Denver Post: DU Clinches Title With OT Win

(above) Rhett Rakhshani's last second heroics clinched the 13th MacNaughton Trophy for the Pioneers on Saturday night in Mankato

From: Denver Post
by Jess Meyers

As title-clinchers go, they hardly get more dramatic than this.

University of Denver captain Rhett Rakhshani's goal with 13.3 seconds left in overtime Saturday lifted the Pioneers to a 4-3 victory over Minnesota State — a win that clinched the regular-season title in the Western Collegiate Hockey Association. It was the Pioneers' 12th WCHA regular-season title, and the first since 2005.

After a faceoff in the Mavericks' zone, Denver defenseman Patrick Wiercioch got the puck to the front of the net, where, after a bounce, it ended up on Rakhshani's stick with no opponent covering.

"We did have a play on, and it did fall apart," Pioneers coach George Gwozdecky said. "We wanted Patrick to get the puck to the net right away. . . . He shoveled a backhand toward the net front, and a split second later it winds up on Rhett's stick and Rhett buries it."

The last-second drama came after the Pioneers had built, and lost, a two-goal lead in the second period. With the Mavericks playing like anything but a ninth-place team, the Pioneers had to rely heavily on goaltender Marc Cheverie, who responded with 36 saves, extending Denver's win streak to 10.

The Pioneers face Colorado College in a home-and-home series next weekend to close out the regular season. DU Fans are encouraged to wear white clothing for tne "White Out."

DU 4 - Minnesota State Mankato 3 - OT FINAL

DU Scores With 13.3 Seconds Left In Overtime

It wasn't pretty and it wasn't easy, but the University of Denver clinched the WCHA regular season title in dramatic fashion on Saturday night in Mankato, Minnesota. Rhett Rakhshani scored with 13 seconds left in overtime on a backhanded shot past Maverick goaltender Austin Lee.

Anthony Maiani, Jesse Martin & Joe Colborne also scored for DU.

Next Friday night should be a big party in Magness Arena. The MacNaughton Trophy will be presented to the boys in front of arch rivals Colorado College.

DU fans are encouraged to wear white clothing for the "White Out" against Colorado College.
Pairwise Rankings

WCHA Standings

Box Score

My Name Is ... "RAKHSHANI" WCHA Champion


When the Boyz down in the LetsGoDU Skunk Works™ heard that Rhett Rakhshani was a finalist for the Lowe's Senior Class Award they wanted to get involved.

The Problem: How to get a Cali surfer boy like Rhett Rakhshani to resonate with voters in Detroit, Cleveland and Long Island?

The Solution: Set his LetsGoDU promotional video to Eminem.

Victory Moves DU Within One Win Of MacNaughton

(above) John Lee, Brian Gifford & Branddon Vossberg clean out the trash in front of Chevy

From: Mankato Free Press
by Shane Frederick

What’s the difference between No. 1 in the country and ninth place in the Western Collegiate Hockey Association?

“I feel like we’re right there,” Minnesota State forward Rylan Galiardi said after Minnesota State’s 3-1 loss to top-ranked Denver on Friday. “It was there for us to take. I gotta hand it to (Denver). The difference between us and them, is they’ve learned how to win.”

The difference before a crowd of 3,723 at the Verizon Wireless Center was also having the nation’s best goaltender and having a group of all-conference-caliber players who could cash in on special teams.

Pioneers goalie Marc Cheverie stopped 28 shots, and Denver’s top line of Rhett Rakhshani, Tyler Ruegsegger and Joe Colborne had a hand in all three goals. Two of the Pioneers’ goals came on the power play, and the other one came during a delayed penalty. Rakhshani, the WCHA’s scoring leader, finished with three assists.

Minnesota State outshot Denver 29-20, and the game was tied 1-1 until Colborne’s redirection at 6:51 of the third period.

“It tells you the margin for success and no success in this league is so thin,” said Denver coach George Gwozdecky, whose team can clinch the WCHA championship with a win tonight.

Zach Harrison scored the Mavericks’ lone goal, tying the game at 11:19 of the second period on a pretty play from Galiardi and Mike Louwerse.

Minnesota State freshman goaltender Phil Cook made 17 saves. There wasn’t much he could do about any of the goals.

Denver opened the scoring with a power-play goal midway through the first period when Ruegsegger tried to make a back-door pass through the crease but hit MSU defenseman Channing Boe. The puck took an unfortunate carom and popped into the net behind Cook.

During a delayed penalty in the third period, Colborne broke the tie when he tipped defenseman William Wrenn’s shot between Cook’s pads. Less than four minutes later, Denver defenseman Matt Donovan snuck down low and buried a cross-crease pass from Ruegsegger during a power play for a 3-1 lead.

“I thought we played a good hockey game with the exception of special teams,” Mavericks coach Troy Jutting said. “We got beat on special teams.

“I thought we played a smart game. I thought our effort was good. Defensively, we played very good hockey, and offensively, we created some things for ourselves.”

Cheverie, who leads the WCHA in save percentage and goals-against average, stopped Galiardi on two great scoring chances. In the first period, Galiardi walked the puck across the goalmouth and tried to score at the far post only to be turned away by an alert Cheverie. In the third period, the goalie turned aside Galiardi’s redirection try with his left pad during a power play.

