Twitter: DU Hockey On NBC Sports Network

(above) Josiah Didier pimping the Pios
DU vs Wisconsin
FRIDAY - 8 PM MT
TV: NBC Sports Network

DU Goaltender Holds Twitter Competition

(above) DU goaltender Jussi Olkinuora is starting in goal tonight #BeatBucky

Its Gameday: News & Notes Edition

Mike Chambers of the Denver Post breaks down the three college hockey series being played in Colorado this weekend. Not only does DU host Wisconsin, but North Dakota visits Colorado College and Merchyurst & Rochester Institute of Technology takes on Air Force on Friday & Sunday.
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Chambers also has another article in the Denver Post previewing the DU-Wisconsin series.  He also has an update on Josiah Didier's injury.
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Tonight's game against Wisconsin [8 PM MT] is part of a doubleheader on NBC Sports Network.  The earlier game features Boston College at Boston University [5:30 PM MT].  They will also televise the North Dakota at DU game on Feb. 22nd.  NBC Sports Network College Hockey Schedule.
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Western College Hockey Blog looks at the biggest story heading into this game, the long-awaited debut of Wisconsin star freshman Nic Kerdiles.
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Pat Rooney of DenverPioneers.com has an article about DU's blueline featuring Joey LaLeggia.
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A few good seats remain for the Wisconsin series this weekend.  More prime seats [$40] remain for the Friday and both games should be close to sell-outs at gametime.  Check out DU's new seat software that allows you to pick your exact seats and move around the arena.
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FYI: Hardly any seats remain for the North Dakota series on Feb. 22-23.
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The DU Women's Golf Team lost a blue-chip recruit when Mia Landegren from Connecticut decommitted and signed a Letter of Intent with the University of Alabama.  Landergren committed to DU a year ago as a 16 year-old and won some major tournaments in the past year.  A huge loss to the program.

Bad Boyz Alum Gets Arrested Again

(above) Notre Dame alum Rick Sheahan has some explaining to do
Notre Dame alum Riley Sheahan, a prospect for the Detroit Red Wings' organization, faces a "super-drunk" charge after his arrest for drunken driving in Grand Rapids, Mich

The 20-year-old player was pulled over by police on Oct. 29 after driving down the wrong side of the road clad in a purple Teletubbies costume.

According to a police report, Sheahan also blew a .30 at the police station after his arrest, almost four times the legal limit, and almost twice the limit needed to add a "super-drunk" charge to his current charge of driving under the influence.

Sheahan has also been charged with providing false information to authorities. The hockey player was carrying the Michigan driver's license of 23-year-old Brendan Smith, his Griffins teammate and fellow Detroit Red Wings prospect, when he was arrested in downtown Grand Rapids. Sheahan was born in St. Catherines, Ontario. As a Canadian citizen, Sheahan could possibly face deportation.

Sheahan was drafted #21 overall by the team in the 2010 NHL Entry Draft and played three years of collegiate hockey at the University of Notre Dame.

This isn't Sheahan's first time on the BadBoyz List. He was arrested after a police officer saw him, standing in the bed of a moving pickup truck about during his Freshman season at Notre Dame.  During the incident his teammate Kyle Palmieri attempted to run away from an officer, which led to a struggle between the two that included the freshman hockey player grabbing at the officer’s Taser.

DU Recruit Gage Ausmus Sees His Stock Soar

(above) DU Recruit Gage Ausmus is going to be an imposing force on DU's blueline next season
From: USA Hockey
by Becky Olsen

U.S. National Under-18 Team defenseman Gage Ausmus can hardly recognize the player he was one year ago.

With one year of National Team Development Program experience, the East Grand Forks, Minn., native said he feels more confident and that the details of his game — such as stick handling and positioning — have greatly improved.

“Over the summer, I watched NHL on the Fly, and watched the pros to see what they did right and what they did wrong,” he said. “I got in the weight room, worked on stick handling and shot pucks.”

He specifically spent time watching Brooks Orpik, a 2010 U.S. Olympian and Pittsburgh Penguins defenseman who Ausmus tries to model his game after.

“He plays a solid game back at the blue line and doesn’t let anyone get anything easy off,” Ausmus said. “He plays a tough game, and I like that.”

Ausmus added some muscle this off-season in an attempt to toughen up. He came into the U.S. National Under-17 Team last year weighing just 196 pounds. He came back this year at 6-1 and 211 pounds.

“It’s definitely easier to box guys out and play with a more physical presence,” Ausmus said. “It’s easier all around being a bigger guy on the ice.

