking lots to prevent theft and rioting after the games.

DU Chancellor Robert Coombe told the assembled media at the pregame press conference, "We don't want a similar situation as two years ago whereby UND fans set up tents on campus and started living here."

Colorado Governor Bill Ritter has promised to tighten Colorado's borders in the future to prevent further immigrants from entering the state, but it appears that it is too little too late. Once they start breeding in Colorado, its all over.

Asked why so many North Dakotans move to Colorado one recent immigrant noted that it was either, "Marry a relative or git' the hell out."

DU Alums Not Injured In Hockey Bus Crash

From: The Star-Gazette
by Jeff Murray

(left) The crash caused extensive damage to the front of the motor coach. The bus driver, Kenneth Nance is being treated at Hamot Medical Center in Erie, Pa.

It could have been a lot worse.

That's how several members of the Elmira Jackals hockey team feel after their bus rammed the back of a tractor-trailer on a Pennsylvania interstate early Thursday. DU Hockey Alums Luke Fulghum (lower left) and Kevin Ulanski play for the Jackals and are listed on the team roster. Ulanski was not injured in the accident and Fulghum did not travel on the bus because he had a previous injury.

The accident took place amid darkness about 4:30 a.m. in Harborcreek, Pa., near Exit 37 on Interstate 90. The team was on its way back home from a two-game Ohio trip that began with a win in Dayton on Tuesday night and concluded with a Wednesday night loss to the Cincinnati Cyclones.

As most of the players slept, the bus slammed into a tractor-trailer, caromed down an embankment and stopped upright in a field, said Pennsylvania State Trooper James Quirk. Harborcreek Fire Chief Richard Chiappazzi, who was on the scene, told WSEE-TV in Erie, Pa., that the truck was loaded with drywall.

Chiappazzi said that the bus's momentum carried it about 300 feet off the road. The bus driver, 56-year-old Kenneth Nance of Blossburg, was seriously injured and had to be extricated from the wreckage. Chiappazzi said rescue workers needed almost an hour and 45 minutes to remove Nance from the bus. Other than the driver, the players and staff escaped without serious injury.

But it was a harrowing few minutes until people could figure out what was going on, said defenseman Chris Busby, who said he came through the accident OK.

"I was sleeping. That's when I woke up and got slammed against the wall. We were all in individual bunks," Busby said. "We swerved off the road and went into a ditch. We were tumbling around and didn't know what was going on. People were screaming.

"Once things calmed down, we sorted things out and saw how serious it was," he said. "I woke up, and right away, I knew something bad was happening. It was the scariest moment of my life."

Nance was taken by helicopter to Hamot Medical Center in Erie with serious lower body injuries. A hospital spokeswoman said Nance was in serious condition in the intensive care unit, according to a report from The Associated Press.

Nance was employed by JGM Coach Co. of Wellsboro, said Jackals General Manager Robbie Nichols of First Arena in Elmira, who was not on the bus.

A replacement bus carrying team members arrived at the arena shortly before 2 p.m. Thursday. As players filed off the bus, it was hard to tell most of them had been in a harrowing accident, except for goaltender Dan LaCosta. He was on crutches, and Nichols described him as the most seriously injured player.

Several other players will have to be evaluated to see how well they came through the crash, he said.

"(Defenseman) Dan Boeser has a bad knee. I couple of them have sore necks," said Nichols, a former player and coach himself. "Obviously, we've got injuries. As a player and a coach, in 20 years of riding buses, one of my biggest fears was a bus accident. I always sit up front."

One positive break the Jackals got is their schedule. They don't play again until Wednesday, Nichols said.

The Jackals, in their eighth season of existence and first in the ECHL, will put a team on the ice on Wednesday, but they aren't sure yet who will be able to suit up, said Coach Steve Martinson.

Martinson called Nichols at home from his cell phone shortly after the accident.

Other than feeling a little sore, Martinson escaped injury, even though equipment manager Jim Carey landed on top of him when the bus careened off the road.

"I was sleeping when it happened. It was confusing because it was so dark," Martinson said. "I was trying to find my shoes. We were calling the police. Nobody knew where we were. We were up front trying to push out the front of the bus where the driver was pinned. "

Team Vice President of Communications Grady Whittenburg said the accident was scary, but it wasn't as serious for the team as it could have been.

"The first concern was to make sure everyone was OK. Everyone was checking on each other," Whittenburg said. "Our first concern was for the driver.

"If you travel on a bus long enough, it's in the back of your mind. You hope you never go through it, and if it does happen, you hope it never happens again. At least we were in a field. We were pretty fortunate."

The Fighting Sioux Roll Into Town

(left) Members of the Sioux hockey team learn to read a newspaper in a remedial English class at the University of North Dakota

From: Denver Post
by Mike Chambers

North Dakota coach Dave Hakstol is nothing if not predictable. In his three years with the Fighting Sioux, his slow-starting teams have advanced to the NCAA Frozen Four.

Last season, North Dakota was 7-10-1 at Christmas, but went 17-4-4 in the second half to finish 24-14-5. In 2005-06, the Sioux were 12-7-1 at Christmas before going 17-9 to end 29-16-1.

In both seasons, North Dakota lost in the national semifinals to Boston College.

This year, Hakstol's squad is playing a familiar early-winter funk, shrugging off losses and remaining optimistic behind a wealth of talent. At 6-4-1 (4-4 Western Collegiate Hockey Association), the Sioux are surviving, but perhaps close to becoming scary good.

