Twitter: Tweets From Around PioNation

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.

Game Day Tweets From Around PioNation

More Tweets From Around PioNation

News & Notes From Around PioNation

(above) DU Alum Brandon Vossberg will begin his professional career in Alaska

The Portland Pirates (AHL) announced today that the Buffalo Sabres have re-signed Head Coach and DU Alum Kevin Dineen for the 2010-11 American Hockey League season. Dineen has been a candidate for several NHL head coaching vacancies in recent seasons.

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Recent DU graduate Brandon Vossberg has signed a contract with the Alaska Aces (ECHL) for the 2010-11 season.

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Defenseman & DU Alum Brett Skinner signed a one-year deal with Amur Khabarovsk of the Russian super league.

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The first annual University of Denver Hockey Alumni Pro Camp will be held Aug. 16-20 at Joy Burns Ice Arena. The pro camp will allow current professional DU hockey alums the opportunity to train together in preparation for their upcoming seasons this fall. DU hockey alumni expected to participate in this year's inaugural camp are Peter Mannino, Chris Butler, Rhett Rakhshani, Joe Colborne, Marc Cheverie, Geoff Paukovich, Ryan Dingle, J.D. Corbin, Tom May and Matt Glasser. Cody McLeod of the Colorado Avalanche is also expected to participate in the camp.

Avs Sign DU Alum Brett Skinner

(left) Brett Skinner has been on a long winding road since leaving DU in 2005

The Colorado Avalanche have signed defenseman Brett Skinner yesterday. Skinner, a former standout at the University of Denver has spent most of his professional hockey career bouncing around the AHL.

Twenty-six-year-old Skinner made his NHL debut during the 2008-09 season, appearing in 11 games for the New York Islanders. The Brandon, Manitoba, native spent most of the season in the American Hockey League, totaling 35 points in 61 combined games with the Bridgeport Sound Tigers and Chicago Wolves.

Skinner played three seasons at the University of Denver, where he was a member of the school's back-to-back national championship teams in 2004 and 2005. He was slated to be Captain of DU's 2005-06 team when he signed a contract with the Vancouver Canucks and assigned to Manitoba in the AHL. Within a few months he was shockingly traded to the Anaheim Ducks organization and his fast track to the NHL was derailed.

Brett Skinner Claims Role In Boone's Comeback

(above) Is DU Alum Brett Skinner the real founder of Boonetown?

DU alum Brett Skinner playes for the Chicago Wolves in the AHL. While at DU, Skinner won two National Championships with the Pioneers.

Last week a college hockey fan emailed LetsGoDU the following story. Its a pretty funny and its great to have a little mystery surrounding the origins of Boone's comeback.

DG, thank you so much for mailing me a "Welcome to Boonetown" shirt.

Last night I had a chance to show if off after the Wolves game and Colorado College alum Brett Sterling avoided me after he caught a glimpse of it.

Most interesting story of the night came from former Pioneer Brett Skinner. As he was signing autographs for kids on the way out of the arena, I showed off the shirt to him and mentioned that he might like seeing it.

Brett gets a big grin and goes "'Welcome to Boonetown,' nice. I do like it. Oh I want to mention that I was the one who started the whole 'Bring Boone Back' campaign, I like to think it's all my responsibility."

I asked, "So it wasn't Mannino who thought up the idea?"

"Nope, I'm the one who told him to put the little Boone logos on his pads (left). He still uses the Boone logo on his goaltending mask with the Islanders and Bridgeport." (Boone wearing rain slickers on his helmet).

"Yep; he takes all the credit for bringing Boone back though, but I was the one who gave him the idea. Oh, (on his way out the door) and those gold pads of his? I gave him that idea too. I told him he needed more gold."

And, Skinner mentioned that saw the work that LetsGoDU did in bringing the unofficial mascot back to campus & said he saw the photos and likes it.

News & Notes From Around Pioneer Nation

DU can't win the MacNaughton Cup, awarded to the WCHA regular season champion, unless Colorado College or Wisconsin upset North Dakota and DU wins several games to finish the season. Mike Chambers of the Denver Post has all the details including the latest on Tyler Ruegsegger.

Tight end Brian Mandeville from Northeastern University waited for his invite to the NFL Combine, and finally, it came. He ventured out to California to prepare at the Velocity Sports Performance Center. And when the time came to show up at the combine and impress everyone, doctors instead told him that he should retire before he even got started. The situation looks very similar to David Carle's diagnosis of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.

DU Alum Brent Skinner finally realized a dream by getting to play a few NHL games for the New York Islanders earlier this season, but was soon traded to the Atlanta Thrashers organization. He's now playing for the Chicago Wolves of the AHL.

