Denver Post: Gwozdecky's TV Career Sidetracked

From: Denver Post
by Terry Frei

Until last month, George Gwozdecky was planning to work as a college game television analyst for several networks during the 2013-14 hockey season. The former University of Denver coach had accepted that he wasn't going to land a high-profile head coaching job this year, and that television would be his sabbatical in the wake of his controversial April firing after 19 seasons with the Pioneers.

"I was thinking it would give me an opportunity to stay in the game, stay in the environment," Gwozdecky said recently over lunch in Denver. "That was the plan — to see what jobs opened up in the spring."

Then Jon Cooper, who took over as the head coach of the NHL's Tampa Bay Lightning on March 24, asked Gwozdecky if he was interested in talking about joining the Lightning as an assistant [read entire article].

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].

News & Notes From Around PioNation

(above) Terry Frei is not impressed with DU's handling of the Coach Gwodecky firing

According to a Twitter from Andrew Weiss of Future Considerations, "In wake of Coach Gwozdecky’s departure, NTDP U18’s Gage Ausmus has decommitted from the University of Denver."

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College Hockey News reprinted an article that first appeared in LetsGoDU asking questions about the firing of University of Denver hockey coach George Gwozdecky.  The role of the Board of Trustees in this firing is critical on many levels.  Certainly far more important than the excuses trumpeted by the Athletic Department about the firing.

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Terry Frei of the Denver Post penned a commentary on the firing of George Gwoxdecky calling DU "arrogant" for not answering questions about the firing.

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The DU women's lacrosse team defeated longtime nemesis #10 Stanford 14-10 and UC Davis 13-11 this past weekend.  This may be shaping up as a special season for the Pioneers who are 13-1-0 so far this season.

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The University of Denver club rugby team won the Pacific West Championships this past weekend after defeating Cal Maritime Academy 21-17 & Occidental College 31-27.  DU Rugby will now advance to the Final Four.

Gwozdecky: "I'm Not Done Coaching"

(above) Coach Gwozdecky impersonates Richard Nixon as he prepares to exit the Ritchie Center

From: Denver Post
by Terry Frei

If the 2012-13 season was a major issue in George Gwozdecky's firing this week, the veteran — and now former — University of Denver hockey coach is a bit bewildered.

"I thought we did one of our better coaching jobs this year," Gwozdecky said after his Tuesday news conference at Magness Arena. "We really felt this year would be a springboard to next year's team.

Being able to get home ice on the first round of the (league) playoffs, to be able to play in the national tournament, based on how many players we had coming back and how many guys left us (to sign pro contracts), and the lack of depth we had in the lineup? [read entire article]

Terry Frei: Gabe Levin's 6,000 Mile Trek To DU

(above) Gabe Levin's hockey odyssey took him from Los Angeles to Fairbanks to DU

From: Denver Post

by Terry Frei

Wearing the white hard hat awarded to the Denver Pioneers player deemed to have worked the hardest in the game that night, Gabe Levin conceded that, no, his hometown might not be a spot you'd think of as a hockey hotbed [read entire article].

Wearing the white hard hat awarded to the Denver Pioneers player deemed to have worked the hardest in the game that night, Gabe Levin conceded that, no, his hometown might not be a spot you'd think of as a hockey hotbed.

Read more: Frei: Freshman left wing Gabe Levin happy to trade ocean view for DU ice - The Denver Post http://www.denverpost.com/frei/ci_22024395/freshman-left-wing-gabe-levin-happy-trade-ocean#ixzz2CfrZdeeq
Read The Denver Post's Terms of Use of its content: http://www.denverpost.com/termsofuse

Wearing the white hard hat awarded to the Denver Pioneers player deemed to have worked the hardest in the game that night, Gabe Levin conceded that, no, his hometown might not be a spot you'd think of as a hockey hotbed.

Read more: Frei: Freshman left wing Gabe Levin happy to trade ocean view for DU ice - The Denver Post http://www.denverpost.com/frei/ci_22024395/freshman-left-wing-gabe-levin-happy-trade-ocean#ixzz2CfrZdeeq
Read The Denver Post's Terms of Use of its content: http://www.denverpost.com/termsofuse

Wearing the white hard hat awarded to the Denver Pioneers player deemed to have worked the hardest in the game that night, Gabe Levin conceded that, no, his hometown might not be a spot you'd think of as a hockey hotbed.

Read more: Frei: Freshman left wing Gabe Levin happy to trade ocean view for DU ice - The Denver Post http://www.denverpost.com/frei/ci_22024395/freshman-left-wing-gabe-levin-happy-trade-ocean#ixzz2CfrZdeeq
Read The Denver Post's Terms of Use of its content: http://www.denverpost.com/termsofuse

Wearing the white hard hat awarded to the Denver Pioneers player deemed to have worked the hardest in the game that night, Gabe Levin conceded that, no, his hometown might not be a spot you'd think of as a hockey hotbed.

Read more: Frei: Freshman left wing Gabe Levin happy to trade ocean view for DU ice - The Denver Post http://www.denverpost.com/frei/ci_22024395/freshman-left-wing-gabe-levin-happy-trade-ocean#ixzz2CfrZdeeq
Read The Denver Post's Terms of Use of its content: http://www.denverpost.com/termsofuse

Wearing the white hard hat awarded to the Denver Pioneers player deemed to have worked the hardest in the game that night, Gabe Levin conceded that, no, his hometown might not be a spot you'd think of as a hockey hotbed.