“I think in the penalty kill area [it has helped too]. The positioning and stick positioning — it makes the game a lot easier to block shots and get the puck out of the zone. Plus it gives me more confidence in my game.”

Ausmus also had another highlight this fall — playing for Rob McClanahan, who won a gold medal for coach Herb Brooks at the 1980 Olympic Winter Games, at the 2012 CCM/USA Hockey All-American Prospects Game in Buffalo.

“It was a great experience for me,” Ausmus said.

“We played in the very nice rink in Buffalo and it was fun time being there. People thought we might take it easy playing against our own players, but that’s not what happened. It was fun and very competitive; I had a great time."

“It was fun playing for Coach McClanahan and talking to him. He said to stick with it — there will be hard times but keep on moving.”

Moving forward is something Ausmus continues to do. Winning the Four Nations Tournament, which was held in early November at the Ann Arbor Ice Cube, was an experience he will never forget.

“Last year, our first international tournament was in Russia and everyone was booing us,” he recalled. “Now we got to play here and everyone was rooting for us. It was a great feeling knowing the fans are on your side and every time you score, the fans are cheering.

“The best thing I remember is standing on the blue line and hearing your national anthem in front of your fans. It’s a great feeling.”

That’s a feeling he gets in and every time he puts on the USA jersey.

“The first time I put it on last year, it was the greatest feeling in the world,” he said. “Every time I put it on, it is the same feeling over and over again. It never gets old.”

A new feeling will arrive next year when Ausmus puts on his college jersey for the University of Denver.

“The education was a big thing for me,” he said of DU. “I really liked their campus. When I first saw it, I thought it was amazing. They have a great hockey program; it’s second to none. All those things combined — it made my choice easy in the end.”

For now, Ausmus is focused on one thing: continuing to become a complete player.

“My goal for myself is to keep building confidence and to keep playing steady,” he said. “Obviously, for the team, we want win the majority of the USHL games and try to get some college wins. At the end of the year, win that big event [the world championship].”

And nothing would be sweeter for Ausmus than the icing on the cake.
2013 Recruiting Class Updated Stats
D Matt Van Voorhis (Sioux Falls, USHL) - 19 games, 3 goal, 8 assists
F Brad Hawkinson (Lincoln Stars, USHL) - 17 games, 5 goals, 2 assist
F Landon Smith (Chicago, USHL) - 18 games, 6 goals, 3 assists
F Connor Chatham (Omaha, USHL) - 20 games, 8 goals, 6 assists
F Ray Pigozzi (Chicago, USHL) - 15 games, 3 goals, 10 assists
D Will Butcher (U.S. Under-18) - 22 games, 3 goals, 10 assists
F Cody DePourcq (Penticton, BCHL) - 26 games, 1 goal, 7 assists
F Trevor Moore (Tri-Cities, USHL) 20 games, 11 goals, 10 assists
D Gage Ausmus (U.S. Under-18) 21 games, 4 assists

2014 Recruiting Class Updated Stats
F Tyler Pham (Indiana Ice, USHL) - 20 games, 8 assists
F Jared Fiegl (U.S. Under-17) 18 games, 3 goals, 6 assists
F Garrett Gamez (Tri-Cities, USHL) 17 games, 4 goals, 3 assists

2015 Recruiting Class Updated Stats
F Dylan Gambrell (Dubuque, USHL) 17 games, 3 goal, 7 assists

Denver Post Profiles DU Legend Ron Grahame

(above) DU alum Ron Grahame has been a player, assistant hockey coach and Athletic Department administrator at DU in the past five decades
photo credit:  Aaron Ontiveroz
From: Denver Post
by Irv Moss

DU's  associate athletic director Ron Grahame still holds many of DU's goaltending records, played in the NHL and won a WHA Avco Cup with Gordie Howe and sons in Houston, but he's probably most proud of having his wife and his son's name on the Stanley Cup [read entire article].

Shore Brothers Profiled In Several Articles

(above) Nick, Drew & Quentin Shore
Two articles feature University of Denver hockey alum Drew Shore.  AHL.com talks about Drew's transition to AHL Hockey this season with the San Antonio Rampage.  

The other article on USA Hockey's Website is about the three Shore brothers and their journey from Denver to the USA National Development Program and then landing at the University of Denver.

Goodbye WAC: DU To Join Summit League


For those of you keeping score at home, the Summit League consists of: North Dakota State, South Dakota State, Fort Wayne, South Dakota, Western Illinois, Kansas City, IUPUI, Oakland [Detroit] & Nebraska-Omaha.

