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.

Twitter: PioNation Reacts To Gwozdecky Firing

DU's Lineup Against Bemidji Includes Omissions

#10 DU (9-5-2, 7-3-2 WCHA) @ Bemidji State (4-8-2, 3-7-2 WCHA)

Date:  Friday, December 14, 2012

Puck Drop: 6:37 p.m. (MT)

Site: Bemidji, Minn.

Arena: Sanford Center (4,373)

TV: None

Radio/Web: 102.3 FM ESPN (KDXP - Denver)

Several players are missing in action this weekend:

• Garrett Allen sent out a Twitter mentioning already being home and some sort of surgery.

• Jarrod Mermis is not in the lineup and whereabouts unknown.

• Larkin Jacobson is serving the final days of his suspension.

• Josiah Didier has an ankle injury.

Tweets From Around PioNation

Denver 2 - British Columbia 2 FINAL [Exhibition]

David Makowski & Garrett Allen scored goals as the University of Denver and British Columbia skated to a 2-2 tie at the Pepsi Center. DU jumped out to a 2-0 lead before UBC came back to knot the score.

DenverPioneers.com Game Recap

Two DU Recruits To Play Together Next Season

2012 DU recruits Tyler Pham and Garrett Allen will play together next season for the Chicago Steel in the USHL.

Forward Tyler Pham spent this past season playing for the Colorado Thunderbirds Under-18 team.  He also played three games for the Chicago Steel over the Christmas break.  At one time considered a prime candidate for the USNDP Under-17 team, Pham ended up not being selected at the tryout camp, so he returned home to Colorado.

Forward Garrett Allen was originally projected to arrive at DU in 2011, but  a drop in production this past season in Chicago deferred his arrival to DU until 2012.

2011 Recruiting Class
D Scott Mayfield (Youngstown, USHL)
F Zac Larraza (U.S. Under-18)
D Joey LaLeggia (Penticton Vees, BCHL)
F Larkin Jacobson (Janesville Jets, NAHL)
D-F Wade Bennett (Wichita Falls, NAHL)
F Matt Tabrum (Omaha, USHL)

2012 Recruiting Class
F Tyler Pham (Colorado Thunderbirds-U18)
D Dakota Mermis (U.S. Under-17)
D Josiah Didier (Cedar Rapids, USHL)
D Matt Van Voorhis (U.S. Under-18)
F Garrett Allen (Chicago, USHL)
F Daniel Doremus (Sioux Falls, USHL) 

2013 Recruiting Class
F Brad Hawkinson (Colorado Thunderbirds-U18)

Garrett Allen Signs DU Letter Of Intent For 2012

Garrett Allen

Chuck Schwartz the online college hockey recruiting guru who contributes to the 60 Minutes. No Alibis. No Regrets Hockey Blog (Wisconsin) has retracted his original report that "two sources have confirmed to him that University of Denver 2012 recruit Garrett Allen does not plan on playing for DU."

Schwartz noted on Wednesday evening, "Apparently Garrett Allen is still committed to Denver, but will come in 2012 not 2011. He signed a Letter of Intent with DU. Although the Concordia SID confirmed that they had been talking to Allen. My apologies to Allen and DU fans for any confusion."

2011 Recruiting Class
D Scott Mayfield (Youngstown, USHL)
F Zac Larraza (U.S. Under-18)
D Joey LaLeggia (Penticton Vees, BCHL)
F Larkin Jacobson (Janesville Jets, NAHL)
D-F Wade Bennett (Wichita Falls, NAHL)
F Matt Tabrum (Omaha, USHL)

2012 Recruiting Class
F Tyler Pham (Colorado Thunderbirds-U18)
D Dakota Mermis (U.S. Under-17)
D Josiah Didier (Cedar Rapids, USHL)
D Matt Van Voorhis (U.S. Under-18)
F Garrett Allen (Chicago, USHL)
F Daniel Doremus (Sioux Falls, USHL)

2013 Recruiting Class
F Brad Hawkinson (Colorado Thunderbirds-U18)

Newest DU Hockey Fan Is NFL Hall Of Famer

(above) NFL great Randall McDaniel was sporting a DU cap on Saturday night in Mariucci Arena

Randall McDaniel is the University of Denver's latest high-profile supporter. The NFL Hall of Famer and 12 time Pro Bowler is the uncle of current player Jarrod Mermis and future recruit Dakota Mermis, who will enroll at DU in 2012.