“I thought that Mankato had us on our heels,” Gwozdecky said. “They created some chances down low and we got mixed up in our coverages. (Cheverie) made some great saves. …

“We were a tad more opportunistic than they were.”

The Mavericks finished 0 for 4 with the man advantage.

“It was just them bending and not breaking and us not capitalizing,” Galiardi said.

Early this season, Minnesota State lost 4-3 and tied 4-4 at Denver.

“We’re better now than we were then,” Galiardi said. “Denver’s the No. 1 team in the country. We’re neck and neck with them. It would be easy to just sit and say that they’re better than us. But the tough things is, I can’t say that.”

Stastny's Goal & Assists Power USA Past Finland

(above) DU Alum Paul Stastny's goal and two assists helped the US Hockey team crush Finland

From: Denver Post

Barely two minutes into the game, Finnish goalie Miikka Kiprusoff was staring at the ceiling in disbelief.

It turns out he was just getting started.

Ryan Malone raced into Finland's zone, picked off Kiprusoff's ill-advised pass and scored into an empty net. The U.S. rout was on.

What happened next in this semifinal jolted Canada Hockey Place: The Americans scored four times on Kiprusoff in a six-goal first period Friday, winning 6-1 and surging into the gold medal game.

The U.S. will meet Canada on Sunday, 50 years to the day after capturing Winter Olympics gold in 1960 at Squaw Valley, Calif. Canada beat Slovakia 3-2 to advance.

DU 3 - Minnesota State Mankato 1 FINAL


1st Period
DU - Ruegsegger (PP) 10:11
assists Rakhshani, Wiercioch

2nd Period
MSUM - Harrison 8:41
assists Galiardi, Louwerse

3rd Period
DU - Colborne 13:09
assists Wrenn, Rakhshani

DU - Donovan (PP) 9:10
assists Ruegsegger, Rakhshani

Pairwise Rankings

MSU-Mankato Readies To Battle DU This Weekend

From: KEYC TV.com

The MSU men's hockey team earned a weekend sweep of Alaska Anchorage last weekend and the Mavs are hoping it leads to more success tomorrow night.

The Mavs topped the Seawolves 5-2 on Friday and followed it up with a 4-3 victory Saturday.

MSU plays host to the number one ranked Denver Pioneers this weekend looking for their 3rd straight win. The Mavs had a loss and a tie against DU in Colorado back in October and are hoping to find the win column this weekend at the Verizon Wireless Center.

Denver has an amazing goalie in Marc Cheverie who ranks 2nd in country in goals against average. He ranks first in save percentage and first in shutouts. The Mavs are hoping to get on the board early this weekend to shake him up.

The Mavs and Pioneers square of Friday night in Mankato at 6:37 pm MST.

Projected NCAA Tournament Brackets

Each week leading up to the NCAA Tournament Inside College Hockey.com predicts how they think the field will look in the playoffs. Currently they predict that DU will be the overall #1 seed and will play in the XCEL Energy Center in St, Paul, Minnesota.

Denver Post: DU Has Two Hobey Candidates

From: Denver Post
by Mike Chambers


As captain and the leading scorer of the NCAA's top-ranked team, and possessing sportsmanship and academic credentials, University of Denver senior wing Rhett Rakhshani embodies what the Hobey Baker Award stands for.

Voters for the national player-of-the-year award, however, will have a difficult time determining DU's best player, because the Pioneers' success also derives from Marc Cheverie. The junior goalie (19-3-3) leads the country with six shutouts and a .937 save percentage.

"Denver has two great superstars, definitely among the cream of the crop in college hockey this year," said Wally Shaver, Minnesota's radio announcer and a Hobey Baker Award Foundation committee member. "And when you have two outstanding guys from the same team, you usually have good results." (read rest of article)
Olympic Hockey Results: USA 2 - Switzerland 0 .... Canada 7 - Russia 3 .... Slovakia 4 - Sweden 3 .... Finland 2 - Czech Republic 0.... Go USA .... Good Luck Stastny

Milkman & Boone Together At Winter Park

(above) Boone & Milkman in Winter Park, Colorado

When "Milkman" opened up his latest tour in Winter Park earlier this month, Boone joined him on stage for a good old-fashioned "Mashup."

Milkman is the stage alias of Hip-Hop/Dance/Rock music producer Gregg Luskin from San Diego, CA. Milkman is a live DJ who mixes music onstage. Check out his website as it contains some pretty cool music samples from his various albums.

As word has spread through college campuses around the country and overseas, Milkman's popularity grown exponentially. Milkman is now regarded as a premiere mashup DJ and regularly performs with A-List artists such as Lil' Jon and Three 6 Mafia.

USA Rolls Into Semis With 2-0 Victory Over Swiss

(above) DU Alum Paul Stastny is the center on the top USA line

From: Denver Post
by Mark Kizla

As Avalanche star Paul Stastny has discovered the hard way, it's not always easy being the No. 1 center on the top-seeded team in the Olympic tournament, where all eyes in the hockey world are watching you.

After surviving an elimination game Wednesday afternoon with a 2-0 victory against Switzerland, one question dogged the Americans, despite the fact they remain undefeated in four games: Does Team USA have the firepower to claim the nation's first gold medal in hockey since 1980?