DU will compete in the Summit League in Basketball [M&W], Golf [M&W], Soccer [M&W], Swimming/Diving [M&W], Tennis [M&W] & Volleyball [W].

DU's Skiing [M&W] team competes in the Rocky Mountain Intercollegiate Ski Association, Ice Hockey [M] will compete in the National Collegiate Hockey Conference beginning next season, Lacrosse [M] competes in the Eastern Collegiate Athletic Conference, Gymnastics [W] is independent, while Lacrosse [W] competes in the Mountain Pacific Sports Federation.

Zucker Ties AHL Record With OT Goal


Tied 2-2 and heading into overtime against the Houston Aeros, the Abbortsford Heat didn't even get an opportunity to touch the puck as DU Alum Jason Zucker ended the game in five seconds. 

Zucker, a 2010 second round pick of the Minnesota Wild, leads the Aeros with nine goals and is second on the team in points with 15.

The goal tied the league record set by Dave Saatzer [Nova Scotia Voyageurs - 1980] and Chris Corrinet [Portland Pirates - 2002].

Fans Vote Mathews' Lax Video "Goal Of The Year"


Mark Matthews has been tearing up the ESPN Top 10 and ILTV all season. It seems every game the Canadian is scoring an out-of-this-world goal, whether it was during his senior year at Denver or his MLL season with the Outlaws.

And in the 2012 Laxies, Matthews' catch-and-spin goal earned him the fan vote.

Part of a frantic second-half NCAA Quarterfinal comeback attempt vs. Loyola, the Denver attack man caught a clearing pass with a defender draped on him and finished a turning shot in one motion. It earned him SportsCenter's No. 6 play.

Matthews won a tight race, which featured John Grant, Reid Action, Zach Palmer and Ned Crotty.

NBC Sports Website Revisits DU's "Lost Weekend"

(above) DU will have a chance to get its "Mojo" back on Friday night against Wisconsin in a nationally televised tilt on NBC Sports Network
by Joe Yerdon

Things were going so well for Denver University this season until they invited a pair of teams from New England to town this past weekend. The Pioneers were 9-0-1 and the No. 2 team in the country heading into action against Yale and New Hampshire. But once things were over with on Saturday night, they’d lost 2-1 in overtime to the Bulldogs and blew a 4-1 second period lead to UNH before losing 6-4.

On their overtime loss to Yale, coach George Gwozdecky told Mike Chambers of The Denver Post, “Fortunately, we saw this coming. It was not a good week of practice. … Some of the plays we couldn’t make, whether it was the 5-on-3 power play or the other four power plays. It was awful. No other way to put it. If I had been sitting anywhere else, I would have been booing.”

And that was after their first loss of the season. If there’s a potential cure for Denver it comes in the form of this weekend’s visitors from the University of Wisconsin as the Badgers are just 1-7-2 to start the year and swept last weekend by Minnesota State. 

While Denver will surely slip when polls come out later today, the question here for Gwozdecky’s team is if this is just a hiccup or a sign of problems on the way. With talent like Nick Shore (Los Angeles), Joey LaLeggia (Edmonton), Chris Knowlton, and David Makowski there’s plenty of balance in their attack.

The Pioneers’ loss to New Hampshire was almost single-handedly because of junior Kevin Goumas. While he assisted on the first two of teammate Grayson Downing’s three goals, he helped ice Denver scoring a natural hat trick of his own in the five point effort.

New Hampshire 6 - DU 4 Final

The University of Denver chased off the leading goaltender in college hockey in less than 10 minutes of play and it looked like it "Black Friday" would soon be a forgotten memory.  Unfortunately the University of New Hampshire didn't get the memo and a four-goal third period brought heartache to Magness Arena on Saturday night.

Despite the losses to the east coast visitors, DU remained #3 in the Pairwise Rankings and firmly in first place in the WCHA.




Saturday Night Pre-Game Event At Boone's Tavern

(above) Beat New Hampshire

LetsGoDU Pre-Game Event

Boone's Tavern
[kid friendly: skee ball, video games, etc.]

1135 East Evans Avenue
Saturday, Nov. 24th 5-6:30 PM

Yale 2 - DU 1 OT FINAL

"No other way to put it. If I had been sitting anywhere else, I would have been booing."
- Coach Gwozdecky in Denver Post
The Yale University hockey team came into Magness Arena on Friday night and earned a hard fought 2-1 overtime victory. 

