Lost Passport Worth Thousands To DU Alum

(above) Every time the Minnesota Wild travel to Canada to play road games, DU Alum Wade Dublielewicz makes an extra $8,000 per game

From: TwinCities.com

The NHL Minnesota Wild brought Wade Dubielewicz up as a backup goalie and dispatched Anton Khudobin to Houston of the American Hockey League because Khudobin, who is from Kazakhstan, lost his traveling papers during the season and is unable to leave the United States.

The turn of events will prove costly to Khudobin's bank account while boosting Dubielewicz's because either one gets NHL minimum of $500,000 a season on a per-game basis.

"Basically two weeks here is the same as two months there," Dubielewicz said of the difference in NHL salary versus minor league pay. "It definitely makes the summer a little easier."

He said he feels badly for Khudobin.

"I believe in him as a goalie, and he is a good person," Dubielewicz said. "He's part of the future of this organization."

AHL Game Featured Four DU Alums Last Night

(above) Chicago Wolves (white) & Houston Aeros (green) featured Mannino vs. Dubbie last night in Houston

(left) Mannino's helmet this season features Boone as a Thrasher

DU alums DG & ScottA attended a AHL game between the Houston Aeros (Peter Mannino & J.P. Testwuide) and Chicago Wolves (Wade Dubielewicz, Kevin Doell) last night. We took a couple of Boone posters left over from the NCAA Regionals in Albany.

In the 2nd Period we moved down to the front row behind Mannino's goal with the Boone posters. Mannino saw the posters and laughed and then pointed to Boone on his helmet. Later in the period he pointed to the Boone stitched in his leg pads.

Naturally we made the Jumbotron in the 3rd Period with our DU sweaters & Boone posters as Mannino recorded a 4-0 shutout and was named #1 Star of the Game.

Denver Post: Chevy Is On Record Pace

(above) Chevy's quick start is catching media attention

From: Denver Post

by Mike Chambers

.

Three of the University of Denver's greatest goalies played for the Pioneers this decade. However, the guy who will complete the fabulous 10-year stretch might ultimately be considered the best of the best.

Junior Marc Cheverie, who leads the NCAA in every major statistical goaltending category, is on pace to rewrite the program's single-season and career goals-against average and save-percentage records.

Cheverie's 1.19 GAA this season has lowered his career number to 2.15, ahead of the record of 2.20 shared by Wade Dubielewicz (1999-2003) and George Kirkwood (1959-61). On the strength of his .961 save percentage this season, Cheverie has a career percentage of .927, higher than Dubielewicz's record of .923. (read rest of article)

Dubielewicz Waiting For Shot To Make Wild Roster

(left) DU alum Wade Dubielewicz is waiting for his opportunity to move up the Minnesota Wild's goaltending pecking order

From: Twin Cities.com
by Bruce Brothers

With Niklas Backstrom and Josh Harding firmly holding down the top two goaltending positions for the Wild, Wade Dubielewicz must wait in the wings.

A free-agent signee this summer after ending up in Columbus last season following 21 games in the Russian KHL, Dubielewicz jumped at the opportunity to join the Wild even though he knew he'd come in no better than No. 3 or 4 at his position.

A former All-American at the University of Denver, he said he remembers playing against Gophers during his college hockey days and typically seeing big crowds for high school sectional tournaments at Mariucci Arena.

"It was amazing," he said. "I thought it'd be so cool to play somewhere where the support is that big."

Dubielewicz, who is from Invermere, British Columbia, added that hockey is "huge back home. And when you step into Minnesota, it's almost like stepping into a borough of Canada. It's almost like coming home for a Canadian guy."

At age 30, he needs to show the Wild staff he has "still got it," he said, noting that 30 "is when goalies are supposed to peak."

Dubielewicz, who had not played in an exhibition, accompanied the team to Columbus to back up Harding, but Richards said Harding was expected to play the entire game. The other goalie on the roster is Anton Khudobin.

Minnesota Wild Sign DU Alum Dubielewicz

(left) Dubbie may be making a few appearances in the Pepsi Center this season

From: TwinCities.com

The Minnesota Wild signed veteran goaltender and University of Denver Alum Wade Dubielewicz to a one-year contract to add depth behind all-star Niklas Backstrom and backup Josh Harding. It is expected that Dubielewicz will replace Harding on the roster.

