CCM and the American Hockey Coaches Association (AHCA) announced today that University of Denver head coach Jim Montgomery has won the Spencer Penrose Award which is given to the Division I Men’s Coach of the Year. Montgomery was a finalist last year before losing out to Quinnipiac head coach, Rand Pecknold. Continue reading Jim Montgomery wins Spencer Penrose Award, named National Coach of the Year
The United Center in Chicago – Home of the 2017 NCAA Frozen Four – Photo: NCAA
This is a very big week for everyone connected to the University of Denver, as our top-ranked Pioneers skate for NCAA Hockey Title #8 in Chicago. Over 1,000 DU fans will watch the game live at the United Center in Chicago, and thousands more will gather at the at least 13 DU-sponsored watch parties around the country or in front of their personal screens on ESPN around the world to cheer on the Pioneers, celebrating our common emotional bond with our team and school. Continue reading Puck Swami: DU Fans Need to Step Up for #Skatefor8!
Photo: Inside Lacrosse
It was the Trevor Baptiste record-setting show, as the junior from Denville, N.J. set a DU career record and tied another to lead the Denver Pioneers to a 20-11 Big East League men’s lacrosse victory over the Georgetown Hoyas before a sellout crowd on a dreary gray day at Peter Barton Lacrosse Stadium.
Baptiste became the University of Denver’s all-time face-off leader in just his junior year, setting the school record with 736 wins in passing DU legends Chase Carraro and Geoff Snider, going 26-for-30 on the day. The possession advantage Baptiste created helped the Pioneers to season high 20 goal output, the most DU has scored since 2012. The Pioneers had a balanced attack behind 11 different goal scorers, but the 4-goal, 5-assist assist performance from senior All American Connor Cannizzaro led the way offensively with nine points, moving him into a tie for 3rd place all time in DU scoring with Todd Dickson (199 points), and behind Mark Matthews (216 points) and Wes Berg’s 255 career points.
Baptiste also tied Ben Wahler’s 2008 school record with his 26 face-off wins on the day and moved into ninth place on the all time NCAA career lacrosse face-off winners list – incredible for a player only two-thirds of his way through his junior season. He also picked up 17 ground balls on the day, and even scored a goal.
“Baptiste was so tenacious,” said DU coach Bill Tierney of his face-off star after the game. “He did so many different moves against five different face off [opponents]…we’re glad he’s on our side.”
Indeed the only way the Hoyas could even slow Baptiste was to put all three long pole players into the face-off play, which Georgetown did in the second half.
The Pioneers (7-2 overall, 1-0 Big East) broke open a close 8-6 halftime lead with an eight goals, including seven unanswered in a dominant 11 minutes of the third quarter to delight another sellout home crowd and put away the somewhat snakebit Hoyas, who fell to 2-8 on the season, and 0-1 in Big East pay.
“I was little emotional at halftime,” Tierney said, referring to what was likely a paint-peeling halftime address to his Pioneers, who were sloppy and sluggish with too many turnovers and some lazy play in the first half. “We weren’t playing well in the first half, but we were scoring goals and winning face-offs…We needed to make sure we got a good convincing win and we did that.”
Besides Baptiste’s dominance at the X, Sophomore goalie Alex Ready woke up from a tough 3-save first half to make four third quarter saves to help change the momentum of the game to finish with seven saves on the day.
Daniel Buccaro was the top offensive bright spot for Georgetown, with a three goal hat trick to go with three assists on the day.
The Pioneers stay home in Denver this week to face Big East rival Villanova next Saturday at 12 pm MT.
Photos: University of Denver
LetsGoDU has learned from Brandon Macneill, DU Athletics’ Associate Vice Chancellor for External Affairs, that plans are being finalized to send the DU Pioneer Pep Band and DU Cheerleaders to Chicago next week for the NCAA Frozen Four. DU’s band, as the higher-seeded ‘home team,’ will also play the National Anthem before Thursday’s National Semi-Final against Notre Dame. Additionally, DU will provide a limited amount of free tickets for DU students who can get to Chicago for the game(s). Continue reading DU to send Pep Band and Cheer Team to Frozen Four, adds free student tickets
For the second straight year, the top-ranked University of Denver Pioneers are going to the Frozen Four.