U.S. coach Ron Wilson has heard the criticism. And it makes him cranky.

"If you said at the beginning of the tournament that we'd be 4-0 and the No. 1 seed, everybody would say, 'You're on crack or something." Wilson said. "Yet here we are, getting the job done, and we're looking at everything that's wrong with our team."

Stastny made a pass that helped set up the game-winning goal, scored early in the third period by Zach Parise on a power play.

The assist by Stastny was his first point of the tournament. With a possible return match looming against Canada, which has erupted for 15 goals in two contests since being upset by the Americans in pool play, the top U.S. scoring line of Jamie Langenbrunner, Parise and Stastny needs to become more of a threat.

Although the Americans constantly forced the action, they had trouble breaking through against goalie Jonas Hiller, who kept Switzerland hanging around despite being outshot 44-19.

How difficult has it been for the top U.S. line to mesh?

"It's tough. It's not always the three best players who are going to make the best scoring line. That's just not the way it is. You need guys who are willing to do different things on a line, a guy who is willing to get in the corner and get the puck. Three fancy guys don't always get it done," said Parise, who scored an empty-net goal that finally allowed Team USA to relax with 12 seconds remaining in the third period.

DU Alum Peter Mannino Heading Back To NHL

(left) DU Alum Peter Mannino & his Boone themed goalie helmet are heading to the NHL

From: MLN Sports

The Atlanta Thrashers have recalled goaltender Peter Mannino from the AHL Chicago Wolves.

Mannino is currently in the midst of a professional career-high 10-game winning streak and has surrendered more than two goals in a game just twice in his last 15 matchups. The 26-year-old netminder ranks second in the American Hockey League with a 1.97 goals-against average and a .934 save percentage and has accrued an 18-3-0 record in 24 games this season.

The Farmington Hills, Mich., native has held opponents to two or fewer goals in 19 of his 24 appearance between the pipes this year, which includes his first shutout of the season - a 32-save blanking of Grand Rapids - on Jan. 29. He was named the AHL’s Goaltender of the Month for February, and was honored as the league’s Player of the Week for the period ending Jan. 3.

Last year, the University of Denver graduate made his professional debut and backstopped 34 matchups for the Bridgeport Sound Tigers, posting a 17-12-2 record, 2.94 goals-against average and .900 save percentage. He also made his National Hockey League debut in three games with the New York Islanders, notching a 1-1-0 record with a 4.52 goals-against average and .870 save percentage, which includes earning his first career NHL victory - in his first NHL start when he turned aside 40 of 42 shots against the Chicago Blackhawks on March 15.

Students Ready Magness For "Whiteout 2.0" vs. CC

(above) The T-shirt Design for this year's White Out

On Friday March 5th when the University of Denver faces off against arch-rival Colorado College, the Magness Arena will be bathed in a sea of white. 600 T-shirts will be given to DU students who enter through the Rally Alley.

The students will have a chance to pick the size of their shirts, a "Creation Station" for makings signs (Boone themed preferred) and of course the DU Grilling Society will be BBQing pre-game.

The final details are still being worked out, but the plan is to have T-shirts & thunder sticks in every seat in Magness Arena. Should be an epic weekend.

DU Closes In On WCHA Title

(above) The DU student section has had plenty to cheer about at Magness this season

From: Denver Post
by Mike Chambers

Based on their NCAA-best eight-game winning streak (six in conference play) and 10-0-2 record in Western Collegiate Hockey Association two-game series openers, chances are excellent the Denver Pioneers will win their first league regular-season title since 2005.

Denver (22-6-4, 16-4-4) needs four points over its final four games to secure its 12th MacNaughton Cup title. The red-hot Pioneers have 36 points, matching their total from last season's second-place finish.

They would clinch with two wins at Minnesota State this weekend, regardless of how St. Cloud State (33 points), Wisconsin (31) and Minnesota-Duluth (29) fare (read rest of article)

Boone Attends Olympic Hockey Events

(above) From Boonetown to Olympic Hockey Center

1974 Denver Boone - KOA Radio Mug

(above) This photo of a 1974 Coffee Mug turned up on Facebook today

DU Back Atop The Polls

From: USCHO.com

In the rare occasions this season where Miami has faltered enough to lose the No. 1 spot in the USCHO.com Division I Men’s Poll, Denver has been there to take advantage.

Nothing different this week. The Pioneers, winners of eight in a row and with just one loss in 14 games since the holiday break, moved up a spot after the RedHawks lost last Saturday to Nebraska-Omaha.

Miami fell to second, but the rest of the top five was unchanged — Wisconsin in third, St. Cloud State in fourth and Yale in fifth.

Denver and Miami are the only two teams that have held the top spot in the poll this season.

The Pioneers can claim the MacNaughton Cup for the first time since 2005 — the last year they won the national championship — with a pair of victories at Minnesota State on the penultimate weekend of the WCHA regular season.

The WCHA continues to hold five of the top 10 spots, but with a slightly different cast this week. North Dakota is up three spots to eighth after sweeping Minnesota-Duluth, while Colorado College dropped six spots to 13th after a pair of losses at Minnesota.

Facebook: Hockey Tickey Policy Angers Students

(above) DU students have started a Facebook petition to protest the high cost of gameday hockey tickets

The long running battle between University of Denver students and the Athletic Department over the student hockey ticket policy instituted this season has escalated to a Facebook Petition. The students are angry that hockey tickets that regularly cost $5 for students rise to $18 on the day of the game.