"We'd like to be a little bit better, record-wise, but we're probably right where our record says we are," Hakstol said. "So we're OK. We've had a tough schedule and we're just a team that's looking to get better."

The No. 8-ranked Sioux, picked to win the WCHA by league coaches, invade Magness Arena this weekend for a two-game series against No. 3-ranked University of Denver.

The Pioneers (9-3, 6-2) might be favored, but are well aware that they could be playing the country's most dangerous team.

"Every year North Dakota has a great team, and they always come at you hard and have great skill," DU goalie Peter Mannino said. "They'll always be in your face, and they're always in the thick of things in the WCHA, so it's easy getting up for them.

The Sioux have reigning Hobey Baker Award winner Ryan Duncan, who plays alongside All-American candidate T.J. Oshie, and smooth-skating, playmaking defensemen Robbie Bina and Taylor Chorney. Senior goalie Jean-Philippe Lamoureux is fourth nationally in goals-against average (1.61).

However, North Dakota has yet to win back-to-back games on consecutive nights, and have split each of their four WCHA series against Michigan Tech, Colorado College, Wisconsin and Minnesota-Duluth.

Still, Hakstol said: "I think we're off to a pretty good start. Our evaluation is that we're playing reasonable well. We have to get more consistent. I don't think we're playing on a high level on a nightly basis."

DU has played on a high level in every game but one. The Pioneers admittedly were not prepared a week ago in a 5-1 loss at Colorado College.

If anything, it was a good lesson for a team with 19 underclassmen.

"We weren't ready to play against a great team and paid the price," DU sophomore Tyler Ruegsegger said. "That can only help us from here on out. This weekend, we'll be ready for a big, strong, fast and skilled team that has everything."

Hakstol is equally as complimentary toward DU.

"Denver is one of the top teams in the country," he said. "They know how to play the game. They're good defensively and have a ton of ability offensively. The combination of those two things has led to their success."

DU's Sophmores Look To Return The Favor

(left) DU's Rhett Rakhshani figures to play a role in the outcome of the series this weekend in Magness Arena

From: Grand Forks Herald

by Brad Schlossman



Last season, a trio of UND sophomore forwards made things miserable for the Denver Pioneers.

T.J. Oshie, Ryan Duncan and Jonathan Toews scored five of six goals and combined for 13 points during the only series between the teams. Their performances prompted Denver coach George Gwozdecky to say that the only way to slow them down would be to throw sand on the ice.

This weekend, the teams meet for the first time since that late-February series. This time, Denver will have the trio of standout sophomore forwards.

Brock Trotter, Tyler Ruegsegger and Rhett Rakhshani all are averaging more than a point per game for Denver, which is ranked third nationally with a 9-3 mark (6-2 Western Collegiate Hockey Association).

As rookies, they were three of the team's top four scorers. This season, they still occupy those spots on the scoresheet and they are actually scoring at a slightly higher rate than Oshie, Duncan and Toews at similar points in their careers.

"I sure hope they turn out like those guys," Gwozdecky said his sophomores. "That would be awesome."

The success of Trotter, Ruegsegger and Rakhshani was one of the few things Gwozdecky could count on this season. The coach brought 13 freshmen onto campus this fall the most in his 14-year tenure at Denver. A lot of question marks came with them.

"Back in August, I had no idea as to what our strengths would be or what our weaknesses would be," Gwozdecky said. "This is the one team I've had here that I really didn't have a handle on at all before the season started.

"One constant we had is Peter Mannino back in goal. We knew that he was going to be one of our keys if we were going to be successful."

Iron men in nets

Mannino, who beat the Sioux for the national championship as a freshman, has indeed been the guy for the Pioneers.

After platooning with Glenn Fisher for three seasons, Mannino has played every minute to this point in the season for his team. The only other goaltender to do that in the league is UND's Jean-Philippe Lamoureux.

The similarities between the two goaltenders don't stop there. They are both seniors and have almost identical stat lines.

Mannino's .935 save percentage is near the top in the country and Lamoureux's .933 is right behind. Lamoureux's 1.61 goals-against average is best among WCHA goalies and Mannino's 1.68 mark is close behind.

"Peter has been very good for us, no question," Gwozdecky said. "I can't think of one game where he hasn't given us a chance. From Day One to now, he's been our most consistent player."

UND's firepower worries Gwozdecky

Toews left UND in the spring for the NHL, breaking up the dynamic top line that gave fits to the Pioneers last season. But Gwozdecky said the Sioux still worry him. . . . and it's not only Oshie and Duncan.

"No other team in the country has the talent that North Dakota has," Gwozdecky said. "They have firepower, talented defensemen and good goaltending. When you look at their lineup, it's pretty darn intimidating. It doesn't matter what line you're looking at or whether its freshmen, sophomores, juniors or seniors.

"They also play a style that's very difficult to play against a very aggressive, physical style that's always been a sign of the Fighting Sioux."

"Knowing those factors, it's a very daunting task to play against them. If you have any kind of success scoring a goal, staying even with them for a period, it's a feather in any opponent's cap. Teams that have had success against them this year have to feel pretty good about it."

Pioneers Want To Tighten Up Defensively

(left) Brock Trotter battles UND's Chad Genoway for the puck last season. Genoway did not make the trip to Denver this week due to an injury

From: Rocky Mountain News
by Pat Rooney


To a man, the University of Denver hockey team's defensive corps will maintain that having a goaltender like Peter Mannino will erase many shortcomings.

That does not mean there isn't plenty of room for improvement.

