Twitter: PioNation Heads To DU Pro Camp

DU hockey professional alumni expected to participate in this year's pro camp are Paul Stastny (Colorado Avalanche), Tyler Bozak (Toronto Maple Leafs), Brett Skinner, Gabe Gauthier, Luke Fulghum, Aaron MacKenzie, J.P. Testwuide, Patrick Mullen, Geoff Paukovich, Drew Shore, Anthony Maiani, John Ryder and Dustin Jackson. Former Pioneer Stephen Cunningham and local goaltender Casey Sherwood will also participate in the camp. 

Other professional players expected attend the camp include David Jones (Colorado Avalanche), Curtis McElhinney (Columbus Blue Jackets), Kyle Quincey (Detroit Red Wings), Garnet Exelby (Boston Bruins ) and Ben Guite. Former Colorado College goaltender Richard Bachman (Dallas Stars) could also attend the camp.

Twitter: LetsGoDU Express Goes Viral

Work Crew Lays Down Fresh Ice At Magness

(above) New banner hanging in the Ritchie Center

(above) The logos are painted on the ice

(above) Fresh ice for the upcoming season

DU_Hockey the official Twitter site for University of Denver hockey program posted these photos from Magness Arena.

You can also follow Mike Chambers on Twitter to get breaking DU hockey stories as they are written.

The DU Grilling Society also has a Twitter account that will keep you posted on the pre-game activities and BBQ's.

Twitter: Gwozdecky Fractures Elbow At Camp

(above) George Gwozdecky had surgery to repair a fractured elbow on Saturday

According to a Twitter from University of Denver Sports Information Director Erich Bacher, Coach Gwozdecky injured his elbow at a youth hockey camp and had surgery on Saturday. Get well soon Coach.

Twitter: "Get well soon Coach Gwozdecky. The two-time National COY fractured his right elbow last Friday at his hockey camp. Surgery went well on Sat."

Media Coverage Of Proposed Super League

(above) Colorado College is reportedly holding an auction next Wednesday to sell the largest private collection of WCHA banners on the planet.  The 1950 and 1957 national championship banners will not be sold.

University of Denver Sports Information Director Erich Bacher said DU is "exploring its options" regarding a new hockey conference. Head coach George Gwozdecky told the Denver Post Thursday, "The Pioneers want to be aligned with schools of 'like-minded thinking' and operations."

Reportedly the University of Denver, North Dakota, Colorado College, Miami University, Minnesota-Duluth and Nebraska-Omaha are in discussions to form a new hockey conference. The Nebraska World-Herald is confirming that the conference is a "Done Deal."

Five WCHA member Athletic Directors from Alaska-Anchorage, Minnesota State, Bemidji State, St. Cloud State and Michigan Tech plan to meet in person next week in Minnesota with WCHA administrators after having a teleconference yesterday.

According to WCHA by-laws, member schools have to give one year's notice before vacating the league or face paying a "buy out."

Denver Post

Colorado Springs Gazette

Duluth News-Tribune

Omaha World-Herald

Grand Forks Herald


Grand Forks Herald Editorial

Oxford Press

St. Cloud Times

Anchorage Daily News

Bemidji Pioneer

Mankato Free Press 

Gwozdecky Wants To Ramp Up Fan Support

(above) Coach Gwozdecky wants a lift from DU fans at Magness the next two weekends

Purchase Tickets Online

Coach Gwozdecky had some pretty interesting comments after the game on his Post Game Show with Jay Stickney.

"We have been sputtering along the past four weekends. This team wants to prove that they are not done.

I know that [DU S.I.D.] Erich Bacher has been following the blogs and has been very concerned about the doom and gloom of the fans.

Omaha has been a very good team. We had to go out tonight and perform very well. And we did. We played a smart game. We need to get back into a winning rhythm.

I want to encourage all of our fans and friends to come out and support this team in our final series against St. Cloud and the 1st round of the WCHA playoffs. They are going to be important games.

I don't know if you could hear on the radio back home, but this building [Qwest Center] was loud both nights. They had a big crowd last night and the third largest crowd in UNO history [11,504] tonight.