DU Hockey Alumni News & Notes

(above) DU Alum Geoff Paukovich's first AHL goal [click on video to view]

Skinner Plays First NHL Game
Brett Skinner was called up by the NY Islanders on an emergency basis as they have several injuries to their defensemen. Skinner has 8 points in his last 5 games for Bridgeport. He played in his first NHL game last night in the Rangers/Islanders tilt.

Mannino Shutout
Peter Mannino recorded his first professional shutout with Bridgeport in only his 3rd appearance. Peter could be the #1 goalie in Bridgeport as #1 starter Yann Danis was recalled by the Islanders as Rick DiPietro got hurt in the Isle's last game. Danis could dress as the back-up in tonight's Islander game if DiPietro can't play. Peter's goals against average leads the AHL at 0.65, that is right 0.65, as he has given up 2 goals in 3 games.

Butler Goal
Chris Butler scored his first professional goal last week in Portland's game against Bridgeport, a game in which Mannino did not play.

Paukovich Goal
Geoff Paukovich scored his first AHL goal the other night in a 4-2 Springfield loss (see video above).

Fisher Awaiting Start
Glen Fisher has been serving as the backup to Devan Dubnyk. Fisher hasn't started any of Springfield's seven games, but he did get two periods of action in an Oct. 17 loss at Providence.

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.

Mannino and Skinner Reunited With Islanders

(above ) Peter Mannino

(above) Brett Skinner

From NY Islanders Website
By Kimber Auerbach

The hockey world is a small one. There are only 30 NHL teams with approximately 22 roster spots, but the connections with the minor and amateur leagues, whether you're playing college, junior or semi-pro, run deep. Members of the Denver University National Championship team of 2005—defenseman Brett Skinner and goaltender Peter Mannino—will be re-united this fall at Islanders Training Camp in Moncton, New Brunswick.

Islanders' General Manager Garth Snow was intent on helping the defensive structure of the organization, and signed both Skinner and Mannino earlier this summer.

"I was really excited to see that he signed with the Islanders on the same day," Mannino said. "I sent him a text message right away when the signings were announced saying how excited I was to play with him again."

The two prospects have not been teammates since that 4-1 victory against North Dakota in the National Championship game on April 9, 2005, in Columbus, Ohio. Mannino was a freshman goaltender, leading the Pioneers to its second trophy in as many years and was named the Frozen Four's most Outstanding Player, making 85 saves throughout the tournament. In the third period of the contest, Skinner got on the scoresheet when he assisted on Denver's third tally, putting the game out of reach.

"I had the privilege to win two championships back-to-back which is something that not many people get to go through," Skinner said. "It really helped in my development and having the experience I feel has really helped my professional career."

Skinner is entering his fourth professional season after a career year with the Providence Bruins last season. For Providence, Skinner scored 47 points (7 goals, 40 assists) to lead all Bruins defensemen.

"Joining Providence and the Boston organization was a new situation for me," Skinner said. "The coaching staff gave me the opportunity to play on the power-play and put me in situations that really helped my personal numbers."

Those impressive numbers earned Skinner a spot on the Canadian AHL All-Star team, along-side Islanders forward Jeff Tambellini. In Tambellini's Mic'ed Up video on Sound Tigers TV, the two shared a lengthy conversation with Skinner explaining his plus-minus rating and how he would have Tambellini's back during the All-Star Game.

The experiences that Skinner has had throughout his first three seasons are what he hopes to rub off on his former netminder. "We have spoken a little about playing at this level but not much because he is such a confident kid who works extremely hard," Skinner said. "We kidded about some of the inside jokes we had from Denver but overall I'm really happy to skate with him again."

That work ethic and determination are what helped Mannino lead his team as a freshman to glory and is what he hopes to carry over to the next part of his career in the professional ranks.

"This is a whole new challenge for me," Mannino said. "The guys in the pros have incredible skills and are at a whole new level."

Chris Butler Profiled On NHL.com

(above) Chris Butler is expected to play for the AHL Portland Pirates this season under coach & former DU player Kevin Dineen

From: NHL.com

Former DU player Chris Butler, a native of St. Louis, chose the University of Denver because he thought he could learn from defense-playing upper classmen Matt Carle and Brett Skinner. He became the Pioneers' 34th All-American selection last season when his three goals and 14 assists led Denver back to the NCAA Tournament. He led the Pioneers with 110 shots.

Butler weighed 170 pounds when Buffalo drafted him in the fourth round (No. 96) in 2005 but reportedly added 30 pounds by his sophomore year. He has a knack for excellent plus-minus numbers. He led the USHL in 2005 at plus-36 and was plus-9 and plus-10 in his last two seasons in Denver.

"Chris is another guy that is going to play in the NHL," pro scout Jon Christiano said. "We expect great things. He has speed, power and awareness. Chris thinks like a defenseman and he has a good skill set. He's a lot like his former Denver University teammate, Matt Carle. He's in great shape. He's a great physical fitness guy with very little body fat at 198 pounds.