While its easy to say that the students should buy their tickets early in the week, the fact of the matter is that the students contribute roughly $70,000 to the Athletic Department through the Student Activity Fee.

617 students have joined the group as Tuesday morning.
The DU box office's policy change on student tickets to the hockey games this year is shameful at best. They are losing money charging $18 for tickets we could always get for $5 the day of the game. Students should not have to spend $36 to go to a weekends worth of games for our flagship sport. Not only does it hurt the students but the team as well. Let's show the box office we want change. Let's get the student section back and rowdy as ever. LET'S GO DU.
- Facebook Petition

News & Notes From Around PioNation

The International Scouting Service rates players aged 16-18 for NHL clubs. Incoming DU recruit Beau Bennett has jumped from #48 to #30 among North American skaters and stamped himself as possible first round draft choice this summer.

Speaking of Beau Bennett. He recorded four points in the last game of the season for the Penticton Vees & won the BCHL scoring race on the last day of the BCHL regular season. Bennett had a goal and three assists in the win, and closed out the season with 41 goals and 120 points, and a staggering 56 points in his final 20 games.

The USA Olympic Hockey Team including DU alum Paul Stastny will play on Wednesday against the winner of the Switzerland/Belarus game. The game will be at 1 PM MST on NBC.

DU Clarion: DU Back On Top Of National Polls

(left) With Chris Nutini out with an injury, Senior Cody Brookwell will play a larger role for the Pioneers

From: DU Clarion
by Eddie Fischermann

With just four games left in the regular season, the Pioneers (16-4-4 WCHA, 22-6-4) are on the verge of clinching the WCHA regular season title. Currently three points ahead of St. Cloud State (15-8-3 WCHA, 20-10-4), they need just two more wins in their last four games to clinch.

Their first chance comes this weekend in Mankato, Minnesota. The team will travel there to play Minnesota State (8-15-1 WCHA, 14-6-2), who is coming off a sweep of Alaska-Anchorage. Earlier in the year, the Pioneers seemed to struggle against the Mavericks, winning the first game 4-3 then tying the second game 4-4.

Minnesota State is currently second to last in the conference.

However, being that it is late in the season, senior captain Rhett Rakhshani knows that every team has to be taken seriously.

“At this point in the season you are going to get your opponents best effort every game,” said Rakhshani. “We need to be ready to play the game simply and intensely if we are going to have success this coming weekend.”

Denver is coming into the weekend on a high note. After previously top-ranked Miami of Ohio lost to the University of Nebraska-Omaha over the weekend, the Pioneers moved up to No. 1 in the nation.

Winning both games against last place Michigan Tech over the weekend, the Pioneers have some momentum coming into these games.

The Pioneers won the games 5-2 and 5-3. Although they let Michigan Tech hang around for most of the game both times, they still got the wins.

DU had a lot of diversity in scoring though.

Eight different goal scorers had goals on the weekend. The only Pioneer to score multiple goals was junior assistant captain Kyle Ostrow.

Junior Anthony Maiani had a five-point weekend, scoring one goal and contributing four assists.

Other Pioneer players who had a big weekend were junior defenseman Cody Brookwell (1 G, 2 A) and senior Brandon Vossberg (1 G, 2 A).

DU did encounter one problem over the weekend.

Junior defenseman Chris Nutini was injured on a play in the DU zone during the second period of the game on Saturday. He needed to be helped off the ice and went straight to the locker room. He did not return to the game, and according to Fox Sports Network, he left the rink on crutches.

He is doubtful for this weekend’s games.

Junior goaltender and Hobey Baker candidate Marc Cheverie made 53 saves on 58 shots over the weekend to get two more wins on the season. This brings his total number of wins on the season to 19, tying him for No. 1 in the nation. He still leads the nation in shutouts with six and is tied for the best save percentage in the nation (.937).

That makes eight straight wins for the Pioneers who have a record of 11-1-2 over their last 14 games.

“We have started to bring the necessary effort to win on a consistent basis,” said sophomore forward Joe Colborne. “The coaches have been preaching it all year and we are now seeing the results.”

The team puts that streak on the line this weekend against Minnesota State.

“We can’t look past a single game because every team we play can beat us if we don’t bring our best effort,” said Colborne.

Minnesota State proved that earlier this year, tying one of the games against DU and giving them a scare in the other.

The games are Friday and Saturday night at 6:37 p.m. MST and 6:07 p.m., respectively.

DU #1 In All Polls & Rankings

(Above) DU moved into the #1 spot in the Pairwise Rankings after sweeping Michigan Tech over the weekend coupled with Miami's loss to Nebraska-Omaha

DU in 1st Place in WCHA Standings

DU #1 in Inside College Hockey's Power Rankings


DU #1 In USCHO.com Poll

DU #1 In USA Today's Coaches Poll

DU Today: Miracle On Ice's DU Connection

(above) Craig Patrick, Tom Miller, Keith Magnuson & Murray Armstrong with the 1969 National Championship trophy won in World Arena against Cornell

From: DU Today
by Nathan Solheim

On Feb. 22, 1980, the United States Olympic hockey team — which consisted of amateur players from the college hockey ranks — upset what was considered the world’s greatest hockey power, the Soviet Union, in Winter Olympic competition in Lake Placid, N.Y. The victory, now known as the “Miracle on Ice,” resonates across the sports landscape to this day because of its worldwide political ramifications and a David-beats-Goliath quality.