Dubielewicz, 30, a former All-American at the University of Denver, played in Russia's Kontinental League most of last season. A native of Invermere, British Columbia, he has 40 games of NHL experience with the New York Islanders and Columbus, producing a 2.64 goals-against average and .916 save percentage.

Pat Rooney Profiles Marc Cheverie For LetsGoDU

(above) The Chevy is detailed and ready for the playoffs

By Pat Rooney
Special to LetsGoDU

This is the moment Marc Cheverie has been working towards since he arrived at the University of Denver.

The sophomore goaltender began the season as perhaps the Pioneers biggest question mark, a talented but untested quantity on a team that otherwise appeared solid at every other position.

Now, as DU embarks on a postseason road it hopes will end with the program's eighth national championship, Cheverie clearly has developed into one of the Pioneers strengths.

The arc Cheverie has traveled this season could not have evolved more fortuitously for DU. As the Pioneers begin play in the NCAA tournament, the top-seeded Pios open the West Regional in Minneapolis against Miami (Ohio) on Friday, Cheverie is primed to make his mark in what is commonly referred to as a "Goaltender's Tournament."

"I'm very pumped to get it going. I've been looking forward to it all year," Cheverie said. "You have to win everything from here on out to make or break the season. A hot goalie can win you games, and at some point you're always going to have to get through tough times."

"But I wouldn't totally agree that it is totally just a goaltender's tournament, because team defense tightens up and sometimes goalies will look better than they are playing at times. I've experienced that, where the team is really playing great in front of me and I get the first star when I probably don't deserve it. But in the playoffs, it happens that the goalie has to be hot at the right time. This year, there have been so many ups and downs with injuries that we're prepared for anything."

As Cheverie has grown more comfortable, the Pioneers defense has become much more formidable. Out of the gate, Cheverie and the DU defense surrendered at least four goals in three of the first five games of the season. The Pioneers have allowed at least four goals in just 4-of-20 games since the holidays, all of which occurred against eventual NCAA tournament teams (Boston, North Dakota, and twice against Minnesota Duluth).

Much of that improvement can be traced to Cheverie, who garnered second team All-Western Collegiate Hockey Association honors while morphing into the sort of back-line savior that inspires teammates and creates an added level of defensive confidence.

"Without a doubt, from the beginning of the season until now, it's like night and day," Junior defenseman Cody Brookwell said. "That was one of the question marks coming into the season, but he has progressed throughout the season. I don't think he's ever taken a step back. He has gotten better and better. That's a big part our job, having confidence in him, and I'm sure the same goes for him having confidence in us."

Cheverie ranks second in the WCHA in goals-against average (2.30) and save percentage (.923), trailing only Duluth's first-team All-WCHA selection (and DU's possible West Regional final opponent) Alex Stalock.

Cheverie's save percentage also ranks as the third-best single-season mark in the program's rich history, behind the record .943 mark compiled by Wade Dubielewicz during the 2001-02 season and Peter Mannino's .927 mark during the 2004-05 national championship season.

What is even more impressive about Cheverie's mark is that he did it as a full-time starter, while Dubielewicz and Mannino each toiled in a platoon system during those respective seasons.

Even after only one season as DU's starter, perhaps the only thing still lacking on Cheverie's resume is a proven postseason track record. One season after watching from the bench as Mannino's career ended with a first-round loss against Wisconsin, Cheverie is ready to cross that off his checklist while, hopefully, leading DU to the type of glory Mannino did in 2005.

"Realizing the pressure you face, and the importance of every game and every minute, that's what I saw at the tournament last year," Cheverie said. "There is no room for error, no room for complacency. Every playoff game last year, every game I watched, was a learning experience. I'm confident in my own abilities and the abilities of my teammates. I think it is a good combination. Everything has to be going. Everyone has to trust each other, and I think that's what we have right now."

News & Notes From Around Boone Nation

Corban Knight, a top prospect from the Alberta Junior Hockey League, will attend the University of North Dakota after looking at DU & Cornell. He'll probably attend UND in 2010.

