DU's Seven Mascot Finalists Leaked On Facebook

(above) Boone signs autographs during DU's 14-5 lacrosse victory over Michigan

Sign Denver Boone Petition: 1,118 Signatures

Denver Boone is more popular than ever thanks to Chancellor Coombe, Kevin Carroll and the University of Denver's Mascot Task Force.  DU set up a "Create A Denver Pioneer Mascot Page" on Facebook and its become Ground Zero for Boone supporters. 

The seven "Pioneer" finalists to replace Boone are:

• Mustang
• Jackalope
• Golden Retriever
• Robot
• Male & Female Climbers
• Mountaineer
• Elk

New UCONN Husky Logo Promotes Rape

From: DailyCaller.com

As the University of Denver marches forward with its fraudulent Mascot Task Force that refuses to consider or allow Boone to be discussed as a potential mascot, despite overwhelming alumni support, now comes word that the UConn Husky Logo promotes rape. DU better tone down its proposed Golden Retriever mascot submission or PioNation shall soon face similar backlash.

The new logo for the University of Connecticut’s sports teams is a terrifying husky dog that calls to mind images of sexual assault, says one student.

The new logo was unveiled last week, receiving mixed-to-negative reviews from UConn fans who preferred the older, cuter husky dog.

But one student went much further, criticizing the new, meaner logo for being a pro-rape symbol.

In an open letter to UC President Susan Herbst, self-described feminist student Carolyn Luby wrote that the redesigned team logo will intimidate women and empower rape culture.

UConn basketball coach Geno Auriemma said the logo “is looking right through you and saying, ‘Do not mess with me.’ This is a streamlined, fighting dog, and I cannot wait for it to be on our uniforms and court."

In response, Luby wrote, “What terrifies me about the admiration of such traits is that I know what it feels like to have a real life Husky look straight through you and to feel powerless, and to wonder if even the administration cannot ‘mess with them.’ And I know I am not alone.”

There were two sexual assaults at UConn involving athletes in the past year, Luby claimed.

The logo and the teams it represents are menacing to women, she wrote.

“The face of real life UConn athletics is certainly capable of frightening college women,” wrote Luby.

Herbst did not respond to requests for comment.

(above) Paul Stastny posing with a Boone poster during his DU playing days

Sign Denver Boone Petition: 1,118 Signatures

Goal 1,000 Signatures

Big Weekend On Campus

[above] DU Rugby will play at Infinity Park on Saturday

FRIDAY

#1 DU Women's Tennis vs. #5 Idaho @ Gates Tennis Center - WAC Semi's [2 PM]

#11 DU Women's Lacrosse team vs. Oregon @ Barton Stadium DU [5 PM]

DU Students: "The BIG Event" on Driscoll Green & Sturm Hall [9 PM-2 AM]

SATURDAY

Men's Lacrosse vs. Michigan Wolverines [Noon] @ Barton Stadium

Pregame Lacrosse Tailgate starts at 9 AM, and DUGS is making pancakes

DU Men's Rugby vs. St. John's University @ Infinity Park in the FINAL FOUR of the NSCRO National Championship [3 PM]

Men's Soccer Spring Season game against Air Force [6:15 PM]

DU Hockey Banquet Tonight

(above) Jesse Martin speaking at the banquet two years ago

The University of Denver will host the 57th Annual Pioneer Hockey Awards Evening tonight at The Cable Center on the DU Campus. The Pioneers will celebrate the senior class of 2013 and the 2012-13 hockey season.

Much of the conversation, on and off the dias, will be sure to center around recently departed hockey coach George Gwozdecky.   Its likely that the banquet will be a celebration of the coach's remarkable career at DU, but one has to wonder why its taken until now to honor his many contributions to the university.

Also of interest will be those who won't be in attendance. Reportedly, the family that was the major sponsor of the banquet in past years declined to contribute after the firing of the coach was announced.

Two DU Recruits Listed In Final Draft Rankings

Two University of Denver recruits were listed among the Top 200 North American skaters Wednesday with the release of Central Scouting's Final Rankings.

