Matt Laatsch Named Assistant Coach In AHL

(left) Matt Laatsch will be an assistant coach with a new team next season next season

From: Hockey Fights.com

The Anaheim Ducks announced today that the National Hockey League (NHL) club has named Gord Dineen head coach of the Iowa Chops, Anaheim’s primary development affiliate in the American Hockey League (AHL). In addition, the Ducks named DU Alum Matt Laatsch assistant coach at Iowa.

Laatsch, 28 (8/19/80), served as one of two assistant coaches in Portland last season, where the team advanced to the Eastern Conference Finals of the Calder Cup Playoffs. Prior to joining the Ducks organization, Laatsch was an assistant coach at the University of Denver during the 2006-07 season. Laatsch was a member of both University of Denver teams that won back-to-back NCAA National Championships in 2004 and 2005.

Gord Dineen is the brother of former DU players Shawn & Kevin Dineen.

DU Hockey Blog Updated

This week the DU Hockey Blog on the DU Athletics Website has news on Ryan Caldwell's professional career, Mike Chamber's recent surgery, Steve Miller's poker career, Derek Lalonde & Matt Laatsch coaching the USA Select 15's and potentially Geoff Paukovich's new teammate Robbie Bina.

ECHL All-Star Adrian Veideman Talks About DU

(above) DU alum Adrian Veideman will play in the ECHL All-Star game tonight. It will be televised on Comcast Sports Southeast at 8:30 MST

Q & A with Adrian Veideman

D.J. Powers of Hockey's Future.com caught up with former Pioneer Adrian Veideman at the ECHL All-Star game in Stockton, California. She has written articles for LetsGoDU in the past including the outstanding series about the 1960's era DU hockey alums that compete in the Snoopy Old Timers Hockey Tournament in California every summer. We can't thank D.J. enough, and make sure to check out Hockey Future's Website for the best coverage of tomorrow's NHL stars.

Special to Let’s Go DU
By DJ Powers

The former University of Denver Pioneer is off to a strong start to his pro career as a member of the ECHL’s Augusta Lynx. In 35 appearances this season, Veideman has posted 23 points (four goals, 19 assists). He recently was called up by the Portland Pirates and during his brief stint helped guide the Pirates to their fourth straight win.

I caught up with Adrian Veideman after the Skills Competition portion of the ECHL All-Game festivities on Tuesday in Stockton to chat about both the pros and his days at the University of Denver.

Q: So how does it feel to be here at the ECHL All-Star Game?

AV: It’s definitely an honor to be here. I’m just happy to be representing the Augusta Lynx and the ECHL at this awesome event.

Q: You scored a goal in the rapid fire competition against Daniel Manzato from the Las Vegas Wranglers. Take me through how it happened.

AV: It’s definitely a new thing for me. I’d never done anything like that before. (Laughs) It’s definitely a fun experience out there. It was kind of cool just to be out there with another guy (Tomas Kudelka of the Elmira Jackals) that I don’t even know, but we’re teammates for now and tomorrow. I just closed my eyes, took a shot and it went into the net.

Q: You recently had a stint with the Portland Pirates (AHL). What was the experience like there for you?

AV: It’s a great experience as a hockey player to get the call to go to the next level. The players at the next level are definitely bigger, stronger and faster. It’s one of the best leagues in the world. I’m just happy to get the opportunity to be up there and show them what I have to offer.

Q: When you played up in Portland, you actually had one of your former Denver teammates, Matt Laatsch, as one of your coaches. So what was that like for you?

AV: Well Matt and I are great friends and we’ve always been great friends from our Denver days. It’s great seeing him progressing his coaching career up in Portland. Our relationship up there is strictly professional, obviously. He helps me tremendously. In the summertime we hang out quite a bit. It’s definitely a neat experience to play for somebody that you’ve played with and just knowing where he came from.

Q: With Portland being the AHL affiliate of the Anaheim Ducks, have you had any contact with them and have they been watching you to perhaps offer you a contract or maybe Portland offering you a contract?

AV: I’m currently under contract with Portland. I went to Anaheim’s rookie camp this summer, so they know what I offer and hopefully the future is strong.

Q: Hopefully we’ll be seeing you back up in Portland again in the near future.

AV: Hopefully, I’ll be able to get back up there and they’ll give me the call soon. But they wanted me here and I wanted to represent the Augusta Lynx for having a strong first half of the season.

Q: What are some of the specific areas, skill-wise, have you been working on since playing with Augusta?