The University of Denver didn’t have a player on the team, but alum Craig Patrick (BA economics ’69) was behind the bench for the Miracle on Ice. Patrick played four years of hockey at DU and then played professional hockey for a decade. As his playing days wound down, the head coach for the 1980 team, Herb Brooks, asked him to serve as the assistant coach. Patrick would go on to work as DU’s athletic director from 1987–89 and as a general manager with the NHL’s Pittsburgh Penguins and New York Rangers (read rest of story).

Winter Olympics Update From A DU Alum

(above) DU Alum Brian Horsburgh at the ice hockey venue in Vancouver

DU Alum Brian Horsburgh just graduated from DU this past Spring Quarter. His first "job" out of college is working at the Vancouver 2010 Winter Olympics.

While at DU, Brian helped out Boone as a "gofer/security" during DU hockey games. He sent us the following update from Vancouver.
Greetings from a crazy Vancouver. As most of you know, I am up here for the month working at the Games. We host all sorts of folks, from clients to contest winners, for 3-4 day trips. In addition to the full timers, I am working with 15 other staff, mostly from the area, transporting our guests to and from airports, the hotel, and all sorts of Olympic events and functions.

Though I do not get to attend all events, I have got to witness parts of women's and men's hockey, snowboarding, men's and women's short track skating (go ohno go!!!) men's biathlon, men's super G, women's aerials, and quite a bit of the baggage shuffle out of the international customs area ... okay so that is not an Olympic sport yet, but I see quite a bit of it.

The most interesting people end up here, so it has been a blast getting to know everyone. Right now we have a group of Koreans in who do not speak a lick of English, so I am trying to add a few Koren words to my speech, a simple good morning in their language goes a long way.

Celebrity sightings so far include the Barenaked Ladies (with a new lead singer), Nelly Fratado (eviently she still exists up here), Sarah McLaughlin (did not realize it until someone told me I just said 'have a good night' to her), Joe Biden (with very little security), Mitt Romney (before he was threatened on his flight), and NFL Commissioner Roger Goodell (3 times).

Tonight was Sweden-Finland hockey, a rematch of the gold medal game from 4 years ago. Didn't make it to the US-Canada game, but it was a great one, and it made being an American a lot easier tonight! Tomorrow, I get to sleep in (till 8) before getting for various events followed by speed skating... luckily no 2 am airport pickup tonight... The fun never stops!

LetsGoDU Mentioned On FSN Broadcast


LetsGoDU got a shout out from FSN-Rocky Mountain's Dan Kelly on Saturday night.

Stastny Helps USA Olympians Stun Canada

Click Olympic Hockey Bracket To Enlarge

The USA Hockey Team moved into the Elimination Stage of the 2010 Vancouver Olympic Games with a stunning 5-3 upset over Canada. With the victory the USA is now the overall #1 seed, while Canada will have to navigate a very difficult schedule to advance to the medal round.

Winning the game they supposedly couldn't against a virtual NHL all-star team that Canadians believed was ordained for gold, the Americans' unexpected victory Sunday advanced them to Wednesday's quarterfinals as the top-seeded team. All but five players on the US team played college hockey earlier in their careers including Paul Statsny at DU.

This game wasn't for a medal. Canada wasn't eliminated; the Americans are assured of nothing but a bye before they play the Switzerland-Belarus winner. Even so, this was a magical moment for U.S. hockey that, at least in the Olympics, hasn't been matched since the Miracle on Ice in 1980.

"You just can't beat it. It was fun," Stastny said. "It was a once-in-a-lifetime atmosphere."

So far, it's been a bad year for Canadian hockey teams facing Americans. Only last month, the U.S. stunned Canada in Saskatoon to win the world junior championships, a tournament that is widely followed in Canada.

US Wore 1960 Throwback Jerseys Against Canada

(above) DU alum Paul Statny (#26) celebrates with Brian Rafalski who scored the first goal of the game yesterday against Canada

The United States uniforms for Sunday's Olympic men's hockey game against Canada were nearly identical to those worn by the 1960 gold-medal winning team at Squaw Valley.

The uniforms featured a red stripe between two blue stripes on the sleeves and white sweater bottoms, and the letters U-S-A in a diagonal pattern. The shoulders were in dark blue, with red piping around the neck. The pants were dark blue, while the stripes on the white socks matched those on the sweaters.

The 1959-60 University of Denver hockey team played the USA team as they were preparing for the 1960 Olympic Games. DU defeated Team USA 7-5 and tied them the next night 5-5 in the DU Ice Arena. Three weeks later the USA team won the Gold Medal over the Soviet Union.

DU 5 - Michigan Tech 3 FINAL

(above) Drew Shore's backhanded goal in the 1st Period

The University of Denver hockey team defeated Michigan Tech tonight 5-3 at Magness Arena. DU won its eighth straight game after jumping to a 4-1 1st Period lead. Patrick Wiercioch, Joe Colborne, Matt Donovan & Drew Shore scored in the First Period.