On Saturday night McDaniel and his family were cheering on the Pioneers in Minneapolis where they reside. McDaniel played for the Minnesota Vikings for 11 seasons and is considered to be one of the greatest offensive linemen in NFL history.

Dakota Mermis is not the only member of DU's future recruiting classes with famous athletic relatives. Forward Garrett Allen's aunt is five-time Olympic Gold Medalist, speed skater Bonnie Blair. 2011 recruit Larkin Jacobson's step-father is two-time Stanley Cup winning forward Ruslan Fedotenko, who currently plays for the NY Rangers.

2011 Recruiting Class

D Scott Mayfield (Youngstown, USHL)
F Zac Larraza (U.S. Under-18)
F Garrett Allen (Fargo, USHL)
D Joey LaLeggia (Penticton Vees, BCHL)
F Larkin Jacobson (Janesville Jets, NAHL)
D Wade Bennett (Wichita Falls, NAHL)
F Matt Tabrum (Omaha, USHL)

2012 Recruiting Class
D Matt Van Voorhis (U.S. Under-18)
F Tyler Pham (Colorado Thunderbirds-U18)
D Dakota Mermis (U.S. Under-17)
D Josiah Didier (Cedar Rapids, USHL)
F Daniel Doremus (Sioux Falls, USHL)

2013 Recruiting Class
F Brad Hawkinson (Colorado Thunderbirds-U18)

DU Recruit Garrett Allen Traded In USHL

(left) DU recruit Garrett Allen has benefited from a change of scenery in Chicago

From: Fargo Examiner

Two weeks ago 2011 DU recruit Garrett Allen was traded in a two team USHL deal. Allen had been a big part of the Fargo Force team that went all the way to the Clark Cup Finals last season. Allen was traded to the Chicago Steel in exchange for defenseman Ian Young in early December.

So far the deal has worked out pretty well for Allen. In four games with the Steel he has two goals, two assists and is +1.

Allen scored 24 goals and 42 points in 60 regular season games last year. He also netted six goals and picked up 10 total points in 13 playoff games last season. This season, his point total has dropped to only three goals this year.

Young, a Missouri City, Texas native, scored twice last season and had 14 points in 31 games with Chicago. This season, Young has taken his game to a new level by scoring one goal and adding nine assists for 10 points in 20 games.

Allen is a University of Denver commit and Young is committed to play at Colorado College.

USA Wins World Junior A Challenge Again

(above) DU recruit Garrett Allen was one of two DU recruits who starred for team USA at the World Junior A Challenge

The U.S. Junior Select Team erased a three-goal deficit en route to a 6-4 victory over Canada East in the championship game of the 2010 World Junior A Challenge. The win gave Team USA its third straight World Junior A Challenge title.

The 2010 World Junior A Challenge included teams from Russia, Sweden, Switzerland and the United States and two teams from Canada (East and West).

University of Denver recruit Scott Mayfield (St. Louis, Mo.) was named to the tournament all-star team. Mayfield was also named the most valuable player of the tournament. This performance will almost certainly cement Mayfield as a first round NHL draft pick next summer.

The other DU recruit participating in the tournament for Team USA, Garret Allen performed also well. Allen was named Player of the Game in the USA's 5-1 semi-final victory over Canada West. Allen's game winning goal in the semi-final was assisted by Mayfield.

DU recruit Joey Laleggia played for Canada West. Laleggia continues to lead the BCHL in defenseman scoring.

