University of Denver goaltender Sam Brittain recorded a shutout and David Makowski scored the lone goal as the University Denver defeated Western Michigan on Saturday night at Magness Arena.
Showing posts with label WMU. Show all posts
Showing posts with label WMU. Show all posts
Denver 5 - Western Michigan 3 FINAL
News & Notes From Around PioNation
 |
| (above) Bluechip DU recruit Dylan Gambrell will play in the USHL a year early |
----------
Former DU Captain Ryan Caldwell's father, Bob, has been named as an assistant coach on the Western Michigan University hockey staff. Bob Caldwell coached at various levels of hockey and has been
recognized by Hockey Canada for his leadership in coaching development
programs. Western Michigan will face DU several times each season in the NCHC starting next season.
-----------
The Colorado Springs Business Journal has an article detailing the revenue created by the Colorado College hockey program. Many of the figures discussed would be similar or in the ballpark of what DU's hockey program generates.
----------
While the NHL strike lingers on, several former DU players have been sent down to the AHL to develop while the two sides negotiate a settlement. Jason Zucker was among a group of players sent to the AHL Houston Aeros.
----------
2013 Recruiting Class
F Matt Van Voorhis (Sioux Falls, USHL)
F Tyler Pham (Indiana Ice, USHL)
F Brad Hawkinson (Lincoln Stars, USHL)
F Landon Smith (Cedar Rapids, USHL)
F Connor Chatham (Omaha, USHL)
F Ray Pigozzi (Chicago, USHL)
D Will Butcher (U.S. Under-18)
F Cody DePourcq (Penticton, BCHL)
F Trevor Moore (Tri-Cities, USHL)
2014 Recruiting Class
F Jared Fiegl (U.S. Under-17)
D Gage Ausmus (U.S. Under-18)
F Dylan Gambrell (Dubuque, USHL)
F Garrett Gamez (Tri-Cities, USHL)
Ferris State Leads CCHA Surge Into NCAA Tourney
From: Detroit News
by Eric Lacy
The Central Collegiate Hockey Association may be disbanding in 2013, but this year, five of the 16 teams in the NCAA Tournament are eager to showcase the league's relevancy.
Ferris State, Michigan, Michigan State, Western Michigan, and Miami (Ohio) all punched tickets to an NCAA Tournament that could generate lots of drama.
Ferris State, the No. 2 seed in the Midwest, faces No.3 seed Denver at 3:30 PM MT Friday in Green Bay. The Bulldogs definitely have something to prove.
Ferris State climbed to the No. 1 ranking in the nation this season, won the CCHA regular season title and were a No. 1 seed in the CCHA tournament before losing in the quarterfinals.
News of the CCHA's postseason rise — four teams earned bids last season — comes a year before the Big Ten launches its six-member conference in 2013-14.
"I can't tell you I'm cheering for the teams in the CCHA," Michigan coach Red Berenson said. "But I respect the fact that we're a good conference and that we belong in the Tournament."
Berenson said the CCHA's representation in the Tournament, which announced its bracket Sunday, is bittersweet because the 41-year-old conference appears at its best as the end nears.
"It's too bad," said Berenson, in his 28th season at Michigan. "The conference is as strong as it's ever been, and it's going to disappear after one more season."
The five CCHA teams in the NCAAs is the most since 2004.
New NCHC Commissioner Introduced To Media
 |
| (above) Jim Scherr will lead the National Collegiate Hockey Conference |
Jim Scherr, the former head of the U.S. Olympic Committee was introduced as commissioner of the new National Collegiate Hockey Conference on Wednesday. Scherr signed a 4 1/2 year contract with a base salary of $150,000 that will take him through the 2015-16 hockey season. His contract also includes the possibility for bonuses.
The new league will include the University of Denver, Colorado College, North Dakota, Miami, Minnesota-Duluth, Nebraska-Omaha, St. Cloud State & Western Michigan.
The new league will include the University of Denver, Colorado College, North Dakota, Miami, Minnesota-Duluth, Nebraska-Omaha, St. Cloud State & Western Michigan.
Scherr said one of his first tasks will be to help solidify media platforms for the league. The NCHC will soon announce its first television contract. The Grand Forks Herald reported it will be with the CBS Sports Network and it will include around 16 telecasts per season.
St Cloud & Western Michigan To Join NCHC
Edit: St Cloud State University & Western Michigan University announced that they are joining the NCHC on Thursday.
According to the Grand Forks Herald the National Collegiate Hockey Conference will invite Western Michigan and St. Cloud State to join North Dakota, Denver, Colorado College, Nebraska-Omaha, Minnesota-Duluth and Miami in the new league that will start in 2013-14, sources say.