After withstanding numerous shorthanded situations including a five minute major, a 5-3 shorthanded shift to start the third period & a scoring a shorthanded goal, Yale recorded the game-winner with a man advantage in overtime.




Photo: Its DU Gameday At Magness Arena

(above) Yale's hockey team will face "DU Intensity" on Friday night at Magness Arena
#2 DU vs. Yale University

Magness Arena

Friday 7:35 PM MST

Internet Video: PioVision [pay per view]

Denver Native Leads UNH Out West This Weekend

(above) Senior Brent Kostolansky (#15) grew up playing hockey in Denver and then attended Shattuck St. Mary's [MN] before attending the University of New Hampshire

Brett Kostolansky went home for Thanksgiving, and he brought the rest of the University of New Hampshire men’s hockey team with him. 

The senior defenseman is from Denver and lives 10 minutes from Magness Arena, where Denver University plays its home games.

Kostolansky hasn’t played there since he was a bantam, some eight years ago, but he’ll get reacquainted with the facility Saturday night (9:07) when the third-ranked Wildcats meet the No. 2 Pioneers. 

“It’s a great test to see where we are,” said the alternate captain, “and what needs to be done the rest of the season.”

But first Kostolansky and the Wildcats have a date tonight with #14 Colorado College at World Arena in Colorado Springs, about an hour’s drive from Denver. 

UNH (8-1-1) takes a four-game win streak into the pair of non-conference games. 

“You play these non-league games to play against some of the best teams in the country to help you get to the NCAA tournament,” said UNH head coach Dick Umile. “If you win them it puts you in great position.”

Off to their best start through 10 games since the 1968-69 season, the Wildcats have put themselves in pretty good position so far. They have the nation’s best defense and rank second in penalty killing. They’ve allowed only 12 goals in 10 games, including just one in the last four, and are 35 of 37 on the PK. 

“The team has bought into our defensive play,” Umile said, “and realizes how important it is and how it can add to our offense.”

UNH has outscored the opposition, 15-3, in the last six games.

 “We know we can play offense,” said associate head coach Jim Tortorella, who works primarily with the defense, “but if we all play defense we’ll have more offense and I think the guys are taking pride in that.”

It also helps to have a goalie on top of his game as the last line of defense. Sophomore Casey DeSmith ranks in the top three nationally in four major goaltending categories. The Rochester native is second in goals-against average (1.19), save percentage (.961) and shutouts (4), and third in winning percentage (.850). 

“All we have to do is score a couple of goals,” Umile said, “and we have a shot at winning the way he’s playing.”

The Wildcats will look to keep the momentum going as they close out a month in which they have only two home games. The contests against Colorado College (7-5) and Denver (9-1) are the last of a stretch in which UNH will have played seven of eight on the road.

The Wildcats are 11-5 all-time against CC and 3-9 against Denver. They’ve won seven straight and 10 of 11 against the Tigers. They’ve lost five of six to the Pioneers, including a 4-2 setback in the national quarterfinals in 2005. 

UNH hasn’t played Colorado College since 2007. Denver swept a home-and-home series with CC last weekend by scores of 6-5 and 6-2.

“It’s a great opportunity,” Umile said. “Hopefully we can go out there and be successful.”

Denver Post Profiles DU's Mermis Bothers

(above) Jarrod & Dakota Mermis
From: Denver Post
by Mike Chambers

Turkey and all the fixings will be a family affair for the majority of the University of Denver hockey team even though there is practice Thursday morning.

The Mermis brothers — junior Jarrod and freshman Dakota — are continuing a trend that has brought families together in the Mile High City over the winter holidays. Five sets of brothers have played for DU within the past five years [read entire article].

Denver Post Lunch Special: Knowlton Leads Attack

(above) DU's first line has between scoring in bunches despite the departures of three high profile forwards
From: Denver Post
by Mike Chambers

Each day the Denver Post Website features a sports commentary around lunchtime.  Today Mike Chambers looks at the DU offensive attack that is ranked #2 in the country in scoring.

DU Hoops vs. CSU

DU Men's Basketball
vs.
Colorado State

7 PM - Tonight - Magness Arena

TV: Root Sports - Rocky Mountain

Denver Post Game Preview

Springsteen Dons Coonskin Cap At Pepsi Center

(above) Bruce Springsteen sports the Pioneer/Boone look on Monday night
In his last show before Thanksgiving, Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band played the Pepsi Center in Denver on Monday night.

 Monday night's show began with a cover of Bob Seger's "Get Out of Denver" from his 1974 album "The Seven." Bruce had only played that song live one other time, opening the Sept. 23, 2003 show at Invesco Field at Mile High.

