On November 2 at Magness Arena, you could feel something powerful.
It was tradition — the glue that binds us all together as part of a special DU community.
Puck Swami: Amazing 70th Anniversary Celebration Brings DU Community Together in Epic Style
Category Archives: History & Tradition
70 Years of DU Hockey History: The First 20 Years 1949-1969
Our own Puck Swami has authored a four-part historical retrospective for the 70th anniversary of the DU Hockey program. Part One begins today, and the other three parts will follow in the coming weeks. While these stories will run far longer than our usual stories, remember that 70 years is a lot to cover. Enjoy!
As we celebrate 70 years of Pioneer hockey this coming weekend (Nov. 1-2, 2019), it helps to know just how far the DU Hockey program has evolved in those 70 years. The first 20 formative years saw DU go from a terrible start-up program to the dominant program of the 1960s as a five-time NCAA Champion. Part One of this series reviews those first 20 years of DU Hockey. Continue reading 70 Years of DU Hockey History: The First 20 Years 1949-1969
Ron Grahame officially sets September 1 retirement date, DU announces
Photo: Courtesy of The Denver Post
As expected, Vice Chancellor for Athletics, Recreation and Ritchie Center Operations Karlton Creech spent his first year observing department operations while making few operational or personnel changes. One of his key lieutenants during this period was Ron Grahame, who acted as Interim Athletic Director following Peg Bradley-Doppes’ departure and currently holds the title of Associate Vice Chancellor & Department Athletic Director. During his long career, Ron provided an experienced and steady hand, especially when it came to DU hockey operations, Denver’s premier sport.
During the 2018-2019 academic year, DU Athletics finished yet another year of incredible success with their 11th Director’s Cup in 12 years.
Now, according to Denver Athletics, Ron Grahame will retire in about two weeks, on September 1st, followed by a handful of other changes within DU’s athletic department. We will have more on Ron Grahame’s storied career and contributions to the University in an upcoming feature but anyone who knows Grahame knows that he put DU athletes first in all of his decisions. A native of Victoria, British Columbia, Grahame was one of the greatest goaltenders in DU Hockey history. He played in the NHL and spent most of his professional career supporting and guiding Denver athletics. He will be truly missed by all at DU. Continue reading Ron Grahame officially sets September 1 retirement date, DU announces
DU vs. CC: Puck Swami’s Updated Rivalry Primer
Puck Swami, the Internet moniker of a longtime DU fan and alumnus, has previously offered this basic compendium of DU/CC rivalry thoughts back in 2016 and 2017. He has updated the story here to reflect the current season, as a prelude to this weekend’s Gold Pan series.
The DU vs. CC rivalry is one of the very best athletic rivalries in the state, and one of the top five in the sport of college hockey. This year, the final two games of the series take on increased meaning, as the Pioneers can retain the Gold Pan trophy for the fifth year in a row with a win in either game or two ties this weekend against an improved CC team, which tied the Pios twice back in December of 2017. Continue reading DU vs. CC: Puck Swami’s Updated Rivalry Primer
Puck Swami Presents: 100+ Years of the DU Fight Song
Puck Swami is the internet moniker of a longtime DU fan and alumnus. He shares his views periodically for LetsGoDU.
The year 2016 marked the 100th anniversary of the DU Fight Song. Best known by the title “D-Rah/Fairest of Colleges,” the song’s words were written in 1916 by then-DU Student Dorothy Hickey during her senior year. The song sprang from the era of great college fight songs, most of which were written between 1895 and 1920, as college football rose to become the dominant fall entertainment force in America, well before the emergence of professional football. Continue reading Puck Swami Presents: 100+ Years of the DU Fight Song