AV: Just coming from the confidence factor. In college, I wasn’t the go-to guy. Now that I’m a professional, I’m looked to being a leader and be a go-to guy on the ice. It’s just maintaining my confidence out there as well as to continue to progress my skills.

Q: One of the things that I noticed that you did when you played at the University of Denver, was that you had played at both the forward and defense positions. In the ECHL media guide, they list you as a defenseman. Have you played up front at all this season with either Augusta or Portland?

AV: It’s interesting that you’d ask that question because usually two or three times in a game (with Augusta), I’ll go for a shift at forward, depending on how we’re doing. Up in Portland, I played a game at forward. Being a versatile player is definitely something that I think teams like. I’ll continue to maintain both aspects of the game.

Q: Do you have a preference of which position that you like playing better?

AV: Right now, I think I’m more comfortable playing back on defense. I’m still a young defenseman and I’ve only been playing defense for two years. It’s definitely something that I need to keep working at as well as maintaining my forward skills.

Q: Obviously, you came from a great program at the University of Denver. What were some of the adjustments that you had to make going from the college game to the pro game?

AV: I think the biggest adjustment that anyone has to make from the college game to the pro game is just the lifestyle within the rink. You don’t have to go to school. You don’t have to worry about studying, preparing for tests or things like that. With the pro game, you definitely play more games and you have to be mentally more ready. As far as college, it was a great experience and the pro game is too.

Q: If there were one or two things that Coach Gwozdecky has taught you that really prepared you for the pro game, what would they be and why?

AV: I think the main thing that Coach Gwozdecky has taught me was to be a leader in all aspects, not just on the ice, but off the ice as well. He has taught me to just always be helping people and to make sure that you’re seen in the community as a guy that is good on and off the ice.

Q: With your pro schedule the way it is, I realize that it’s difficult, but do you keep up with the Pioneers?

AV: I think I keep track of the Pioneers more than I do myself sometimes. Those are my roots and they gave me great opportunities there, so I’ll definitely be a Pioneer for life.

Q: What do you feel are some of the greatest memories that you have of your time with the Denver Pioneers, would say winning the national championships?

AV: Well, those are always the best and obvious memories. I think the most profound personal memory that I have of Denver is getting my degree. They gave me that opportunity and it’s something that nobody can take away from me as well the rings that I got for the national championships. Along, with those good memories, there were some bad memories. The last couple of years we fell short. Those are things that make you a stronger person and a stronger hockey player.

Q: With the Pioneers doing so well this season, that has to feel pretty good to you.

AV: It does feel great. The guys that I’ve played with the last couple of years that haven’t had as much success in their college careers as I have, it’s good to see them having some success and it makes me feel good that maybe there was something along the way that I did to help them progress and become better players and better persons.

Q: Do you miss it?

AV: Of course, I miss it. College was a very unique experience and I think every hockey player should have to go through that. Just the schooling aspect and getting that degree is something that I think everybody needs to go through. It’s definitely true.

Q: Finally, something that is very unique to Denver Pioneers hockey that I have to ask you. In your career, how many oranges and how many lemons did you win?

AV: ooh. I’m pretty sure that I only had three or four max in the orange department, but lemon-wise, I had a stint in my sophomore year where I had it for four weeks straight, but that was only because we had a bye week in there. It’s kind of neat that you would ask that question. So I definitely had more lemons than oranges.
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by D.J. Powers of Hockey's Future.com

Thomas' Leadership Will Be Key To Second Half

(above) DU Captain Andy Thomas has been a key contributor to DU's blueline success this season
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From: Rocky Mountain News
by Pat Rooney

In 2005, the University of Denver's dreams of a third consecutive national title were dashed after the team managed only three wins in its final nine games.

Things got worse last year, as DU produced only one win in its final nine games when only one additional victory would have meant a return to the NCAA tournament.

If Andrew Thomas continues the steady leadership he has provided the third-ranked Pioneers, there is little chance of DU suffering a third consecutive late-season collapse.

Obscured somewhat by the emergence of DU's talented freshman class and the consistently stellar play of goaltender Peter Mannino has been the guidance of Thomas on a team that began the season with numerous question marks.

"We need to try to continue what our theme has been through the first half, and our plan from the first half and what our goals were shouldn't change and don't need to change," DU coach George Gwozdecky said.

"I think that is going to be the biggest challenge Andy and our captains will have. As a team, we may have flown under the radar a bit. Especially the first month or so. Now, with the position we have put ourselves in, there will not be an easy game for us. We will get everybody's 'A' game."

