What Boone Looked Like Back In The Day

This is what Boone looked like in the early 90's! (Yep, that's me with my family at a hockey game) 
So happy Boone lives on!

See DU Hockey For $5 This Weekend


Want to see DU's first NCHC games this weekend against the University of Nebraska-Omaha?

The Promotion Code DUSURVIVOR will get you into Magness Arena for the hockey games on Friday or Saturday night for five bucks.  Bring the whole family, friends and neighbors while supplies last.

Vote Online For DU Soccer Player Kristen Hamilton


DU Women's soccer player Kristen Hamilton has been nominated for the Senior CLASS Award.  Fans can vote online for one of the ten women's soccer finalists.

Hamilton is just five goals short of breaking DU’s total career goals record with 37 career goals. She is also only 18 points shy of breaking the all-time scorers’ record with 98 points. 

Monty Kicks Off Radio Show

DU's Weekly Press Conference that began at 12 PM every Tuesday has been canceled going forward. In its place, DU will post individual video interviews on Facebook with each of the coaches and select student-athletes that are competing each week.

The Jim Montgomery Radio Show hosted by Nate Kreckmanwill air live on Denver's Sports Station 102.3 ESPN on Tuesday, Oct. 29 from 6 p.m. - 6:30 p.m. (MT)

The audio broadcast for each show will be available on www.DenverPioneers.com and www.denverssportsstation.com.

Denver opens NCHC league play this weekend when it plays host to Nebraska Omaha in a two-game series beginning Friday night at Magness Arena in a 7:30 PM MT. The two teams conclude the conference set on Saturday at 7:00 PM MT.

Canisius 4 - Denver 1 FINAL

Canisius defeated the University of Denver 4-1 on Saturday night at Magness Arena.

Canisius (1-2), the defending Atlantic Hockey Association playoff champions, earn their first win of the season.

Denver held a 38-21 edge in shots but the only time the Pioneers (3-3) scored was on Quentin Shore’s power-play goal with 7:43 left.

Denver pulled its goalie with 2:42 left but Canisius’ Ralph Cuddemi potted an empty-net goal 11 seconds later to secure the Griffs’ first victory.



Denver 5 - Niagara 1 FINAL

The University of Denver jumped out to a 2-0 lead and cruised to a 5-1 victory on Friday night at Magness Arena.  David Makowski scored two goals and added an assist for the Pioneers.





DU To Face Eastern Opponents This Weekend

(above) DU has lined up a couple of Cupcakes for Homecoming Weekend
The University of Denver hockey team will host Niagara on Friday @ 7:30 PM before closing out the weekend against Canisius on Saturday @ 7 PM.

The Pioneers named tri-captains for the 2013-14 season on Monday as senior David Makowski along with juniors Josiah Didier and Zac Larraza with each wearing a “C” on their sweaters this season.

Denver associate head coach Steve Miller was named as the first head coach/general manager of the United States Hockey League’s expansion franchise in Madison, Wis. Miller, who will assume his duties in Madison on Jan. 1, 2014 - has been at DU for the past 20 seasons.

The Pioneers are 88-39-2 in nonconference action since 2001-02.

DU's Multicultural Mafia Moves From Boone To Columbus

(above) No word if the University of Denver will offer Revisionist History as major next year
Not content with just banning the Denver Boone mascot from receiving student organization funding, the "multicultural elite" at the University of Denver set their sights on the Christopher Columbus Day national holiday. Unfortunately, by the time DU's Undergraduate Student Senate got around to voting on the issue, Columbus Day 2013 had come and gone.

The DU Clarion provided all the juicy details.
On Tuesday Oct. 22, the DU Undergraduate Student Government (USG) voted unanimously to pass Resolution 12, which states that USG will recognize Indigenous People’s Day annually on the second Monday of October, the day commonly known as Columbus Day. The resolution further “strongly encourages” the university as a whole to include the term for the holiday on DU-affiliated calendars. 

Resolution 12, proposed by Arts and Humanities Senator Josh Wehe and on On-Campus Senator Kaitlyn Griffith, is an amended version of USG Resolution 10, which called on DU to “remove, in all its totality extending from university, Greek, or athletic calendars, any recognition of Columbus Day immediately.” The resolution proposed the alternate recognition of “Native People’s Day,” but was voted down in a majority vote by USG on Tuesday, Oct. 8 [Read entire article].