A fan threw a Coonskin cap on stage up early in the show as a way of requesting the song "Spirit of the Night." Later The Boss not only obliged but put the cap on his head while doing it [YouTube Video Clip].

DU Recruiting News & Notes

NHL Central Scouting released their preliminary rankings of players in each top junior league in both North America and Europe, eligible for the 2013 NHL Draft. Three University of Denver recruits were mentioned in the USHL's Top 25; #15 Trevor Moore, #20 Will Butcher & #21 Garrett Gamez.
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DU recruit Garrett Gamez was profiled in StormHockey.com. Gamez [5'11 180 lbs. Chino Hills, CA] fulfilled his lifelong dream when he committed to play college hockey at the University of Denver. 

“When I was eight years old I actually went to a tournament in Denver, and I just always loved it there. After nationals this year I visited New Hampshire, Northeastern, Colorado College and Denver. After I went to Denver, my mind was made up. It’s where I wanted to go since I was a little kid, and I was so blessed to get a full scholarship. That meant a ton to me and my family.”
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University of Denver hockey alum Scott McConnell, who is the head coach of the USHL Chicago Steel, announced that the Steel have acquired DU recruit Landon Smith [5'10 181 lbs. Greenwood Village, CO] from the Cedar Rapids Roughriders.  The move should net Smith more ice time and scoring opportunities.
2013 Recruiting Class Updated Stats
D Matt Van Voorhis (Sioux Falls, USHL) - 16 games, 2 goal, 7 assists
F Brad Hawkinson (Lincoln Stars, USHL) - 14 games, 3 goals, 1 assist
F Landon Smith (Chicago, USHL) - 15 games, 5 goals, 2 assists
F Connor Chatham (Omaha, USHL) - 17 games, 7 goals, 4 assists
F Ray Pigozzi (Chicago, USHL) - 12 games, 1 goal, 8 assists
D Will Butcher (U.S. Under-18) - 21 games, 3 goals, 10 assists
F Cody DePourcq (Penticton, BCHL) - 23 games, 1 goal, 5 assists
F Trevor Moore (Tri-Cities, USHL) 17 games, 8 goals, 10 assists
D Gage Ausmus (U.S. Under-18) 20 games, 2 assists

2014 Recruiting Class Updated Stats
F Tyler Pham (Indiana Ice, USHL) - 17 games, 7 assists
F Jared Fiegl (U.S. Under-17) 16 games, 4 goals, 5 assists
F Garrett Gamez (Tri-Cities, USHL) 17 games, 4 goals, 3 assists

2015 Recruiting Class Updated Stats
F Dylan Gambrell (Dubuque, USHL) 15 games, 1 goal, 4 assist

Denver Post: CC Looks Into Arena Security Issues

(above) Dangerous conditions in World Arena for players & spectators on Friday night
From: Denver Post
by Mike Chambers

It wasn't the same as dodging chickens, dead or alive, from the stands of the old Broadmoor World Arena or DU Arena, but plenty of food and beverages were tossed at players, coaches and officials Friday in Colorado Springs.

University of Denver freshman center Quentin Shore was soaked with beer, and equipment manager Nick Meldrum was covered in nachos. The Pioneers' entire bench was bombarded with debris after the emotional end of their 6-5 victory over CC at the Colorado Springs World Arena [read entire article].

Colorado College Hockey Fans Give Beer To Minors

World Arena Provides Alcohol To Minors
Colorado Department Of Revenue Hotline
  1-877-662-4643
 

DU Tunes Up Future Recruiting Classes

Tyler Pham
LetsGoDU was alerted this week that Tyler Pham [5'9 178 lbs Ft Collins, CO] would attend DU in 2014, instead of 2013 to further his development in the USHL.  After getting off to a slow start statistically this season for the Indiana Ice, Pham has five assists in the last six games.  He was the third overall selection in the first round of the 2011 USHL Draft.

Gage Ausmus, who we had listed as a 2014 recruit, but whom always seemed destined to arrive in 2013 is now listed as a 2013 recruit.