Kyle Ostrow added a goal in the Second Period.

Chris Nutini appeared to injure his right ankle late in the 2nd Period.

DU can clinch the WCHA Regular Season championship and the #1 seed in the WCHA playoffs with two wins in their last four games against Minnesota State or Colorado College.

Nebraska-Omaha's upset of Miami moved DU to the #1 spot in the Pairwise.
  • Minnesota 7 - Colorado College 4
  • Nebraska-Omaha 4 - Miami 2
  • Wisconsin 7 - St. Cloud 4
  • North Dakota 5 - Minnesota Duluth 1
Box Score

WCHA Standings

Pairwise Rankings

Denver Post Game Recap

USCHO.com
Game Recap

DU 5 - Michigan Tech 2 FINAL

(above) John Lee against Michigan Tech on Friday night

The game wasn't as easy as the final score indicated, but the University of Denver will take the 5-2 victory against Michigan Tech. DU won its 7th game in a row to remain in first place in the WCHA.

Cody Brookwell scored the opening goal in the first two minutes of the game.

Tyler Ruegsegger scored another classic "Rubberband Man" goal in the second period.

Brandon Vossberg, Anthony Maiani and Kyle Ostrow, playing together on the second line, scored three goals in the third period. Vossberg certainly seems to be enjoying himself playing with two premier playmakers in Ostrow & Maiani. Vossberg's goal and two assists tonight doubled his point production for the season.
Box Score

WCHA Standings

Pairwise Rankings

Denver Post Game Recap

USCHO.com Game Recap

Matt Van Voorhis Commits To DU

(above) Matt Van Voorhis from Edina, Minnesota will attend DU

The USHL Website is reporting that defenseman Matt Van Voorhis of Team USA has verbally committed to attend the University of Denver. No year is mentioned, but we'd expect it to be in 2011 or 2012.

The 17-year-old blueliner from Edina, Minnesota has two points (1g, 1a) in 20 USHL games this season while playing for Team USA's Under-17 squad. He has been described by the US Hockey Report as an "excellent skater and puck handler with great mobility."

In 2008-09 Van Voorhis played for the Edina High School team as a Sophomore and recorded two goals and 9 assists. Edina won the Minnesota Class AA Consolation Championship last season.

He is teammates with DU recruit Zac Larraza, a forward on the USNDT-Under 17.
2010 Recruiting Class
F Jason Zucker (U.S. Under-18)
D David Makowski (Green Bay, USHL)
F Nick Shore (U.S. Under-18)
F Beau Bennett (Penticton, BCHL)
F Dan Olszewski (St. Louis, NAHL)

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

2012 Recruiting Class
F Tyler Pham (Team Illinios)

DU Faces Michigan Tech This Weekend

From: Denver Post
by Mike Chambers

This weekend's two-game series at Magness Arena is the only one scheduled between the University of Denver and Michigan Tech this season.

But if the Pioneers get what they want, the Huskies (5-22-1) will return in a month and play DU in a No. 1 vs. No. 10 Western Collegiate Hockey Association first-round, best-of-three playoff series (read rest of article)

Rivals.com Ranks Top 10 Incoming Recruits

(above) Jason Zucker is listed as the #2 incoming recruit in college hockey next season

Rivals.com ranked the "Top 10 Incoming Recruits" for next season. The University of Denver was the only program with two players in the Top 10. Jason Zucker was #2 and Beau Bennett was #7. We believe that Bennett is better than #7 based on his recent play (see article below). Time will tell.

Rivals will release their full list of the Top 50 players later this week.
DU's 2010 Recruiting Class
F Jason Zucker (U.S. Under-18) - Rivals.com Rank #2
F Beau Bennett (Penticton, BCHL) - Rivals.com Rank #7
F Nick Shore (U.S. Under-18)
D David Makowski (Green Bay, USHL)
F Dan Olszewski (St. Louis, NAHL)

Is Beau Bennett The Next Tyler Bozak?

(above) DU recruit Beau Bennett receiving the "Top Forward Award" at the CJHL All-Star Series earlier this year

University of Denver recruit Beau Bennett will suit up for the Pioneers next season. On Monday he was named BCHL Player of the Week for the second time this season playing for the Penticton Vees. Not bad for a player from Southern California in his Rookie season in Canada.

Bennett continued his scorching offensive pace, totaling six goals and eight assists in the last four games. Included in those totals were a trio of four-point nights, which the 18-year old picked up in wins over Trail, Merritt and Prince George. Since January 5th, Bennett has failed to hit the scoresheet just once in 17 games, and he has recorded 18 goals and 48 points during that span.

His season totals are similar to former DU superstar Tyler Bozak in his final season with the Victoria Grizzlies. Bozak notched 45 goals and 83 assists in just 56 games. Bennett has 41 goals and 71 assists in 53 games. Bennett is the only BCHL Rookie to record 100 points in a season in the last seven years.

Here's the exciting part for DU fans; Bozak was 20 years old and in his third season in the BCHL when he racked up his huge numbers. Bennett is just 18 and in his first season in the league.

Some mock drafts & the NHL Scouting Combine are projecting Bennett going in the second round of next summer's NHL Draft. But its going to be difficult to ignore Bennett's huge numbers down the stretch this season. Tyler Bozak's early success with the Toronto Maple Leafs this season won't hurt either. Factor in the Bennett/Bozak comparisons and he might move up to the First Round after all.

