DU's Injury Report From Monty's Press Conference

As the University of Denver hockey team departs for Alaska, the training room will be in heavy use while the team is away.

Garrett Allen suffered a lower extremity in practice yesterday and will not make trip to Alaska this weekend.

Freshman Evan Janssen is also out with a lower extremity injury. According To Mike Chambers of the Denver Post, he's expected to miss three weeks with a knee injury.  Likely this has to be very disappointing to Evan as he played junior hockey in Alaska in the NAHL in 2011-12.

Zac Larraza is still injured.

Emil Romig's NCAA "Euro-suspension" still has six games to run.

Nolan Zajac will continue to play at forward until several of the injured players return to the lineup.

There are only 21 eligible players to travel. Since this is a tournament, all three goalies can make the trip. The remaining 18 skaters will make the trip, including Wade Bennett who didn't dress last weekend.

Colorado College Hockey Fans Give Beer To Minors

World Arena Provides Alcohol To Minors
Colorado Department Of Revenue Hotline
  1-877-662-4643

 

Denver Post: Nolan Reignites Zajac Era At DU

Nolan Zajac

From: Denver Post

by Mike Chambers

Two of his older brothers were big-name hockey players for tradition-rich North Dakota, when the seven-time NCAA champion had a nickname. So how in the name of the Fighting Sioux did blue-chip defenseman Nolan Zajac land at the University of Denver? 

"I guess everyone expected me to go to North Dakota, but I kind of wanted to find my own path, to an extent," said Zajac, youngest brother of New Jersey Devils forward Travis Zajac. "I want to follow what they do, but I want to take my own path to get there." [read entire article].

DU Alum Has Four Hockey Playing Sons

(above) Second generation Pioneer Nolan Zajac will join DU as a Freshman next season

From: 24 Hours Vancouver
by Jim Bender

The Zajacs wanted their babies to grow up to be branded hockey players. 

University of Denver hockey alum Tom and his wife Trish Zajac from Winnepeg are now the proud parents of a whole posse of players who are already enjoying relative success on the ice. 

The oldest, Travis, is currently playing forward for the NHL’s New Jersey Devils. The second-oldest, Darcy, is toiling for the AHL’s Albany Devils. Kelly Zajac just helped Union College make it to the Frozen Four, then signed a three-game tryout contract with Albany. The youngest, Nolan, is playing for the United States Hockey League (junior) and recently became the fourth Zajac brother to get a U.S. college hockey scholarship (University of Denver) [read entire article].

DU Recruit Nolan Zajac Traded In USHL Move

(above) Nolan Zajac will play for DU next season

From: Our Sports Central

The USHL Omaha Lancers announced they have acquired third-year veteran defenseman Nolan Zajac today in a trade with the Cedar Rapids RoughRiders. In exchange, Cedar Rapids receives second-year Lancers defenseman Nathan Widman.

"This was a very difficult deal," Head Coach/GM Bliss Littler said. "Cedar Rapids was looking for a defensive-minded defenseman and we were looking for someone who could provide more scoring. We're incredibly excited to bring Nolan into the mix here in Omaha and wish Nathan nothing but continued success."

A native of Winnipeg, Manitoba, Zajac has tallied 42 points (three goals, 39 assists) in 101 career games in the USHL. The 5-10, 181 pound blueliner has recorded one assist in seven games this season to go along with six penalty minutes and a +5 +/- rating. Committed to the University of Denver, Zajac finished seventh among all RoughRiders in scoring last season with 30 points (three goals, 27 assists) and was the second highest returning scorer in Cedar Rapids this season. During this USHL rookie campaign back in 2009-2010, Zajac tallied 11 points (11 assists) in 49 games.

Zajac was originally selected 12th overall (Round 1) by Cedar Rapids in the 2009 USHL Entry Draft. Before entering the USHL, Zajac spent the 2008-2009 season with the Winnipeg Thrashers of the Manitoba AAA Midget Hockey League.

Nolan's father Tom played at DU from 1973-76 under Murray Armstrong.  Nolan older brother plays for the New Jersey Devils.

