Photo: Courtesy of Colorado College Athletics
The NCHC released the conference schedule today.
While the NCHC schedule is the usual meat grinder for Denver, it starts early on with a thud against Colorado College. DU students will be on break while their CC counterparts will still be studying blocks. This means, most students will not get to experience the Gold Pan rivalry until the final two conference games of the regular season – ouch.
The good news is the NCHC season starts quickly in mid-November when the Fighting Hawks roll into Denver (November 15th & 16th) for this fierce rivalry. Even better, Denver will not be traveling to Lawson Arena this upcoming campaign to face Western Michigan. The Bronco’s home has been a house of horrors for the Crimson and Gold. The Pioneers travel to play the defending national champions, Minnesota -Duluth, November 8th and 9th and the two foes hook up again at Magness Arena January 31st and February 1st.
Also, DU hockey will commemorate their 70th anniversary this upcoming season. Exact dates have not yet been publicly announced but expect the event to be held homecoming weekend with special uniforms and, perhaps, a surprise guest.
Denver hockey already announced their non-conference schedule to include: at Alaska Fairbanks (Oct. 5-6), at Lake Superior State (Oct. 11-12), vs. Boston College (Oct. 18-19), vs. Niagara (Nov. 1-2), at Arizona State (Dec. 6-7), and vs. UMass – Amherst (Jan. 3-4). Of course, the highlight game will be the rematch against UMass-Amherst at Magness Arena. And, many Pioneer fans may want to plan a December road trip to Arizona State in December. Unfortunately, ASU’s tiny Oceanside Arena only holds 850 fans. Get your tickets early for that one.
All in all, an above average schedule. Boston College and UMass will be very competitive non-league home series, while trips to Alaska-Fairbanks and Lake Superior State represent the kind of difficult-to-get-to-travel that DU tried to get away from in founding the NCHC. However, those trips are necessary after hosting both teams last year.
The Niagara series is a must see due to the 70th anniversary weekend. Having been to the 60th anniversary back in 2009, I can remember a huge turnout and loads of fun stories from the hockey alums.
I can’t for the life of me figure out why DU needs to play CC at home (or any other rival) during December, removing home ice advantage with the students on break. There look to be a number of NCHC weekends that series could have been switched out, but perhaps DU is maximizing revenue mode by selling premium tickets to non-students. Either way, I don’t like it. It cheats the DU students out of one of the most important weekends of the season.
I also like the home and then away nature of the second half, where you are never far from a home weekend.
Go Pios!
This is a good (read: tough) schedule.
Looks like 70th Anniversary Weekend is Nov 1-2 vs Niagara.
Thanks, Susan. It is sure to be a great weekend. And with Ian Mitchell back, could be a HUGE year.