Boone Supports DU Hoops Team At Fan Jam

(above) Boone and Coach Scott discuss the Princeton Offense last night at Magness Arena
(above) Boone attended DU's Fan Jam festivities last night at Magness Arena
Attendance was a little light last night at DU's Fan Jam which was billed as a "Kickoff to Homecoming Weekend."  However the fans, students and alumni who did attended were treated to free food and the obligatory Boone sighting.

Chancellor Coombe was spotted in attendance and he must have been thinking, "If we'd just added the Elk Mascot this summer we could of doubled the number of mascots in attendance."

DU Mens & Womens Hoops Kick Off Fan Jam


Monty Lands Three Canadian Forward Recruits

Three Canadian born forward recruits made verbal commitments to the University of Denver this week.  Jarid Lukosevicius, Liam Finlay & Logan O'Connor will attend DU in upcoming seasons.

Jarid Lukosevicius [5’11 165 lbs] is slotted to arrive at DU in 2015.  He started well in his first full BCHL campaign, scoring 5 goals and adding 10 assists in his first 14 games. Lukosevicius was named to the Canada West selection camp roster for the upcoming 2013 World Junior A Challenge.

For Lukosevicius, selecting a school and committing to a higher level of hockey was a new experience. “I didn’t know much about American colleges before the season, but I knew that Denver was an excellent school. When they made me an offer, I knew I had to accept it” 

“Denver is a very reputable program” says Kings Head Coach and GM Kent Lewis. “They’ve got a very good staff, it’s a great place to live, and they’ve certainly recruited some great BCHL players over the years. They’ve done a great job in recruiting and we are happy for Jarid and his family that he has made the decision to go to Denver.”

Lewis believes Lukosevicius’ start to the season was just one contributing factor to Denver pursuing the 18 year-old winger. “Schools have been tracking him since last season when he was one of the top players on the North West Giants who won the BC Major Midget League” says Lewis. “He’s a good player, and he’s going to get better. These type of players don’t come along very often. His shot is hard and accurate, he sees the ice very well and he’s got a really high compete level.”

Coach David Michaud announced that Liam Finlay will attend DU, "Liam's development has progressed rapidly since joining the British Columbia Major Midget League last season as a 15 year old. To have one of our players commit to an elite NCAA Division 1 hockey program early in his second year of midget hockey is a very rare occurrence and speaks to Liam's dedication and perseverance.”

To date with the Okanagan Rockets, Finlay has posted 16 goals and 52 assists in just 48 regular season games played.  This season, he has 6 goals and 12 assists for 18 points in just 7 BCMML games. Finlay recently committed to play the 2014-15 season with the Penticton Vees of the British Columbia Hockey League (BCHL). As a reserve player for Penticton this season, Finlay has one assist in three games played.

Finlay is very excited about his decision to commit to the Pioneers. "In researching NCAA hockey programs with my family, we felt that the University of Denver (DU) was a model program. DU has an excellent reputation both academically and scholastically. I am very interested in their business program and, of course, the long track record of Denver Pioneer hockey success was very appealing.”

Logan O'Connor moved down to the USA this winter to play hockey for the Sioux Falls Stampede in the USHL.  Last seasonhe 5-foot-11, 165-pound winger recorded 23 points (7g, 16a) in 34 games for the Calgary Royals Midget AAA team. He helped lead the Royals into the playoffs where he posted four points (1g, 3a) in five games.
2014 Recruiting Class Updated Stats 
F Landon Smith (Salmon Arm, BCHL) - 13 games, 8 goals, 11 assists
F Tyler Pham (Indiana, USHL) - 6 games, 0 goals, 1 assist
F Jared Fiegl (U.S. Under-18) 8 games, 0 goals, 1 assist
F Garrett Gamez (Tri-Cities, USHL) 5 games, 0 goals, 0 assists
F Cody DePourcq (Penticton, BCHL) - 12 games, 4 goals, 6 assists
D Tariq Hammond (Okotoks, AJHL) - 12 games, 2 goals, 8 assists

2015 Recruiting Class Updated Stats
F Dylan Gambrell (Dubuque, USHL) 4 games, 1 goal, 2 assists
F Kevin Conley (Team Wisconsin Under-16, AAA)
F Jarid Lukosevicius
F Logan O'Connor

2016 Recruiting Class Updated Stats
F Troy Terry (Thunderbirds, AAA)
F Liam Finlay

Westword Asks "Where is DU's Mascot?"