Mannino's magnificence - the senior ranks 10th in the nation with a .935 saves percentage - often has been necessary in recent weeks as the Pioneers slowly have begun allowing more shots per game than during the first portion of the still-young season.

DU hopes to reverse that trend as another high-octane attack invades Magness Arena this weekend. The third-ranked Pioneers will play their final Western Collegiate Hockey Association series at home until mid-January beginning tonight against eighth- ranked North Dakota.

"As defensemen, we always feel like there are areas we can tighten up on," senior captain Andrew Thomas said. "I know we have become a lot better covering down low on one-on-one coverage. Peter does his job and more. He helps us out so much we can risk a little more. We can take a couple more chances, knowing he's back there. But we do need to give him some more help."

DU has surrendered a respectable average of 25.7 shots a game, but that includes a 30.2 average the past six games.

Part of the increase in opponents' shots can be attributed to the style of the Pioneers' recent opponents. DU won three of four the past two weekends against Minnesota State Mankato and Colorado College, teams that attack relentlessly on offense, but surrendered only 38 shots total in a split earlier this season at Notre Dame, a nationally ranked team that plays with a more defensive style.

Still, DU realizes it must not allow a North Dakota team that features reigning Hobey Baker Award winner Ryan Duncan and is averaging 29.2 shots a game to enjoy the same number of opportunities it has surrendered the past few weeks.

And with the Pioneers playing their next two WCHA series in tough venues, St. Cloud State and Alaska Anchorage, reaping points against the Fighting Sioux is even more crucial.

DU Hockey Alums Team Bus Crashes

(above) Members of the fire department work on extricating bus driver Kenneth Nance, following a crash of the Elmira Jackals team bus at approximately 4:30 a.m. Thursday morning in Harborcreek, Pa.

Video of player interviews after accident

It is unknown at this time if two DU hockey alums sustained minor injuries as passengers on the Elmira Jackals team bus was involved in an accident at approximately 4:30 a.m. Thursday morning in Harborcreek, Pa., near Exit 37 on Interstate 90.

No life-threatening injuries were sustained by any Jackals players or team staff members. Kevin Ulanski (left) and Luke Fulghum (right) are listed on the Jackals roster and won two national championships at the University of Denver in 2004 and 2005.

The driver of the bus, Kenneth Nance, 56, of Blossburg, had to be extricated from the bus and was airlifted to Hamot Medical Center in Erie with serious lower body injuries. The Associated Press is reporting that a hospital spokeswoman said Nance was in serious condition in the intensive-care unit.

Nance was employed by JGM Coach Co. of Wellsboro, Pa., Jackals general manager Robbie Nichols said.

According to Pennsylvania State Trooper James Quirk, the bus collided with the back of a tractor trailer, went off the road and down an embankment into a field. The players were sleeping on bunks in the bus when the incident occurred.

"Some players were tossed and thrown around the bus," Nichols said. "We have some minor injuries. We don't know the extent of the injuries."

Former CC Bad Boy Rehabilitates Himself

It warms our heart when one of our former "Bad Boyz Nominees" turns his life around. Needless to say we were pleased to hear that former LetsGoDU Bad Boy & "DU Reject" Aaron Slattengren broke a long standing ECHL record.
Slattengren had a plus-minus rating of +8, tying the ECHL record set by Martin LePage of Wheeling against Huntington on Mar. 14, 1997, and his seven points are a Lynx record, breaking the mark of six points held by seven players. The seven points is the most scored in a game by an ECHL player this year and are the most in a game since Nov. 1, 2001.
Some may recall that Slatengren was expelled from Colorado College for Cheetahing.

DU Recruit Jumps From High School To USHL

DU's most recent recruit, Stephan Novotny, recently joined the Indiana Ice of the USHL after spending the first semester at Shattuck St. Mary's boarding school in Fairbault, Minnesota. Novotny scored 29 points in 22 games at St. Mary's.

It has been reported that Novotny will be enrolling at DU next season, so perhaps this move is designed to get him experience to ease the transition to college hockey. Novotny is a potential NHL prospect and will be eligible for the 2009 NHL Draft.

Former DU player Scott McConnell is the Associate Head Coach of the Indiana Ice.

DU's Current Recruiting Classes

2008
F Nate Dewhurst (Des Moines, USHL)
F Joe Colborne (Camrose, AJHL)
D John Lee (Waterloo, USHL) (SIGNED)
F Stepan Novotny (Indiana, USHL)

2009
D William Wrenn (U.S. Under-17)
D Matt Donovan (Cedar Rapids, USHL)
D Paul Phillips (Cedar Rapids, USHL)
G Adam Murray (U.S. under-17)
F Drew Shore (U.S. Under-17)

The Year Of Living Dangerously-Grand Forks Style

(left) When he's not letting 80 foot slap shots from the red-line trickle into the net or getting punched by a UND football player, Sioux netminder Philippe Lamoureux is a pretty good goaltender

Its been a roller coaster year for your North Dakota Fightin' Sioux, who roll into Magness Arena this weekend. In just over a year they've been in and out of jail more times than Lindsay Lohan on a bender. Luckily Coach Hakstol seemed to get the team under control last season when he made the unusual move of having the Chief of Police in Grand Forks speak to the team (UND went 9-3-3 after Chief Packett's "Come To Jesus" meeting).

The bad news is that although team doesn't seem to be getting arrested this season, they're not doing so well on the ice. After a split against Minnesota Duluth last weekend (the Saturday night game winning goal was launched from center ice and inexplicably bounced past goaltender Lamoureux), the Sioux stand 4-4-0 in WCHA play.