Thomas, a senior defenseman, was a freshman when captain Matt Laatsch helped lead DU to a national championship in 2005. That experience, combined with watching what went wrong the past two seasons, has braced Thomas for DU's drive toward the Frozen Four at the Pepsi Center.

"It's easy to look at captains as being successful, or not successful, based on how the team does," Thomas said. "Matt Laatsch certainly has been the biggest influence I've had since I've been at DU, in terms of being a leader and how to act professional."

DU Alums Involved In AHL Coaching Shakeup
Two Former DU Hockey Captains Reunited

From: Portland Press
by Paul Betit

(left) DU Alum Kevin Dineen starred at the University Of Denver before playing 18 seasons in the NHL

Portland, Maine - The Portland Pirates are expected to announce the hiring of two assistant coaches today.

According to NHL.com, Gord Dineen, the older brother of Pirates head coach & DU Alum Kevin Dineen, and Matt Laatsch, who played four seasons at the University of Denver, have been hired to replace Bruce Crowder and Eric Weinrich.

Crowder was rumored to be a finalist for the University of Denver head coaching job back in 1994 when DU named George Gwozdecky as head coach. Crowder, a former assistant coach at the University of Maine, spent the past two seasons with the Pirates after serving 14 years as the head coach at Northeastern. He was informed of the change weeks ago.

"Kevin called me and said they were going in a different direction," he said.

Crowder, 50, took a job as the New England sales manager for Atrium Medical Corporation, a surgical supply company based in Hudson, N.H.

"I have a lot of confidence in my coaching abilities, and I have no doubts I will be successful at this," he said. "I'm actually looking forward to having my weekends to myself."

Gord Dineen, 44, has spent the last three seasons as an assistant with AHL teams in Springfield, Utah and San Antonio. During an NHL career spanning 14 seasons, he played a total of 528 games.

Laatsch, 26, moves into the professional ranks as a coach after serving one season as a volunteer assistant at his college alma mater. He was captain of Denver's 2004-05 team and anchored DU to back-to-back NCAA titles.

Despite his age and a limited pro experience that consists of just four games with Utah of the AHL, Laatsch said he doesn’t see credibility being an issue with AHL players.

“The way I look at it is I’m a winner. I’m going into an organization that’s a winner,’’ Laatsch said. “Coaching is knowing how to develop and foster relationships. I think guys figure out pretty quick whether a guy knows the game or he doesn’t.’’

Dineen was DU's Captain in 1982-83 as a Sophmore, under head coach Ralph Backstrom. Kevin & Gord are sons of longtime WHA & NHL coach Bill Dineen.

When Kevin Dineen asked Pioneers coach George Gwozdecky for a heads-up on coaching candidates, Gwozdecky mentioned Laatsch.

Blocking Shots: College Hockey Style
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From: Denver Post
by Mike Chambers

(left) Kyle Okposo (Minnesota) gets ready to drop to one knee and block a shot

When an NCAA hockey player takes a knee in front of a puck-handler preparing to take a slap shot, the defender isn't praying. He's hoping.

Hoping the puck hits him solid.

Hoping the pain goes away and injury doesn't send him out of the game.

Talent usually gets teams to the NCAA Tournament, but the combination of skill and sacrifice is typically what gets teams to the Frozen Four.

"For us it's simple," Air Force coach Frank Serratore said of his team's shot-blocking philosophy. "If you refuse to do it, you won't play."

The college form of blocking differs from the professionals and could be paramount in giving Air Force a chance to beat perennial power Minnesota in Saturday's West Regional opener at the Pepsi Center.

The face mask that protects college players makes them feel less vulnerable to injury and more willing to block shots. They can go face-to-face with shooters, often on one knee to build a maximum wall.

NHL players typically block shots by what Serratore dubs "selling out" - laying sideways on the ice and looking away to protect their face. For most pro teams, the stars don't sell out.

For most college teams, everybody must get on one knee and pray.

Taking a 5.5-ounce, hard- edged puck to an unprotected area can break bones and cause severe pain. The most delicate areas include the inside of the wrist, forearm and elbow, above the knee and the groin.

Each of those areas are exposed by taking a knee, which keeps the defender in position to react and adjust if the shooter fakes a shot and skates laterally to find another hole to the net.

One-knee blockers also give themselves a chance to take one for the team and take the puck the other way.

"You don't even realize how big of a play it is to block a shot at the point," Air Force's Josh Print said. "One puck that goes by you can find its way in the net and cost you the game.

