News & Notes From Around PioNation

The University of Denver will hold a press conference today [Monday, April 15] at 11 AM MT to introduce Jim Montgomery as DU's eighth hockey coach. Log onto DenverPioneers.com. Things might get testy if the boys from the Denver Post show up.
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University of Denver junior Nick Shore signed a three-year entry level contract with the Los Angeles Kings over the weekend. Shore, 20, was selected by the Kings in the third round (82nd overall) of the 2011 NHL Entry Draft. Shore joins Jussi Olkinuora and Scott Mayfield as DU players who have left school early to sign professional contracts this Spring. 
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University of Denver sophomore goalie Juho Olkinuora was named an AHCA/CCM All-American on Friday. Olkinuora enjoyed a breakout season as he posted a record of 13-6-5 while boasting a 2.35 GAA and a .927 save percentage.
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The University of Denver is raising tuition 3.95 percent next year & freezing faculty salaries after an unexpected budget shortfall. DU is blaming lower-than-expected enrollment at the undergraduate level and in four graduate programs, but speculation is mismanagement in a variety of areas is causing the budget crunch.  The budget shortfall spread to the Athletic Department this Spring and explains why every area is under the knife.

24 comments:

Anonymous said...

Do university administrators count as faculty, regarding the salary freeze? Or are they exempt for some (cough) reason?

Anonymous said...

As Jim likes to say "It's Mimosa Monday"!

Anonymous said...

Mismanagement starting back in October, 2012. The obama show, just the tip of the iceberg. Stay tuned.

Twister said...

Congrats to Nick--he's joining an organization that is firing on all cylinders and could very well win another Cup.

DU will miss his versatility, playmaking ability, and leadership. He seemed to be a shoo-in to wear the "C" next season. With his departure DU will only have 2 seniors on the roster, Brittain and Makowski. Ouch. The junior class will really have to step up.

Anonymous said...

Hey DG. Can you take that video off the page. It starts every-time I visit the blog, getting annoying.

dggoddard said...

When DU attracted the Presidential Debate, Coombe said the cost was going to be $1 million [later bumped up to $1.6 million] and they had donations to cover it. Perhaps the donations fell through, perhaps Coombe couldn't raise the money or perhaps it went over budget?

Someone mentioned that the Denver Police Department wanted to be paid a huge sum for overtime. Wonder if DU is liable for that if no contracts were signed.

Supposedly the Debate was worth $20-$30 million in branding and publicity benefits.

http://www.canoncitydailyrecord.com/ci_21642701/du-sees-benefit-massive-national-media-exposure-debate-will-bring

Anonymous said...

If DU stopped using copper on every possible surface it might save money.
All kidding aside, it might be time for some new management there.

Anonymous said...

Is anybody else reading into the timing of Shore signing his pro contract? To me, it seems like he was waiting to see who the new coach was to make his decision.

dggoddard said...

Chancellor Coombe, Peg Bradley-Doppes and Jim Montgomery will speak today at the Press Conference.

Casey Gallagher, who is the Board member in charge of the Athletic Affairs Committee will attend.

It will be interesting to see what if any questions get asked about finances, Gwozdecky and the search process for the new coach.

Greg Brown did come out to Denver and interview.

Anonymous said...

Interesting that Brown actually came out. The reports of the Montgomery hiring were surfacing before Brown's interview even started, I believe. I had assume that the Brown interview fell through.

Anonymous said...

OSU coach out .....Gwoz in.

Gwoz gets his big 10, er, big 6 dream job.

dggoddard said...

Wow if true.

Congrats to Gwozdecky.

Going to be a massive challenge. OSU has a massive facility to fill each weekend.

Nincompoop said...

May God Bless the DU Hockey team, if and when they ever play George's team. You wanna see a scoreboard run up?? Just wait.

Anonymous said...

@ Nincompoop:

Because Gwoz understands that the only people that such tactics REALLY hurt are the kids playing the game, he would never blatantly attempt to "run up" the score on a former team.

Anonymous said...

Nick is gone. Will Quentin jump to major juniors now? He almost did last year.

Anonymous said...

Anybody know the status of Ausmus at this point? Can Montgomery get him to re-commit...what's the protocol there?

dggoddard said...

Regarding Ausmus it probably depends if Montgomery can find a scholarship for him to come to DU next season.

Hard to know what is going on behind the scenes, but it sounded like DU wanted Ausmus to defer for a year because they had four returning Dmen and two incoming recruits.

Big priority right now is a goaltender.

And of course to keep the remainder of the team together and land all the signed recruits.

Regarding Quintin, I'm sure he'll have a meeting with Montgomery ASAP.

Anonymous said...

My sources tell me Quentin is already gone.

Do you think it is a coincidence that the Shore's were not giving any shout- outs to Gwoz when he left?

No love loss between the Shore family and DU/Gwoz.

Anonymous said...

The Shores hated Gwoz but jumped ship on Montgomery. What does that say about their thoughts about Jim’s coaching and DU’s upcoming season?

Anonymous said...

What does that say about the Shore brothers?

dggoddard said...

Sounds like Baker Shore should of been asked to serve on the Search Committee. :-)

I like Montgomery's resume. He's played in the NHL, was the captain of one of the greatest college hockey teams of all time, has USHL experience which will help recruiting and assisted Seth at RPI.

A parent at RPI reached out to me and said he was a great coach.

vizoroo said...

Surprised to hear of animosity between the Shore family and Gwoz.
Thought they were the first family of DU hockey.

dggoddard said...

At DU I guess we fight a lot.

Anonymous said...

It's a well known fact that faculty/staff raises are based on undergraduate enrollment. Always. This year they lost over 100 students that committed, deposited, then for various reasons didn't come or didn't stay. At that point it was too late to admit new students, hence the decreased enrollment and funds. Whoever is spreading rumors about mismanagement has no clue.