Needless to say Coach Hak wasn't too impressed with the effort and ordered an extraordinary Sunday practice. "The pucks stayed in the bag" as they say in hockey and UND was forced to skate "Herbies" (windsprints on ice, not fun especially if you're hungover hockey player). Luckily LetsGoDU was able to access to the YouTube video of practice.


2006 to 2007 Timeline

July
- Robbie Bina Arrested For DUI

August
- UND Goaltender Phillipe Lamoureux is punched in the eye by a UND football player

September
- Joe Finley Arrested & Kyle Radke charged with "Loud Party"

November
- Toews Charged with "minor in consumption and noisy party gathering"

February
- Toews, Oshie & Bina arrested at Judy's Tavern

February
- Police chief Packett addresses team

April
- Toews & Oshie plead guilty

May
- Finley ordered to pay fine & perform community service

June - Bina's trial date set for June 29th

November
- Joe Finley slashes Badger mascot and is forced by WCHA to apologize

DU Recruit Named "Top 30 Prospect" By I.S.S.

(left) Joe Colborne is seen scoring a double overtime winning goal against current DU goaltender Marc Cheverie in the Doyle Cup Playoffs last season

On November 15th the International Scouting Services' listed its top draft-eligible prospects for the NHL's 2008 Entry Draft. DU recruit Joe Colborne was listed as the 29th top prospect in the world.

Earlier this month McKeen's Hockey Website listed Colborne as the 12th best prospect in North America.

The 2008 NHL draft will be held in June in Ottawa, Canada.

DU Players Will Hear From Team USA Next Week

From: Denver Post
by Mike Chambers

DU sophomores Tyler Ruegsegger and Rhett Rakhshani will learn next week where they will be on Christmas when USA Hockey announces its 22-player roster for the 2008 U.S. national junior team. Both players played well at the Evaluation Camp in Lake Placid in August.

The squad that will play in the World Junior Championships Dec. 26 through Jan. 5 in the Czech Republic will be disclosed Dec. 4, live on Versus during the first intermission of the Detroit Red Wings-Montreal Canadiens game.

If Ruegsegger and Rakhshani make the team, they will at least miss the Dec. 28-29 Denver Cup.

WHL Team Has Their Eyes On DU Recruit

From: The Province
by Marc Weber

(left) The Chilliwack Chiefs hope to lure Drew Shore away from DU before he enrolls in 2009

Forward Drew Shore, the WHL's Chilliwack Bruins' second-round pick in 2006, has verbally committed to the University of Denver in 2009, according to several Denver-area blogs, including the Denver Post.

Until Bruins GM Darrell May hears otherwise, however, that is not to say that the 22nd pick overall and first American taken in the '06 WHL Bantam Draft is NCAA bound. Only that if he decides on the NCAA route, it will be with the Pioneers.

"He hasn't told us that he's going there for sure," May said Monday. "He's always been up front with us and right now we're continuing to talk to him. We're still hopeful that he'll decide to come our way."

Shore, a native of Englewood, Colorado, played his bantam hockey with North Shore Winter Club, and played spring hockey along side current Bruins 16-year-old forward Ryan Howse. But Shore chose to play for the U.S. National Team Development Program this season rather than come to the Dub.

Listed at 5-11, 160 pounds on draft day by the Bruins, the 16-year-old is apparently checking in around 6-1, 185, these days. Both his parents are University of Denver law grads, so the Western Collegiate Hockey Association squad was a natural choice for him.

Next season, 2008-09, Shore could remain with the under-17 USDT squad for another year, or he could jump to the WHL. Recent well-known USDT alumns include Chicago Blackhawks stud Patrick Kane, who jumped to the OHL after his time with the development team.

When Shore was drafted, here's what the Bruins posted as May's scouting report: "Very skilled. Great play maker. Worked well playing on the same line as Ryan Howse in spring hockey the last two seasons. His best asset is his play making ability."

J.P. Testwuide Blogs On NCAA's Site

University of Denver alternate captain J.P. Testwuide has a blog he's been updating weekly on the NCAAsports.com website. The economics major enjoys mixed martial arts, fishing, hunting, cycling and lifting weights, but much of the blog is devoted to game recaps and not his daily life behind the scenes.

DU Hockey Alums - A Look Back

du78 came across this photo in the past week while digging through some old stuff. It is of All American goalie Ernie Glanville after graduation at a reception for the hockey graduates. The other person is a mystery (wink, wink). Enjoy!!!
And here's what LetsGoDU's Quality Control Coordinator looks like today (on left) without the moustache. Notice the Fighting Sioux Drugstore Indian.

DU Hockey Alums In The Pros - 2007


The Official "Mustards Last Stand" Pioneer Professional All-Hot Dog Team

Thanks to our resident Pionologist & LetsGoDU Statistician "Duper" (who can frequently be found working at Mustard's...Don't forget to ask for your LetsGoDU 10% Discount) we have updated statistics on all of the guys that we know of currently playing professional hockey all over the world. There are four alums currently playing in the NHL.

2006 Edition Of Pioneers In The Pros

Goaltenders

Team - League - GP - W - L - OT - GAA - S%


Wade Dubielewicz - NY Islanders - NHL - 3 - 1 - 1 - 5.08 - .836
Dubie was shelled in his first appearance, things have gotten better since.