(above) Westword continues to turn up the heat
From: Westword

Something will be missing from Homecoming and Parents Weekend at the University of Denver, which kicks off on October 24: a mascot. If all had gone according to plan, by now DU would be rolling out its choice for the school's new symbol for the Pioneers at a special "Evolution of DU's mascot" event. But little has gone according to plan in this pioneering effort. Last February, the student government determined that it was time to officially ban Denver Boone, the on-again, off-again Disney cariacature that had been DU's official mascot from 1968 to 1998, then booted and replaced by the lamentable Ruckus the Red-Tailed Hawk, then allowed back on a limited, unofficial basis in 2008, when Ruckus got plucked. Alumni, in particular, were big Boone boosters — but after some students complained that he did not represent the greater DU community, a 76-member mascot development committee of students, alums, faculty members and others was charged with coming up with a new mascot. And bringing back Boone — or the Fighting Parsons or Pioneer Pete, earlier mascots — was never an option. Instead, the committee whittled the list down to three possibilities — Pio the Elk, Pio the Mountaineer, Pio the Jackalope — and polled the greater DU community for its favorite...and no winner emerged. And so for now, the Pioneers remain logo-less [read entire article].

Assistant Coach Steve Miller Departs DU

(above) DU assistant coach Steve Miller is heading to the USHL
From: DenverPioneers.com

University of Denver hockey associate head coach Steve Miller has been named as the first general manager and head coach of the United States Hockey League’s (USHL) new expansion franchise in Madison, Wis., it was announced on Tuesday.

The hiring is the first historic moment in the return of junior hockey and the USHL to the city of Madison. From 1984 to 1995 Madison was home to the USHL. A total of 12 players who skated in Madison during that time moved on to the National Hockey League [read entire article].

FINAL: UAA 3 - DENVER 2 OT

On Saturday afternoon the University of Denver fell to Alaska-Anchorage 3-2 in overtime.

UAA's Matt Bailey scored on a 2-on-1 at 3:45 into overtime to hand the Pioneers their second straight overtime loss. Denver lost by the same score to Goal Rush host Alaska Nanooks in Friday’s late game.

The Seawolves fell behind 2-1 early in the third period when Denver’s Joey LaLeggia let a rocket go from the top of the left faceoff circle that beat UAA goaltender Michael Matyas and stuck in the top of the net.

But the Seawolves responded with the tying goal.

Hubbs fired a shot from the right faceoff circle that was stopped by Pioneer goalie Evan Cowley, but he left a rebound. Scott Allen was in perfect position to tap the puck in at 11:40 of the third period.

After two Pioneers fell down in the neutral zone, UAA's Zack Rassell broke into the offensive zone and fired a shot that snuck though Cowley’s five hole.

The Pioneers struck back midway through the third. On the rush, Nolan Zajac found David Makowksi wide open in the slot, and Makowski’s shot beat Matyas on the glove side.

The win marks the second time that the Seawolves have beaten a ranked opponent this year. They opened the season with a win against then No. 10 Quinnipaic in UAA’s Kendall Hockey Classic at Sullivan Arena in Anchorage last weekend.
.

FINAL: UAF 3 - Denver 2 OT

The University of Alaska scored in overtime to stun the University of Denver in Fairbanks on Friday night.

Gabe Levin and Matt Marcinew scored for DU to stake the Pioneers to a 2-0 lead, but DU's lack of depth came back to haunt Denver in the third period and overtime.

Trailing 2-0 until the last minute of the second period, the Nanooks completed their comeback with Garrick Perry's strike with just 25.2 seconds left in OT to secure a 3-2 victor.

DU will face UAA on Saturday night.

DU Alum Named To College Football Playoff Committee

The College Football Playoff selection committee has officially been announced.

The committee will select four teams that will advance to the College Football Playoff starting after the 2014 regular season.

