News & Notes From Around PioNation

Add the Denver Post's Woody Paige to the growing chorus that wants George Gwozdecky to be the next coach of the Colorado Avalanche.

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DU alum Mark Matthews of the NLL's Edmonton Rush was named Rookie of the Year of the Indoor lacrosse league.  Matthews was 5th in the league in scoring.

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Incoming University of Denver coach Jim Montgomery led the Dubuque Saints to two wins over the weekend to grab a 2-0 lead in the best of five series against the Fargo Force.

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After upsetting the University of Florida on Friday, the DU men's tennis team lost to the University of California 4-1 in the second round of the NCAA Tournament.

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The University of Denver women's lacrosse team also advanced to the second round of the NCAA women's Lacrosse Tournament before falling to Florida 16-5.

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DU alum Anthony Maiani, a member of the Allen Americans, won their first CHL Presidents Cup Championship, 3-2 in overtime on Saturday night.

Twitter: PioNation Reacts To Gwozdecky Firing

Denver Post Profiles Shawn Ostrow

From: Denver Post

by Mike Chambers

En route to Gwinnett, Ga., from Charleston, S.C., last Friday night, former University of Denver captain Kyle Ostrow was thankful to be in what is referred to as professional hockey's "bus league."

The first-year pro and member of the ECHL's Chicago Express was enjoying the ride along with teammates and former Pioneers Anthony Maiani and Peter Mannino. Thanks to live satellite mobile television on the bus, they were watching Shawn Ostrow lead DU to a 5-3 victory over the country's top-ranked team, the Minnesota Golden Gophers [read entire article].

Tweets From Around PioNation-CC Sucks Edition

(above) DU's newest rap group can be seen on Twitter

News & Notes From Around PioNation-Game Day

(above) Kyle Ostrow and Anthony Maiani will be playing together again with the ECHL Chicago Express

"There's no way we're going to make any excuses. We have a lineup, the guys we have available, that if we play the way we can, we'll have a good chance. Our primary concern is playing better in our own end. Our team defense has got to improve. That's what we're talking about and working on. Our success is going to hinge on the success we have defensively."

-DU Coach George Gwozdecky

The Denver Post profiles the Air Force hockey team today.

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The DU Mens basketball team opened up Sun Belt Conference play with a 79-62 victory over Troy at Magness Arena on Thursday night. Denver improved to 11-2, tying its best NCAA Division I start, originally set in 1942-43.

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DU basketball is hanging in there at #31 in the Realtime RPI Rankings as of Thursday night.

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DU Hockey returns to action against #10 Union on Friday night at Magness Arena. Puck drop is set for 7:30 PM against Union & and 6 PM MT at Air Force on New Year's Eve.

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While most Denver fans are keeping an eye on Jason Zucker and the Under-20 World Championship, DU recruit Will Butcher recorded two assists as the U.S. National Under-17 Team defeated the Czech Republic, 5-1, at the 2012 World Under-17 Hockey Challenge in Ontario.

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Team USA faces the Czech Republic at 1:30 PM MT on Friday at the Junior World Championships.  The game can be seen for free on the internet at NHL.com or on TV on the NHL Network.

Twitter: Tough Week Of Practice On The Agenda

(above) Practice ought to be interesting this week

More Tweets From Around PioNation

News & Notes From Around PioNation

Anthony Maiani

Recently graduated DU forward Anthony Maiani shot a hole-in-one last week out on the golf course.  Maiani will play this season for the ECHL Colorado Eagles.  Hmmm .... Hole-in-one .... Eagle.

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Three former DU hockey players from the 1960's played in Snoopy's Senior World  Hockey Tournament in Santa Rosa last week.  John MacMillan (DU '60), Domenic Fragomeni (DU '62) and Wayne Smith (DU' 66) were among the dozens of former NCAA players in the tournament.  D.J. Powers has an article on the College Hockey Inc. website about the tournament.

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University of Denver men's golf coach Eric Hoos, who closed with a 4-under 68 to finish at 212, was the top low-amateur scorer at the HealthOne Colorado Senior Open at Green Valley Ranch. Hoos finished just five strokes behind the winner.

