Denver Post: Nolan Reignites Zajac Era At DU

Nolan Zajac
by Mike Chambers

Two of his older brothers were big-name hockey players for tradition-rich North Dakota, when the seven-time NCAA champion had a nickname. So how in the name of the Fighting Sioux did blue-chip defenseman Nolan Zajac land at the University of Denver? 

"I guess everyone expected me to go to North Dakota, but I kind of wanted to find my own path, to an extent," said Zajac, youngest brother of New Jersey Devils forward Travis Zajac. "I want to follow what they do, but I want to take my own path to get there." [read entire article].

19 comments:

Anonymous said...

Glad Nolan decided to reconnect the Zajac family to DU. Article says he is on the #1 power play?? Hmmm...that sounds quite odd, with all the defensive talent that we have. In any case, looking forward to seeing Nolan play this weekend. I'm wonder why he hasn't been drafted, especially in light of his apparent talent and family line. Late bloomer?

Anonymous said...

Anyone else a little worried about this U-Mass Lowell crew? I was scoping them out, man they are an experienced team and I'm hoping they aren't being taken lightly ... they only lost 4 seniors last year and have three NHL draft picks on the team. BTW, they're "River Hawks" .. had to look that up.

Anonymous said...

The better of the Zajac's went to the hockey school UND. One is at Union who made it to the frozen four last year. DU hasn't been to the frozen four since 2005. This will make it 8 years.

dggoddard said...

Congrats to North Dakota for making it to the Frozen Four and losing 6 straight times.

Also congrats on losing as many Frozen Four games in the past decade than DU has all-time.

Get back to us when you finally win a NC again

dggoddard said...

Umass-Lowell had a breakout year last year going 24-13-1 & making the NCAA's for the first time since 1996. It is worrisome that they return almost their whole team.

On the otherhand, like Minnesota State they only seem to have a winning season every five years or so and they almost always seem to have huge Senior classes.

DU probably has the talent edge and Lowell will have the experience and size. That will probably be true every weekend this season.

We'll just have to see if our young forwards can step up on Friday night.

Anonymous said...

DG your funny. Get back to us when you win a NCAA game again.

Anonymous said...

The jealousy continues....

Anonymous said...

Nolan didn’t have the required criminal history to qualify for the North Dakota team outright. Nor was he interested in the initiation ceremony of peeing in an elevator and tossing a lawnmower out of his apartment.

Anonymous said...

Ha ha, I had no idea North Dakota is 0 for 6 in their last 6 Frozen Fours. The ultimate chokers.

Yes, DU needs to get back to the Frozen Four. But at least I can say that my two trips to the Frozen Four in Boston and Columbus were "a great success!" Think of all the dough the North Dakota hicks paid to travel and see their team get shelled. Funny and sad.

vizoroo said...

Glad Nolan made the right choice and that Tom will again be back at DU, the first of many visits over the next 4 years.

Iknow he is here to see Nolan play, but I hope somebody can get an interview and get some good stories about Murray and blimp hangar.

Anonymous said...

Despite the persistent references to DU's old arena as a "ariplane or blimp hangar" - it NEVER WAS EITHER of those, despite many people who believe that.

The old DU Arena was a Naval Drill Hall (yes, drill as in marching around -- march 1,2,3) that was put up during WWII in Farragut, Idaho to train US Naval recruits for the war.

The Idaho base closed after WWII, and DU got the govenerment to pay for the shipping of the surplus building to Denver, where it was rebuilt as an ice arena in 1947.

RPI still has similar WWII surplus building as their current arena - a navy warehouse from Rhode Island.

Nincompoop said...

I think Denver learned the importance of non-con games last year, and they learned the hard way; reference Alabama-Huntsville. Didn't seem that important at the time - but in late March it sure bit them in the butt as far as the PWR went. This weekend is critical for the Denver Pioneers. That's the ONLY way DU should be looking at it in my opinion. I will be at the USAFA game on Saturday - so please say hi!

Anonymous said...

Nolan couldn’t drink enough Mad Dog 20/20 to be on the North Dakota team.

Anonymous said...

This Zajac couldn't crack the UND lineup. enough said. He simply isn't good enough. Have fun with the scraps bitches.

Anonymous said...

You phucks really do live in a fantasy world. He is going to play full time for the best defense in the country. Man, having nothing to do in your wasteland of a state really does play havoc with your imaginations.

Derp said...

Troll on Susie!!

It be coooooold under dat thar bridge.

Trent Steele said...

His mom was the person directly in front of me at will call tonight. I thought that was cool.

On a related note, I hope Lowell kicks Tiger ass tomorrow night.

I feel bad for the Sioux...it must suck to have your people somehow associated with a bunch of degenates on skates and their obnoxious anti-American fans. The last word of the Star Spangled Banner is "brave" in case you all somehow missed that.

Anonymous said...

Gotta love !@#$ing idiots like Trent Steele and others who continually bring up the National Anthem crap yet neglect to mention that DU fans do the same thing during the anthem!

Ignorance is bliss, I suppose.

And to the person that said Nolan is playing for the best defense in the country...lololololol!!!!!

Minnesota's defense will be and is better than yours even with the prima donna factor!

Also anon @ 3:12pm on Oct. 18:
You know what's even sadder? The fact Denver only got celebrate winning back-to-back National Titles with 3 fans in attendance for the games. Oh I know, like you guys got like so much like stuff to do and tons of like sports teams. Hahaha. One of the weakest arguments. Fact is, Denver and Colorado in general don't give two shits about DU.

Leatherneck said...

Sounds like 6:31 had a beer poured over his head at some point in the past. You can yell home of the Sue at the end of our National Anthem, just be prepared for a beer bath.