The committee will be responsible for ranking and placing teams in the non-contract New Year's Day bowls, also known as the Cotton Bowl, Fiesta Bowl and the Chick-fil-A Bowl. They will also select the highest ranked champion from the five non-power leagues (American, Conference USA, Mid-American, Mountain West and Sun Belt), and they will get a bid to one of the six CFP bowls. 

University of Arkansas Athletic Director Jeff Long, has been chosen as the chairman of the committee.

Former Secretary of State, Condoleezza Rice is one 13 committee members. Rice, 58, who attended The University of Denver (Bachelor's Degree in political science), The University of Notre Dame (Master's Degree in political science), Moscow State University in Russia (Studied Russian language/politics), Josef Korbel School of International Studies at the University of Denver (Ph.D. in political science), is also a trained concert pianist. She was an assistant professor of political science at Stanford University from 1981–1987, before being promoted to associate professor where she would remain until 1993. After serving as the Secretary of State under President George W. Bush, Rice returned to Stanford as a political science professor and senior fellow at the Hoover Institution in 2009.

Tyrone Willingham, who's daughter graduated from DU and starred on the DU gymnastics team, is also on the committee.

Boone Goes Over 4,000 "Likes" On Facebook

(above) Click on photo to see Boone's Facebook Page

DU's Injury Report From Monty's Press Conference

As the University of Denver hockey team departs for Alaska, the training room will be in heavy use while the team is away.

Garrett Allen suffered a lower extremity in practice yesterday and will not make trip to Alaska this weekend.

Freshman Evan Janssen is also out with a lower extremity injury. According To Mike Chambers of the Denver Post, he's expected to miss three weeks with a knee injury.  Likely this has to be very disappointing to Evan as he played junior hockey in Alaska in the NAHL in 2011-12.

Zac Larraza is still injured.

Emil Romig's NCAA "Euro-suspension" still has six games to run.

Nolan Zajac will continue to play at forward until several of the injured players return to the lineup.

There are only 21 eligible players to travel. Since this is a tournament, all three goalies can make the trip. The remaining 18 skaters will make the trip, including Wade Bennett who didn't dress last weekend.

DU Ranked 16th Sexiest Campus By Daily Beast

DU Lacrosse vs. Denver Outlaws On Saturday

From: DenverPioneers.com

The University of Denver men's lacrosse team will play the Denver Outlaws on Saturday, Oct. 19 @ 1 PM at Peter Barton Lacrosse Stadium. The Pioneers will host their annual alumni game prior to the start of the showcase against the Outlaws.

Former Pioneers Taylor Young, Cameron Flint, Kyle Hercher, Alex Demopoulos, Chase Carraro, Chace Calkin, Andrew Lay and Dillon Roy will be some of the players rounding out the Outlaws’ roster. Admission is free for the alumni game and Fifth Annual Colorado Lacrosse Showcase.

Following the game, the Outlaws will host their annual fall youth clinic from 3:30-4:30 p.m. on the field. The clinic is open to boys in first through eighth grade at a cost of $20. To Register For Clinic

Former DU Assistant Coach To Lead All-Star Team

(above) Former DU assistant coach Derek Lalond will lead Team USA
USA Hockey today announced the coaching staff for the U.S. Junior Select Team that will compete in the 2013 World Junior A Challenge next month in Yarmouth, Nova Scotia. All three coaches named are from the USHL as Derek Lalonde of the Green Bay Gamblers has been named head coach and will be joined by Anthony Noreen, head coach of the Youngstown Phantoms, and Mark Abalan, assistant coach of the Sioux City Musketeers.

The World Junior A Challenge is six-team international tournament featuring the United States, Czech Republic, Russia, Switzerland, and two teams from Canada. The U.S. team is annually made up of USHL players and has dominated the tournament, winning it four of the last five years.

Derek Lalonde is currently in his third season behind the bench for the Green Bay Gamblers and already has the team off to a 3-1-2 start. During his first season in the League, he led the Gamblers to a team record 47 victories on the way to capturing the Anderson Cup for best regular season finish. The 98 points earned in the standings established a new USHL record. Lalonde then guided the team to the Clark Cup title in the playoffs.