Dylan Gambrell is now listed as a 2015 recruit.
2013 Recruiting Class Updated Stats
D Matt Van Voorhis (Sioux Falls, USHL) - 16 games, 2 goal, 7 assists
F Brad Hawkinson (Lincoln Stars, USHL) - 14 games, 3 goals, 1 assist
F Landon Smith (Cedar Rapids, USHL) - 15 games, 5 goals, 2 assists
F Connor Chatham (Omaha, USHL) - 17 games, 7 goals, 4 assists
F Ray Pigozzi (Chicago, USHL) - 12 games, 1 goal, 8 assists
D Will Butcher (U.S. Under-18) - 21 games, 3 goals, 10 assists
F Cody DePourcq (Penticton, BCHL) - 23 games, 1 goal, 5 assists
F Trevor Moore (Tri-Cities, USHL) 17 games, 8 goals, 10 assists
D Gage Ausmus (U.S. Under-18) 20 games, 2 assists

2014 Recruiting Class Updated Stats
F Tyler Pham (Indiana Ice, USHL) - 17 games, 7 assists
F Jared Fiegl (U.S. Under-17) 16 games, 4 goals, 5 assists
F Garrett Gamez (Tri-Cities, USHL) 17 games, 4 goals, 3 assists

2015 Recruiting Class Updated Stats
F Dylan Gambrell (Dubuque, USHL) 15 games, 1 goal, 4 assist

Jussi Olkinuora Reveals Chipped Tooth

(above) PioNation Tweet of the Year

PAIRWISE: DU #1 New Hampshire #2 Yale #9

(above) Click to enlarge
The University of New Hampshire defeated #8 Boston University on Sunday to vault up to #2 in the Pairwise Rankings.  The weekend victories by the University of Denver and the Wildcats set up a possible #1 vs. #2 scenario on Saturday night at Magness Arena.

But before that can happen, DU will have to face #9 ranked Yale University on Friday night, while New Hampshire travels to #17 Colorado College.  Both the Bulldogs and Tigers will be itching for upsets, hoping that DU and UNH's players are looking past the first game of the weekend.

Terry Frei: Gabe Levin's 6,000 Mile Trek To DU

(above) Gabe Levin's hockey odyssey took him from Los Angeles to Fairbanks to DU
by Terry Frei

Wearing the white hard hat awarded to the Denver Pioneers player deemed to have worked the hardest in the game that night, Gabe Levin conceded that, no, his hometown might not be a spot you'd think of as a hockey hotbed [read entire article].
Wearing the white hard hat awarded to the Denver Pioneers player deemed to have worked the hardest in the game that night, Gabe Levin conceded that, no, his hometown might not be a spot you'd think of as a hockey hotbed.

Read more: Frei: Freshman left wing Gabe Levin happy to trade ocean view for DU ice - The Denver Post http://www.denverpost.com/frei/ci_22024395/freshman-left-wing-gabe-levin-happy-trade-ocean#ixzz2CfrZdeeq
Read The Denver Post's Terms of Use of its content: http://www.denverpost.com/termsofuse
Wearing the white hard hat awarded to the Denver Pioneers player deemed to have worked the hardest in the game that night, Gabe Levin conceded that, no, his hometown might not be a spot you'd think of as a hockey hotbed.

Read more: Frei: Freshman left wing Gabe Levin happy to trade ocean view for DU ice - The Denver Post http://www.denverpost.com/frei/ci_22024395/freshman-left-wing-gabe-levin-happy-trade-ocean#ixzz2CfrZdeeq
Read The Denver Post's Terms of Use of its content: http://www.denverpost.com/termsofuse
Wearing the white hard hat awarded to the Denver Pioneers player deemed to have worked the hardest in the game that night, Gabe Levin conceded that, no, his hometown might not be a spot you'd think of as a hockey hotbed.

Read more: Frei: Freshman left wing Gabe Levin happy to trade ocean view for DU ice - The Denver Post http://www.denverpost.com/frei/ci_22024395/freshman-left-wing-gabe-levin-happy-trade-ocean#ixzz2CfrZdeeq
Read The Denver Post's Terms of Use of its content: http://www.denverpost.com/termsofuse
Wearing the white hard hat awarded to the Denver Pioneers player deemed to have worked the hardest in the game that night, Gabe Levin conceded that, no, his hometown might not be a spot you'd think of as a hockey hotbed.

Read more: Frei: Freshman left wing Gabe Levin happy to trade ocean view for DU ice - The Denver Post http://www.denverpost.com/frei/ci_22024395/freshman-left-wing-gabe-levin-happy-trade-ocean#ixzz2CfrZdeeq
Read The Denver Post's Terms of Use of its content: http://www.denverpost.com/termsofuse
Wearing the white hard hat awarded to the Denver Pioneers player deemed to have worked the hardest in the game that night, Gabe Levin conceded that, no, his hometown might not be a spot you'd think of as a hockey hotbed.

