LetsGoDU

2nd Day - DU Leads NCAA Skiing Championships

(above) DU cross country skiers Antja Maempel & Mari Elden on the podium on Thursday

(above) DU's Lief-Krista Haugen won the Men's Giant Slalom on Wednesday

Steamboat Pilot Wednesday Recap

Steamboat Pilot Thursday Recap

Day Two of the four-day NCAA Skiing Championships kicked off this morning in Steamboat Springs, Colorado. The University of Denver was even more dominant in the morning session than yesterday, with two Pioneers on the podium in Nordic Cross Country Skiing. In the Men's Cross County event the University of Colorado moved back into contention, but DU finishes of 18th, 19th & 23rd kept the Pioneers safely out in front of the CU.

Friday, March 12th
5:15 PM MST - Men’s Slalom (first run) – Howelsen Hill
6:30 PM MST - Women’s Slalom (first run) - Howelsen Hill

Men's Cross Country - DU skiers Kristian Soerlund finished 18th, Andrew Doughtery came in 19th and Harald Loevenskioldr crossed the line 23rd.

(left) DU's Golden Girl Antje Maempel won the NCAA 5K Classical Cross Country Skiing Championship for the second year in a row

Women's Nordic Cross Country - The University of Denver ski team is making a mockery of the NCAA Skiing Championships in Steamboat Springs Colorado. DU's Antje Maempel won the Women's Nordic Cross Country Championship for the second year in a row. She has also now won three consecutive NCAA cross country championships in a row. DU's Mari Elden finished third and Kate Dolan came 13th.

Maemple's margin of victory this morning was by an astounding 43 seconds. In a sport winning is sometimes by a tenth of a second and ties have occurred, 43 seconds is massive margin in a 5K race.

(left) DU's Lief-Krista Haugen, who skied in the 2010 Vancouver Olympics for Norway, won the NCAA Giant Slalom Championship yesterday in Steamboat

The Men's Giant Slalom yesterday - DU's Lief-Krista Haugen won the Men's Giant Slalom to pace the University of Denver's ski team to a massive opening day at the NCAA skiing Championships in Steamboat Springs, Colorado. Haugen's teammates A.J. Arvin & Andreas Kilde finished 5th and 8th respectively.

(left) DU's Lindsey Cone finished 2nd in the Giant Slalom yesterday

Women's Giant Slalom - The University of Denver Skiing Team was in 1st place after the Women's Giant Slalom yesterday morning. Lindsey Cone paced the DU skiers with a 2nd place overall finish, while her teammates Ida Dillingoen and Jennifer Vanwagner finished 5th and 9th. Dillingoen's performance was particularly impressive since she was seeded 23rd in the event.

DU Hockey Fans Take Over CC's World Arena

Evil Empire Of The North National Anthem

Sweet Caroline/CC Sucks Remix

DU Leads At NCAA Skiing Championships

Live Scoring Updates

The Men's Giant Slalom was contested this afternoon. DU's Lief-Krista Haugen won the Men's Giant Slalom today to pace the University of Denver's ski team to a massive opening day at the NCAA skiing Championships in Steamboat Springs, Colorado. Haugen's teammates A.J. Arvin & Andreas Kilde finished 5th and 8th respectively.

The University of Denver Skiing Team was in 1st place after the Women's Giant Slalom in the morning. Lindsey Cone paced the DU skiers with a 2nd place overall finish, while her teammates Ida Dillingoen and Jennifer Vanwagner finished 5th and 9th. Dillingoen's performance was particularly impressive since she was seeded 23rd in the event.

Three days remain in the Championships with skiing and cross county events still to go.

Rhett Rakhshani Roller Hockey Video

Why Do Colorado College Fans Hate America?

(above) Shhhhhh. The CC fans want to hear the choir

Reading the Colorado College Tiger Hockey message board (cctigerhockey.yuku.com) is always good for a laugh. Now they are accusing DU hockey fans of singing the National Anthem too loudly on Saturday night in World Arena.

NCAA Skiing Championship Begins Today

(above) DU's Antje Maempel is the defending National Champion in Feestyle & Nordic cross country skiing

Live Scoring Updates

Full DU Skiing Info & Profiles

The two-time defending champion University of Denver ski team looks to win its 21st national championship, when they head to Steamboat Springs, Colo., for the NCAA Championships from March 10-13. The Pioneers have won an NCAA-record 20 team championships, including two-straight and six since 2000.

