Tag Archives: Denver Pioneers

Battle on Blake, Hockey, Men's Sports

Puck Swami: Thoughts on the Battle On Blake (Part 1 of 2)

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Puck Swami, the Internet moniker of a longtime DU fan, offers a two-part article this week as a prelude to the Battle on Blake. Part One focuses some perspective on the ice and develops the history of the rivalry. Part Two focuses on some of the off-ice elements of the rivalry and puts the weekend into a larger context.

The “Battle on Blake” is almost here, and it promises to be the largest-attended DU-hosted sporting event since the University of Denver dropped football in 1961, as well as the largest attended DU hockey game of all time, with between 25,000-30,000 tickets sold as of Monday Feb 17. For that reason alone, it’s an event worth celebrating as a high water mark of spectator interest in DU sports in the modern era. Continue reading Puck Swami: Thoughts on the Battle On Blake (Part 1 of 2) →

Battle on Blake, Hockey, Men's Sports

UPDATE: Denver Officially Unveils Battle on Blake Sweater

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Photo Credit: University of Denver Hockey

Earlier on Tuesday, when practice ended, the University of Denver hockey program posted a video on Instagram of players seeing the uniforms they will wear on Saturday for the Battle on Blake for the first time. The smiles and excitement on the faces of the few players in the video were obvious. Continue reading UPDATE: Denver Officially Unveils Battle on Blake Sweater →

Hockey, Men's Sports

Heinen and Gambrell Named NCHC Players of the Week

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Photo Credit: Sasha Kandrach

Danton Heinen and Dylan Gambrell were named NCHC Offensive Player and Rookie of the Week, respectively after leading the University of Denver Pioneers to a weekend sweep of the North Dakota Fighting Hawks. Continue reading Heinen and Gambrell Named NCHC Players of the Week →

Hockey, Men's Sports

Denver Tops North Dakota in Game for the Ages, 6-4

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Photo Credit: Sasha Kandrach

In one of the best games in the history of the storied rivalry between the University of Denver and the University of North Dakota, the No. 13 Pioneers held on to beat the No. 2 Fighting Hawks 6-4. It took a game-winning shorthanded goal from Quentin Shore and a game-sealing empty net goal from Danton Heinen, but the Denver Pioneers won one of the best games of the 2015-16 College Hockey season.

“It was just an unbelievable game to be a part of,” DU head coach Jim Montgomery said after the final buzzer. Continue reading Denver Tops North Dakota in Game for the Ages, 6-4 →

Hockey, Men's Sports

North Dakota Week PSA: Have Fun, Stay Safe

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We’ve made it through the week and we’re finally about to witness one of the greatest rivalries in all of college sports. North Dakota vs. Denver means a lot of things to many people. For some, it’s just another hockey game, but for many, this series is akin to the Super Bowl. Continue reading North Dakota Week PSA: Have Fun, Stay Safe →

Hockey, Men's Sports

Rivalry Weekend: Full-Strength

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Photo credit: Karl Gehring, The Denver Post

The No. 13 ranked Denver Pioneers prepare to clash with the No. 2 North Dakota for their second time this season this weekend at Magness Arena.

Since the first series when Denver was swept by UND and again the following weekend against St. Cloud State, the Pios returned from winter break refreshed and energized. In 2016, Denver has recorded just one loss in their ten games since the ball dropped on 2015. The Pios’ 6-1-3 record has comfortably positioned them in 3rd place in the NCHC, 4 points ahead of Minnesota-Duluth with 2 games in hand. Continue reading Rivalry Weekend: Full-Strength →

Hockey, Hockey Mailbags, Men's Sports

DU Hockey Mailbag: It’s North Dakota Week!

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Photo Credit: Eric Hylden, Grand Forks Herald

After an odd bye week that gave me some serious college hockey withdrawals, DU hockey is back this weekend to take on their bitter rival, North Dakota. It’s going to be a great weekend of college hockey that you’re not going to want to miss. I will be repeating this info likely later today and tomorrow, but if you can’t make it to Magness Arena this weekend, both games will be televised. Friday’s game (8:06 PM puck drop) will be on CBS Sports and Saturday’s (7:06 PM) will be on Root Sports. Continue reading DU Hockey Mailbag: It’s North Dakota Week! →

Hockey, Men's Sports

DU-UND 1994: The Last of the Great College Hockey Brawls

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BY ANDY CLAYTON

“Win or lose, at least we don’t live in Grand Forks.”

That sign – held up by a Denver fan at the 2005 Frozen Four in Columbus, Ohio – perfectly sums up the DU-North Dakota rivalry for me.

The two storied programs may respect each other, but when they battle on the ice it’s college hockey at its very best. Passions run high. The games are intense. It’s great theater. But in the end, Denver always has the edge … “at least we don’t live in Grand Forks.” Continue reading DU-UND 1994: The Last of the Great College Hockey Brawls →

Hockey, Men's Sports

The Evolution of College Hockey Coverage

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Photo Credit: Candace Horgan, USCHO.com

On Monday, Brad E. Schlossman of the Grand Forks Herald, wrote an article on Area Voices about the evolution of college hockey coverage. Schlossman is a very well-known college hockey reporter and has been in the business for over a decade. He’s seen the industry change as the internet has grown and online sports content has become mostly free to access. Continue reading The Evolution of College Hockey Coverage →

Hockey, Men's Sports

Denver and North Dakota: One and the Same

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Photo Credit: Andy Cross, The Denver Post

There is no denying the extensive history between the University of Denver and the University of North Dakota hockey programs.

Since their first meeting when both programs joined the Midwest Collegiate Hockey League (MCHL) back in 1951, the incredibly talented teams have battled each year to create a unique conference rivalry. Continue reading Denver and North Dakota: One and the Same →