In his second season, Lalonde again led Green Bay to a playoff berth as they finished second in the Eastern Conference with a 37-23-11 record. He currently owns an 87-33-10 regular season record in the USHL. His .708 winning percentage leads all active USHL coaches and is among the all-time League leaders. Lalonde served as assistant coach last year for the World Junior A Challenge as the U.S. Team won the tournament.

DU Receives Commitment From Tariq Hammond

Calgary native Tariq Hammond [6'2 185 lbs.] of the Okotoks Oilers [AJHL] committed to the University of Denver over the weekend.  Hammond, a defenseman, scored 9 goals and 32 assists in 108 career games in the Alberta Junior Hockey League.

Tariq’s father, Jon Hammond, was a member of the Regina Pats Memorial Cup winning team in 1974 and his grandfather was in the New York Rangers system.

Former NHLer Rob Tudor [Vancouver, St. Louis] is Tariq's billet family in Okotoks.

Hammond is regarded as a late-bloomer, often overlooked in minor hockey at young age, but has progressed steadily in recent years.
2014 Recruiting Class Updated Stats 
F Landon Smith (Salmon Arm, BCHL) - 13 games, 8 goals, 11 assists
F Tyler Pham (Indiana, USHL) - 6 games, 0 goals, 1 assist
F Jared Fiegl (U.S. Under-18) 8 games, 0 goals, 1 assist
F Garrett Gamez (Tri-Cities, USHL) 5 games, 0 goals, 0 assists
F Cody DePourcq (Penticton, BCHL) - 12 games, 4 goals, 6 assists
D Tariq Hammond (Okotoks, AJHL) - 12 games, 2 goals, 8 assists

2015 Recruiting Class Updated Stats
F Dylan Gambrell (Dubuque, USHL) 4 games, 1 goal, 2 assists
F Kevin Conley (Team Wisconsin Under-16, AAA)

2016 Recruiting Class Updated Stats
F Troy Terry (Thunderbirds, AAA)

DU Soccer "White Out" Next Saturday


While the DU hockey team treks up to Alaska for the Fairbanks Tournament next weekend, the action never stops on campus.

DU students will be pre-gaming before the University of Denver Men's Soccer game on Saturday, Oct. 19th.  DU will face University of Nebraska-Omaha.
.
The Tailgate will be DJ'd by Nick Perfido and sponsored by Red Bull. 

There will be a halftime competition between Greek Houses and a performance by DU Dance team. The student section for soccer will be the farthest north section underneath the golden tower. The game is a whiteout so come decked out in white.  The game is at 7 PM and the tailgate kickoff around 3 PM.

DU 4 - Merrimack 0 FINAL

(above) Boone was a popular attraction on Saturday night at Magness Arena
Sam Brittain recorded a shutout for the second straight night and the University of Denver rolled to a 4-0 victory over Merrimack College at Magness Arena.

DU's elite blueliners recorded the first three goals of the game with Joey LaLeggia, Will Butcher and David Makowski scoring goals.

Daniel Doremus added his second goal in two nights.

DU was 3 for 9 on the power play.

DU 1 - Merrimack 0 FINAL

(above) Boone [top left] jumps into DU's first goal celebration of the year and the photo is published on the Denver Post website
photo credit: Karl Gehring/The Denver Post
 .
Denver Post Game Photos

For the second year in a row Daniel Doremus scored a goal on opening night and the University of Denver skated away with a 1-0 victory over Merrimack.

Nolan Zajac was a surprise stater at forward and recorded an assist.

Sam Brittain recorded the shutout.

Twitter: Tweets From Around PioNation

Denver Post: Will Butcher Hopes To Stay In The 303

From: Denver Post 
by Mike Chambers 

Will Butcher is on a Denver tryout. For the Avalanche. Unofficially. 

It just worked out that way for the University of Denver freshman defenseman, who was selected by the Avs in the NHL draft June 30 after he signed with DU [read entire article].

Online Boone Fundraiser Continues To Grow

(above) Click on image to donate & support Boone

DU Alum Matt Donovan Scores First NHL Goal

The New York Islanders were all smiles on Tuesday night, and perhaps nobody smiled wider than DU alum Matt Donovan. The rookie collected his first career NHL goal in a 6-1 rout of the Phoenix Coyotes at the Coliseum.