DU is sending the maximum 12 skiers to compete in the 2010 NCAA Championships. Teams can qualify up to three men and three women from both alpine and Nordic to compete. Colorado and Utah are the only other RMISA teams sending 12 skiers, along with Dartmouth from the EISA, followed by 11 from both Alaska Anchorage and New Mexico, and 10 from Vermont.

DU Must Pass Michigan Tech On Way To Detroit

(above) The month long drive to Detroit begins this weekend against Michigan Tech

From: Minnesota Daily.com
by Max Sanders

#1 Denver (25-7-4, 19-5-4) vs. #10 Michigan Tech (5-28-1, 4-24-0)

Denver, the nation’s top-ranked team, is led by Hobey Baker favorite Marc Cheverie, who is tied for the national lead in save percentage (.937). He also leads the nation in shutouts (6) and finished the year allowing less than two goals per game .

The Pioneers, though, are not just a defensive powerhouse. They boast the nation’s fourth-leading point scorer in senior forward Rhett Rakhshani, who has 48 points on one of the top-scoring lines in the country. Rakhshani also lead the WCHA in scoring this season.

Paul Stastny (2005-06) was the last Pioneer to win the league scoring title and Wade Dubielewicz (2001-02) was the last DU player to win the goaltending crown.

Denver will be hosting a Michigan Tech team that won just four games in conference play all season and scored a paltry 59 goals in league action.

The two teams met twice this regular season, with the Pioneers winning both matchups, 5-2 and 5-3.

It would be an upset of major proportions if the Huskies even manage to take one game from a Denver team that is among the favorites to win the NCAA Tournament.

Recruit To Visit DU North Dakota & Notre Dame

(above) Rocco Grimaldi from California will visit three schools including DU this summer

2011 Recruit Rocco Grimaldi talks about playing for the U.S. National Development Program. He was recently promoted from the Under-17 team to the Under-18 team and is playing with future Pioneers Jason Zucker and Nick Shore.

Grimaldi may be the #1 college recruit in the country for 2011. Needless to say recruiting coordinators will be nervously watching his "Road Trip" back to California with keen interest.

DU Recruit Beau Bennett Had Epic BCHL Season

(above) Beau Bennett will be a familiar sight in Magness Arena next season

From: BCHL Website
by Chad Klassen

Every Batman needs his Robin. For the BCHL Penticton Vees, this couldn’t be more true when it comes to the superstar tandem of Denver Manderson and University of Denver recruit Beau Bennett. Bennett will play for DU next season.

Bennett had been close to selecting Boston College and Colorado College, before finally selecting DU. It was after his verbal commitment to DU that he went on a scoring tear and drew the attention of NHL scouts.

The high-scoring duo were electric together during a season in which both players finished in the top-three in British Columbia Hockey League scoring. Bennett ended up tying for the BCHL's scoring title with Salmon Arm’s Mark Zengerle 120 points, while Manderson finished the season as the most productive player in the BCHL with 113 points in just 50 games.

"They’re both very driven individuals and they both want to play hockey for quite some time," says Vees head coach and GM Fred Harbinson. "Denver’s obviously our captain and has been a big key to our success this year, and Beau’s had one of the best rookie seasons in a long, long time in this league."

Bennett is projected to be an early second-round selection in the upcoming NHL Draft.

“He sees a lot of plays that other players don’t see, and he’s a good passer and a good finisher. It’s been good to play with him,” says Masterson about Bennett.

Bennett recently moved from the wing to center and went on a tear. The California native was already red-hot, having put up 30 points in 11 games to kick off 2010, but he upped his game down the stretch with 26 points and five four-point games in the month of February.

It was an opportunity for Bennett to shine as a solo act and receive some much-deserved attention from around the hockey world, according to Harbinson.

“Beau did an outstanding job in those 10 games when Masterson was injuried,” he says. “Everybody knew what Denver could do, because he’s been in the league for the last couple years. Maybe it was easy for certain critics to pick apart and say ‘Beau’s production had a lot to do with Denver.’ I think he silenced a lot of those critics very quickly in those 10 games.”

The time apart also proved that Manderson and Bennett don’t necessarily need each other to create offense.

“Both players are great players on their own. Denver Manderson doesn’t need Beau Bennett to make him a player, and Beau Bennett doesn’t need Denver Manderson. They’re both outstanding. So obviously when you have two players on your team, it definitely doesn’t hurt,” their coach adds.

Indeed, when the two are together on Penticton’s top line, it makes for offensive fireworks on most nights.