Its so important to give yourself that little intangible edge. Whether its the regular season or the playoffs.

So hopefully we can get a real good push from our crowd next week and the following weekend. Its the last times we will be playing at home this season. We want to be one of the top two teams in the WCHA to earn a shot the Final 5 bye."

- George Gwozdecky

DU vs Minnesota on Saturday Afternoon

Sweep The Gophers .... FSN Rocky Mountain to televise the game Live .... University of Denver: 7 National Championships .... Go DU

FSN Rocky Mountain will show Saturday's DU vs. Minnesota contest LIVE.

Erich Bacher's Live DU Hockey Chat

***
Saturday: DU @ Minnesota 4 PM MT Saturday
TV: FSN-Rocky Mountain, FS-North & FCS-Pacific (Live)

DU 3 - Bemidji State 1 FINAL

The University of Denver cruised to a 3-1 victory over Bemidji State on Friday night. The announced crowd was 4,300 but there appeared to be 3,000 empty seats at Magness Arena as DU saw one of its smallest crowds in recent memory.

Both Matt Donovan and Jason Zucker had a goal and an assist and Sam Brittain played another outstanding game in goal.

Box Score

Denver Post Game Recap

Bemidji Pioneer Game Recap

WCHA Standings

Live Game Blog With Erich Bacher

Forwards
Jason Zucker - Drew Shore - Luke Salazar
Anthony Maiani - Nick Shore - Beau Bennett
Chris Knowlton - Kyle Ostrow - Shawn Ostrow
Jarrod Mermis - Nate Dewhurst - Dustin Jackson

Defensemen
Matt Donovan - Chris Nutini
John Ryder - David Makowski
Paul Phillips - William Wrenn

Goaltenders
Sam Brittain - Adam Murray - Josh Rosenholtz

Denver Pioneers Blog Posts DU's Lineup

Thanks to Eric Bacher's Blog on the Denver Pioneers Website, Friday night's lineup against the Gophers is posted.

George Gwozdecky Interview From Mariucci Arena

DU's Lineup

Rhett Rakhshani-Tyler Ruegsegger-Anthony Maiani

Kyle Ostrow-Drew Shore-Luke Salazar

Matt Glasser-Jesse Martin-Brian Gifford

Chris Knowlton-Brandon Vossberg-Shawn Ostrow

Matt Donovan-John Lee

Paul Phillips-Chris Nutini

Patrick Wiercioch-William Wrenn

Marc Cheverie

Adam Murray

DU Jacks Up The Price Of Student Tickets

(above) Students who delay in buying their hockey ticket each week will pay a hefty penalty

From: DU Clarion

Beginning this season, students who purchase tickets to hockey games will be charged $18 after 5 p.m. Thursdays.

If tickets are purchased before 5 p.m. on Thursday, the cost is $5.

“Packing Magness Arena is our No. 1 priority,” said Erich Bacher, spokesman for DU Athletics.

“We are encouraging our students to secure their individual game tickets early in the week, so we can ensure that all of our loyal fans have an opportunity to enjoy DU hockey.”

This is the first time student ticket prices have gone up.

This year, Athletics and Recreation received over $81,000 of the student activity fee, approximately 6.5 percent, to provide student tickets for all sports except hockey.

News & Notes From Around Pioneer Nation

DU Alum Tom May is featured in a great article in NHL.com. Tom had his team record 10 game goal scoring streak halted this week, but he's recorded a point in 11 straight games.

If you're a member of Facebook.com join the "LetsGoDU Blog" group.

DU Sports Information Director Erich Bacher has some interesting observations on the team's trip to Madison this week. With DU's first line of Rakhshani - Ruegsegger - Gifford clicking so well, you have to wonder how potent DU would be if/when Tyler Bozak gets back? Suddenly DU is four lines deep and 5 goals games could become the norm.

DU Alum Andy Thomas is back in Bakersfield playing for the Condors in the ECHL. Bakersfield hasn't lost since he's been back in the lineup after a stint in the AHL.

