Puck Swami, the Internet moniker of a longtime DU fan, offered this as a two-part article last year on the DU-CC Gold Pan rivalry. The first part focuses some perspective on the ice and develops the history of the rivalry. The second part focuses on some of the off-ice elements of the rivalry and puts the weekend into a larger context. (Editors Note: This is republished from last season, condensed to a single article, and revised to reflect the teams’ current performance and records) Continue reading Puck Swami: Updated Thoughts on the DU-CC Gold Pan Rivalry
Category Archives: Hockey
The Finnish Touch
Photo courtesy DU Athletics
The best don’t become the best by luck. Success is achieved through repetition and exertion. The University of Denver Pioneers freshman forward Henrik Borgström embodies that through his dedication and persistence. After waiting 30 minutes after practice to speak with Borgström, his lethal work ethic became apparent as the Florida Panthers first-round pick was the last to leave the ice. He’s frequently the last off the ice during pre-game warmups as well. Continue reading The Finnish Touch
Checking in on Colorado College and yep, they’re still bad
They’re just, you know, not AS bad as they were.
Over the past few years, the Gold Pan Rivalry has become, what’s the nice way to put this, one-sided. The University of Denver Pioneers are on an 8-game winning streak against the Colorado College Tigers and it seems it isn’t about to end anytime soon. Continue reading Checking in on Colorado College and yep, they’re still bad
An outside perspective on The Gold Pan Rivalry
Rivalries make sports great. They’re the games that every fan circles on the calendar and makes sure they have a ticket to. The only thing better than a rivalry in sports is a college rivalry. When most people think of a rivalry they usually think of the Michigan-Ohio State, CU-CSU (at least around here), USC-UCLA, Duke-North Carolina and so on. Maybe it’s due to the pride and tradition that each school has built, but it always seems like college sports take rivalries to a whole new level. Continue reading An outside perspective on The Gold Pan Rivalry
Protests Roil Colorado College Campus
Photo: Ned Gates, a sophomore film and media studies major at Colorado College, is removed from a tree by campus security next to Tutt Library
As we reported yesterday, Colorado College students were alarmed by plans from wildcatter K. J. ‘Kip’ Snyder to begin fracking on the Colorado Campus in the early Spring. Continue reading Protests Roil Colorado College Campus
Colorado College Comes to Grips with Campus Fracking
Photo: A street-view of fracking equipment obstructing the view of historic Cutler Hall (built 1880)
The abstract discussion of fracking has taken on real meaning at Colorado College. Although it may not be immediately intuitive, land ownership and rights to a particular tract of land can be owned separately from the minerals underneath. This recently came as a surprise to Colorado College when they learned that they are not the owner of the minerals underneath the Colorado Springs campus. Continue reading Colorado College Comes to Grips with Campus Fracking
WATCH: Jim Montgomery talks Wisconsin victory, offensive improvement
Last night, the University of Denver Pioneers hockey team topped the Wisconsin Badgers in a wild 6-5 game. For the first time all year, the Pios scored more than 4 goals in a game, but also, this was the first time all year that they gave up more than 3 goals defensively. So in a sense, this game was a bit of a 2016 anomaly for the Pioneers. Continue reading WATCH: Jim Montgomery talks Wisconsin victory, offensive improvement
Pioneers down Badgers in wild 6-5 affair
Photo courtesy DU Athletics
For a game that saw 11 goals, 13 penalties, a game misconduct, three different goalie changes, and two goals on the same power play, you’d think that it would have been a back-and-forth game. Such was not the case this evening at Magness Arena when the #2 University of Denver Pioneers hosted the University of Wisconsin Badgers. In fact, it was quite the opposite. Continue reading Pioneers down Badgers in wild 6-5 affair
Salute to Retiring Matt Carle
Photo: Matt Carle (#25) will go down as one of the greatest Pioneers
Matt Carle has announced his retirement from the Nashville Predators. “It has been an honor to be a player in the National Hockey League and play for four great organizations over the past 12 seasons,” Carle said in a statement. “At this time, I have decided to retire as a National Hockey League player. I want to thank the San Jose Sharks, Philadelphia Flyers, Tampa Bay Lightning and the Nashville Predators for the opportunity to play for each organization.” Continue reading Salute to Retiring Matt Carle
Denver battles a 4-3 overtime victory over Air Force
A back and forth battle between the No. 2-ranked University of Denver Pioneers (7-2-3, 3-0-3 NCHC) and the Air Force Academy Falcons (6-4-2, 4-2-0 AHC) on Friday, Nov. 25 resulted in an overtime victory for DU. Denver’s sophomores dominated scoring as Jarid Lukosevicius converted the game winner in the third minute of overtime. Classmates, Colin Staub, Dylan Gambrell and Troy Terry each scored prior.