With the Islanders leading, 2-0, and on a power play in the second period, Donovan ripped a slap shot from the blue line that Phoenix goalie Mike Smith initially seemed to gobble up. A split-second later, the puck trickled through Smith and found its way past the goal line at 11:47, resulting in a delayed but genuine grin from the 23-year-old defenseman.

“I was on my way back to the bench for a change and I heard everyone celebrating and turned around and saw it was in,” Donovan said. “I still don’t think it’s really hit me. It’s a good feeling and I hope there’s more to come.”

Boone Kicks Off Online Fundraising Campaign


Students on campus have set-up an online fundraising site to raise awareness and funding for Denver Boone.  The money raised will allow T-shirt giveaways, away game travel, costume repair & maintenance.

Over the weekend $800 was contributed by Boone's fans, alumni and students.  The goal is to raise $5,000 by the end of the year and now its your chance to to join Boone and become a part of PioNation.

NCHC Posts Infographic On League Demographics

(above) Click on image to enlarge

Clarion Profiles Coach Montgomery

(above) Boone welcomes Coach Monty to campus
From: DU Clarion
by Calvin Jouard

The air has cleared.

George Gwozdecky will forever be remembered as a great coach in DU and college hockey history. But after what some would deem an unwarranted dismissal after last season, the air has cleared. Time has helped to forget.

In fact the more you look into the future, the easier it is to understand the buzz emanating around the hockey team. Not only will Denver Hockey make its debut in the newly formed National Collegiate Hockey Conference (NCHC), but it will, for the first time in 19 years, have a different face standing behind the bench—new Head Coach Jim Montgomery.

So, who is he? [read entire article]

Exhibition: New Brunswick 2 - Denver 1 FINAL


The University of Denver hockey team out-shot New Brunswick 38-21 in an exhibition game on Sunday night but fell by a score of 2-1 at Magness Arena.  Daniel Doremus scored for DU.

Student Season Ticket Campout Kicks Off Season

(above) Boone prepares for another season
(above) DU's newest recruit during the skating portion of the campout in Magness
University of Denver students began setting up camp as early as 10 AM Friday morning, braving the first snowfall of the season, in hopes of getting their hands on student season tickets for the seven-time national championship winning DU Pioneer hockey team.

DU kicks off the hockey season on Sunday night with an exhibition game at Magness Arena against the University of New Brunswick.

DU Clarion: USG Turns Down Boone Resolution

From: DU Clarion
by Brandon Tate

On Tuesday Oct. 1, the Undergraduate Student Government (USG) voted against Resolution 7, which would have granted student organizations and athletics the ability to purchase merchandise with the Boone logo with the use of student activity fee money.

The Resolution, proposed by Senator Adam Hammerman, proposed that “any committee or subsidiary of Undergraduate Student Government, such as the Diversity Committee, Spirit Committee, Sustainability Committee, etc., is allowed to use their allotted fund to purchase any merchandise with the image of Boone on it, as well as any other image supporting school spirit, to be effective immediately.”

Sophomore Senator Jess Davidson praised the vote.

“This resolution was not a question of whether or not Boone is right, but how we are protecting and investing dollars students give through their student activity fee. I do not feel that it’s our place to say ‘Yes, we will spend your student dollars on something you don’t support,’” she said [read entire article].

The Pioneer Bar Puts Boone Statue On Roof

From: Westword
by Patricia Calhoun


Yesterday, The Pioneer Pub at 2401 South University, finally unveiled its new rooftop deck. And there, along with the bar and firepit, was an unexpected amenity -- a seven-foot tall sculpture of Denver Boone, which served as DU's mascot from 1968 to 1998, when it was banished [read entire article].

News & Notes From Around PioNation

(above) DU Alum Jason Zucker & Boone chat via Twitter
The Los Angeles Times cited DU Alum Nick Shore's strong play during the LA Kings training camp. Despite being sent down to the AHL Manchester Monarchs, Nick appears to have a bright future with the Kings.
----------
Joey LaLeggia was named by USCHO.com as one of college hockey's Top Defensemen.
----------
The Pioneers open the 2013-14 hockey season with an exhibition contest against the University of New Brunswick on Sunday evening at 6 p.m. (MT) at Magness Arena.  DU will have 10 Freshmen on the roster.

Monty Invites Students To Season Ticket Campouts