Defenseman Will Butcher was listed at #87 after being ranked at #170 in the Mid-term Rankings.  That will likely project Butcher to be a 4th to 7th round selection at the NHL Draft this summer.

Incoming DU forward Trevor Moore was listed at #192.

Current DU forward Quinten Shore was listed but not assigned a ranking.

Former DU defenseman Dakota Mermis came in at #95.  Defenseman Gage Ausmus who reportedly decommitted from DU after Coach Gwozdecky was fired was listed at #148.

2013 Recruiting Class Updated Stats
D Matt Van Voorhis (Sioux Falls, USHL) - 53 gms, 6 goals, 19 assists
F Brad Hawkinson (Lincoln Stars, USHL) - 57 gms, 12 goals, 6 assists
F Landon Smith (Chicago, USHL) - 36 games, 11 goals, 6 assists
F Connor Chatham (Omaha, USHL) - 63 games, 18 goals, 17 assists
F Ray Pigozzi (Chicago, USHL) - 53 games, 8 goals, 26 assists
D Will Butcher (U.S. Under-18) - 61 games, 10 goals, 22 assists
F Trevor Moore (Tri-City, USHL) 62 games, 20 goals, 43 assists
D Nick Neville (Texas, NAHL) 60 games, 7 goals, 28 assists

2014 Recruiting Class Updated Stats
F Tyler Pham (Indiana Ice, USHL) - 61 games, 8 goals, 16 assists
F Jared Fiegl (U.S. Under-17) 56 games, 8 goals, 9 assists
F Garrett Gamez (Tri-Cities, USHL) 46 games, 8 goals, 10 assists
F Cody DePourcq (Penticton, BCHL) - 54 games, 13 goal, 8 assists

2015 Recruiting Class Updated Stats 
F Dylan Gambrell (Dubuque, USHL) 58 games, 9 goal, 18 assists

2016 Recruiting Class Updated Stats
F Troy Terry (Thunderbirds, AAA) 41 games, 14 goals, 35 assists

Montgomery Has Tough Act To Follow

From: USCHO.com

by Matthew Semisch

Whenever an organization hires a new leader, it’s seen to a certain extent as a chance to start anew with fresh blood and equally fresh ideas.

That’s what Denver is banking on with Jim Montgomery, the school’s new head coach that was introduced to media members in the Colorado capital April 15.

Pioneers fans are weary following the controversial firing April 1 of George Gwozdecky, Denver’s head coach of 19 seasons who won back-to-back national championships in 2004 and 2005. As for the school’s acquisition of Montgomery, however, there’s short-term bad news and long-term good news [read entire article].

News & Notes From Around PioNation

(above) Members of the University of Denver Men's basketball team with Boone during the pre-game tailgate before the men's lacrosse game

The #1 ranked University of Denver men's lacrosse team lost to Fairfield in overtime on Saturday at Barton Stadium.  The Stags trailed 9-7 early in the fourth quarter before blanking DU the rest of the way.

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The #11 ranked DU's women's lacrosse team won their 12th & 13th consecutive games over the weekend after defeating Cal 13-10 & St. Mary's 20-9.  The Pioneers will face Oregon in the regular season finale on Friday at Barton.

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Jim Montgomery will not take over the helm as head coach of the University of Denver hockey program until Dubuque finishes its season in the USHL.  The season was extended on Saturday night when Dubuque defeated Muskegon in the first round of the USHL playoffs.

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University of Denver recruit Will Butcher has scored a goal and recorded an assist in the first two games as the USA Under-18 team is competing in the World Under-18 Championships in Russia.

Westword Interviews DU's Original Boone

(above) In 1970 Winter Park built this 40' high Denver Boone out of ice & snow to welcome DU students to Winter Carnival

From: Westword

by Patricia Calhoun

Doug Hirsh

The University of Denver has been meeting with members of the DU community to discuss the "mascot development" process. Doug Hirsh [DU '70] has been following the process with particular interest: He was the first human Denver Boone, chosen to portray the caricature that Walt Disney donated to DU to serve as the embodiment of the Pioneer spirit. In 1968, when the school held a try-out for a student to play Boone, Hirsh showed up wearing a fake beard and a coonskin cap he'd found at his frat, the Beta House, and carrying a bullwhip. One crack of that whip, and he had the gig [read entire article].

