DU Alum Elected To Manitoba Hall Of Fame

(above) Former DU star George Konik played for the USA National Team

Former University of Denver hockey star George Konik was one of seven players elected to the Manitoba Hockey Hall of Fame this week. The class of 2011 was announced at a media conference in Winnipeg.

George Konik played a major role when his hometown Flin Flon Bombers won the Canadian junior championship in 1957.

At the University of Denver, Konik won two NCAA titles  (60 & 61) and was named an All-American in 1960.

He signed a professional contract with the New York Rangers after college but did not make his NHL debut until 1967–68 when the expansion Pittsburgh Penguins traded for his rights. Konik made 52 appearances as a versatile role player for the Penguins that season, but drifted back to the minor professional leagues after that.

Konik eventually became a naturalized American citizen and joined the United States national team for the 1970 and 1971 Ice Hockey World Championship tournaments; he was named best defenceman in 1970, helping the USA win the "B" Tournament.

Konik came out of retirement in 1972/73 to play a final season of major league pro hockey for the WHA Minnesota Fighting Saints before leaving hockey for good.

News, Notes & Links From Around Pioneer Nation

(above) DU defeated Michigan Tech in the 1960 National Championship game in Boston

• Rhett Rakhshani was profiled in an article by Bruce Ciske in AOL's Fanhouse.
  

• NHL.com has a nice profile on Joe Colborne including quotes from Coach Gwozdecky & Colborne himself. They also make mention of Tyler Bozak being a hot property.

• Patrick Wiercioch's hometown paper in British Columbia has an article about his selection to the Team Canada Tryout Camp.

• The Denver Post has previews on all three Colorado schools this weekend.

• The Rocky Mountain News has been covering DU hockey for as long as Colorado College has been losing playoff games. A Denver Post article points out that the end is near.

• The Houghton Mining Gazette has a preview on Michigan Tech and what they plan to do against the Pioneers this weekend.

• Puck Swami's Know Your Foe Blog profiles Michigan Tech this week

More Photos From The Penrose Library Archives

(above) Goaltender Lucian Carignan makes a save while #3 Rod Summers and #10 Dave Gourlie defend during the 1987-88 season

(above) Coach Gwozdecky addresses the team before the championship game of the Norwest Denver Cup (January 1, 2000). Maine won 4-3.

(above) DU players (left to right) George Konik, Marty Howe and Bill Masterton pose after winning the MacNaughton Cup in 1961

More DU hockey photos were uncovered yesterday. The University of Denver's is is in the process of digitizing its historical athletics photos in the Special Collections Department for use on the internet. The link above contains additional photos.