News & Notes From Around Pio Nation

(above) DU alum Scott McConnell is back coaching in the USHL

DU Alum Peter Mannino has been bouncing between the Chicago Wolves (AHL) and Atlanta Thrashers (NHL) this season due to the "Ondrej Pavalec Situation." Yesterday the Thrashers recalled Mannino from the Wolves and reassigned goaltender Pavelec to the Wolves for a conditioning stint. Mannino, 26, was recently with the Thrashers for a six game stretch (Oct. 12 to Oct. 23) and competed against the Tampa Bay Lightning (Oct. 22), finishing with 15 saves. He gave up one goal in 38 minutes of action.

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A video clip of Tyler Bozak's first goal of the season for the Toronto Maple Leafs.

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Three DU recruits gave been named to play in the World Junior A Challange in November in British Columbia. Forward Garrett Allen and defenseman Scott Mayfield both made the Team USA roster. Defenseman Joey Laleggia made the Canada West Team for the same tourney.

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The Chicago Steel have added DU Alum Scott McConnell as an assistant coach for the staff under first-year head coach Jon Waibel. It marks the return of McConnell to the USHL where he has both previously spent time as a coach and as a player.

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Gabe Gauthier has been signed by the Syracuse Crunch of the AHL. He was brought in to provide offense for the Crunch. Gauthier, 26, didn't even have a hockey job until a couple of weeks ago. He was a free agent with nothing cooking until Victoria called. He was home in Denver, stocking shelves at Costco for $11 an hour. Gauthier, who has a wife and a 15-month-old daughter, had the morning shift, starting at 4:30 a.m.

DU's 2011 Recruiting Update

DU's newest recruit Joey Laleggia had a huge weekend in the BCHL. He had 3 assists on Friday and 2 goals on Saturday for the Penticton Vees and now leads the team in scoring as a defenseman. He has scored 12 points in his last 4 games, has scored four of the team's last 5 goals, and leads all D-men in points in the BCHL.

Daniel Doremus has gotten off to a slow start with the Sioux Falls Stampede in the USHL. Playing in just two of the teams first three games he is -3 with 0g, 0a and just one shot on goal. A couple of years ago Chris Knowlton played for a terrible team in the USHL. His stats weren't that great but was a solid contributor in college from Day 1.

The season is also just starting for the USNDT Under 18 team in the USHL. Zac Larraza has one goal and Matt Van Voorhis has an assist in the team's first two games.

Garrett Allen has an assist for the Fargo Force in the USHL. The team is just four games into their season.

Scott Mayfield, whom many are projecting to be an NHL first round draft choice next summer, has one goal after four games with the Youngstown Phantoms in the USHL. He leads the team by a wide margin in penalty minutes (14) and shots (12).

2011 Recruiting Class
D Scott Mayfield (Youngstown, USHL)
F Zac Larraza (U.S. Under-17)
F Garrett Allen (Fargo, USHL)
D Matt Van Voorhis (U.S. Under-17)
D Joey LaLeggia (Penticton Vees, BCHL)

2012 Recruiting Class
F Tyler Pham (Team Illinios)
D Dakota Mermis (St. Louis Jr. Blues, AAA)
D Josiah Didier (Cedar Rapids, USHL)
F Daniel Doremus (Sioux Falls, USHL)

News & Notes From Around PioNation

The NCAA bound DU Lacrosse team closed out the regular season with a 15-7 thumping of Air Force on Saturday. It was the 9th straight win for the Pioneers. With the automatic bid to the NCAA Tournament already clinched, the Pioneers now await the announcement of who they will play and where. The NCAA Division I Men's Lacrosse Selection Show is on Sunday, May 9 on ESPNU and will run from 6:30-7:30 p.m. MT.

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The DU Women's Golf team missed the NCAA Tournament by one stroke yesterday. Needless to say this is a crippling blow to a program that finished 5th in the NCAA Tournament last season and had two of the hottest recruits in the nation join the team this season. Former three time All-American Stephanie Sherlock bogeyed the last five holes of her collegiate career. DU Golfer Kimberly Kim will still play in the NCAA Tournament. The trouble for DU started earlier in the season when Freshman Sue Kim quit the team.