Adam Berkhoel - Grand Rapids Griffins - AHL - 10 - 3 - 6 - 1 - 3.76 - .879
Berky splits time with 2004 NC game opponent Jimmy Howard

Glenn Fisher - Stockton Thunder - ECHL - 9 - 4 - 3 - 1 - 3.23 - .903
2 shutouts

Sinuhe Wallinheimo - JYP - sm-liiga (Finland) .923 S%
sm-liiga has changed their site, and, not reading Finnish, the only solid stat I can find is S% He is generally a top league goalie, but for a crappy team.


Skaters

Team - League - G - A - P - +/- - PM

Paul Stastny - Colorado Avalanche - NHL - 9 - 14 - 23 - +2 - 10 - 1pp - 2gw
Leads team in points and assists

Matt Carle - San Jose Sharks - NHL - 1 - 5 - 6 - -3 - 4 - 1pp
Carle just got a 4 yr extension

Matt Pettinger - Washington Capitals - NHL - 1 - 2 - 3 - -2 - 17 - 1pp - 1gw

Ryan Caldwell - San Antonio Rampage - AHL - 1 - 3 - 4 - +6 - 23 - 1sh
In 2 games with the NHL Phoenix Coyotes, Caldwell had 2 PM in about 12 minutes on ice.

Kevin Doell - Chicago Wolves - AHL - 1 - 4 - 5 - +4 - 26

Mark Rycroft - Lake Erie Monsters - AHL - 0 - 5 - 5 - E - 9

Gabe Gauthier - Manchester Monarchs - AHL - 7 - 16 - 23 - -1 - 21 - 6pp
Gabe is 3rd in the league in points

Aaron MacKenzie - Peoria Rivermen - AHL - 0 - 2 - 2 - -3 - 8

Brett Skinner - Providence Bruins - AHL - 1 - 7 - 8 - E - 8

Gavin Morgan - Rockford Ice Hogs - AHL - 0 - 2 - 2 - -2 - 7

Connor James - Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins - AHL - 4 - 5 - 9 - +3 - 10

Ryan Dingle - Portland Pirates - AHL - 0 - 2 - 2 - -1 - 4 - 7 games
Augusta Lynx - ECHL - 2 - 8 - 10 - -7 - 10 - 1pp - 9 games
Dingle currently plays for Augusta

Adrian Veideman - Augusta Lynx - ECHL - 2 - 7 - 9 - -4 - 20

Kevin Ulanski - Elmira Jackals - ECHL - 4 - 8 - 12 - +2 - 10 - 2pp - 1sh

Luke Fulghum - Elmira Jackals - ECHL - 6 - 5 - 11 - -2 - 0 - 2pp - 1sh - 8 games
Stockton Thunder - ECHL - 1 - 1 - 2 - -1 0 - 1 pp - 5 games
Fulghum currently plays for Elmira

J. D. Corbin - Johnstown Chiefs - ECHL - 1 - 7 - 8 - -9 - 10 - 1pp

Geoff Paukovich - Stockton Thunder - ECHL - 4 - 3 - 7 - +1 - 12 - 1sh

Jon Foster - Wheeling Nailers - ECHL - 0 - 0 - 0 - -7 - 8

Erik Adams - Colorado Eagles - CHL - Has not played this season

James Patterson - Huntsville Havoc - SPHL - 5 - 5 - 10 - -1 - 2 - 4pp - 1gw

Jussi Halme - Tappara - sm-liiga - 0 - 2 - 2 - -5 - 14

Antti Laaksonen - Fribourg-Gotteron (Swi) - 8 - 6 - 14 - 28PM

An interesting note; While Duper can't seem to find him this year, Lukas Dora played in England last season.

Puck Swami's list of DU's most notable athletes all-time

This Week's Rankings & Polls

DU remains at #3 in the Inside College Hockey's Power Rankings, Pairwise Rankings, USA Today Poll & USCHO.com Poll. DU is still at #1 in the LetsGoDU SuperPoll®.


Inside College Hockey Power Rankings
1. Miami
2. Michigan
3. Denver
4. Michigan State
5. Colorado College
6. New Hampshire
7. Notre Dame
8. Clarkson
9. North Dakota
10. Minnesota Duluth
11. Northeastern
12. St Cloud State
13. Massachusetts
14. Wisconsin
15. Minnesota
16. RPI
17. Harvard
18. Boston College
19. Niagara
20. Bowling Green

Sioux Sports Pairwise Rankings

Team PWR RPI Record Win % Quality
Road Wins
1.Michigan240.6463(1)13-1-00.90000
2.Miami230.6440(2)13-1-00.90000
3.Denver220.6286(3)9-3-00.62501
4.New Hampshire210.6181(4)7-2-10.72220
5.Colorado College200.62678-4-00.66670
6.Notre Dame190.5896(5)12-4-00.69230
7.North Dakota180.58326-4-10.59091
8.Minnesota-Duluth170.58146-4-20.58330
9.Michigan State160.5691(6)8-3-20.63640
10.Northeastern150.55966-4-10.59090
11.Harvard140.55885-2-00.71430
12.Clarkson130.558610-4-00.71430
13.St Cloud St120.54557-3-20.66671
14.Niagara100.54168-3-00.72730
15.Massachusetts100.53476-3-40.61540
16.Robert Morris90.53346-3-10.65000
17.Bowling Green80.53216-4-00.60000
18.Minnesota70.53187-6-10.53570
19.Wisconsin60.52765-6-10.45830
20.Michigan Tech50.52315-6-10.45830
21.Alaska Anchorage40.51354-3-30.55000
22.Boston College30.50893-4-50.45830
23.Rensselaer20.50776-4-30.57690
24.Merrimack10.50766-6-10.50000
25.Mass.-Lowell10.50744-3-40.54550