Wade Dubielewicz is ready to suit up with the Columbus Blue Jackets, but its not clear if Columbus or the New York Islanders bought out his contract in Russia.

DU's game notes for the UND series are up on DenverPioneers.com

DU Alum Will Play For NHL's Colmbus Blue Jackets

(above) Former DU goaltender Wade Dubielewicz went from Russia to New York to Columbus in one weekend

The Columbus Blue Jackets claimed DU Alum Wade Dubielewicz off waivers from the New York Islanders on Saturday and assigned goaltender Dan LaCosta to the club's American Hockey League affiliate in Syracuse.

Dubielewicz will back up rookie star Steve Mason while Pascal Leclaire's status remains uncertain. Leclaire has an ankle injury that may require season-ending surgery.

The 29-year-old Dubielewicz has a 16-13-2 record, a 2.55 goals-against average and .920 save percentage in 37 career NHL games with the Islanders. He spent the first part of this season with Kazan Ak-Bars of the Russian Kontinental Hockey League, but was signed Thursday by the Islanders after backup Joey MacDonald joined starter Rick DiPietro on the injured list.

News & Notes From Around Boone Nation

2009 DU recruit Matt Donovan has been named to play in the USHL Prospects/All-Star Game on Wednesday, February 4 in Sioux Falls.

"Donovan, 18, ranks second among USHL defensemen in goals (9) and points (22) and is tied for fifth among blue liners in assists (13). The Edmond, Oklahoma, product was named to the 2007-08 USHL All-Rookie Team. Donovan was selected by the New York Islanders in the fourth round of last May’s National Hockey League Entry Draft with the ninety-sixth overall pick."

Former DU goaltender Wade Dubielewicz has just signed a contract with the New York Islanders.

"The Islanders have agreed to terms with goaltender Wade Dubielewicz on a one-way NHL contract for the remainder of the 2008-09 season. Dubielewicz must first secure his formal release from Ak Bars Kazan of the Kontinental Hockey League in Russia where he began the season and clear NHL waivers before being eligible to play for the Islanders."

DU fans heading up to Grand Forks next weekend are advised not to wear their Boonetown shirts into Grand Forks bars. This Minnesota Gopher fan was assaulted in a bar fight.

Perhaps the University of Denver could send their "Diversity Action Team" up to Grand Forks to mediate bar fights.

We believe that every person matters. We respect and embrace the uniqueness of identities, gifts, perspectives, histories and life experiences of all members of our community.

We are committed to creating an empowering, accessible, and equitable environment for a plurality of voices by:

• Building relationships through kind words and actions

• Examining how our actions individually and institutionally affect members of our community

• Confronting those who speak or act insensitively while inviting challenges to our bias, assumptions, and positions of privilege

• Taking the time and the risk to build genuine connections with others with whom we do not typically interact

• Promoting the achievement and support of a diverse student body, staff and faculty team

Comrade Dubielewicz Back In The U.S.A.

(above) DU Alum Wade Dubielewicz is expected to be back in an NHL jersey soon

From: Newsday

In the surest sign yet that the Islanders might be close to shutting down goaltender Rick DiPietro for the season after just five starts, general manager Garth Snow said the team has held exploratory talks with the agent for former University of Denver goaltender Wade Dubielewicz, who recently was bought out of his contract with Ak Bars Kazan of Russia's Kontinental Hockey League.

Told that Dubielewicz is talking to at least three NHL teams with goaltender problems, Snow said, "I guess we're one of the three. We have to see what happens with Rick first before we do anything."

Dubielewicz left the Islanders as a free agent last summer because they only could offer a two-way contract since Joey MacDonald was on a one-way deal that assured him the position as DiPietro's backup.

"We worked out a buyout, and Wade's back," said Kurt Overhardt, who represents Dubielewicz. "We're just waiting to see what happens. We're talking to three teams with goaltender issues that need a reliable backup. Something will transpire in the next couple of days to two weeks."

KHL records are sketchy, but Overhardt said Dubielewicz played well in Russia and enjoyed the experience. If the Islanders sign him now, it has to be on a one-way deal, which would indicate DiPietro's season is over.

Asked what kind of terms Dubielewicz left on, Overhardt said, "No bridges were burned."

