Category Archives: Hockey

Denver Strikes Gold with Defenseman Boyle

PhotoBrandon Anderson/USHL, Article, USCHO

USCHO published an article on a DU recruit from Arizona, Michael Boyle. The article, Rapid Rise for Denver Recruit Boyle Hasn’t Come Without Stumbling Points, calls Boyle a potential 2016 NHL draft pick and in a class, perhaps, just after superstar Austin Mathews.

Many DU fans have called for more size on the defensive end. Well, Boyles stands 6’2″ and 210 pounds. The article states, Boyle’s size, athleticism and potential have caught the attention of the NHL scouts over the last year. He played for the Phoenix Jr. Coyotes, a AAA team, last season and is playing for the Sioux City Musketeers of the USHL this season. Continue reading Denver Strikes Gold with Defenseman Boyle

Catching up with Gwoz

Photo: Andy Cross, The Denver Post – Article Link Below

In case you missed it, there was a good article about former Pioneer coach George Gwozdecky  published earlier this month.

The Denver Post had an in-depth article on his decision to take the Valor Christian (4-6-1) job and what it is like to coach high school players versus his prior coaching experience. He has taken all the changes in stride, “Being at Valor, I’ve got a lot on my plate. I’m a coach, a counselor and I arrange transportation. I’m the media relations guy and the occasional equipment manager. I think the only thing I haven’t done is drive the Zamboni.” Continue reading Catching up with Gwoz

Fanning the Flames – From Tweets to Twits

It was with great interest that I watched the twitter wars and blogs covering this past weekend’s hard fought Denver – Minnesota-Duluth hockey series. Pioneer (2-0/series) fans saw the series as a poorly officiated ‘chippy’ affair. On the other hand, the UMD (0-2/series) Bulldog blogs and twitter supporters saw the series as a highly competitive physical affair and characterized DU’s team and supporters as soft, spoiled babies.

DU posted the game ‘highlights’, see for yourself (Game 2 Highlights). Continue reading Fanning the Flames – From Tweets to Twits

Denver Pioneers Secure Sweep Over UMD in Chippy Affair

Photo Credit: Matt Christians, SBN College Hockey

With 7.8 seconds left and the score sitting at 2-1 in favor of the University of Denver Pioneres, three Minnesota-Duluth players, on each end of the ice, starting punching and tackling DU players. In true hockey form, DU players retaliated and the game was one punch away from a benches clearing brawl.

In the end, Denver won the game by a score of 2-1 and secured a very important sweep to put some more distance between them and the Bulldogs. As it stands now, DU is in 3rd place in the NCHC and now 7 points ahead of UMD, who is in 4th place. Continue reading Denver Pioneers Secure Sweep Over UMD in Chippy Affair

Heinen Scores Twice as Denver Tops Minnesota-Duluth

Photo Credit: Bradley K. Olson, USCHO.com

For the first time since the New Year, the University of Denver couldn’t get anything going in the first period. After withstanding an early barrage by the Minnesota-Duluth Bulldogs in which DU starting goalie Tanner Jaillet gave up 2 goals, the Pioneers settled down and came back to win. Continue reading Heinen Scores Twice as Denver Tops Minnesota-Duluth

DU Hockey Mailbag: What’s Wrong With the Top Line?

Just a few days ago, I came up with the idea to put together a weekly mailbag about DU hockey. Eventually, this idea may extend to a DU Athletics mailbag, but I’m going to start smaller with just hockey and let it go from there.

The whole point behind this idea is that it’s difficult to cover everything that readers want to know and answering every single question isn’t easy with only reader comments. As a reminder, if you have any questions about DU hockey, email me at letsgodu@gmail.com. The cutoff for every week’s mailbag is going to be at 6 PM MT each Wednesday. Continue reading DU Hockey Mailbag: What’s Wrong With the Top Line?

Western Michigan Tops Denver in 3 on 3 Overtime

The Western Michigan Broncos earned the extra point in the NCHC standings on Saturday as they topped the Denver Pioneers 3-2 in 3-on-3 overtime. Taylor Fleming shot the puck past Jaillet on the rush just 1:13 into the 2nd overtime of the evening and immediately the Broncos players poured onto the ice to celebrate their nationally recognized tie. Continue reading Western Michigan Tops Denver in 3 on 3 Overtime

Vanilla Broncos Can Play Denver Spoiler

Not THE Denver Broncos – the Western Michigan Broncos.

When Western Michigan rolls into Denver for this weekend’s 2-game series against DU, many fans are going to be discounting these Broncos. They sit at #28 in the RPI rankings, they are in the bottom half of D1 scoring and D1 defense, and their goalie(s) is not in the top 50 goaltenders in save percentage. This is a perfect trap series for DU, especially with important NCHC foes Minnesota Duluth and underachieving Miami. Continue reading Vanilla Broncos Can Play Denver Spoiler

Update: NCHC May Benefit from Arizona State’s First D1 Season

Photo: New York Times

Their first season as a DI hockey program, the Arizona State Sun Devils are true road warriors with only five home games at Oceanside Ice Arena, their 41-year-old home rink which seats 800. They also have scheduled some games and tournaments at Gila River Arena in Glendale, home of the NHL’s Arizona Coyotes, and expect to play more games there in the coming seasons until they build their own on-campus arena. Continue reading Update: NCHC May Benefit from Arizona State’s First D1 Season