LetsGoDU Top 10 SuperPoll®

1). Denver - Unlucky split With CC keeps DU at #1
2). Miami - Former DU assistant Enrico Blaise keeps Miami humming
3). RPI - Former DU assistant Seth Appert has RPI winning
4). New Hampshire
- Still love the fact they swept CC

5). Michigan - Picking up steam sweeping WCHA basement dwellers
6). Notre Dame - Split with DU & Miami
7). North Dakota - Underachievers
8). Northeastern - Hockey East standings look upside down
9). Michigan State - How embarrassing; two ties against WCHA basement dwellers
Last). Colorado College - Lucky split with DU keeps CC mired in last place

USCHO.com Poll
1Miami(44)13-1-09941
2Michigan( 6)13-1-09562
3Denver
9-3-08763
4Colorado College
8-4-08334
5Michigan State
8-3-27485
6New Hampshire
7-2-17138
7Notre Dame
12-4-06939
8North Dakota
6-4-16796
9Clarkson
10-4-06447
10St. Cloud State
7-3-253310
11Massachusetts
6-3-445910
12Minnesota-Duluth
6-4-238615
13Wisconsin
5-6-133512
14Minnesota
7-6-132813
15Harvard
5-2-029918
16Northeastern
6-4-128920
17Niagara
8-3-021817
18Rensselaer
6-4-316316
19Boston College
3-4-515714
20Michigan Tech
5-6-16319

USA Today Poll
1Miami (Ohio) University500(24)113-1-0
2University of Michigan486(10)213-1-0
3University of Denver416
39-3-0
4Colorado College392
48-4-0
5Michigan State University366
68-3-2
6University of New Hampshire328
87-2-1
7University of Notre Dame305
912-4-0
8University of North Dakota279
56-4-1
9Clarkson University265
710-4-0
10St. Cloud State University184
117-3-2
11University of Massachusetts136
106-3-4
12Northeastern University106
NR6-4-1
13University of Minnesota-Duluth105
126-4-2
14University of Wisconsin59
145-6-1
15Harvard University55
NR5-2-0

WCHA Standings

Team Pts. WCHA Overall
Colorado College 16 8-2-0 8-4-0
Denver 12 6-2-0 9-3-0
Minnesota Duluth 11 5-4-1 6-4-2
Michigan Tech 9 4-5-1 5-6-1
North Dakota 8 4-4-0 6-4-1
St. Cloud State 7 3-2-1 7-3-2
Minnesota 6 3-5-0 7-6-1
Alaska Anchorage 4 1-3-2 4-3-3
Wisconsin 4 2-4-0 5-6-1
Minnesota State 3 1-6-1 3-6-1

"DU Rejects" Get Their Panties In A Wad

Mike Chambers stirred the pot this week when he labeled CC netminder Richard Bachman a "DU Reject" in the Denver Post.
"In a series billed as a battle between two of college hockey's best goaltenders, a defenseman made the best save Friday night in Game 1 of the University of Denver-Colorado College home-and-home set. CC sophomore Kris Fredheim helped freshman goalie Richard Bachman, a DU reject, defeat senior netminder Peter Mannino and the seemingly disinterested Pioneers 5-1 at the World Arena."
Well a few CC losers took exception and started an email campaign to get Chambers fired (Ohh this is so scary).

Then to raise the ante, one moron even started a thread about the subject on the USCHO.com Message Board.

Eventually Chambers had to respond to the landslide of emails (around 10-15 or about half of the "hard-core DU Rejects" fanbase). More readers hitting his Blog; sneaky guy that Mike Chambers.

Of course we were thrilled to see that LetsGoDU was mentioned in the article.
Some DU fans, thanks, I’m sure, to the fun-loving stirrer-uppers at letsgodu.com, chanted “DU reject” during Saturday’s game at Magness Arena. Apparently Mr. and Mrs. Bachman heard the so-called insult and blamed it on me.
Now wait just a cotton pickin' second. This is somehow our fault?

Lets just make this easy for the simpletons in Colorado Springs to understand.

DU = Peyton Manning

CC = Eli Manning

Richard Bachman = DU Reject

DU Sinks CC 3-2


From DU Website

DENVER – Sophomore Tyler Ruegsegger (Lakewood, Colo.) tallied a goal and an assist to lead No. 3 Denver to a 3-2 win over No. 4 Colorado College in WCHA action tonight before 6,083 fans Magness Arena. DU improves to 9-3 overall and 6-2 in the WCHA, and earns the series split with Colorado College (8-4, 8-2).

Tom May (Eagan, Minn.) netted the game-winning goal and Rhett Rakhshani (Huntington Beach, Calif.) also scored for the Pioneers, who ended a six-game (0-4-2) winless streak against Colorado College. Senior netminder Peter Mannino (Farmington Hills, Mich.) got the win with 20 saves as the Pioneers remain second in the WCHA with 12 points. CC’s six-game winning streak ends with the loss.

“I am really proud of our team’s response tonight,” DU head coach George Gwozdecky said. “We played with a lot of heart and effort tonight to get the win.”

CC struck first at 1:11 of the first period with a power-play goal from Jimmy Kilpatrick. DU outshot CC 9-8 in the period, but Richard Bachman (24 saves) stopped all nine Pioneer shots.

The second period belonged to Ruegsegger and Mannino. Ruegsegger evened the score on a delayed penalty (6-on-5 DU advantage) with a rebound blast past Bachman at 18:09 and assisted on Rakhshani's go-ahead goal 45 seconds later. Patrick Mullen (Pittsburgh, Pa.) and Brian Gifford (Moorhead, Minn.) earned assists on Ruegsegger's goal. Mannino was stellar in net by stopping all nine Tiger shots. DU owned an 11-9 shot advantage in the middle stanza.