Read more: Frei: Freshman left wing Gabe Levin happy to trade ocean view for DU ice - The Denver Post http://www.denverpost.com/frei/ci_22024395/freshman-left-wing-gabe-levin-happy-trade-ocean#ixzz2CfrZdeeq
Read The Denver Post's Terms of Use of its content: http://www.denverpost.com/termsofuse

Denver Post Cuts Pioneer Hockey Coverage

(above) Contact the Denver Post about DU hockey coverage or risk seeing DU's flagship sport falling off the mainstream media highway

Several LetsGoDU readers of the Denver Post noticed that the DU hockey coverage was significantly reduced last week.  No mid-week article on the team, no preview on the series on Friday and then a pathetic four paragraph AP story on the game on Friday night.

We've been spoiled over the past few years with excellent DU hockey coverage by the Post.  Mike Chambers, Adrian Dater, Terry Frei and Mark Kiszla have done an amazing job covering the Pioneers after the demise of the Rocky Mountain News.

The Post deserves credit for stepping forward and covering college hockey better than any other large newspaper in recent years.  Far better than the Boston Globe, the Star-Tribune and New York papers combined.  But now our coverage is being compromised and DU's flagship sport will inevitably suffer if the trend continues.

Contact Denver Post Sports Editor Scott Monserud [smonserud@denverpost.com] ASAP unless you want the largest paper in the Rockies covering CU's 1-8-0 football program exclusively in the fishwrap.

Chambers Blog Has The Lowdown On Boonetown

Our favorite college hockey beat writer has lots of little nuggets this week in two postings.  Tyler Bozak, Marc Cheverie and Terry Frei are just some of the celebrities that will likely attend the DU Hockey Banquet on Friday night.  Sounds like its going to be an epic evening.

Chambers also has some suggestions for DU hockey alum Rod Summers who controls the 50-50 Raffle account.

DU is close to signing another Shore brother according to Chambers.  The last time DU had three brothers who played at DU were the Berry brothers in the Seventies.

Mike Chambers Odds & Ends Hockey Notes

DU Close To Commitment From Another Shore
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Terry Frei Wonders About Donovan Signing

From: Denver Post

by Terry Frei

"High-powered NCAA programs bill themselves as vehicles to reach the NHL and accept early signings as part of the process. But Matt Donovan would have been better off to play through his junior season at DU before signing. That's what Matt Carle, a more highly regarded defenseman at the time and the winner of the Hobey Baker Award, did before signing with San Jose in 2006 and jumping straight to the Sharks" [read entire article].

Terry Frei Credits NHL For USA Hockey Growth

(above) DU players from non-traditional hockey areas pose in shirts from their hometowns or regions

Denver Post: DU Players Hail From Western States

Terry Frei in Sunday's Denver Post, quoted Mike Chambers article on Friday highlighting the growth of American hockey in non-traditional hockey areas. Certainly the University of Denver's recruiting has improved in recent seasons, due in large part, to U.S. players born west of the Mississippi River.

"Mike Chambers' Friday story on the University of Denver's increasing reliance on U.S.-born talent — and talent from outside the "traditional" U.S. hockey areas — and the continuing world junior championships in Buffalo, N.Y., serve to emphasize something for which the NHL rarely is given sufficient credit. For all the whining about Gary Bettman's Sun Belt and "grow the game" strategy, it has played a significant role in the expansion of the talent pool (both geographically and numerically) and interest in the game on this side of the U.S.-Canadian border."

-Terry Frei, Denver Post

Canadian Blog Takes Issue With Terry Frei

(above) The boyz up in Canada weren't too fond of Terry Frei's article about NCAA vs. major juniors hockey development yesterday

From: Coming Down The Pipe Blog
by Guy Flaming

I was emailed a link to this story that appeared in the Denver Post on Sunday written by Terry Frei. I've never met Terry, we've never had him on the show and I'm sure I've read his stuff before but do not recall seeing a CHL story from him in the past. I tell you this because I want to be very clear that I am not taking issue with his professionalism or objectivity here - that's not the case with a lot of American hockey journalists but I have no reason to believe that Mr. Frei is particularly anti-CHL [read rest of article].

Terry Frei's Blog: College vs. Major Juniors

Terry Frei's Blog looks at the two development choices facing young North American hockey players. Going to college vs. playing hockey semi-professionally up in Canada. Both development routes have supporters and critics, so Terry offers a few of his opinions. He talked to DU hockey players Drew Shore and Beau Bennett and quoted their feedback.

Terry Frei Book Signing Appearances

• Monday, November 29, 6 pm - Discussion & signing, Denver Press Club “Book Beat" 1330 Glenarm Place, Denver. Free event, open to the public

• Saturday, December 11, 1-3 pm: Signing, Barnes & Noble, 9370 Sheridan Blvd., Westminster, CO.

Denver Post: DU's Elite Players Adapt To College

From: Denver Post
by Terry Frei

The transitional struggles some of the University of Denver's most touted freshmen go through after moving from the junior ranks to NCAA hockey should add to the appreciation for what Avalanche teenagers Matt Duchene and Ryan O'Reilly have accomplished in the NHL.

That's what hit me Friday, when I watched DU sophomore Drew Shore and freshman Beau Bennett help lead the Pioneers past Lake Superior State on the first night of the Denver Cup Classic [read entire article].