News & Notes From Around Pioneer Nation

(above) Fox Sports Rocky Mountain & DU hockey sideline reporter Alanna Rizzo was profiled in the Denver Post this week

The Denver Post profiled DU Hockey sideline reporter Alanna Rizzo. In January, Rizzo created a controversy by coming down hard on Grand Forks on hockey fans for what she described as obnoxious behavior during a game between DU and the University of North Dakota.

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The CHL Allen Americans announced today that they have acquired veteran defenseman and DU Alum Erik Adams from the Colorado Eagles in exchange for future considerations.

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The AHL Peoria Rivermen signed defenseman Adrian Veideman yesterday. Undrafted, Veideman attended the University of Denver where he won back-to-back NCC National Championships with the Pioneers. While at Denver, he was a teammate of Rivermen defenseman T.J. Fast during the 2006-07 season and was the recipient of the Dr. Ralph Verploeg Award as Denver's Most Inspirational Player that same season.

Alum Kevin Ulanski Signs With Colorado Eagles

From: Loveland Reporter-Herald
by Adam Dunivan

DU Alum Kevin Ulanski is coming back to Colorado, where some of his most memorable moments as a hockey player took place.

The former University of Denver Pioneer signed with the Colorado Eagles today, becoming the first non-returning player signed by the team for the 2008-09 season.

Ulanski has spent the last three seasons playing for the Elmira Jackals. This will be his first experience in the CHL, but he said he is looking forward to the return to the Centennial State.

“Getting back to Colorado is going to be awesome for me,” said Ulanski. “I loved every bit of it when I was in college, and now getting to play with the Eagles is going to be exciting. They always are competing for the championship, and I like to win.”

If Ulanski is used to one thing in hockey, it’s winning. Another savvy player, he has plenty of big-game experience. He was the assistant captain for the DU back-to-back championship teams, as well as the MVP of the UHL’s Colonial Cup Championship playoffs in 2006-07 while with the Rockford IceHogs.

His time in the AHL, considered the “AAA” of minor-league hockey, proved beneficial, and he hopes to get there again, but he is gearing his focus on helping the Eagles for now.

“My goal has always been to play in the (AHL) … and I’m not cutting out the chance at moving up again,” Ulanski said, “but I’m going to be by my family, and I’m going to try and win and have fun while I’m playing again.

“I like to think of myself as a reliable forward on both ends of the ice, I like to score goals and set up plays, but I also pride myself on defense and doing what it takes to win.”

Kevin McClelland also said Ulanski was a player the Eagles had been looking at for a while, and he has the versatility to fill many roles.

“He’s a guy that’s going to bring a lot of speed to our hockey club, and a lot of experience,” McClelland said. “Anytime you get someone that’s won championships, they know how much you have to sacrifice to get to that level.”

Ulanski will reunite with Erik Adams, and he also said he knows Scott Polaski quite well from playing against him while Polaski was at Colorado College.

In 217 career professional games as a winger, Ulanski has registered 125 points (45 goals, 80 assists). His best year statistically came in 2006-07, when he scored 66 points in 61 games. He also has averaged about a point per game in the postseason, scoring 22 points in two playoff stints.

Erik Adams Re-signs With Colorado Eagles

From: Coloradan.com

DU alum Erik Adams has signed a contract to play for the Colorado Eagles again this season, the Central Hockey League team announced Monday.

"The success of the Colorado Eagles has been built through showing loyalty to players who are assets both on the ice and off," Eagles president and general manager Chris Stewart said in announcing the signing. "Erik has been a been catalyst in that regard."

Adams, a former University of Denver standout defenseman, is entering his fourth season with the Eagles, who won the Northwest Division title last year for the fifth time in the franchise's 5-year history and advanced to the CHL Finals for the third time, losing in four games to the Arizona Sundogs.

DU Alums Still Playing In Pro Hockey Playoffs

Thanks to the crack research staff (Duper) in the basement of LetsGoDU's World Headquarters in Denver, Colorado we've determined that the following DU alums still have a shot at winning league titles this season. We'll continue to cover their exploits until they are eliminated from the playoffs.

AHL Atlantic Division Finals
Portland Pirates vs. Providence Bruins
Portland
Ryan Dingle
Adrian Veideman
Providence
Brett Skinner

AHL East Division Final
Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins vs. Philadelphia Phantoms
Wilkes-Barre/Scranton
Connor James

AHL North Division Final
Toronto Marlies vs. Syracuse Crunch
Syracuse
Mark Rycroft

AHL West Division Final
Chicago Wolves vs. Rockford Ice Hogs
Chicago
Kevin Doell
Rockford
Gavin Morgan

CHL Finals
Arizona Sundogs vs. Colorado Eagles
Colorado
Erik Adams

Overseas
Jussi Halme's club, Tappara, won the bronze medal in sm-liiga in Finland.