Read more: Frei: Freshman left wing Gabe Levin happy to trade ocean view for DU ice - The Denver Post http://www.denverpost.com/frei/ci_22024395/freshman-left-wing-gabe-levin-happy-trade-ocean#ixzz2CfrZdeeq
Read The Denver Post's Terms of Use of its content: http://www.denverpost.com/termsofuse

NCAA Tournament: Women's Soccer vs Stanford


The University of Denver women's soccer team will play in the NCAA Sweet 16 for the first time on Sunday, as the Pioneers take on #1 Stanford at 2 PM MT in Palo Alto, CA.

Its been a hectic weekend for DU head coach Jeff Hooker and assistant coach Katie Hooker, who gave birth to their first child, Aubrey Kathleen Hooker, on Saturday afternoon at Sky Ridge Medical Center in Lone Tree, Colo. 

Jeff Hooker caught a morning flight back to Denver after the Pioneers' 3-1 win over Maryland Friday night in the NCAA Tournament Second Round in Stanford, Calif.

Follow @DU_WSoccer on Twitter for updates during the match.

Move Over: Denver Under Avalanche Warning

(above) The front page of College Hockey News today tells the story

Colorado College Caught With Schwartz Down

(above) This was a common sight on Saturday night

Colorado College forward Rylan Schwartz spent Saturday evening in a suit and tie at Magness Arena.  Without their star on the ice, CC was dropkicked out of Magness Arena 6-2 by the University of Denver hockey team.

Things were  tight heading into the third period with DU holding a 3-2 edge.  The final period was an exclamation point on a great weekend as DU rolled to a famous victory.  It was the first Pioneer sweep of CC since 2005.

Senior Chris Knowlton stole the show for DU this weekend.  He had two goals, two assists and was +4 on Saturday.  DU Freshman Gave Levin scored his first DU goal and added an assist while playing on DU's first line.

In a reversal of recent form this season, all six goals were scored by DU's forwards.  Matt Tabrum, Quinten Shore & Shawn Ostrow also scored for DU.



NCAA Tournament: DU 3 - Fear The Terps 2 [OT]

(above) Nicholette DiGiacomo #7 runs to her teammates after her overtime goal stunned the University of Maryland
Against all odds and backs against the wall the University of Denver women's soccer team rallied from two goals down to upset #4 ranked University of Maryland.  Nicholette DiGiacomo scored all three goals for the Pioneers including a penalty kick as regulation time expired to advance the Pioneers.

DU will face #1 ranked Stanford on Sunday at  2 PM MT.

DU 6 - Colorado College 5 FINAL

(above) After completing the hit on CC's William Rapuzzi, DU players discuss where to bury the body
At World Arena on Saturday night the University of Denver held on for a 6-5 victory.  There were long stretches of the game that looked like it would be a walkover for the Pioneers.  But Colorado College fought back to make things exciting for the fans and players alike at the end of the game.

DU is in first place in the WCHA, 1st in the Pairwise Ranking and in control of their own destiny in pursuit of the Gold Pan.





DU On TV This Weekend

Less than 100 tickets remained this morning for the game at World Arena on Friday night.  

StubHub.com has a few good seats available [at a premium] for the game at Magness Arena on Saturday night.
DU On TV This Weekend

Friday, November 16
5:30 PM   Women’s Soccer: DU vs. Maryland [Pac 12 Network]
6 PM        Men’s College Basketball: Cal at DU [Root Sports]
7:30 PM   College Hockey: DU @ CC [Altitude Sports]

Saturday, November 17
7 PM         College Hockey: Colorado College at DU [Root Sports]

Colorado College Is ALWAYS The Bridesmaid

You Heard It Here First: DU SWEEPS COLORADO COLLEGE THIS WEEKEND .... Fifty-Seven .... Go DU
As DU gets ready to get ready to carve up Colorado College like a turkey this weekend, we at LetsGoDU have many things to be thankful for (such as the 7-1-0 start by the hockey team). So in the spirit of the Thanksgiving season lets take a glance down Interstate 25 at our little sister, Colorado College.

Sure its easy to go to the games and chant "Fifty-Seven," "CC Sucks," "Where's your Banners?," "Who's your Daddy?" & my personal favorite, "Denver Rejects." But do we ever stop to think where these bile filled chants actually come from?

Lets face it, we've been kicking CC's ass for well over 60 years now (157-111-15), but during this holiday season lets take time to think about the hundreds of DU hockey players and coaches that have made it all possible. Sure there are many current & former CC hockey players who have choked away games, blown leads in the playoffs, whiffed on open nets and let in mind boggling easy goals, but we want to accentuate the positive.