DU Alum Kurt Overhardt Represents NHL Players

(above) DU Alum Kurt Overhardt is a sports agent for many NHL stars

University of Denver graduate Kurt Overhardt is a Denver-based NHL agent who represents some of the league's top players. His clients include Dallas Stars goalie Marty Turco and young forwards Kyle Turris of the Phoenix Coyotes and T.J. Hensick of the Avalanche.

Overhardt advises two Hobey Baker Award winners in former DU defenseman Matt Carle of the Philadelphia Flyers and center Brendan Morrison of the Anaheim Ducks, plus former Pioneers Wade Dubielewicz, Connor James, Ryan Dingle, Adrian Veideman, Glenn Fisher, Geoff Paukovich and J.D. Corbin. [read rest of article]

DU's East Coast NHL Affiliate Wants Tyler Bozak

DU's East Coast NHL Affiliate, otherwise known as the New York Islanders, are hot on the trail of Tyler Bozak. The Isles signed Ryan Caldwell, Wade Dubielewicz and Peter Mannino to their first pro contracts and have drafted Rhett Rakhshani and future Pioneer Matt Donovan.

According to the Islanders Point Blank Blog, the Isles have designs on Bozak and Boston University Senior Matt Gilroy. The rumor may have some legs because , according to the blog, New York could make a spot for Bozak at center on their NHL Roster.

Tyler Bozak is without a doubt regarded as the #1 collegiate free agent.

The sophomore center at the University of Denver is 7-11-18 in 15 games this season. One Eastern Conference scout calls the 20-year old “dynamic,” “fast” and “a complete player.”

For comparison, Point Blank recently ranked Denver forward Rhett Rakhshani as the Islanders’ No. 5 prospect not currently in Bridgeport or with the big club. If the Islanders signed Bozak, Rakhshani’s Pioneers teammate would be neck-and-neck with the top-ranked Kirill Petrov - and the team wouldn’t have to worry about getting him here.

Dreger reported that 26 NHL teams have expressed interest in Bozak. We can confirm that the Islanders are one of them. The college player cannot have an agent, but he is being “advised” by Wade Arnott, with whom the Islanders share a cordial working relationship.

Scouts seem convinced Bozak has the ability to step right into the NHL next season. While the competition for Bozak’s services will be fierce, the Islanders no doubt could find a spot for him down the middle.

Pioneers In The Pros: News & Notes

(above) Brett Skinner [almost] made the opening day roster of the New York Islanders

Brett Skinner, a two time National Champion at DU, finally made it to the NHL. He's on the opening day roster of the New York Islanders.
Edit: Skinner was the last player sent down to Bridgeport (AHL) today, after the Islanders picked up a player on waivers.

The Iowa Chops assigned defenseman Andrew Thomas to the Bakersfield Condors of the ECHL. Thomas (6-2, 202) is a rookie who was captain at the University of Denver as a senior last season.

Wade Dubielewicz played his first game in the Russian Super League the other night. We're still trying to get our translators to figure out the box score.

There is a nice article in the Union Leader about former DU player Gabe Gauthier. He'll be playing for the Manchester Monarchs in the AHL, but is just a phone call away from the LA Kings. Interesting situation for Gabe, he's a high scoring forward in the AHL and a grinder/high energy player in the NHL.

Denver Post Compares Chevy To CC Goaltender

(above) Chevy poses for a "Glamour Shot"

Mike Chambers of the Denver Post has an excellent article today about DU goaltender Marc Cheverie and Colorado College sieve Richard Bachman. The article is very good, but Chambers forgot to mention Bachman & Colorado College being upset in their final three playoff games to lower ranked teams.

DU won a huge recruiting battle over powerhouses Cornell, North Dakota and Michigan State to land Cheverie in 2006. Obviously, DU's success in developing professional goaltenders Wade Dubielewicz, Adam Berkhoel, Glenn Fisher and now Peter Mannino played a role in the decision.

Unbelievably, Chambers even got NHL superstar Sidney Crosby to make some quotes about Chevy, who grew up on the same street together in Cole Harbor, Nova Scotia. (Read the entire article)

"We played a couple seasons in minor hockey, and we grew up playing street hockey together," Crosby said of Cheverie. "Cole Harbour's not a huge place, so a lot of us played hockey together.