May iced the game for DU with a big wrist shot past Bachman at 12:07 of the third period. Brandon Vossberg (St. Paul, Minn.) earned the lone assist on the eventual game-winning goal. CC’s Eric Walsky made it 3-2 with 44 seconds left in the game.

DU outshot CC, 27-20, and went 0-for-2 on the power play. CC went 1-for-6 with the man advantage.

The Pioneers host North Dakota in a two-game WCHA series on Nov. 30 and Dec. 1. Puck drop is set for 7:37 p.m. on Friday night.

Notes: The Pioneers improve to 7-3 against ranked opponents with the win. DU has allowed two goals or less in its nine wins. The Pioneers extended their regular-season sellout streak to 64 games. Tyler Ruegsegger leads DU with five multi-point games. Peter Mannino improves to 7-2-2 in 11 career games against CC. Former DU All-American and current Colorado Avalanche star Paul Stastny attended tonight’s game

DU Takes Colorado College To The Woodshed

From: USCHO.com
by Candice Horgan

In a game much more like what you would expect from the No. 3 and 4 teams in the nation, the Denver Pioneers edged the Colorado College Tigers 3-2 in hard-fought defensive battle before 6,083 fans at Magness Arena. The win was the first by the Pioneers against the Tigers in their last seven tries, and evened the Gold Pan Series 1-1.

“One of the things I tried to do in our meeting today was to express to everybody how great this rivalry is, the history of it, and how important it is to us, and relive some of the great games that these two teams have had against each other over the years, and also let them know that what happened last night wasn’t acceptable,” said Pioneers’ coach George Gwozdecky. “The only statistic that mattered going into tonight’s game was the one that was 0-4-2 (the Pioneers’ record against the Tigers in their previous six games). We needed to do something to see if we could change that around, and we did enough.”

It didn’t take long for the Tigers to get on the board. On the first shift, Rhett Rakhshani was whistled for interference at .38 seconds and the Tigers quickly set up in the Pioneers’ zone. Moments after Brian Connelly rang a slap shot off the left post, Jimmy Kilpatrick took a pass from Chad Rau, took a few strides to the mid-point of the left circle and rifled a slap shot inside the left post past Mannino at 1:11 of the period.

“Anytime you go on the road, you want to take the crowd out of it, and going up 1-0 is the best thing to do,” said Tigers’ coach Scott Owens. “We had a power play goal, and I thought it set the tone for us. I thought we had a good first period.”

“Obviously we wanted to get a good start and kill that,” said Pioneers’ forward Tyler Ruegsegger, who had a goal and an assist. “We looked at the PK, we knew exactly what we did wrong, and we fixed it. It just shows when you make one mistake, they can make you pay for it.”

The Pioneers spent much of the first period playing a very physical style, much unlike how they usually play. At times, they seemed more concerned with getting a hit than going after the puck. The Tigers took advantage of this, generating several good chances, including a nice tip-in try by Rau from the slot that Mannino just got the pads on.

Scott Thauwald got off a shorthanded chance from the slot with four Pioneers surrounding him, but Mannino made the save, and Bill Sweatt had an excellent chance from down low that Mannino just managed to get an arm on and knock away.

“They were putting really good pressure on us and they started getting the puck going right away,” said Pioneers’ forward Tom May. “

In the defensive zone, the Tigers did a good job of bottling up the Pioneers’ forwards, preventing them from pouncing on any rebounds. When the Pioneers did get the puck, Richard Bachman proved unflappable, as when Brian Gifford and Rakhshani both got off tries on rebounds back to back that he steered aside.

“I thought Peter was terrific in that first period and really kept us in it,” said Gwozdecky. “Sometimes you’re really looking forward to getting to the intermission and sometimes you’re not, depending on how things are going, and tonight was one of those nights.”

The start of the second period featured a ‘Twilight Zone’ type moment, as the timekeeper had technical difficulties and kept time via stopwatch, announcing time the time of the period every 30 seconds.

The Tigers carried the play for the first part of the period, and Mannino stood strong to keep the Pioneers in the game. Andreas Vlassopoulos had an excellent back door chance when Sweatt fed him a perfect cross-ice pass, but the tip in try slid through the crease.

Mannino robbed Scott McCulloch from point blank range, as McCulloch got the puck in the left circle with an open shooting lane, but Mannino got his glove up, and Sweatt had another excellent chance late in the period, but Mannino got his right shoulder up.

“The problem tonight is we just didn’t take advantage of the second period when we had two power plays and several grade A scoring chances,” said Owens. “Mannino played outstanding tonight; he played like a veteran.”

The period turned in less than a minute. With Mannino off for an extra skater on a delayed call, Gifford, at the right point, found Patrick Mullen at the bottom of the left circle twice. Mullen’s first shot was blocked by Bachman, and the puck came back to Gifford. Gifford fed Mullen again, and Mullen again one-timed it, but Bachman couldn’t control the rebound and it came to Ruegsegger in the slot, who roofed a shot glove side at the 18:09 mark.

“You know what? Everyone on the ice deserved that goal, and I happened to by in the right place at the right time and no joke about that,” commented Ruegsegger. “Rhett in the corners, Gifford forechecking, Mullen at the point, and I was just in the slot the whole time, the puck came right to me and I went upstairs with it.”