DU's New Mascot Page Overwhelmed With Boonies

(above) The University of Denver Mascot Task Force created a Facebook Page

DU's Mascot Task Force created a Facebook Page to promote the creation of a new DU mascot.  Boone supporters have overwhelmed the site and the Pro-Boone comments are running 20-1.  

55 Comments have been left on the Mascot Page thus far.

Normally we would go to the trouble of reprinting the comments, but since DU has a recent record of "painting over history," we thought we should save them just in case DU's "deletes" the site.

And many, many more....

Holy Smokes! Woody Paige Mentions DU Hockey

This may not have been the way the University of Denver dreamed of getting a shout out from ESPN personality and Denver Post columnist Woody Paige, but you take what you can get.  Woody Paige wants Gwozdecky and Sacic running the Avs.

Chambers Blog Has Additional Coverage

Mike Chambers of the Denver Post has three Blog postings that cover events pertaining to the Press Conference yesterday and Coach Gwozdecky's future plans. 

Peg Bradley-Doppes Discusses Gwozdecky

Montgomery Inherits Thin Roster At DU

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Gwozdecky May Explore Job Openings

Denver Post: DU AD Address Gwozdecky Firing

(above) Terry Frei finally has some answers but more questions need to be asked

From: Denver Post

by Terry Frei

So why was George Gwozdecky fired? That's the question University of Denver vice chancellor for athletics and recreation Peg Bradley-Doppes addressed only cursorily in a news release two weeks ago — before declining interview requests since.

She finally talked about it with me Monday, in a conversation after the news conference introducing Jim Montgomery as DU's eighth head hockey coach [read entire article].

Denver Post: Montgomery Can't Wait To Rebuild DU

(above) Post kicks off Monty Era by calling him "John" in photo caption

"It's been pretty crazy. At first there were a lot of questions, beginning with why? Everyone wants to know why he got fired, why this was happening. There was definitely a lot of upset players, including myself. If you look at all the success, you ask, 'Why did he get fired?' After the last couple days we've been embracing (Montgomery). The time has come, change is happening, and we have a new head coach."

-DU Forward Daniel Doremus

From: Denver Post
by Mike Chambers

Flanked by current players sitting beside him and more than two dozen alumni standing in the back, Jim Montgomery was introduced at the University of Denver's eighth hockey coach Thursday, succeeding the fired George Gwozdecky [read entire article].

Jim Montgomery Press Conference

(above) Trygve Myhren, Casey Gallager, Jim Montgomery, Chancellor Coombe & Peg Bradley-Doppes

Coombe kicks off press conference by saying virtually nothing.  Its not exactly DU's finest moment.

DU Athletic Director Peg Bradley-Doppes makes welcoming speech.

Peg: Confirms Montgomery will be coach.

Peg: DU is one of the best jobs in college hockey.

Peg: Praises Montgomery's past record.

Jim Montgomery introduced by Peg as new hockey coach.

Jim: Thanks everyone.

Jim: Praises Gwozdecky & Murray for building DU hockey [smart move].

Jim: Will build DU brand & DU hockey family.

Jim: Will do everything in his power to proudly represent PioNation.

Chambers & media ask questions.

Chambers: Asks questions about coaching staff, players & recruits.

Jim: Still head coach at Dubuque, so can't comments on any questions about current players, recruits or coaches per NCAA rules.

Chambers: Cites Gwozdecky's record and then rips DU leadership handling of Gwozdecky firing in a statement.

Jim: He reached out to Gwozdecky on Saturday and had great conversation. Praised Gwozdecky and DU. Handled question well.

Question: Will being an "outsider" make the transition difficult?

Jim: Plans to build on DU infrastructure and bring his experiences from Maine.

Chambers: What is more important. Graduating players or sending them to pro hockey?

Jim: Both. NHL Collective Bargaining Agreement holding college hockey hostage.

Chambers: Did Jim speak to Nick Shore? Comment on six players leaving early.

Jim: Vague answer.