"I haven't seen him for a year or two. He was always kind of a quieter guy. He was a pretty technically sound goalie from what I remember. He was a big guy, took up a lot of net. I heard he's doing well."

Kevin Doell Signs Contract With Swedish Club

(above) DU alum Kevin Doell is heading to Sweden

From: Leksand Stars Website

DU alum Kevin Doell has signed a contract with the Leksand Stars of the Swedish Ice Hockey League. The Stars are currently playing in the second division in Sweden, but obviously with the signing of Doell, will be looking to move back to the first division by the end of next season.

Doell spent last season in the AHL, winning a Calder Cup with the Chicago Wolves and playing 8 games in the NHL with the Atlanta Thrashers.

Leksand's Mikael Lustrom said, "We are happy to sign a player of Doell's ability. He is a very good two way player who will help us tremendously."

Doell is the 4th DU alum to sign in Europe for next season. The other three are Ryan Caldwell in Germany, Wade Dubielewicz and Mark Rycroft in Russia.

Doell will be joing a team that is a phenomenon in Swedish sports. Its a tiny community (just 6,000 residents) with a big-time ice hockey following and remains one of the most popular clubs in Sweden.

Notes: Andy Thomas and Adam Berkhoel are two players with DU ties that have yet to sign a contracts with professional clubs. The Washington Capitals drafted Thomas in 2005 have until August 15th to sign him or he will become a free agent.

DU Players May Want To Add Russian Classes

(above) DU Alum Mark Rycroft will play in Russia next season

Comrades,

We may have to start a Russian Edition of LetsGoDU, as we have just learned from "Jori" that DU alum Mark Rycroft has signed a contract with HC Dynamo of the Russian Super League. Rycroft will join DU alum Wade Dubielewicz in the Super League this upcoming season.

The Russian press release follows and we could clean it up for you, but its time we all started learning Russian if we want to follow our hockey alums.

Mark Raykrota will be an experienced addition at forward for the Dynamo next season.

Raycrofta, who recently just turned 30 years old, has experience in many North American leagues. Of interest, of course, was his career in the NHL. Raykrofta's NHL statistics are as follows: 226 games, 46 (21 +25) points and 113 penalty minutes over three seasons in the St. Louis Blues "(2001/02, 2003/04, 2005/06) and one (2006 / 07) - in "Colorado Evelansh (that's "Avalanche" to you and me)."

Хоккеист, которому всего несколько дней назад исполнилось 30 лет, за свою богатую карьеру поиграл во многих североамериканских лигах.

Наш интерес, разумеется, больше всего вызывает НХЛ.

Там статистика у Райкрофта выглядит следующим образом: 226 матчей, 46 (21+25) очков и 113 минут штрафа за три сезона в "Сент-Луис Блюз" (2001/02, 2003/04, 2005/06) и один (2006/07) — в "Колорадо Эвеланш."

NHL Free Agent Signing Period Underway

Ryan Caldwell with the Phoenix Coyotes

Kevin Doell with the Atlanta Thrashers

Connor James with the Pittsburgh Penguins

Gabe Gauthier with the LA Kings

The NHL free agent signing period is just underway. Former DUers with 20007-08 NHL experience who are unrestricted free agents are Ryan Caldwell, Connor James and Kevin Doell. Gabe Gauthier is a restricted free agent who was given a qualifying offer by the Kings. Goalie Wade Dubielewicz has already signed with in the Russian Kontinental Hockey League with Ak-Bars Kazan. Adam Berkhoel, Mark Rycroft, Brett Skinner and Glenn Fisher are also free agents but they didn't log any time in the NHL last season. It is believed that Glenn Fisher has agreed to an AHL contract with the Edmonton organization. Below are the links to the TSN site to follow the signings and the official NHL free agent list.

TSN.ca

Official NHL Free Agent List

Dubie Going To Russia

The Connecticut Post is reporting that former Islander and DU All American Wade Dubielewicz has signed with Kazan of the former Russian Super League now known as the Kontinental Hockey League.

Good luck to Dubie!