“They can make plays that a lot of guys at any level can’t. Both would tell you that when there’s no play to be made, either one of them can find a way to make a play and create offense,” says Harbinson.

After a sweep over the Centennials, the two will lead the Vees into battle against the Westside Warriors in the second round of the BCHL playoffs – an Interior semi-final series that begins Tuesday at the South Okanagan Centre.

Beyond that, many are looking to a potential Vernon-Penticton series in the Interior Finals, particularly after an epic regular season battle for conference supremacy. The Vees missed out on first place by five points. However, while one might be waiting in anticipation for that matchup, Harbinson says anyone overlooking the Westside Warriors hasn’t done their homework.

“I don’t think anybody in this area is taking Westside lightly. They’re a very dynamic hockey club, they work hard, they’ve got great goaltending. You’ve got [Trevor] Bailey, who had over 40 goals, Cam Reid who’s an NHL draft pick to Nashville, and kids like [Grayson] Downing, who is off to a great playoff start (five goals, two assists), then Alex Grieve is one of the better defensive forwards in the league,” he warns.

In that semi-final meeting with the Warriors, Bennett and Manderson will be relied upon to put up similar numbers, but a balanced attack offensively is an absolute must if the Vees are to take the playoff series.

Colorado College Coach Owens Blasts DU Fans

(above) DU fans turn their backs to the ice as Colorado College players are introduced

From: Denver Post
by Mike Chambers

Some DU fans attending Saturday's regular-season finale at Colorado Springs were criticized for inappropriate behavior before the game. They screamed obscenities and booed while the public-address announcer introduced the Tigers' nine seniors in their final appearance at the World Arena.

"It was embarrassing, to be honest with you," Tigers coach Scott Owens said. "I would have been embarrassed if it (happened) up there. Kids that have been here four years and put their heart and soul in — I was extremely unimpressed."

Coach George Gwozdecky was in the DU locker room at the time, but upon being made aware of what happened, he said: "That's totally uncalled for. What a shame."

Dakota Mermis Commits To DU

(above) Reports have Dakota Mermis committing to DU last week

Edit: Its now official. Dakota Mermis will play for DU in 2012.

There is no official confirmation yet from any of the usual sources, but LetsGoDU has reports that defenseman Dakota Mermis (5'10 170 lbs) committed to the University of Denver last week. Most likely on the same day that his older brother, Jarrod said he would attend DU next Fall. While this must still be classified as a rumor, we're fairly certain that its a firm verbal agreement.

Dakota just turned 16 in January and is a Sophomore in high school in Alton, IL. He is considered to be an elite recruit and will most likely play for the U.S. National Development Program in Ann Arbor next season if he is selected. He would attend DU in the Fall of 2012.

Dakota is a very talented defenseman who was being watched by several OHL Major Junior teams for their upcoming OHL Draft. He is described by scouts as a smooth skater with a rocket for a shot. The best news is that he is yet another hockey playing honor student with a 4.0 GPA.

Dakota played two games for the Lincoln Stars in the USHL this season despite being just 15 years old at the time (players in the USHL can be as old as 20). He also attended the Stars Try-Out Camp before the season to gain additional experience. The Black & Blue Blog reported at the time that could have easily made the team, but perhaps his parents felt he was too young to endure the rigors of a USHL season. He would have been one of the two or three youngest players in the league.

Needless to say that if its true, and we have a second hand confirmation that it is, its a big commitment.

2010 Recruiting Class
F Jason Zucker (U.S. Under-18)
D David Makowski (Green Bay, USHL)
F Nick Shore (U.S. Under-18)
F Beau Bennett (Penticton, BCHL)
F Dan Olszewski (St. Louis, NAHL)
F Jarrod Mermis (Lincoln, USHL)

2011 Recruiting Class
D Scott Mayfield (Youngstown, USHL)
F Zac Larraza (U.S. Under-17)
G Sam Brittain (Canmore, AJHL)
F Garrett Allen (Fargo, USHL)
D Matt Van Voorhis (U.S. Under-17)
D Daniel Doremus (Colorado Thunderbirds, AAA)

2012 Recruiting Class
F Tyler Pham (Team Illinios)
D Dakota Mermis (St. Louis Jr. Blues, AAA)

W.T.F.G.P.?

(above) DU Students gather by the glass to see the Gold Pan

The idiots that run World Arena in Colorado Springs wouldn't let the University of Denver hockey team skate with the Gold Pan on Saturday night. Frustrated DU hockey fans, students and parents were left hanging.

Needless to say the Colorado College Zamboni drivers will be booed mercilessly next year.

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