"This is his third development camp with us, and he has always been very athletic. His quickness and power rank at the top of our list. We can't ask for much more than that."

Boone Makes Appearance At NHL Minicamp

(above) Peter Mannino at the Isles minicamp sported duelling Boone's on his pads

While a small faction of the DU faculty does everything in their power to fraudulantly subterfuge Boone's return campus, he was spied last week at the New York Islanders minicamp.

Also attending the camp were DU alum Brent Skinner and 2009 recruit Matt Donovan.

Brett Skinner And Peter Mannino Sign With NY Islanders

Former DU Defenseman Brett Skinner

Former DU Goalie Peter Mannino

Brett Skinner and Peter Mannino both signed 1-year two-way contracts with the NY Islanders today. The DU website says that Peter will make his professional debut with the Bridgeport Sound Tigers next season. The Connecticut Post indicates that both Skinner and Mannino will play in Bridgeport with Peter being Yann Danis' back-up in goal. The Isle's prospects camp will probably have Peter Mannino, Rhett Rakhshani and Matt Donovan in attendance. Here are some quotes from the Isles' website.

Skinner spent last season with the Providence Bruins and also posted career-best numbers in 2007-08 with the Bruins, scoring seven goals and 40 assists for 47 points. The 25 year-old has played three seasons in the AHL with the Manitoba Moose, Portland Pirates and Omaha Ak-Sar-Ben Knights totaling 17 goals and 73 assists for 90 points. Prior to his AHL career, Skinner played three seasons with the University of Denver, winning two National Championships in 2004 and 2005.

Mannino graduated from the University of Denver this spring after playing for the Pioneers for four seasons. Last season, Mannino a native from Farmington Hills, Michigan, played in 40 of the team’s 41 contests and had a record of 25-14-1 with a 2.27 goals against average and a .917 save percentage. The 24 year-old played in 103 contests over his career at Denver, ranking first in school history in shutouts with 15, second in save percentage with .917, and third in goals against average at 2.35 and wins with 63. As a freshman, Mannino led Denver to a National Championship in 2005.

NY Islanders Website

DU Website

Connecticut Post

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

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.

Gauthier & Skinner Play In AHL All-Star Game

(above) Gabe Gauthier

Two former DU alums participated in the AHL All-Star game last night. Brent Skinner recorded an assist while Gabe Gauthier was held pointless but was +3 for the evening. The Canadian All-Stars defeated the Americans 9-8.

Two DU Alums To Play In AHL All-Star Game

(photos) Skinner left & Gauthier right

From: AHL Website

DU alums Brett Skinner and Gabe Gauthier have been selected to play in the AHL Alll-Star game tonight in Binghamton, NY. Skinner plays for the Providence Bruins and Gauthier has spent the season with the Manchester Monarchs.

Last night in the skills competition Gauthier posted just the second 4-for-4 effort ever in the Rbk Sickick Stick Accuracy Shooting competition. He shattered four plates around the goal in just four shots.

The AHL All-Star game will be televised tonight on several stations and broadcast live on the internet.

DU Hockey Alums In The Pros - 2007

The Official "Mustards Last Stand" Pioneer Professional All-Hot Dog Team

Thanks to our resident Pionologist & LetsGoDU Statistician "Duper" (who can frequently be found working at Mustard's...Don't forget to ask for your LetsGoDU 10% Discount) we have updated statistics on all of the guys that we know of currently playing professional hockey all over the world. There are four alums currently playing in the NHL.

2006 Edition Of Pioneers In The Pros

Goaltenders

Team - League - GP - W - L - OT - GAA - S%

Wade Dubielewicz - NY Islanders - NHL - 3 - 1 - 1 - 5.08 - .836
Dubie was shelled in his first appearance, things have gotten better since.

Adam Berkhoel - Grand Rapids Griffins - AHL - 10 - 3 - 6 - 1 - 3.76 - .879
Berky splits time with 2004 NC game opponent Jimmy Howard

Glenn Fisher - Stockton Thunder - ECHL - 9 - 4 - 3 - 1 - 3.23 - .903
2 shutouts

Sinuhe Wallinheimo - JYP - sm-liiga (Finland) .923 S%
sm-liiga has changed their site, and, not reading Finnish, the only solid stat I can find is S% He is generally a top league goalie, but for a crappy team.


Skaters

Team - League - G - A - P - +/- - PM

Paul Stastny - Colorado Avalanche - NHL - 9 - 14 - 23 - +2 - 10 - 1pp - 2gw
Leads team in points and assists

Matt Carle - San Jose Sharks - NHL - 1 - 5 - 6 - -3 - 4 - 1pp
Carle just got a 4 yr extension

Matt Pettinger - Washington Capitals - NHL - 1 - 2 - 3 - -2 - 17 - 1pp - 1gw

Ryan Caldwell - San Antonio Rampage - AHL - 1 - 3 - 4 - +6 - 23 - 1sh
In 2 games with the NHL Phoenix Coyotes, Caldwell had 2 PM in about 12 minutes on ice.