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The Colorado Thunderbirds, one of four Triple-A hockey organizations in Colorado, were recognized by the Denver Post for captured the state's first Tier 1 national championship April 11 in Woodridge, Ill. They went 6-0 at nationals without Quetin Shore, who suffered a wrist injury in practice before the team left. Shore is the younger brother of Drew & Nick Shore and has a scholarship offer from DU.

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The USHL best of seven championship series between the Fargo Force and Green Bay Gamblers features two DU recruits, David Makowski and Garrett Allen. The series is tied, two games apiece. In the fourth game of the series Allen scored a goal for Fargo and Makowski had two assists for Green Bay.

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In the NHL playoffs, Boston may lead the Phildelphia Flyers three games to one, but DU Alum Matt Carle had four assists on Friday night. Carle had just two assists through eight playoff games. He doubled that production, capping his four-assist effort with a brilliant pass that enabled Simon Gagne to score the overtime winner which kept the Philadelphia Flyers' season alive. NHL.com interviewed Carle after the game.

News & Notes From Around PioNation

(above) DU recruit Garrett Allen

2011 DU recruit Garrett Allen is having a huge post-season for the USHL Fargo Force. In the USHL best-of-seven Championship Series, Allen scored the game winning goal in Game 1 as Fargo won 2-0. In Game 2, Allen tallied his fourth goal of the playoffs, which extended his point streak to five games and gave the Force a two-goal lead.

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DU Assistant Lacrosse Coach Trevor Tierney has his own Blog in Inside Lacrosse Magazine and his posting this week talks about DU's big victory against Loyola. Its a great read so check it out.

Trevor Tierney's Blog Postings

• NCAA Blogs: Denver Continues Winning Ways
• Prognostication in Lax and the Upcoming DU-Loyola Tilt
• DU Lacrosse Preps for Fairfield as ECAC Play Heats Up
• DU Puts a Perfect ECAC Record To the Test Against Ohio State
• Applying the Outcome of NCAA Hoops Title Game to Lax
• We Are DU: Team Philosophy Comes Together for DU
• Lax, Travel, Pasta and Root Beer Floats: Recapping Spring Break
• Lacrosse Blogs: Parity and the Pioneer Face-Off Classic
• NCAA Blogs: DU Beats Albany for 1st Win
• NCAA Player Blogs: DU Assistant Trevor Tierney

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Invoices for the 2010-11 Denver Pioneer hockey season have been e-mailed to current season ticket account holders. Log-in information, payment options, and Select-A-Seat information are included in the e-mail. Season ticket account holders may access their MYDU Ticket Account information by clicking here.

2 DU Recruits Will Faceoff In USHL Championship

(above) DU recruit Garrett Allen is a Senior in high school

On Friday the Fargo Force and the Green Bay Gamblers will begin a best of five game series for the USHL Championship. Fargo features 2011 DU recruit Garrett Allen, nephew of Olympic speedskater Bonnie Blair. Green Bay is led by DU recruit and USHL Defenseman of the Year David Makowski. Makowski will be a Freshman at DU next season.

The World of Junior Hockey Blog features a preview of the USHL Championship Series.

McKeen's the college hockey recruiting website features an in-depth Question & Answer session with Garrett Allen. Allen is eligible for the 2010 NHL Draft, but has been flying under the radar despite being one of the leading scorers in the USHL in his rookie season. Allen talks about his speed skating background helping his hockey development.

News & Notes From Around PioNation

TSN the Canadian version of ESPN did a poll of 10 NHL Scouts. The scouts were asked who were the Top 10 players available for the 2010 NHL Draft. One scout named DU recruit Beau Bennett on his list. Perhaps Bennett will become a first round draft choice after all.