DU leads the WCHA with 7 Scholar Athletes with a GPA of 3.5 or higher. Wisconsin, North Dakota and Minnesota have a total of two scholar athletes combined. Once again Tyler Ruegsegger leads the way for DU, joined by Marc Cheverie, Brian Gifford , Matt Glasser , Dustin Jackson, Chri Nutini, & Kyle Ostrow.

The Pioneer Mascot Fund has $4,300 in the bank and several more checks in the mail. We're still awaiting the second drawing/draft from the mascot costume company in Canada. If we get a reasonable quote, the deposit will be FedEx'd immediately. There will be an organizational mascot meeting next Saturday at 5 PM at Jordan's Restaurant/Pub on the corner of University & Evans at 5 PM. All are welcome. Then we'll bounce over to Magness Arena to watch DU take on St. Cloud State.

Bacher's Blog Details DU's Trip To Houghton

Good morning DU hockey fans from snowy Houghton, Michigan! The Pioneers arrived early this morning (1 a.m. EST) for its two-game WCHA series against Michigan Tech on Friday and Saturday, Dec. 5-6. [rest rest of article]

Massive Line Changes For Tonight's Game

Eric Bacher's Blog has all the details on tonights line changes for DU. Coach Gwozdecky gave some hints yesterday that something was brewing on the defensive pairings and we should have picked up on the fact that might mean that Patrick Wiercioch would miss tonights game.

Maiani-Bozak-Rakhshani

Ostrow-Ruegsegger-Salazar
Colborne-Martin-Jackson
Glasser-Gifford-Dewhurst

Ryder-Brookwell
Mullen-Nutini
Testwuide-Lee

Cheverie

DU's SID Updates Denver Hockey Blog

Erich Bacher works as DU's Sports Information Director. He also has a blog he updates each week on the University of Denver Athletics' Website. In a previous life, Erich worked at the Salt Lake's Winter Olympics in 2002 and got to know Cammi Granato, Brett Hull, Brian Leetch and Mike Richter, whom were all inducted last week into the US Hockey Hall of Fame.

Erich passes along his thoughts on the event and recalls his Olympic moments. [read article]

Lighter Than Usual Turnout For Hockey Campout

(above) DU students pitch their tent in front of Magness Arena on Friday afternoon

From: DU Clarion
by Meagan Brown

Compared to previous years the campout for hockey tickets was minimal, most students chose to see Swollen Members on Driscoll Lawn instead of pitching their tents by the box office Friday night.

"I was shocked at how low the turnout was this year," said sophomore Liz Glissmeyer. "Everybody was really into it last year but I think the concert was a big distraction."

Though more students attended the concert than the campout, a few die-hard fans braved the rain and stuck it out through the night. Freshman Matt Bick waited all day and night for the season tickets.

"I got here at two thirty this afternoon," said Bick. Most other people showed up around eight that night. "I've been here all day but its still been pretty fun," said Bick who passed the time playing cards with friends and reading magazines.

While last year the tents stretched toward the lacrosse field, this year they barely made it down the Ritchie Center steps by the ticket office. The music and sounds of college students laughing and enjoying themselves were not found at the campout as they have in years past. This year the music was coming from a different part of campus, Boone Stock on nearby Driscoll Lawn.

Some said it was only poor timing that resulted in a weak turnout, not lack of interest from fans.

Tickets will be available to students on the Monday prior to each home game this season.

"We have an awesome home schedule, including the Hall of Fame game against Notre Dame," said Erich Bacher, Director of DU Athletic Media Relations. Other home games this season include Wisconsin, Colorado College, Minnesota and Ohio State.

College Hockey News Praises Denver Frozen Four

(above) Boston College players salute their fans in the Pepsi Center on Saturday night

Photo Credit: Melissa Wade

From: College Hockey News
by Adam Wodon

DENVER — There are always quibbles with every tournament. Fans can quibble with the pairings, the teams, the criteria, the calls that went against their team. The media types quibble with some arena issue, or the lack of ring dings at the press meal.