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You can purchase these cool Boone necklaces online from Anne Franklin Designs.  They are made out of repurposed Scrabble tiles and only cost $10-$15 each.  Besides looking great, they are awesome good luck charms during nerve wracking hockey games.

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Former DU goalie Pete LoPresti (DU '74) was named one of the Top 100 all-time Minnesota high school players as compiled by Minnesota Hockey Hub.  After just two seasons at DU, LoPresti went on to play six seasons in the NHL.

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DU Lacrosse star forward Mark Mathews won a club lacrosse championship up in Canada this summer.  Hopefully the experience is a sign of things to come this Fall for the DU Lacrosse team.

Anthony Maiani To Play For ECHL Colorado Eagles

(above) Anthony Maiani was traded to the Colorado Eagles yesterday

From: The Coloradoan

The Colorado Eagles are bringing Anthony Maiani back to Colorado.

Maiani, a former standout at the University of Denver, was acquired Tuesday from the Wheeling Nailers in exchange for future considerations. Maiani becomes the first player on Colorado's roster who didn't play with the team last season.

A native of Shelby Township, Mich., Maiani spent the past four seasons at DU. He had 126 points (34 goals, 92 assists) in 158 career games for the Pioneers, his best season coming in 2008-09 when he had 41 points in 40 games.

Maiani signed with Wheeling after graduating from DU and played in one regular season game and three postseason games.

News & Notes From Around PioNation.

Mark it on your calender.  The University of Denver hockey team will be playing in Boston early next season and it will be an epic road trip you won't want to miss.  On October 14th DU will play Boston College.  The following night they will face off against Boston University in Agganis Arena.

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Anthony Maiani scored a goal in his first professional game for the ECHL Wheeling Nailers. It was an important goal because the team has to finalize its playoff roster today, so Maiani only had one opportunity to show the team what he could do.  Wheeling defeated the Toledo Walleye 4-3 and clinched a playoff berth.

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Mandi Schwartz, the Yale hockey player and sister of Colorado College players Jaden and Rylan, passed away Sunday in Regina, Saskatchewan. She was 23. Schwartz learned in December 2008 that she had acute myeloid leukemia.  Best wishes to her family, fans and friends.

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Colorado Avalanche center and DU Alum Paul Stastny won't play again this season because of a stress fracture in his leg discovered in a weekend examination.

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DU alum Chris Butler gave the Buffalo Sabres an early lead midway through the first by finishing a 3-on-2 rush with his first goal in 15 months. Trailing the play, he took a cross-ice feed from Stafford and snapped the puck high past Ward from the right circle.  Buffalo defeated the Carolina Hurricanes 2-1 in overtime.

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Former DU players Matt Donovan and Kyle Ostrow recorded assists for their first points in AHL games over the weekend.

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The Junior Pioneers ended up collecting Bronze Medals at the PeeWee Under-12 National Championships (Tier II).  They defeated host San Jose Jr. Sharks 3-2 before falling to the Red Bank Generals 2-1 in overtime in the Semi-Finals.  Congrats to all the Junior Pioneer players for representing Colorado so well.

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Don't forget to register online for the 55th DU Hockey Banquet on Friday April 22nd..  We will have several LetsGoDU tables set up.

Ostrow & Maiani Sign Professional Contracts

(above) The Martin, Maiani & Ostrow trio embark on different paths this week

From: DenverPioneers.com

University of Denver seniors Kyle Ostrow and Anthony Maiani signed professional contracts for the remainder of the 2010-11 regular season.

Ostrow has signed with the Portland Pirates of the American Hockey League, while Maiani inked a deal with the Wheeling Nailers of the East Coast Hockey League. Both players could make their professional debuts on Saturday night.

News & Notes From Around PioNation

(above) Security video from the lobby of the Aloft Green Bay Hotel appears to show a pasty faced red head tampering with the fire alarm at 7 AM on Sunday morning

DU started four Coloradans against the Fighting Sioux on Sunday.  Drew Shore, Luke Salazar, Chris Nutini and John Ryder.  Certainly a great indicator on the strides youth hockey has made in the state.

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Mike Chambers Blog has a story about the fire alarms going off in the team hotel on Sunday morning.

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DU's inability to score on several good power play chances early in the second period, cost them some momentum according to the Denver Post.