2012 Recruiting Class
F Tyler Pham (Indiana Ice, USHL)
D Dakota Mermis (Green Bay, USHL)
D Matt Van Voorhis (Sioux Falls, USHL)
F Garrett Allen (Unknown)
D Nolan Zajac (Cedar Rapids, USHL)
F Quentin Shore (U.S. Under-18)
F Connor Honey (Green Bay, USHL)
F Grant Arnold (Green Bay, USHL)

2013 Recruiting Class
F Brad Hawkinson (Lincoln Stars, USHL)
F Landon Smith (Cedar Rapids, USHL)
F Connor Chatham (U.S. Under-17)
F Ray Pigozzi (Des Moines, USHL)
D Will Butcher (U.S. Under-17)

2014 Recruiting Class
F Jared Fiegl (Colorado Rampage, U-16)
D Gage Ausmus (U.S. Under-17)
F Trevor Moore (Tri-Cities, USHL) 

DU Signs Nolan Zajac To Play At DU in 2012

(above) Nolan Zajac

From: USHL.com

Cedar Rapids RoughRiders defenseman Nolan Zajac has committed to play collegiate hockey at the University of Denver in 2012. His father, Tom Zajac, played forward for DU in the 1970's (38g, 37a) and two of his older brothers played for the University of North Dakota and another brother played at Union College.

Zajac collected 30 points (3g, 27) and a +15 rating in just 45 games this season for the RoughRiders. He tied for ninth among USHL defensemen in scoring and was fifth among blueliners with 27 assists. The 18-year-old defenseman helped the RoughRiders tie a team record with 42 victories on the way to capturing the Anderson Cup title for best regular season finish in the League. It was the second USHL season for the native of Winnipeg, Manitoba after recording 11 assists in 49 games during his rookie campaign in 2009-10.

Nolan Zajac is the youngest of four hockey-playing brothers and the only defenseman among the family. The oldest, Travis, completed his fifth season with the New Jersey Devils in the NHL. Darcy spent this season in the Devils system, playing 40 games for their AHL affiliate, the Albany Devils. Kelly recently completed his junior season at Union College.

Zajac will join RoughRiders teammate Josiah Didier, who is also committed to the University of Denver.

2011 Recruiting Class
D Scott Mayfield (Youngstown, USHL)
F Zac Larraza (U.S. Under-18)
D Joey LaLeggia (Penticton Vees, BCHL)
F Larkin Jacobson (Janesville Jets, NAHL)
D-F Wade Bennett (Wichita Falls, NAHL)
F Matt Tabrum (Omaha, USHL)
D Josiah Didier (Cedar Rapids, USHL)
F Daniel Doremus (Sioux Falls, USHL)

2012 Recruiting Class
F Tyler Pham (Indiana Ice, USHL)
D Dakota Mermis (U.S. Under-18)
D Matt Van Voorhis (Sioux Falls, USHL)
F Garrett Allen (Chicago, USHL)
D Nolan Zajac (Cedar Rapids, USHL)

2013 Recruiting Class
F Brad Hawkinson (Colorado Thunderbirds-U18)

DU Library Digitallizing Classic Hockey Photos

(above) Legendary DU Coach Murray Armstrong won five National Championships. Also in photo Tom Zajac (foreground) and Lindsay Thomson (background)

(above) A Russian player is helped to the locker room during DU's 4-4 tie on Jan. 10, 1959

(above) The DU ice hockey team poses for a portrait around a Packard automobile at Reed Auto Sales on 5901 E. Colfax Ave in Denver. All team members wear uniforms that read: "Tom Reed Auto Sales."

(above) Craig Patrick, Tom Miller, Keith Magnuson & Tim Gould celebrate DU's second straight National Championship in 1969

The University of Denver's Media Relations is is in the process of digitizing its old athletics photos in the Special Collections Department for use on the internet. Check out the link to see dozens more hockey photos.

The photographs were compiled from several sources including the records of the Division of Athletics and Recreation held by the University of Denver Special Collections and Archives. The following image book is a compilation of the University of Denver Men's Ice Hockey photographs and will be added to over time.

Needless to say this is going to be a "Boone" to DU and college hockey buffs.

Note – Some of the attributions are vague and/or contain errors, but many of the captions can probably be updated with the help of the DU Media Guide and other sources.