DU Hockey Team Visits Colorado Childrens Hospital

(above) A DU hockey fan poses with Coach Gwozdecky and several players yesterday at Colorado Children's Hospital

A DU hockey fan and his daughter were at Colorado Children's Hospital yesterday when several members of the University of Denver hockey team, staff and coaches rolled into the ward.

Best wishes go out to all the kids in the hospital from all of us in PioNation.

Photos: Friday Night Fun In Beantown

(above) DU gathers around Adam Murray before the Boston College game

(above) PioNation fans enjoying the upset vistory

(above) DU Supermom Barb Thomas hugs Boone after her son, Matty Thomas, won his first game as a DU assistant coach

(above) Goach Gwozdecky gets on the bus at Conte Forum after a hard fought victory

(above) Boone pours a post-game Guinness at River Gods Bar in Cambridge

all photos: Andrew Fielding

New & Notes From Around PioNation

Congrats to DU alum Charlie Soule who battled his way to a 9th place tie at the Colorado Open.  Charlie led after after the first round and never collapsed under the pressure.  He was under par all four rounds and his opening round 65 was the second best score of the Tournament.  The $3,383.33 paycheck probably won't cover a new set of custom golf clubs, but he has to be thinking of trying a few more events this year.

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LetsGoDU posted this info last month, but the University of Denver made it official yesterday and hired Matty Thomas as the volunteer assistant coach for the upcoming season. Thomas’ responsibilities at DU will include assisting in practice planning, breaking down and analyzing game video, individual teaching and on-ice skill development. A 2005 graduate of the Naval Academy, Thomas was commissioned as a Surface Warfare Officer in the United States Navy.

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Details are emerging for the Versus television coverage of college hockey next season. The coverage is slated to begin in January. Every Friday there would be a Game of the Week televised and each conference will have at least two contests broadcast.

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The University of Denver Athletic Department has formed a Social Media Committee to promote athletic events to students, alumni and fans.  Bringing blogs, websites, Twitter, Facebook, texting and other viral campaigns under one umbrella will be a positive development for DU sports fans.  If you have ideas, suggestions or thoughts on social media, post them in the Comments Section below and LetsGoDU will pass them along to the Athletic Department.

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The University of Denver has three head coaches on the payroll who have won multiple NCAA D-I national championships.  They also have a volunteer assistant coach who won a national championship as a head coach on board as well.  Excellence comes at a price, and now the Athletic Department must figure out how to pay for it all. Enter Scott Koskoski who will be in charge Development and Major Gifts [six & seven figure donations].

DU Adds Matt Thomas To Hockey Coaching Staff

Matt Thomas

The University of Denver will add Matt Thomas to the coaching staff in August as the volunteer assistant coach for the 2011-12 hockey season.  Matty is the older brother of former DU hockey captain Andrew Thomas ('08).

Matt was a four year player at the Naval Academy (2001-'05) and co-captain his Senior season. For the past two seasons Matty was an assistant coach for the Navy hockey program while he was stationed in Washington DC at the Navy's Military Sealift Command.  Prior to that he spent four years serving his country attaining the rank of Lieutenant stationed on the USS Monterey and the USS Elrod in the Persian Gulf.

Matty's father Larry was a long-time WCHA referee and younger brother Andy currently plays professionally for the AHL Albany Devils. Andy was a member of the 2005 University of Denver National Championship team.