Troy Terry notched a hat trick, Jarid Lukosevicius tallied two more goals, and Tanner Jaillet stopped 24 shots against the Penn State Nittany Lions in the Midwest Regional Final at the US Bank Center in Cincinnati to earn Denver a trip to Chicago in two weeks. Continue reading American Hero Troy Terry’s hat trick powers Denver to second straight Frozen Four
Photo: NCAA
The #1 overall seed and top-ranked University of Denver Pioneers roared out to a 5-0 lead on #19th ranked and #16 seeded Michigan Tech University in the first 25 minutes of the game, and then held off the Huskies’ two goal second period run to win the NCAA Midwest Regional quarterfinal, 5-2 at US Bank Arena in Cincinnati. Sophomore forward Colin Staub led the Pioneers with the first two goals, and junior goalie Tanner Jaillet turned away 16 MTU shots to record the victory.
The Pioneers advance to face #9 overall seeded Big Ten Tournament Champion Penn State, as the Nittany Lions were 10-3 victors over Union College in the other Midwest Regional quarterfinal. DU and Penn State will face off on Sunday, March 26th at 4 pm (MT) on ESPNU, for the Midwest Regional Championship and a berth in the NCAA Frozen Four.
“It was a great start by our group,” DU coach Jim Montgomery said after the game. “You could tell, led by our seniors and juniors that we’ve been here [NCAA Regionals] before. We were very aggressive to start the game.”
Indeed, The Pioneers’ red-hot start overwhelmed the WCHA Champion Huskies, as DU fired 17 first period shots to only 5 for MTU, and the five unanswered DU goals scored were more than enough to win the game early. Staub’s two first period goals set the tone for the game in the first 12 minutes, and Senior Emil Romig scored the eventual game winner after a misplay by Michigan Tech goalie Angus Redmond to send the Pioneers up, 3-0 at 14:51. Freshman Tyson McLellan put the Pios up 5-0 at 4:26 of the second period, and the rout was on..
Michigan Tech scored twice late in the second period to cut Denver’s lead to three on goals by Gavin Gould and Jake Lucchini, but the Huskies would get no closer, as the Pioneers managed the puck well for the last period to close out the victory.
Denver has never played Penn State before, as the Nittany Lions are only in year five as a varsity program, but PSU figures to be a formidable obstacle for the Pioneers in the regional final. The 10 goals PSU scored against Union was a school record, and the most goals scored in an NCAA tournament game since 1990. However, Penn State hasn’t faced the nation’s top defense before, and that is the Pioneers.
Game time is 4 pm Sunday (ESPNU).
Like most of you, I can’t wait for Saturday’s game.
I’ve been following the DU Hockey program for more than 35 years, and I’ve seen a lot of great Denver hockey teams. In my opinion, the current Pioneer edition has the potential to walk forever among the best of them, should they find success in the next four games of this memorable season. And while we Pioneer fans hope they win it all every year, if any team has the senior-laden experience, quality and depth to win a NCAA Championship, it is this DU team. Continue reading Puck Swami: Pioneer Hockey Needs to Win NCAA Title Now
It’s official. The top-ranked University of Denver Pioneers will enter the NCAA Tournament as the country’s #1 overall seed thanks to a 3-1 victory over the Western Michigan Broncos in the Third Place game at the NCHC Frozen Faceoff. The win also means the Pioneers finish in third place in the NCHC Tournament for the second straight year. Continue reading Denver clinches #1 overall seed in NCAA Tournament with Third Place Game victory
There’s always one constant anytime the top-ranked University of Denver Pioneers and the North Dakota Fighting Hawks take the ice together: it’s going to be a close game. Tonight’s game between the two teams at the Frozen Faceoff in Minneapolis was no different as the Fighting Hawks skated out of the building with a hard-fought 1-0 victory over the Pioneers. Continue reading Denver drops close defensive battle to North Dakota in Frozen Faceoff semifinal
If you want to get a University of Denver hockey player’s blood boiling and heart pumping, all you have to do is mention North Dakota. The rivalry between the Pioneers and the Fighting Hawks goes back decades and there’s no love lost between the two programs. From conference tournament matchups to national seminfinal and title games, the hatred has festered and the fireworks fly every time the two programs take the ice. Continue reading For Denver, NCHC semifinal against North Dakota more than just another rivalry game