According to the Grand Forks Herald the National Collegiate Hockey Conference will invite Western Michigan and St. Cloud State to join North Dakota, Denver, Colorado College, Nebraska-Omaha, Minnesota-Duluth and Miami in the new league that will start in 2013-14, sources say.
Both schools are expected to accept the invites.
Notre Dame has not yet decided its future, but also holds an NCHC invite. Irish athletic director Jack Swarbrick told a radio station over the weekend that his school will make a decision within 10 days.
DU Misses Out On Last-Minute Defensive Recruit
 |
| Garrett Harr |
When Northeastern University head hockey coach Greg Cronin left the school for an NHL coaching position with the Toronto Maple Leafs this summer, it set off a chain reaction. Several players looked into transfering, one star defected to major juniors and recruits considered decommitting. Prized blueline recruit Garrett Haar weighed his options, and with his stock on the rise, decided to see what schools might be interested.
In no time Haar had offers from Western Michigan, Boston College, Boston University, Denver and Minnesota-Duluth. On Monday he decided to attend Western Michigan.
Haar, an offensive defenseman, played for the USHL’s Fargo Force last season tallying 23 points (7 goals, 16 assists) and a plus/minus rating of plus nine in 51 games before being drafted by the Washington Capitals in the seventh round (207th overall).
Capitals’ General Manager George McPhee called Haar “the biggest surprise of the camp,” in a July 16 Washington Post story on the team’s development camp. “For a young man that was four picks away from not being drafted, he really played well here,” McPhee continued. “Liked his hockey sense, the way he competed I like the way he defends and he looks real strong on his skates.”
Minnesota-Duluth Invited To Join Super League
Kevin Pates of the Duluth News Tribune has an article about the University of Minnesota-Duluth being invited to join the proposed College Hockey Super League [CHSL].BREAKING NEWS: USCHO.com is reporting that an eight team College Hockey Super League announcement could be made within the next two weeks. Eight schools have been sent formal invitations to join the new conference.
At the WCHA Final 5 various media sources speculated that the Minnesota schools weren't interested in joining a "super league" due to the travel costs associated with traveling to far-flung destinations. Clearly winning the ice hockey national championship has convinced the athletic department at Minnesota-Duluth that the benefits may outweigh the costs.
"Minnesota Duluth has been asked to join a discussion of a proposed eight-team Division I men’s conference, which would likely start in 2013-14, sources indicate.
The conference: UMD, North Dakota, Denver, Colorado College and Nebraska-Omaha of the Western Collegiate Hockey Association, and Miami University of Oxford, Ohio and Notre Dame of South Bend, Ind., and possibly Western Michigan of Kalamazoo, Mich., all of the Central Collegiate Hockey Association.
There’s talk that a resolution on a new Super League could come in July or by Labor Day. The current 12-team WCHA already has schedules for the next two seasons." [read entire article]
NCAA Tournament: DU 3 - Western Michigan 2 OT
.
Trailing 2-0 with 5 minutes to play in the game, Coach Gwozdecky ordered a "Code Red." Kyle Ostrow soon thereafter nailed a power play goal to pull the Pioneers within one.
Then with two minutes to play DU won a faceoff and Matt Donovan nailed the one-timer home to tie the game.
In the second overtime Jason Zucker redirected his own shot that had been blocked into the net. Zucker finished the game with a goal and two assists.
DU vs. Western Michigan TV Info
Denver's game against Western Michigan can been seen live on Altitude 2 and be heard live on FM 87.7 The TICKET and DenverPioneers.com.
DU's Boomer Sooner On The Blueline
 |
| (above) Matt Donovan looks to add to his trophy case |
From: The Oklahoman
by Ryan Aber
The question doesn’t bother Matt Donovan.
He’s used to hearing people asking him, “You’re from where?”
Being a hockey player from Oklahoma who aspires to — and has within his grasp — play at the game’s top level draws plenty of strange looks and plenty of questions.
Matt Donovan Edmond native
“I don’t get it as much now as I used to,” said Donovan, a sophomore defenseman at the University of Denver. “People know me a bit better now and know my story more after the World Juniors last year.
“It’s kind of fun to tell people I’m from Oklahoma, though. There are not many people in this game who can say that, and I’m proud of it.”
The Edmond native and his Denver Pioneers start the NCAA Midwest Regional at 2 p.m. today against Western Michigan in Green Bay, Wis. The game can be seen online at ESPN3.com.
If Denver wins, it will face the winner of top-ranked North Dakota and Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute on Sunday for a berth to the Frozen Four in early April.
Denver lost to North Dakota in double overtime last weekend in the Western Collegiate Hockey Association’s title game in St. Paul, Minn.
“It was exciting,” said Donovan, a 2008 draft pick of the New York Islanders. “It was kind of tiring and long, but it was a great game to be a part of.”
The Pioneers were 1-2 against the North Dakota this season, but the other two games came early in the year.
