FINAL: UAA 3 - DENVER 2 OT

On Saturday afternoon the University of Denver fell to Alaska-Anchorage 3-2 in overtime.

UAA's Matt Bailey scored on a 2-on-1 at 3:45 into overtime to hand the Pioneers their second straight overtime loss. Denver lost by the same score to Goal Rush host Alaska Nanooks in Friday’s late game.

The Seawolves fell behind 2-1 early in the third period when Denver’s Joey LaLeggia let a rocket go from the top of the left faceoff circle that beat UAA goaltender Michael Matyas and stuck in the top of the net.

But the Seawolves responded with the tying goal.

Hubbs fired a shot from the right faceoff circle that was stopped by Pioneer goalie Evan Cowley, but he left a rebound. Scott Allen was in perfect position to tap the puck in at 11:40 of the third period.

After two Pioneers fell down in the neutral zone, UAA's Zack Rassell broke into the offensive zone and fired a shot that snuck though Cowley’s five hole.

The Pioneers struck back midway through the third. On the rush, Nolan Zajac found David Makowksi wide open in the slot, and Makowski’s shot beat Matyas on the glove side.

The win marks the second time that the Seawolves have beaten a ranked opponent this year. They opened the season with a win against then No. 10 Quinnipaic in UAA’s Kendall Hockey Classic at Sullivan Arena in Anchorage last weekend.
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Boxscore

GOLD PAN TROPHY: Denver 1 - CC 1 FINAL

(above) Pregame view from the DU Student Sectiom

(above) Nolan Zajac gives Jordan DiGiandothe business

“It was a good, road playoff-type game for us, and I thought we competed hard and won more puck battles. I liked our level of competition and effort tonight, and the only thing missing was a W. That was a really good goalie we were playing against who’s been unbelievable since Christmas.”

-  Colorado College Head Coach Scott Owens

The University of Denver secured the annual Gold Pan Trophy over rival Colorado College with a 1-1 tie on Friday night at sold out Magness Arena.  The tie handed the season series to DU with a insurmountable 2-0-1 record against CC.

Larkin Jacobson scored for DU and once again Juho Olkinuora was fantastic between the pipes.

The Pioneers will face the Tigers on Saturday night at the World Arena in Colorado Springs.

Denver Post Game Recap

Colorado Springs Gazette Game Recap

Boxscore

WCHA Standings

Pairwise Rankings

Denver 3 - Minnesota Duluth 0 FINAL

Juho Olkinuora recorded his fourth career shutout as the University of Denver rolled to a 3-0 victory over Minnesota-Duluth on Friday night.

Larkin Jacobson, Joey LaLeggia and Nolan Zajac scored for DU.

Duluth News Tribune Game Recap

Boxscore

WCHA Standings

Pairwise Rankings

Denver 4 - Minnesota State 3 FINAL

The University of Denver jumped out to a 3-0 lead on Friday night against Minnesota State.  The big lead almost didn't hold up as the Mavericks almost came all the way back, before falling 4-3.

Nolan Zajac, Daniel Doremus & Shawn Ostrow each recorded a goal and an assist.   Joey Leggs also scored for DU.

Box Score

WCHA Standings

Mankato Free-Press Game Recap

DU 5 - UMass Lowell 1 FINAL

(above) DU's big victory earned them front page coverage in the online version of the sports section of the Denver Post

Offensive output was supposed to be a question mark for the University of Denver hockey team coming into this season. In the opening game, the question appears to be answered. DU scored five goals and cruised to a 5-1 victory over the University of Massachusetts-Lowell. 

Daniel Doremus scored a career-high two goals and Ty Loney, Nolan Zajac & David Makowski added one apiece.

Sam Brittain threw in 37 saves for good measure.

Denver Post Game Recap

Denver Pioneers.com Game Recap

DU Line Chart

Boxscore

Tweets From Around PioNation

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].

Tweets From Around PioNation-#ShowMeTheMoney

Video: DU Recruit Nolan Zajac's Goal

(above) DU recruit Nolan Zajac scores for the USHL Omaha Lancers

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 (Des Moines, USHL)
D Nolan Zajac (Omaha, USHL)
F Quentin Shore (U.S. Under-18)
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 (Chicago, USHL)
D Will Butcher (U.S. Under-17)

F Cody DePourcq (Penticton, BCHL)

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

Three DU Recruits Sign National Letters Of Intent

The University of Denver has signed three players to National Letters of Intent, Associate Head Coach Steve Miller announced Thursday. Forward Quentin Shore, and defensemen Nolan Zajac and Dakota Mermis have inked NLIs to play for the Pioneers beginning in 2012-13 (read entire article).

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 (Des Moines, USHL)
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 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)