Just 47 seconds later, Gifford came in on a forecheck and pressured Jake Gannon in the right corner. Gannon tried to backhand the puck up the right side boards, but Ruegsegger intercepted it and spied Rakhshani streaking towards the net. Ruegsegger fed the puck through the slot, and Rakhshani tipped it in low stick side to give the Pioneers the lead going into the third.

“It’s just amazing to me to see how psychologically this game works,” said Gwozdecky. “The Tigers score early, and for the rest of the period, and probably early in the second, we just seem to be a little bit slow and CC just seems to be a lot more in control. We get that first goal, and all of a sudden there’s just that huge enthusiastic swing for us, where our guys are now a lot more excited and we’re back in the game, and from that point on, the whole thing changes, and now we’re the ones making the plays and being more aggressive.”

The Pioneers, buoyed by the late goals, started to carry the play more in the third period. Gifford had a great sliding tip-in try of a Ruegsegger shot that went just high and wide, while Jesse Martin had a great tip-in try of an Anthony Maiani pass as he skated into the slot, but Bachman got the five hole closed in time.

“Defensively, we just needed to stay on our man and be aware of them cycling the puck and stay on our guys,” said May. “We were just trying to turn the puck up ice faster.

The Tigers didn’t give up however, and continued to get their chances. Derek Patrosso had a golden chance from the slot, but he fired it just wide right.

May gave the Pioneers some breathing room, taking a pass from Brandon Vossberg and skating down the right side boards, then firing a perfect wrist shot top corner from the right side hashmarks at 12:07.

“I think we had a two-on-one with Matt Glasser,” said May. “We had the same play last night and ended up letting the shot go and nothing really happened, so I was just trying to get the shot on net and see what happened.”

The Tigers got a late goal from Eric Walsky on a fantastic single-handed effort to keep things interesting. Walsky picked up the puck just inside the blue line along he left side boards, took a few strides towards the circle, then cut back to the middle and slid a wrist shot along the ice glove side into the net.

The Tigers quickly called time, and on the ensuing faceoff got the puck into the Pioneers zone and pulled Bachman, but the Pioneers kept the puck to the perimeter. Ruegsegger had an empty net try hit the right post, but the Pioneers managed to keep the Tigers bottled up in their defensive zone to earn the 3-2 win.

“This is a big rivalry,” said Ruegsegger. “We talked about that this morning (not winning in their last 6 tries). They work extremely hard, they’re skilled, so every time, you have to be ready to play them. In my career, this is the first game where I think we were ready to play them, and it felt good tonight to get that win.”

Colorado College Blows Lead Once Again

(above) DU's Brock Trotter gives Kris Fredheim a little payback

From: Denver Post
by Mike Chambers

Game 1 belonged to Colorado College freshman goalie Richard Bachman from Highlands Ranch.

The star of the series finale was University of Denver center Tyler Ruegsegger from Lakewood.

The bottom line: The former Littleton youth-hockey teammates and childhood buddies represented more than two small independent schools in the 264th and 265th Gold Pan games that goes in the books as a series split.

They stood for the parents and coaches that allowed them to reach Division I stardom that previously was seldom seen by Colorado natives.

Ruegsegger overshadowed Bachman on Saturday, scoring and assisting on goals in a span of 47 seconds to help the third-ranked Pioneers beat the No. 4 Tigers 3-2 at Magness Arena.

"I guess it works out in the end," said Bachman, who made 28 saves to spearhead CC's 5-1 win on Friday in Colorado Springs. "We didn't have much time in the (handshake) line, but I'm sure I'll talk to him later in the week."

Bachman absorbed his first loss in Western Collegiate Hockey Association play, falling to 8-1 (8-2 overall). CC also saw its six-game unbeaten streak (4-0-2) against DU snapped, and its six-game winning streak overall. The Tigers (8-4, 8-2) remain atop the WCHA with 16 points.

DU (9-3, 6-2) was thankful to finally have solved its rival for the first time in two years.

"Going into this game, the only statistic that mattered was the one that was 0-4-2," DU coach George Gwozdecky said. "We needed to do something to change that. We did enough."

Senior Peter Mannino (20 saves) was terrific after allowing a power-play goal 1:11 into the game, and Rhett Rakhshani and Tom May scored the second and third goals to put the Pioneers ahead 3-1.

CC junior Eric Walsky solved Mannino with 44 seconds to play, but Ruegsegger made two ensuing clears, including clanking a shot off the right post with Bachman on the bench for a sixth attacker.

"Both games were good games, and lived up to the billing of the No. 3 and No. 4 teams in the country," CC coach Scott Owens said. "(Friday) night we got some bounces. Tonight they might have got some bounces. We didn't play poorly, but not good enough to win on the road."

DU trailed 1-0 until Ruegsegger's rebound goal with 1:52 to play in the second period. It came during a delayed penalty, and after defenseman Patrick Mullen banged a one-timer off Bachman's pads.

"We needed a goal — bad," Ruegsegger said. "He's a great goalie, but we knew we just had to keep pressing. And it paid off with an open net off a rebound. It got our team going."

Soon after, Ruegsegger was against the dasher boards and sent a pass to the crease, where Rakhshani tapped the puck in off his backhand for a 2-1 lead.

Media Coverage Of Game One Of CC Series

(left) CC's Chad Rau registered his first career hat trick in the Tigers' 5-1 win

The Denver Post covers the carnage.

USCHO.com has more of the same.

DU drops to #5 in Pairwise Rankings.

Through the eyes of the enemy, the Colorado Springs Gazette article.