"The ultimate goal is to block the shot, but you have to stay in position to adjust with him, rather than selling out and seeing the guy walk around you for a clean shot."

During the 2004 NCAA championship game, many considered Maine the better team, but Denver won 1-0.

The difference was DU had 27 of the game's 32 blocked shots by building an unselfish wall between the shooters and goalie Adam Berkhoel.

DU assistant coach Matt Laatsch was a defenseman on that Pioneers team and senior captain the next season, when the program captured back-to- back titles.

Under Laatsch's guidance, one of DU's strengths this season was unselfish shot-blocking.

"We teach our guys that a blocked shot is as good as a turnover," Laatsch said. "You have to do it. It's part of the game."

Minnesota has 14 NHL draft picks on its team and is the most talented team Air Force has faced this season. The Gophers' European offensive style features a lot of puck movement, with circling dropoffs and cycling against the boards. That forces defenders wide and lessens traffic in front of the net.

If the Falcons have a chance to keep it close, they must stop the big shots from the point and control the forwards from cashing in on rebounds.

"We don't have anybody that won't block a shot," Air Force's Theo Zacour said. "In college hockey these days, it's imperative, and the one thing that you're always going to get from us is hard work. And that includes blocking shots from all of us."

DU's Freshman Class Lead Team

From: DU Clarion Student Newspaper
by Brooks Kirchheimer

(click on photo to enlarge)
It is another DU hockey season and another successful and potent freshman class is making themselves known not just to the Denver community, but to the hockey world. Peter Mannino, Paul Stastny, Chris Butler and now Rhett Rakhshani, Tyler Ruegesser, Brock Trotter and others are the next class of freshman to take the stage.

"This year they have really stepped up to the plate and taken a big role as freshman, so they have done well," said senior Steven Cook, who has seen year after year of freshman.

Red shirt freshman Brock Trotter is second in the WCHA in points amongst freshman with 32 and fifth overall. Ruegsegger is fifth with 27 points and Rakhshani seventh with 26 points. Along with junior Ryan Dingle the three freshman help make up the top four point getters for DU this season. A season that has Denver currently ranked No. 5 in division one hockey, third place in the WCHA and a 19-9-2 record overall.

"I think the biggest part has been the opportunity that the coach has given us. He has put us in some tight, tough situations and helped us build our confidence. Also the support from the upperclassmen has been really key," said California native Rakhshani.

Brian Gifford and Keith Seabrook with 11 points each, Brandon Vossberg with three points, Cody Brookwell with a point and Matt Glasser who has yet to be tallied in the scorer's book round out the 2006-2007 freshman class.

"Definitely offensively they have put up a lot of big points and they have played really hard," said Cook.

The seven freshmen have combined for 113 points this season on 37 goals and 76 assists out of the Pioneers 223 points on 81 goals and 142 assists. All this success occured while the seven players are making a transition from playing junior to college hockey.

"It's a completely different game when you actually go to college. Competition is way higher. Every weekend, the pressure is on you to win a game or two," said Rakhshani about his college experience. "It has been awesome; I have been having a great time; its pretty much everything I expected."

One of the challenges of being a freshman is not only being successful on the ice, but also in the classroom.

"Some nights you have to be up late doing homework, figuring out time management during the week and getting my rest and getting ready to play every single weekend," said Rakhshani about the challenges of being a student and athlete.

Seabrook has also gained confidence at the college level. "Everyone is a lot faster. Guys are a lot bigger and stronger, the more and more you play, the more you gain confidence; I feel I have adjusted and am playing successful," he said.

The success hasn't been without the help of the coaching staff and fellow older players.

"They [the coaching staff] are helping a lot. I go out with coach Laatsch every day before practice and work on my skating. It has been really good here, they wanted me to come in right away and play and play well, and I feel I struggled a little bit at the beginning of the season, but I am starting to come on now," said Seabrook.

Denver has had year after year of contributing and exciting freshman classes and none of this would be possible without the work and recruiting of the coaching staff. DU assistant coach Steve Miller is the head recruiting coordinator and spends hours on the phone and road recruiting some of the best young hockey players in the country, getting those young players to come to Denver and continue the success of the program and the freshman class.

"From their program and past success, I watched both times when they won NCAA's on television, and it has been the place I have wanted to go to every since I talked to them back at age 16," said Seabrook as to why he choose to attend DU.

Being a freshman can have its challenges, but year-in and year-out the DU freshman class has made it a routine of being an integral part of the squad.

"You are going to have ups and downs, you are going to have good games and bad games," said Seabrook.