Lukosevicius fired his initial slap shot from the right faceoff circle – deflected by Air Force’s goalie Billy Christopoulos. Gambrell collected the loose puck and backhanded where Lukosevicius tapped in the game-winner on the doorstep.
The Pioneers outshot the Falcons 43-23, but struggled lighting the lamp. Denver was off its game, relinquishing seven penalties and two powerplay goals.
“Air Force was relentless, they’re a really good college hockey team. I think they’re going to be a tournament team,” Head coach Jim Montgomery said.
Originally committed to the Air Force Academy, Staub put the Pioneers on the board just 50 seconds into the opening frame. Staub was diagnosed with keratoconus; a progressive eye disease that thins the cornea and distorts vision preventing his acceptance into the Air Force Academy one day before basic training. Fitting that the forward scored his first goal of his sophomore campaign against the Falcons.
“It was nice to see it [Staub score],” Montgomery said. “He started protecting pucks and making plays. He was phenomenal, he was a horse out there. When he’s playing good hockey he’s moving his feet, he’s protecting pucks and he’s making really good decisions going to the net.”
Troy Terry was assessed with interference leading Air Force to tie the game up one apiece with the man-advantage in the sixth minute. Junior defenseman Phil Boje fired a slapshot from the point to beat Jaillet.
Roughly three minutes later, San Jose Sharks prospect Gambrell doubled the Pioneers lead. Denver received its first powerplay of the night after Air Force’s Johnny Hrabovsky was called for holding.
Gambrell sent a slap shot past Christopoulos. Senior captain Will Butcher and Florida Panthers prospect Henrik Borgstrom received assists on the play.
The second period remained scoreless. The Pioneers effort lagged as the Falcons increased their intensity, but Denver managed a 10-9 shot on goal edge for the period.
Air Force’s Brady Tomlak equalized the score 39 seconds into the third period. Boje’s initial shot from the point was tipped in by Tomlak. 13 seconds later, Anaheim Ducks prospect Terry intercepted a pass and beat Christopoulos to regain Denver’s lead 3-2.
The Falcons scored their second power play goal of the night after Hammond assessed with interference. Erik Baskin tipped in a shot taken by Kyle Mackew between the circles equalizing the score 3-3 five minutes into the final frame.
With a 5-on-3 opportunity in the last ten minutes of regulation Denver frustratingly couldn’t convert, sending the game into an additional period. Denver has yet to relinquish more than two goals since its win against Boston University on Oct. 14, but the Falcons’ pressure was unforgiving.
“There was frustration after we didn’t score on the go-ahead 5-on-3,” Montgomery said. “Your best players are out there and you expect them to put the game away there. I thought the last three-to-four minutes of the third period we started to regain our rhythm and overtime I don’t think they crossed the red line.”
While Denver was late to finish its chances, Montgomery noted a turning point amongst Denver’s offensive lines, “I thought that’s [tonight] the best our forwards have moved the puck. It’s great to see that growth for some guys like Evan Ritt and Rudy Junda who had great opportunities. Kevin Conley had a great chance. We got Staub getting his first goal. We’ve got guys starting to score so you’ll see our team really start to pop. I really liked the way we moved the puck.”
The Pioneers return to Magness Arena tomorrow night, Nov. 26 to take on Wisconsin. Puck-drop is scheduled for 7 p.m.