So as you enjoy your holiday feast next week, give a little thanks for all our wonderful current and former players that have made all this possible.

Two Front Page Articles About DU-CC Series

(above) DU's homegrown heroes receive a little facetime in the Denver Post today
The front pages of the Colorado Springs Gazette and Denver Post sports sections had fantastic articles today about college hockey.

The Gazette focused on the matchup tonight between #14 ranked Colorado College and #2 ranked DU.  The Post looked at the Colorado Thunderbirds hockey development program and the inroads that have been made in youth hockey in Colorado in recent years.


It's DU vs. CC Gameday

(above) Actress Stormy Daniels agrees, "CC Sucks"
(above) The 1984 CC Sucks Banner that was unfurled midway through the game
DU Ice Arena - October 26th, 1984 - The University of Denver was in the middle of a 4-0 throttling of Colorado College when the game was delayed for over 30 minutes. Several SAE Fraternity members had crawled up in the catwalks and released a giant 15 foot banner.
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The game was delayed while the DU Maintenance Staff went up in the rafters to remove the banner. The picture above was published in the 1984-85 DU Yearbook.

Chambers Blog Has Gold Pan News & Notes

Mike Chambers Blog has info about DU's goaltenders this weekend, a player suspension that seems to have no end in sight and a teaser about an article that will appear in the Post's Sports Section on Friday.
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Bucky's 5th Quarter Blog has a detailed article breaking down the Wisconsin Badgers forecheck.  If you never played hockey, it will give you some interesting things to look for when watching Pioneer hockey games.
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Longtime USCHO & LetsGoDU contributor Gene Lake [aka du78] will be attending the games this weekend.  Gene has lots of eyewitness Hurricane Sandy stories as well as an extensive knowledge of DU hockey history.  Gene was a student manager on Murray Armstrong's last teams at DU and as a Senior ushered in the Marshall Johnston Era at DU.
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The Denver Post has an excellent article on DU's Women's Soccer coach Jeff Hooker. On Friday he'll lead the Pioneers into uncharted waters against #9 Maryland.  Check out the article.
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DU's men's lacrosse team will host the Whitman's® Sampler® Mile High Classic. The Pioneers will face Notre Dame in a double header with defending National Champions Loyola playing Air Force at Mile High Stadium on March 16, 2013.  Last year's event drew 12,282 at Mile High Stadium.

Audio: Gwozdecky Interviewed On NHL Radio

(above) Coach Gwozdecky gave an in-depth interview on the NHL Radio Network today

WCH Blog Looks At Joey LaLeggia's NHL Potential

(above) Joey Leggs quarterbacks DU's power play unit
Intro:  Eye on the Future is WCH'Blog's new feature in which breaks down an individual game by an NHL prospect in-depth.

Player:  Joey LaLeggia, Sophomore, Denver

Game: November 9th, 2012 at Minnesota State 

Denver's Joey LaLeggia was passed over twice in the NHL Draft while playing for the Penticton Vees of the BCHL. Despite scoring well over a point per game from the blue line both years, his 5'10 180 lbs. frame likely scared off a of potential NHL teams. 

Last year as a freshman at Denver, he continued to put up points, scoring 38 points, which was good for second among WCHA freshman, and third among WCHA defensemen, and was named College Hockey News' Rookie of the Year. In his final year of draft eligibility, LaLeggia was selected in the fifth round of the draft by the Edmonton Oilers [read entire article].

College Hockey News Profiles David Makowski

(above) David Makowski has a new role on the Pioneers first power play unit this season
by Avash Kalra

Pioneers junior defenseman David Makowski has certainly, on more than one occasion, been described as imposing as well, and thus far in the 2012-13 campaign – one which began with question marks after the early departures of Drew Shore and Jason Zucker – Makowski and his fellow defensemen have formed a front range at the Denver blueline that has proven increasingly difficult for opponents to pass [read entire article].

Denver Post "Lunch Break" Features DU Hockey

(above) The Denver Post features an article about DU's remarkable 4-year WCHA "Sweepless Streak"
Each day the Denver Post Website features a sports commentary around lunchtime.  Today Mike Chambers looked into DU's remarkable streak of not being swept in a league series in four years.  No one seems to be able to confirm at this point if it's a league record, but rest assured, it almost certainly is.

DU's longest previous stretch was two years without being swept in the early Sixties.