DU's Penalty Kill Unit Blocks Shots

From: Denver Post
by Mike Chambers

Goaltending is undoubtedly the University of Denver's biggest strength. However, the unselfish and often overlooked penalty-killing performances from the players in front of Glenn Fisher and Peter Mannino are hidden behind the goalies' stout statistics.

Fisher and Mannino rank first and second in the Western Collegiate Hockey Association in save percentage at .933 and .927, respectively. Nationally, they are fourth and ninth, and the only WCHA goalies in the top 10.

While taking nothing away from his two goalies, DU coach George Gwozdecky said fourth- line senior forwards Steven Cook and Mike Handza have been equally good in keeping the puck out of the DU net. Cook, Handza and sophomore J.P. Testwuide make up a line that takes regular shifts at even strength and is among the first two forwards to be sent out in a penalty-killing situation.

The Pioneers, who are a work in progress offensively - they rank 35th among 59 Division I teams in goals-per-game (2.82) and power plays (15.7 percent) - have not allowed a power-play goal in three consecutive games and only one in their past 19 short-handed situations. They have killed off 88.3 percent of their penalties for the season, which ranks sixth nationally.

Gwozdecky said volunteer coach Matt Laatsch, a former defenseman and captain of DU's 2005 NCAA championship team, and longtime assistant Steve Miller have developed a penalty-killing system around getting in position to block shots. The system requires absorbing shots off some of the most tender and nonpadded parts of the body - such as the stomach and inside of the forearm - and works only if forwards such as Cook and Handza are willing to take the pain.

"Matt Laatsch and Steve Miller have done a real good job of taking our strengths as an unselfish penalty-killing team and really highlighting that," Gwozdecky said. "Any good successful penalty kill is based on blocking shots. It's been emphasized, and our penalty-killers are proud of what they can accomplish with blocking shots. They've really accepted it and have fierce pride in killing penalties."

The Pioneers (14-6-2, 8-4-2, second in WCHA) take a six-game unbeaten streak (5-0-1) into this weekend's two-game series against visiting Wisconsin (8-10-2, 5-6-1 tied for seventh), the defending NCAA champion.

DU blocked 25 shots in Saturday's 2-1 Denver Cup title-game victory over Massachusetts- Lowell. The River Hawks attempted 75 shots and missed the net on only 13 of them. Fisher stopped the first 36 shots that were on target, but lost his shutout when the visitors scored with 4.3 seconds to play.

It was the only goal DU allowed in the Denver Cup and marked the 17th time in the past 18 games the Pioneers allowed three goals or fewer. Mannino backstopped a 3-0 victory over Mercyhurst in Friday's semifinals.

"UMass-Lowell played very well, and gave us fits at times, and probably had more scoring chances," Gwozdecky said. "But like we've been throughout the year, we were opportunistic at the offensive end and got a sensational performance from Glenn Fisher. I couldn't be prouder of (Fisher and Mannino). We'll ride those guys and our penalty-killers as long as we possibly can."

From: DU Pioneers Official Website

Matt Laatsch Returns to DU as Volunteer Asst. Coach

(Left) As captain, Laatsch guided DU to the 2005 NCAA Championship

DENVER - Former University of Denver hockey captain Matt Laatsch (Lakeville, Minn.) has joined the team as a volunteer assistant coach, announced today by two-time National Coach of the Year George Gwozdecky. Laatsch guided the Pioneers to their second consecutive NCAA National Championship in 2005 and tallied 6-24--30 during a solid four-year career. He returns to the Pioneers after a brief stint with the American Hockey League's Utah Grizzlies before retiring from professional hockey after attending the Chicago Blackhawks camp in the fall of 2005.

"I am excited to be back as a volunteer assistant coach," Laatsch said. "I have always wanted to coach and I am very grateful to Coach Gwozdecky and the University of Denver for this opportunity."

Laatsch will assist in on-ice coaching, game analysis and video breakdown for the Pioneers. He played 110 games for DU and was part of the most successful classes in DU hockey history. His senior class of 2005 posted a 112-43-14 record in 169 games, captured back-to-back NCAA National Championships in 2004 and 2005, two WCHA Final Five and two WCHA regular-season championships, and four Wells Fargo Denver Cup championships.

"Matt did a terrific job leading our 2005 team to the national championship," Gwozdecky said. "He knows what it takes to be a successful student-athlete at the highest level and he will be a major asset for our hockey program this season."

Laatsch earned his bachelor's degree in business management from DU in 2004.