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Good luck to DU's graduating Seniors: Joey Brehm, Jon Cook, Dustin Jackson, Anthony Maiani, Kyle Ostrow, Chris Nutini, Josh Rosenholtz, Jesse Martin & John Ryder.  Martin, Jackson & Ryder have eligibility left and may choose to play for DU next season or in the future.  The Seniors who depart, leave with over 100 career victories and four NCAA Tournament invites.  Both school records.

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Congrats to Patrick Wiercioch on recording his first NHL point with the Ottawa Senators. Chris Neil’s goal was originally credited to Nick Foligno, with assists to Neil and Jesse Winchester, but was later changed to Neil from Winchester and Wiercioch.

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Yesterday was the busiest day in LetsGoDU history with 2,407 visits.  This month almost 40,000 visits will be recorded.  Sometime over the summer we will receive our millionth visitor.  Thanks as always to our loyal readers, fans, alumni and students who have made this all possible.

Photos From DU's Senior Night

(above) DU seniors Jesse Martin, Anthony Maiani, Chris Nutini, Dustin Jackson, Joey Brehm, Jon Cook, Josh Rosenholtz and Captain Kyle Ostrow were honored during the first intermission

Chambers Blog Talks About Suspension & Loss

Mike Chambers blog has two articles.  One was about the Friday night suspension of Senior Anthony Maiani and the other just a collection of notes after the 3-2 loss to St. Cloud State.

Denver 5 - Alaska Anchorage 1 FINAL

(above) Boone & this future Pioneer hockey player were featured on the Fox broadcast last night

The University of Denver rolled to a 5-2 victory over the University of Alaska-Anchorage in Magness Arena on Saturday night.

UAA jumped out to an early 1-0 lead, but a three goal explosion late in the first period sealed the game. Jarrod "Never Nervous" Mermis scored his first career goal from a beautiful pass from Beau Bennett to open the scoring. Two minutes later Anthony Maiani scored a shorthanded goal that seemed to break the back of the Seawolves. 23 seconds later Beau Bennett added a highlight reel goal.

Kyle Ostrow scored early in the second period, that capped a stunning four goals in under five minute explosion. Jason Zucker nailed the coffin shut with a third period tally.

DU stands all alone in first place the WCHA.

Box Score

Denver Post Game Recap

Anchorage Daily News Game Recap

Pairwise Rankings

WCHA Standings

DU 6 - Minnesota State 1 FINAL

The University of Denver rolled to a 6-1 victory over Minnesota State on Saturday night. Anthony Maiani scored his 100th career point after recording two goals and an assist. He scored both a power play goal and a shorthanded goal.

Beau Bennett scored his first collegiate goal in the first period.

Luke Salazar's two goals upped his season total to 7 goals.

Denver Post Game Recap

Mankato Free Press Game Recap

WCHA Standings


1st Period

DU Goal - Maiani (Donovan, Makowski) 5 on 3 PP

DU Goal - Salazar (Zucker)

DU Goal - Bennett (Makowski, Maiani)

2nd Period

MSU Goal - Zuck (Louwerse)

3rd Period

DU Goal - Salazar (Mermis)

DU Goal - Makowski

DU Goal - Maiani SH

DU Lineup

Zucker (A), D. Shore, Salazar (2G)
Maiani (2G,A), K. Ostrow, Bennett (G)
Knowlton, N. Shore, S. Ostrow
Mermis (A), Dewhurst, Cook

Donovan (A), Nutini
Ryder, Makowski (G,2A)
Wrenn, Phillips

Brittain, Murray, Rosenholtz

DU 3 - Minnesota State 2 FINAL

The University of Denver skated to a hard-fought 3-2 victory over Minnesota State on Friday night at Magness Arena. DU scored the game winner on a power play goal by David Makowski with 5:49 remaining in regulation. It was Makowski's first career goal.

DU scored a goal in each of the first two periods but the Mavericks responded with late goals in each period until the game winner.

DU killed all seven of Minnesota State's power play opportunities.