Considering the NHL Draft will be held in his hometown of Los Angeles, there should be plenty of family and friends to help him celebrate.

News & Notes From Around PioNation

(above) DU Alum Paul Stastny centered Team USA's 1st line in the Olympic victory over Switzerland

Its two seasons away, but DU will play the Merrimack Warriors from the Hockey East for one game at Magness Arena in 2011. Merrimack will also play one game against Colorado College. We're guessing that DU will play at Air Force the same weekend.

The University of Denver Athletic Department Website has received a much needed facelift. Bright snappy photos and less "busy." Its a big improvement.

DU goaltender Marc Cheverie is listed as one of the top seven contenders for the Hobey Baker Award by College Hockey News. He was also named WCHA Defensive Player of the Week for the fourth time this season.

Adrian Dater of the Denver Post has a feature article on DU Alum Paul Stastny. Stastny stands ready to lead the US Olympic hockey team against the world in Vancouver this week. The USA defeated Switzerland 3-1 yesterday in the opening game.

Irv Moss of the Denver Post has an excellent article on former WCHA referee Andy Gambucci. Gambucci was public enemy No. 1 anytime he got near the University of Denver Arena in the 60's & 70's. He was considered to be one of the best collegiate referees during his career which ended with his retirement in 1977.

Boone At DU's 50th Winter Carnival

(above) The People's Mascot

(above) Crowd Surfin'

(above) What happens at Winter Carnival stays at Winter Carnival

Fifty years ago, students at the University of Denver launched Winter Carnival, one of the school’s most enduring traditions. Students from DU have annually made the pilgrimage up the Rocky Mountains to celebrate Denver's proximity to some of the best skiing and snowboarding in the world.

DU students & Boone celebrated the 50th annual Winter Carnival with a weeklong series of events culminating in an on-mountain celebration at Winter Park Resort in Winter Park, Colorado three weeks ago.

Bozak Comes Back To DU For Olympic Break

(above) DU alum Tyler Bozak has three goals and eight assists for the NHL Toronto Maple Leafs this season

From: Denver Post
by Mike Chambers

Former University of Denver star Tyler Bozak, a rookie with the Toronto Maple Leafs, learned Friday that he would not have to spend the NHL's Olympic break playing for the Leafs' top minor-league affiliate.

After playing against the Blues at St. Louis on Friday, Bozak flew to Denver and attended the Pioneers' series finale on Saturday against Minnesota. He intends to spend the rest of the week with his former DU teammates (read rest of article).

Video: Boone's Television Debut

YouTube: Chevy Discusses Gopher Series

DU Student Skiing For Norway In Winter Olympics

(above) DU's Leif Kristian Haugen will be one of the few athletes doing homework in the Olympic Village this week

The trajectory of DU Sophomore Leif Kristian Haugen’s ski career is decidedly not downhill.

Haugen, an alpine skier on the University of Denver’s ski team, reached the upper echelons of his sport when he was named to the Norwegian Olympic ski team for the Vancouver games this February. Racing for a team with a strong tradition of medaling in skiing at the Olympics, Haugen will compete in the giant slalom event and possibly the slalom. (read rest of article)

Boone Makes Television Appearance

(above) Fox Sports Rocky Mountain's Tom Helmer and his sidekick Boone brought you 2nd Period highlights on Friday night

You have to love Fox Sports-Rocky Mountain. They are bringing in top-flight announcing talent on the DU hockey broadcasts this season. Dan Kelly, Charlie Host, Tom Helmer, Marc Stout and now Boone are forming a college hockey announcing Dream Team.

Boone asked to jump into the broadcast on Friday night and delivered a flawless performance. We'll try and find a YouTube of the video this week. Funny stuff.

YouTube: Colborne Discusses 1st NCAA Hat-Trick

(above) DU Sophomore wears the "Hard Hat" after the Gopher season sweep

DU Recruit Always Wanted To Play For Pioneers

(left) Scott Mayfield is projected to be drafted in the early rounds of the 2011 NHL Draft

From: Webster-Kirkwood Times
by Rick Frese

2011 DU recruit Scott Mayfield, 17, is living out his dream. A year early, in fact.

Mayfield, a Webster Groves native, is a top defenseman for the Youngstown Phantoms of the United States Hockey League (USHL). The league is an outstanding developer of National Hockey League talent and has more than 100 alumni on NHL rosters.

To play for the Phantoms, Mayfield transferred from Webster Groves High School to Ursuline High School, a co-ed Catholic school located in Youngstown, Ohio, last summer.

"Everything happened so quickly," said Dave Garth, Mayfield's high school hockey coach at Webster Groves. "I figured to lose him during his senior year."

Mayfield, a junior, already has been offered a college scholarship to play hockey at the University of Denver, a top-flight men's hockey team that has won seven NCAA championships. Mayfield's father, Andrew, graduated from that school's law school.

Mayfield has verbally committed to Denver but he can't officially sign until his senior year next fall. The offer came during a visit at the campus last June.

"I've always wanted to play there," he said. "I've had a (Denver University hockey) jersey hanging in my room since I was seven or eight. This summer was really big for me."