The Connecticut Post has this at the very end of their article on the Bridgeport Sound Tigers.

Wade Dubielewicz, the former Sound Tigers goalie who backed up for the Islanders the past two seasons, signed with Kazan in Russia.

More stories on Dubie going to Russia

Sporting News

Newsday

NY Times

Isles Coach Disagrees With GM On Dubielwicz

From: Newsday
by Greg Logan

On a day when All-Star goaltender Rick DiPietro had a minor knee operation, Islanders coach Ted Nolan yesterday expressed his regret about the loss of backup goaltender and former DU star Wade Dubielewicz to free agency. Nolan took issue with a recent statement by general manager Garth Snow suggesting the coaching staff "lost confidence" in Dubielewicz at the start of last season because of his poor condition.

Speaking yesterday on Sirius satellite radio to a host known as "Bubba the Love Spunge," DiPietro made a surprise announcement that he was having a minor knee operation later in the day. But that was just the beginning of the Isles' communication problems.

In a recent interview, Snow said "there wasn't much confidence in the coaching staff to play [Dubielwicz]" the first half of the season because he wasn't in shape.

When Nolan was contacted for his reaction to the DiPietro situation, he made it clear that while he agreed with Snow about Dubie's initial lack of conditioning, he never lost confidence in his ability.

"It was news to me," Nolan said of Snow's statement. "I never lost confidence in Dubie. It's unfortunate Dubie didn't agree to terms, but for the things he did for this organization the last couple years, I want to thank him more than anything.

"Unfortunately, he's going to go somewhere else, and we wish him well ... As far as his conditioning coming in, he was hurt in the offseason and it took him a little while to get in shape. But as far as his devotion to the organization and the team, we couldn't have asked for any more.

"I was really appreciative of the things Dubie did while he was here. If it wasn't for him, we wouldn't have made the playoffs the year before. At the end of this season, we had up to 12 guys injured, and it was a very tough situation. He did everything humanly possible."

DiPietro's new backup is Joey MacDonald, whose contract includes a one-way provision for next season. Players on one-way deals can't go to the minors or return to the NHL without passing through waivers. Snow's multiyear offer to Dubielewicz included a two-way contract the first year that likely would have consigned him to AHL Bridgeport most of the season.

Asked if MacDonald's contract prevented the Isles from retaining Dubielewicz, Nolan said: "I'm not too sure if that had a bearing. But as far as I'm concerned, there was nothing wrong with his play."

Snow and Nolan clashed late last season when the GM disagreed with the coach's decision to start Dubielewicz against the Rangers on March 6 after DiPietro returned from missing two games for personal reasons. Snow was unavailable for comment last night.

DU Alum Dubielewicz To Test Free Agency

From: Newsday
by Greg Logan

Popular backup goaltender for the New York Islanders and DU Alumnus Wade Dubielewicz, who helped the Isles reach the playoffs two seasons ago, is among a group of unrestricted free agents the club plans to let go. General manager Garth Snow said no offers have been made to forwards Miroslav Satan, Ruslan Fedotenko and Josef Vasicek because of the need for roster space for a youth movement, and "Dubie" rejected the offer he received.

"We made a significant offer that he turned down," Snow said of Dubielewicz, who had a 9-9-1 record last season with a 2.70 goals-against average and a .919 save percentage. "We wish him the best."

Dubielewicz did not return a call Saturday, but it's likely the multiyear offer included a two-way provision in the first year that would have consigned him to AHL Bridgeport most of the season. Joey MacDonald, who was 0-1-1 in his two starts with a 3.00 goals-against mark and a .918 save percentage, has a one-way contract next season that positions him as the logical backup to starter Rick DiPietro.

Although Dubielewicz lost his first three starts, yielding 17 goals in the process, he never allowed more than three goals in his last 14 starts. He finished with a better GAA and save percentage than DiPietro, who missed the last nine games of the season to undergo hip surgery.

Snow said Dubielewicz reported to training camp in poor shape, which contributed to the decision to start DiPietro in 33 of the first 35 games. "There wasn't much confidence from our coaching staff to play him," Snow said of Dubielewicz. "That's where we ran into trouble playing Ricky too many nights. We need a backup goalie our coaches will have confidence in from Day 1."