Denver Post Game Recap

Mankato Free Press Game Recap

WCHA Standings

1st Period
DU Goal - Shore (Bennet)

MSU Goal - Jokinen

2nd Period

DU Goal - Salazar (Donovan)

MSU Goal - Hayes

3rd Period

DU Goal -Makowski (Lee, Maiani)

Forwards

Jason Zucker - Drew Shore (G) - Luke Salazar (G)

Anthony Maiani (A) - Kyle Ostrow - Beau Bennett (A)

Chris Knowlton - Nick Shore - Shawn Ostrow

Jarrod Mermis - Nate Dewhurst

D-men

Matt Donovan (A) - Chris Nutini

John Ryder - David Makowski (G)

William Wrenn - John Lee (A)

Paul Phillips

Goaltenders

Sam Brittain - Adam Murray - Josh Rosenholtz

DU 4 CC 1 Final

The University of Denver hockey team defeated Ccolorado College 4-1 tonight on two power play goals, one even strength goal and an empty net goal late in the game. There was no scoring in the 1st in a period that featured a fairly even game with 13 shots by each team.

DU built a three goal lead in the 2nd period including power play goals by Anthony Maiani and John Lee. Luke Salazar added an even strength goal right after John Lee's power play goal.

The third period was scoreless until late in the game when Stephen Schultz scored a power play goal for CC. Jason Zucker added the empty netter with 9 seconds left in the game to ice it for DU.

Three Stars

First Star: Sam Brittain (Denver)

Second Star: Luke Salazar (Denver)

Third Star: Matt Donovan (Denver)

Box Score

1st Period

None

2nd Period
[05:12] GOAL by DEN Anthony Maiani (FIRST GOAL) (POWER-PLAY), Assist by Matt Donovan and Beau Bennett
[15:52] GOAL by DEN John Lee (POWER-PLAY), Assist by David Makowski and Luke Salazar
[16:25] GOAL by DEN Luke Salazar, Assist by Jason Zucker and Drew Shore

3rd Period
[14:49] GOAL by CC Stephen Schultz (POWER-PLAY), Assist by Rylan Schwartz and Gabe Guentzel
[19:51] GOAL by DEN Jason Zucker EMPTY NET GOAL, Assist by Drew Shore

Denver 3 - North Dakota 0 FINAL

(above) Four of the last seven times UND has been shutout, it has come against DU. Marc Cheverie had two. Peter Mannino one and now Sam Brittain has the 4th

(above) "Rule Britannia, Britannia Rules The Ice" proclaims the Grand Forks Herald

DU vs. UND Photo Gallery

On a night when Jesse Martin was knocked unconscious and taken to the hospital for observation, the University of Denver hockey team responded with a gutty 3-0 victory against North Dakota. Sam Brittain led the way with his first career shutout.

There is no doubt that the turning point in the game was the vicious hit on Martin. Martin held the puck deep in his own zone, looking to make a pass. He had his head down and didn’t see UND senior forward Brad Malone bearing down for a hit. Malone knocked Martin out.

Martin sustained three neck fractures and is scheduled to have emergency surgery today in Minneapolis to relieve swelling of the spinal cord.

DU looked unsettled on the ensuing five minute power play but scored a beautiful goal on a bang-bang passing sequence as the penalty expired. Bennett to Maiani to Drew Shore who buried the puck.

Jason Zucker scored a shorthanded goal and Kyle Ostrow added an empty netter.

Grand Forks Herald Game Recap

Denver Post Game Recap

Mike Chambers Reports On Jesse Martin Injury

Box Score

DU 2 WI 2 Final OT

DU steals a point from Wisconsin tonight by storming back from a 2-0 deficit in the 3rd period. Kyle Ostrow got both DU goals at the 8:18 and 15:16 marks of the 3rd period. Jesse Martin got the assist on the first goal and Anthony Maiani and David Makowski got the assists on the 2nd goal. Neither team could score in the overtime.

Wisconsin freshman Mark Zengerle put the Badgers up 1-0 at 4:17 in the 1st period when DU turned the puck over and he fired it past Sam Brittain. The Badgers built a 2-0 lead at the 8:17 mark of the 2nd period on another DU turnover. Sean Dolan got the goal with assists to Ryan Little and Patrick Johnson.

Scott Gudmanson had an outstanding game in net for the Badgers with 35 saves. DU goalie Sam Brittain also had a solid game in goal as he stopped 21 pucks for DU. Neither team had a power play goal tonight.

Box Score

Denver Post Game Recap

Madison.com Game Recap