All Things Denver XXIX

[Dmann]

Re: All Things Denver XXIX

Dmann-Since you have blown me off everytime I go to Maine, I don't know why I would reach out to Dino for you. muahahahahahahahahahahahahah. DU78- I wish we could have more time with the Dineen boys. The stories were just beginning to roll.

Just in case any of you winced at Bagman's evil post, we just got off the phone and the shout out to Dineen is imminent. Have no fear, all is well in Pioneer land!!

 

[Puck Swami]

Re: All Things Denver XXIX

The Pioneers are going to need to bring it much better against AFA. Denver's slow starts are getting old. Would love to see a 60 minute effort.

 

[du78]

Re: All Things Denver XXIX

The Pioneers are going to need to bring it much better against AFA. Denver's slow starts are getting old. Would love to see a 60 minute effort.

Gwoz not happy, said he may adjust some playing time rewarding those who are working hard with more ice time.

 

[vizoroo]

Re: All Things Denver XXIX

The Pioneers are going to need to bring it much better against AFA. Denver's slow starts are getting old. Would love to see a 60 minute effort.

We got the the W, but it wasn't pretty. Kyle Ostrow was playing hard! Drew Shore was awesome! Brittain was very good. Zucker was there! The question is: To whom is gwoz speaking?

 

[Old Pio]

Re: All Things Denver XXIX

The Pioneers are going to need to bring it much better against AFA. Denver's slow starts are getting old. Would love to see a 60 minute effort.

They're asking to give one away.

 

[Puck Swami]

Re: All Things Denver XXIX

We got the the W, but it wasn't pretty. Kyle Ostrow was playing hard! Drew Shore was awesome! Brittain was very good. Zucker was there! The question is: To whom is gwoz speaking?

Donovan and Wrenn were both -2 tonight, so he'll probably start with them. Both guys struggled.

 

[Dmann]

Re: All Things Denver XXIX

We got the the W, but it wasn't pretty. Kyle Ostrow was playing hard! Drew Shore was awesome! Brittain was very good. Zucker was there! The question is: To whom is gwoz speaking?

I agree, who is he so upset with? I'm watching it again right now (nursing a hangover) and I don't see anyone slacking. Although I noticed Salazar did not get a point, maybe he's in the doghouse again. Lee has made some errant passes from behind the net. I don't know, I'd love to hear more from George!!

 

[Old Pio]

Re: All Things Denver XXIX

Hey - If any of you like watching video content on college hockey, the Ferris State Bulldogs in the CCHA has 3 of their top 5 news articles featuring video.

www.FerrisStateBullogs.com/Sports/MIce

I like to browse other college hockey websites after the Friday and Saturday games to watch highlights as well as during the week to watch series previews or press conferences, thought I'd share another spot for fans to check.

Here are a few:

http://www.ferrisstatebulldogs.com/...key_vs._-16_Western_Michigan_Broncos_11-20-10
http://www.ferrisstatebulldogs.com/sports/mice/video/-19-20_Hockey_vs._MSU_Preview_11-22-10
http://www.ferrisstatebulldogs.com/...0_Hockey_-_Michigan_State_Highlights_11-24-10

Let me know if you like the work so far.

Thanks. Reminds me of my salad days. Still not sure what I think about shootouts. The one you posted reminds me of that game between Michigan and Illinois--67-65.

 

[Puck Swami]

Re: All Things Denver XXIX

Pioneers took care of business against the six games of home lower division opponents (MSUM (2), BSU (2), LSSU and AFA following the .500 work against top level teams to open the season. This stretch allowed DU to gel a bit and build some confidence at the Pios head to Duluth to face a top level team on its home ice next weekend, in what will be an emotional weekend as UMD says good-bye to the DECC after 45 years or so in that barn.

The Pioneers have some defensive zone work to do this week in practice, as they will face some excellent UMD talent on a tiny ice surface, with all kinds of weird bounces, due the age of the place.

Shore is becoming a beast, Zucker is electrifying and Bennett is starting to score with consistency, while Brittain and the d-corps are doing a nice job of limiting second chance shots.

I am hoping the Pios are good enough to get a win up there. Friday night would be ideal, since Saturday will likely be packed to the rafters as the last call at the DECC.

 

[vizoroo]

Re: All Things Denver XXIX

A split in Duluth would not be a bad thing.

 

[Old Pio]

Re: All Things Denver XXIX

A split in Duluth would not be a bad thing.

Yeah, especially on their iddy, biddy ice.