Mayfield, a rangy, physical 6-foot-4, 190 pounder, is considered a potential draft choice in the National Hockey League entry draft. He becomes eligible for the draft in 2011 after his senior year in high school. He plans on returning to Youngstown for his senior season.

"My goal is to play college hockey," Mayfield said. "I'm not thinking too much about that. I just keep working hard."

Mayfield paused for a moment.

"If I am drafted, there is one place I'd liked to be drafted and that's with St. Louis," he said.

Because of his physical size, Mayfield said he patterns his play after former Blues All-Star defenseman Chris Pronger, now a member of the Philadelphia Flyers. Mayfield said he likes to rush the puck in the defender's zone. He is a physical player, who doesn't mind going into the corners.

Mayfield is one of the younger players in the USHL, a league made up of 17 to 21-year-olds. He has 119 minutes in penalties and has been in one fight and several other pushing matches. He has scored seven goals and has added seven assists through 40 games.

"My speed and awareness are keys to my ability to rush the ice," Mayfield said. "I'm a pretty offensive-minded defenseman."

Mayfield said he struggled in the beginning of his rookie season in the USHL.

"The first 10 to 15 games were rough," he said. "The speed of the game and playing against older players made it difficult. I'm evened out now. I feel like I can handle the puck. I'm just quicker. I wasn't used to the faster players, the speed of the game. It all went away after the first 10-15 games."

Phantoms Assistant General Manager Joe Koehler liked Mayfield so much that he acquired him from the Indiana Ice last June. He said he believes Mayfield to be "a standout young defenseman who will be able to play in all situations – that's why we traded for him. He has good hockey sense, can move the puck well and enjoys the physical play. We see a high ceiling with him."

As a sophomore, Mayfield began to get noticed while playing for the St. Louis Amateur Blues Under-16 AAA team. He capped off a year in which he performed well at the Under-16 AAA Midget Minor Nationals tournament and USA Hockey's Select Under-17 Festival and impressed scouts at the Phantoms' tryouts at Boardman's Ice Zone in June.

Mayfield represented the 21-player U.S. Under-18 select team at a two-week Ivan Hlinka Memorial national tournament in Slovokia last August, where he was a mainstay on the team's fourth-place finish in the event.

"Scott bloomed this spring and his stock just exploded," Koehler said last summer. "He has a ton of upside and projects to be a high-end college player and a pro prospect."

As soon as he returned from Slovokia, it was off to Youngstown.

"It's a whole different life up here," Mayfield said.

But, as Mayfield knows, it's just a stepping stone

DU 5 MN 1 Final

(above) Gophers are road kill for the Chevy
"I think they're the best team we've played this year."
- Minnesota coach Don Lucia

Joe Colborne led the way with a hat trick. He had goals in the 1st, 2nd and 3rd periods. He put DU on the board at the 18:58 mark of the first period on the power play. His first goal was assisted by Rhett Rakhshani and Patrick Wiercioch.

Anthony Maiani gave DU a 2-0 lead at the 1:07 mark of the 2nd period with assists to Brandon Vossberg and Kyle Ostrow. Joe Colborne got his 2nd goal on the power play at the 12:39 mark of the period again with assists to Rakhshani and Wiercioch to give DU the 3-0 lead.

Joe Colborne completed his hat trick at the 2:16 mark of the 3rd period on an unassisted shorthanded goal to make it DU 4-0. Brian Gifford got his first goal of the season to make it 5-0 DU at the 17:31 mark of the final period. Chris Knowlton and John Ryder had assist on Gifford's goal.

Marc Cheverie's bid for a shutout was thwarted at the 19:21 mark of the period when Tony Lucia tipped a Mike Carman shot for a power play goal with an additional assist to Nick Leddy. This was DU's 20th win of the season and they are 20-6-4.

First Star: Joe Colborne (Denver)
Second Star: Marc Cheverie (Denver)
Third Star: Patrick Wiercioch (Denver)





Its "Sweep The Gophers Week" @ LetsGoDU .... Go DU .... DU has never gone 4-0-0 against the Gophers in the regular season .... Vote RAKHSHANI for Lowe's Senior Class Award .... Both games televised on FCS-Rocky Mountain

Boonetown To Motown Sweatshirts On Sale Today

Own a piece of history.

These grey Champion® sweatshirts will be the first items ever produced with the "new" Boone mascot. They are $30 each and will be available for sale at Jordan's Bistro on Saturday evening from 5-7 PM.

All the proceeds will benefit Boone's trip to the Frozen Four or a DU student spirit group if DU fails to make it.

Sizes: XXL, XL, L, M, S

USCHO: Rakhshani Best Clutch Forward In WCHA

(above) Rhett Rakhshani leads the WCHA in Campbellnomics points

Elliot Olshansky in USCHO.com compared WCHA forwards using the Campbellnomics System that's the current rage in the NHL.

Campbellnomics awards points only on six types of goals: first goal, go-ahead goal, tying goal, comeback goal, last lead, and overtime (you get one point per goal and half a point per assist for each category the goal falls into).

Despite only being 16th in the nation in scoring with 17 goals and 18 assists in 28 games for an average of 1.25 points per game, and when the Campbellnomics system, he leapfrogs the WCHA’s other top scoring forwards, for 23 Campbellnomics points and a .82 CPPG average.

Check out the article.