As the COVID-19 pandemic rages on in the United States, sports at all levels are rushing to adapt. Schedule changes, season truncation, and attendance adjustments all appear to be in the offing. But today, a major scheduling change for DU Hockey – an opening weekend matchup with the Wisconsin Badgers in Madison is now a road trip to Tempe to play the Arizona State Sun Devils – has absolutely nothing to do with the spread of the virus. In fact, it has to do with another college sport whose immediate future is in question: football. Continue reading Denver Hockey’s opening weekend road trip destination changes from Madison to Tempe
Category Archives: Hockey
Family Feud May Hit Denver & North Dakota Ice in 2021
After watching his older brother play for the North Dakota Fighting Hawks for the past two years, Okotoks Oilers (AJHA) defenseman Seth Bernard-Docker (5’11”, 186 lbs.) made the obvious choice – come to DU to play hockey. Seth’s brother, Jacob also played for the Oilers, but now plays for the UND and was taken in the first round and 26th overall by the Ottawa Senators in the 2018 NHL Entry Draft. The prospect of seeing these two brothers collide for different rival schools is tantalizing, but alas, unlikely to actually happen. Continue reading Family Feud May Hit Denver & North Dakota Ice in 2021
The Athletic: Jim Montgomery Facing His Demons Head-On
Former DU and Dallas Stars head coach Jim Montgomery had a recent interview with Pierre LeBrun of The Athletic ($). While Montgomery did not reveal the specific event(s) that led to his firing by the Dallas Stars, he opened up about his addiction to alcohol and his understanding and acceptance of his dismissal. Continue reading The Athletic: Jim Montgomery Facing His Demons Head-On
North Dakota Holds Drive-Thru Graduation
The University of Denver announced a Day of Recognition graduation event along with a local photo opportunity at Mary Reed Circle scheduled for Friday, June 12th. A more traditional graduation ceremony for DU grads as been rescheduled for the spring of 2021.
However, Denver Hockey archrival University of North Dakota had other plans. Continue reading North Dakota Holds Drive-Thru Graduation
Pettersen and Ward Leaving Pioneers, Jandric and Hanson Transferring In
The Denver Pioneers hockey roster continues to change, as rising junior forward Emilio Pettersen has left DU to sign an entry level contract with the Calgary Flames, while fellow rising junior Tyler Ward is transferring from DU to the University of New Hampshire, where he will need to sit out a year. According to the Grand Forks Herald, DU will help mitigate these losses as the beneficiary of two incoming graduate transfers with immediate eligibility join the DU team next season in- all-WCHA forward Steven Jandric of Alaska-Fairbanks and defenseman Bo Hanson from St. Lawrence University of the ECAC. While DU has yet to publicly announce the two transfers, both transfers were confirmed to LetsGoDU last week. Continue reading Pettersen and Ward Leaving Pioneers, Jandric and Hanson Transferring In
Ian Mitchell signs with Blackhawks to forego senior year but his legacy will remain
One of the unique things about college hockey, college sports in general, really, is the importance of Senior Night. This event, which highlights the accomplishments and contributions of every year’s graduating class, is held in sacred regard by programs and colleges alike. The NCAA, unlike its professional counterpart, provides student-athletes just four years of eligibility. At the University of Denver, seemingly in every sport, it’s constantly astonishing what every class is able to achieve in just four years. More than anything, it’s the student-athletes who compete on the ice, courts, and fields that have built these programs into the powerhouses and developing contenders that DU boasts. It’s during Senior Night that the program and fans have the opportunity to thank those student-athletes for their blood, sweat, tears, and other sacrifices that they’ve made for them. Continue reading Ian Mitchell signs with Blackhawks to forego senior year but his legacy will remain
Business Continues During Shutdown of Athletics
- David Carle has completed his incoming freshman class – and still no official word as to whether Ian Mitchell will be departing before his senior season, though it is still all but a given that he will sign with the Chicago Blackhawks. The incoming class includes two 2019 NHL Draftees in D Antti Tuomisto, Assat U20 (Finland) 2nd round pick (35th overall) of the Detroit Red Wings and F McKade Webster, Green Bay Gamblers (USHL) 7th round draft pick (213 overall) of the Tampa Bay Lightning. The remaining three members are F Connor Caponi, Waterloo Black Hawks (USHL) from Brookfield, Wisconsin, D Reid Irwin, Sherwood Park Crusaders (AJHL), from Victoria, B.C, and D Josh Luedtke, Des Moines Buccaneers (USHL) from Minnetonka, MN. We will have more on this incoming class later this year in our annual season preview.
Continue reading Business Continues During Shutdown of Athletics
Pucks, Pans, and Passion: A Trip into the Heart of Darkness with Hockey Student Section Leaders
Editor’s Note: This article was originally slated to run ahead of the hockey team’s NCHC quarterfinal series with Omaha, which was later canceled along with the rest of the 2019-2020 NCAA season.
If you happen to find yourself in need of a toothbrush, Ilona Kovacs might be able to help you out.
That’s because a student once bribed her with one, in exchange for being able to sit in the first row of the student section. Sitting there allows one to be next to DU Whiteboard, the large dry erase board Kovacs and fellow sophomore Jack Fowle write taunting messages on for the other team. Continue reading Pucks, Pans, and Passion: A Trip into the Heart of Darkness with Hockey Student Section Leaders
And now, some good news: spring athletes to be granted extra year of eligibility, per reports
The last two days have felt like a decade. Every five minutes, the news cycle delivered a new body blow and the bad news flowed flowing like the dang Colorado River. On Wednesday afternoon, the NCAA delivered the news that fans would not be permitted to attend any winter sports championships including March Madness and the NCAA Hockey Tournament. This news, of course, was followed up by the NBA suspending its season Wednesday night after Rudy Gobert of the Utah Jazz tested positive for the coronavirus, better known to some as COVID-19. And that was just Wednesday. Continue reading And now, some good news: spring athletes to be granted extra year of eligibility, per reports
Pioneers ride dominant second period to 3-0-1 record vs. Tigers, NCHC third seed on Senior Night
DENVER – There may not have been much to play for in the fourth and final game between the #6 Denver Pioneers (21-9-6, 11-8-5-4) and the Colorado College Tigers (11-20-3, 4-17-3-1), but apparently that message never reached DU’s -locker room. With the Gold Pan clinched thanks to a 2-2 tie in Colorado Springs last night, all that was left for Denver to play for in the final game of the regular season was seeding for the NCHC Tournament. That motivation was plenty enough for Denver to score three times in the second period and twice in the third to coast to a 5-1 victory over the Tigers at Magness Arena on Saturday night. The win clinched an unbeaten 3-0-1 record against their archrivals to the south and vaulted them over Western Michigan – the Broncos beat Miami handily again earlier in the evening – into third place. With the #3 seed, Denver will host #6 Omaha next weekend. Continue reading Pioneers ride dominant second period to 3-0-1 record vs. Tigers, NCHC third seed on Senior Night