 

[vizoroo]

Re: All Things Denver XXIX

Not a bad "family tree".
The game featured coaches from the same tree, with Appert having worked for George Gwozdecky and with Rico Blasi at Denver, and first-year BGSU coach Chris Bergeron having played for Gwozdecky and then worked with Blasi at Miami. The tree, which goes back to Ron Mason and "Badger" Bob Johnson, who Gwozdecky coached under at Michigan State and played for at Wisconsin, also includes St. Cloud's Bob Motzko and now Western Michigan's Jeff Blashill (Appert's roommate and fellow goalie at Ferris State).
http://www.collegehockeynews.com/news/gamegab.php

 

[Old Pio]

Re: All Things Denver XXIX

Pioneers took care of business against the six games of home lower division opponents (MSUM (2), BSU (2), LSSU and AFA following the .500 work against top level teams to open the season. This stretch allowed DU to gel a bit and build some confidence at the Pios head to Duluth to face a top level team on its home ice next weekend, in what will be an emotional weekend as UMD says good-bye to the DECC after 45 years or so in that barn.

The Pioneers have some defensive zone work to do this week in practice, as they will face some excellent UMD talent on a tiny ice surface, with all kinds of weird bounces, due the age of the place.

Shore is becoming a beast, Zucker is electrifying and Bennett is starting to score with consistency, while Brittain and the d-corps are doing a nice job of limiting second chance shots.

I am hoping the Pios are good enough to get a win up there. Friday night would be ideal, since Saturday will likely be packed to the rafters as the last call at the DECC.

Funny. My only trip to the DECC was the '68 NC. And for whatever reason, the size of the ice didn't register. Plus, in those days, I thought it was really pretty nice, especially when compared to the DU Arena. Of course a National Park Service outhouse would look and smell pretty good compared to that dump!

 

[UMDbulldogs#1]

Re: All Things Denver XXIX

Yeah, especially on their iddy, biddy ice.

It's only 10 short of NHL, though I don't remember where it's short (the neutral zone seems a bit small). It just seems really small because the crowd is basically on top of the playing surface.

 

[manurespreader]

Re: All Things Denver XXIX

It's only 10 short of NHL, though I don't remember where it's short (the neutral zone seems a bit small). It just seems really small because the crowd is basically on top of the playing surface.

No it doesn't just seem really small. That 10 ft is huge. It is really small.
I am curious about one thing though. Why build a new rink. The DECC seemed perfectly serviceable to me.

 

[UMDbulldogs#1]

Re: All Things Denver XXIX

No it doesn't just seem really small. That 10 ft is huge. It is really small.
I am curious about one thing though. Why build a new rink. The DECC seemed perfectly serviceable to me.

I don't know the exact reasoning but I'm sure for the price of updating the current building (e.g. installing a new playing surface, new cooling plant, upgrading the locker rooms, new press boxes, suites, more seats, etc) it was more logical to simply build a new building. Also, a new building can be used as a recruiting tool. Further, more seats = more ticket revenue.

 

[Puck Swami]

Re: All Things Denver XXIX

I am curious about one thing though. Why build a new rink. The DECC seemed perfectly serviceable to me.

The WCHA is an arms race. All the WCHA schools save Tech and UMD have post 1980s arenas, and most of the WCHA arenas are from the 1990s. UMD needed this for recruiting and revenue. The DECC is also falling apart in places.

 

[Chris]

Re: All Things Denver XXIX

The WCHA is an arms race. All the WCHA schools save Tech and UMD have post 1980s arenas, and most of the WCHA arenas are from the 1990s. UMD needed this for recruiting and revenue. The DECC is also falling apart in places.

This is correct. Winning key recruiting battles is what all programs need in order to thrive -- or survive as somewhat competitive -- and a shiny, new arena is a key component in that battle for the top recruits.

 

[Old Pio]

Re: All Things Denver XXIX

This is correct. Winning key recruiting battles is what all programs need in order to thrive -- or survive as somewhat competitive -- and a shiny, new arena is a key component in that battle for the top recruits.

I would say DU is defense exhibit #1 on that point. What? You mean DU started closing the deal with top recruits after we built Magness?
Amazing.

 

[du78]

Re: All Things Denver XXIX

I would say DU is defense exhibit #1 on that point. What? You mean DU started closing the deal with top recruits after we built Magness?
Amazing.

So true. DU to stay in the arms race has continued to supplement Magness and the Ritchie Center. When Magness was built it was built as a multi-purpose arena suitable for hockey, basketball and concerts. Unlike the old DU Arena which was primarily a hockey only facility with occasional concerts, Magness was built to be constantly in use. A second adjoining ice sheet, Joy Burns Arena, was built as poart of the Ritchie Center so as not to disrupt the hockey team's on ice practices. Training has become so important that last year DU finished building the Pat Bowlen Training Center under the new soccer stadium which is connected to the Ritchie Center and Magness. It is the premier training center of any D-1 school that lacks football and is available for all of the varsity teams to use. Propspective athletes are looking at a number of things that a school offers; education, coaching, league affiliation, history of the program, succcess of athletes moving onto the next level, TV exposure, playing facilities and training facilities. Most college hockey players are not physically ready for the pros when they enter college and in most cases need to improve their physical fitness to become elite college players. They know they need an excellent training regimen to be successful at college and beyond and what a school offers in that area is becoming a very important aspect. When I spoke with the DU staff over the summer they were thrilled by the new training facility and how it will help in recruiting.