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The DU Women's Club hockey team won its conference championship last weekend against Colorado women's hockey teams. The defeated the Bandits 3-0, the Blizzard 2-0, the third game 6-0 against the Synergy. Then in the semi-finals, the always tough Angry Beavers 3-0, and lastly won the championship 4-2 against a Vail based team.

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Fargo defeated Sioux Falls in the first round of the USHL playoffs. 2011 DU recruit Garrett Allen had two goals and an assist in the three game series. Allen had a nice rookie season in the USHL scoring 24 goals and chipping in 18 assists in 60 games. Allen should be one of the top scorers in the USHL next season.

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USHL Defensive Player of the Year and DU recruit David Makowski helped the Green Bay Gamblers win the first Round on the USHL playoffs over Waterloo.

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DU alum Matt Carle and the Philadelphia Flyers upset the New Jersey Devils in game 1 of their NHL playoff series last night (Video Highlights).

DU's Newest Recruit Is Profiled On USHL.com

(above) DU recruit Garrett Allen will play for the Pioneers in 2011

From: USHL.com

Fargo Force forward Garrett Allen has committed to attend the University of Denver fn 2011 following his USHL career.

Allen has collected 28 points (15g, 13a) while playing in all 38 games for the Force this season. He ranks fifth on the team in scoring and ranks eighth overall in the League with a .214 shooting percentage. The 17-year-old native of Delafield, Wisconsin scored a goal in just his second USHL game on October 3rd and then notched a hat trick scoring three goals in the 6-3 win over Team USA on November 21st.

Five other current USHL players are also committed to attend the University of Denver following their USHL careers; David Makowski (Green Bay Gamblers), Scott Mayfield (Youngstown Phantoms), Zac Larraza (Team USA), Nick Shore (Team USA), and Jason Zucker (Team USA).

The Denver University Pioneers, members of the WCHA, have 10 former USHL players on their roster this season; Matt Donovan (Cedar Rapids RoughRiders), John Lee (Waterloo Black Hawks), Paul Phillips (Cedar Rapids RoughRiders), Chris Knowlton (Des Moines Buccaneers), Jesse Martin (Tri-City Storm), Anthony Maiani (Sioux City Musketeers), Brian Gifford (Indiana Ice), John Ryder (Ohio Jr. Blue Jackets), Patrick Wiercioch (Omaha Lancers), and Nate Dewhurst (Des Moines Buccaneers).

Click here for Garrett Allen's USHL profile.

DU's Latest Recruit: Garrett Allen

(above) DU's newest recruit tells us a little about himself

Several sites including No Alibis No Regrets (Wisconsin), Fargo Force Blog & U.S. Hockey Report (subscription site) are reporting that Fargo Force forward Garrett Allen has committed to the University of Denver. Allen a 5'11 170 lbs. forward from Delafield, Wisconsin, is said to have family connections in Colorado.

Allen is described as an up-and-coming forward who's college stock has been on the rise in recent weeks. He will attend DU in Fall of 2011. So far this season he has 15 goals and 13 assists in 38 games for the Force. To be averaging almost a point-a-game in his Rookie season in the USHL is very impressive indeed.

We're guessing that Allen can skate...really...fast. His aunt is five-time Olympic Gold Medalist, speed skater Bonnie Blair. Allen's uncle (Bonnie's husband), David Cruikshank was a USA Olympic speed skating sprinter and is currently a power skating trainer for hockey players from the NHL to elite junior players.

Colorado College, Wisconsin & Minnesota were reportedly in the hunt for Allen.

2010 Recruiting Class
F Jason Zucker (U.S. Under-18)
D David Makowski (Green Bay, USHL)
F Nick Shore (U.S. Under-18)
F Beau Bennett (Penticton, BCHL)
F Dan Olszewski (St. Louis, NAHL)

2011 Recruiting Class
D Scott Mayfield (Youngstown, USHL)
F Zac Larraza (U.S. Under-17)
G Sam Brittain (Canmore, AJHL)
F Garrett Allen (Fargo, USHL)

2012 Recruiting Class
F Tyler Pham (Team Illinios)