Kevin Doell - Chicago Wolves - AHL - 1 - 4 - 5 - +4 - 26

Mark Rycroft - Lake Erie Monsters - AHL - 0 - 5 - 5 - E - 9

Gabe Gauthier - Manchester Monarchs - AHL - 7 - 16 - 23 - -1 - 21 - 6pp
Gabe is 3rd in the league in points

Aaron MacKenzie - Peoria Rivermen - AHL - 0 - 2 - 2 - -3 - 8

Brett Skinner - Providence Bruins - AHL - 1 - 7 - 8 - E - 8

Gavin Morgan - Rockford Ice Hogs - AHL - 0 - 2 - 2 - -2 - 7

Connor James - Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins - AHL - 4 - 5 - 9 - +3 - 10

Ryan Dingle - Portland Pirates - AHL - 0 - 2 - 2 - -1 - 4 - 7 games
Augusta Lynx - ECHL - 2 - 8 - 10 - -7 - 10 - 1pp - 9 games
Dingle currently plays for Augusta

Adrian Veideman - Augusta Lynx - ECHL - 2 - 7 - 9 - -4 - 20

Kevin Ulanski - Elmira Jackals - ECHL - 4 - 8 - 12 - +2 - 10 - 2pp - 1sh

Luke Fulghum - Elmira Jackals - ECHL - 6 - 5 - 11 - -2 - 0 - 2pp - 1sh - 8 games
Stockton Thunder - ECHL - 1 - 1 - 2 - -1 0 - 1 pp - 5 games
Fulghum currently plays for Elmira

J. D. Corbin - Johnstown Chiefs - ECHL - 1 - 7 - 8 - -9 - 10 - 1pp

Geoff Paukovich - Stockton Thunder - ECHL - 4 - 3 - 7 - +1 - 12 - 1sh

Jon Foster - Wheeling Nailers - ECHL - 0 - 0 - 0 - -7 - 8

Erik Adams - Colorado Eagles - CHL - Has not played this season

James Patterson - Huntsville Havoc - SPHL - 5 - 5 - 10 - -1 - 2 - 4pp - 1gw

Jussi Halme - Tappara - sm-liiga - 0 - 2 - 2 - -5 - 14

Antti Laaksonen - Fribourg-Gotteron (Swi) - 8 - 6 - 14 - 28PM

An interesting note; While Duper can't seem to find him this year, Lukas Dora played in England last season.

Puck Swami's list of DU's most notable athletes all-time

"Mike Check" Profiles Peter Mannino

From: Inside College Hockey's "Mike Check"
by Mike Eidelbes

Of the six players named to the 2005 Frozen Four All-Tournament Team, three are currently in the National Hockey League (North Dakota's Travis Zajac, and Denver's Matt Carle and Paul Stastny), a fourth has had a cup of coffee in the NHL (DU's Gabe Gauthier played five games with Los Angeles last season), and another, the Pioneers' Brett Skinner, has just started his fourth season in the American Hockey League.

The final name on that list is Denver goalie Peter Mannino, who as a freshman was named most outstanding player of the Frozen Four that year. It's hard to believe Mannino, who turns 23 in February, is still hanging around while the others are playing for pay. Even harder to fathom is that the senior from Bloomfield Hills, Mich., is in the midst of his first season as the Pioneers' full-time starter.

Despite some extremely solid career numbers — a 44-20-4 record, 10 shutouts, a 2.29 goals-against average, and a .920 save percentage — the 6-foot, 195-pound Mannino hasn't made more than 22 starts in a season. And after patiently biding his time in a platoon with the departed Glenn Fisher for three seasons, Mannino has responded favorably to being "the man" for the Pioneers as evidenced by his 6-2-0 record, 1.54 GAA, and .940 save percentage in eight starts this season.

"I didn't really do anything different [to prepare], other than doing a little more conditioning in the summer," said Mannino. "My approach is the same. Every game you have to step up, be prepared, and work hard."

The cart-before-the-horse scenario isn't anything new to Mannino or his senior classmates. After all, he explains, the first lesson they learned as freshmen was what a team needs to do win a national championship. Having failed to qualify for the NCAA tournament in each of the last two seasons, the group learned how hard it is to win a title.

"It's weird to have success right away," Mannino admitted, "We would've liked to have been in the tournament the last two years, but we wouldn't trade that national championship just to be in the tournament. This is the seniors' last year to show people what we've got."

With Mannino in goal, that show could include a grand finale at Denver's Pepsi Center in early April.