“It gave us a lot of confidence if we play them again,” Donovan said. “We’re definitely thinking about getting revenge. That put into our heads that we can hang with those guys and beat them if things go our way.”
Denver started the season slow but came on strong.
“This whole season’s been a learning experience,” Donovan said. “Before the last couple of games, we haven’t had very good starts. But we’ve finally started to figure things out lately.”
Donovan was solid as a freshman, with seven goals and 14 assists for 21 points.
He decided to put more emphasis on defense this season. It has paid off. He is providing the Pioneers better defense and better offensive numbers.
“It was really just more of a concentration on it,” Donovan said. “I think I was trying to do a little too much offensively at times. I’ve always been a good defensive player but wanted to concentrate more on that.”
Donovan has eight goals and 30 points and is plus-17 for this season.
The farther Donovan takes his game, whether it be the Frozen Four or if he makes the NHL, Donovan looks forward to telling the story about his Oklahoma roots.
Even though he had to move to Dallas just after he turned 16 and then to Iowa, where he graduated from high school while playing junior hockey, it was Oklahoma where Donovan’s path toward his dreams began.
“I had to do that to get to where I am now, but I had the right coaches when I was in Oklahoma that got me headed in that direction where it was a possibility. The right coaches are still there, and I think I’ve proved that you can come from Oklahoma and make it.”
David Makowski No Stranger To Green Bay
(left) DU's David Makowski is a pop culture sensation From: Green Bay Press Gazette
by Rich Palzewic
For all that former Green Bay Gamblers player David Makowski did for the organization — helped them win two Anderson Cups and a Clark Cup — it's probably not what he's best known for.
He'll be remembered most for something he did on Feb. 19 while playing for the University of Denver.
With his team playing short-handed against Michigan Tech, Makowski fired a 190-foot wrist shot from behind his net that found its way past Tech goalie Kevin Genoe. The play even made the "Not Top Ten" list on ESPN's "SportsCenter."
"We were in our zone," Makowski said. "Drew Shore won the faceoff back to me and I was just trying to flip it out and got it over everyone's heads. It took kind of a wild bounce, and in that rink it's so hard to see the puck sometimes when it gets high and gets lost in those crimson-color seats. The goalie might have lost sight of it and I was pretty lucky."
Makowski returns to the Resch Center with his Denver teammates this weekend for the NCAA Division I Midwest Hockey Regional where they will face off against Western Michigan at 4 p.m. today in the second of two semifinal games. The championship game will be at 4:30 p.m. Sunday.
"I think there will be quite a few North Dakota and Western Michigan fans, so it might almost be like playing an away game," Makowski said.
Makowski is one of eight Denver players to score at least 25 points this season. The freshman defenseman from Wildwood, Mo., has six goals and 22 assists.
"The (Green Bay) coaching staff is unbelievable at developing players, so the adjustment period wasn't too bad for me," Makowski said. "It took a couple games to get used to the different style — obviously the players are bigger, stronger and faster — but for the most part it wasn't too bad."
In 122 career games with the Gamblers, Makowski registered 88 points and had an amazing +53 plus/minus rating.
"The Gamblers organization is unbelievable from top to bottom," Makowski said. "The coaching, the fans and the game-day staff were great.
"I'm just really excited to be back."
Western Michigan Hockey Team's 7th Man
(above) Gideon Schripsema has played an integral role in Western Michigan University's success this season
Western Michigan's First NCAA Tourney Since 1996
 |
| (above) Western Michigan will play DU in the 1st Round of the NCAA Tournament |
by David Drew
Western Michigan University's hockey team knew it was headed to the NCAA tournament. It didn't make seeing it made official Sunday any less exciting.
The Broncos received an at-large bid and a No. 3 seed in the NCAA hockey tournament and will face the University of Denver at 5 p.m. Saturday at Resch Center in Green Bay, Wis., in the Midwest Regional.
Western Michigan lost 5-2 in Saturday's Central Collegiate Hockey Association championship game, but Friday's semifinal win over Michigan all but locked the Broncos into the NCAA tournament.
WMU last went to the NCAA tournament in 1996.
"It feels good," WMU coach Jeff Blashill said as players exited University Roadhouse after a team gathering to watch the selection show. "I think it's a great moment for our program. It's a great moment for the guys who have put in so much work throughout a great period of time to put themselves in this position as one of 16 teams playing to win four games to have a chance to win a championship.
"I'm extremely excited for our guys and extremely excited for Western Michigan that we're in this position."
The Western Michigan Department of Athletics in conjunction with the WMU Alumni Association are hard at work developing travel packages for alumni, fans and the Lawson Lunatics for Western Michigan hockey's NCAA Tournament game on Saturday against Denver in the Midwest Regional Semifinal at the Resch Center in Green Bay, Wis.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)