But all in all, this was a fantastic NCAA tournament, capped by a fantastic venue for the Frozen Four. The Pepsi Center and the city of Denver really did a good job with the event. There can always be improvements, but the setup was strong and the city responded.

It was particularly nice to see the Pepsi Center full for the championship game. In some cities, fans leave in droves after their team doesn't win, and the after-market doesn't fill all the spots. But this year, the arena was packed for the title game, and it was a great atmosphere. Credit the city patrons and the fans of losing teams that stuck around.

Inside College Hockey.com Weighed In As Well

A Mile-High stick salute to the NCAA, the Denver Metro Sports Commission, and the University of Denver for the job it did in organizing this year’s Frozen Four. If it wasn’t the best-run Frozen in recent memory, it’s very high on the list. Special mention to University of Denver media relations director Erich Bacher, one of the college game’s really good guys.

DU Student Reporter Hits The Road With Pioneers

From: DU Clarion Student Newspaper
by Brooks Kirchheimer

MINNEAPOLIS- The road can often take athletes to interesting places, but no matter how fun a city is, playing on the road is never an easy task. This past weekend, I followed the DU hockey team to Minnesota to not only watch two amazing college hockey games, but to also follow the routines and actions of the players on the road.

"I think I sleep more on the road, nice hotel rooms. Our main focus is on the game at hand. I think when we come on the road it is a bit more secluded for us and allows us to prepare for the big games," said senior Adrian Veideman.

The Pioneers at the minimum will play at least 16 road games this season, traveling everywhere from Madison, Wisconsin to Anchorage, Alaska to Oxford, Ohio. DU currently has an 8-5 road record on the season and finished 11-7-1 on the road last season.

"You are stuck in a hotel most of the time when you are on the road. That is the only difference. You got a little freedom to do what you want, watch a lot of movies in the hotel," said senior goaltender Glenn Fisher on the difference between home and the road.

Most trips require the Pioneers to fly, in which case they usually fly out the day before the game and fly back to Denver the morning after their final game. This past weekend, DU left on Thursday morning, arrived at the hotel around 3 p.m. and had a quick snack before a 5 p.m. practice.

This past weekend the hotel was within walking distance of the arena and allowed the players to walk over when they wanted to before the scheduled time of practice or game. Friday and Saturday were similar as both days, there was an hour practice in the morning and lunch at the hotel before the game in the evening.

"The biggest thing we notice like coming into a place like Minnesota is the crowd, the atmosphere, a different feel, a lot louder," said Veideman.

Marucci Arena, where the Gopher's play, seats over 10,000 and has two student sections on opposite ends of the ice close to triple the size of Denver's student section.

"I like going to Minnesota and Wisconsin. Its fun playing in their barns. There is big attendance when you go to those places. It is different than playing in front of just 7,000 like Magness. The student sections are a lot larger and they get the fans into it and it is a lot of fun," said Fisher.

During both games over the weekend ,especially on Saturday when the Gopher's won 5-4, there were numerous chants during the game celebrating not only goals, but power-play opportunities and Denver mistakes.

Also as you can imagine, there is lots of equipment to transfer from city to city and that is why head equipment manager Lee Greseth uses a truck to transfer the sticks, skates and bags from Magness to DIA. Each player has their own duffle bag to put their skates, pads and jerseys in, while there is a bigger bag to put all the players sticks in. Also equipment like a skate sharpener, blade tape, pucks, clipboard's and extra jerseys are also brought on every road trip.

Sports information director Erich Bacher noted that their game at Michigan Tech has to be their most difficult travel day of the season coming up in a couple weeks. DU has to fly to Minneapolis and then take a short flight to Green Bay, Wisconsin and then bus up to Houghton, Michigan where the school is located.

When asked where his favorite place to play is, Veideman responded with, "I think Wisconsin is one of the team's favorites. It is a great place to play in and they got great people up there."

And asked about his all-time favorite road trip, "Boston and Columbus because of the Frozen Four obviously, but other than that every time we play a WCHA team it is very competitive and always something to look forward to."

The road is not always fun, but Denver has made it a habit of doing quite well away from the comfy confines of Magness Arena.