All Things Denver--XXXV

[Chris]

Your dad and I would talk before each season about Denver and BC's teams. He was a good man. I don't think he would be happy.

Cool. Good to know. DU, and college hockey in general, was such a huge part of his life.

He and Gwoz's rapport had grown over the years that Gwoz was seeing him relatively regularly during my dad's final days.

I'm pretty sure he would have accepted (after some time) the whole NCHC thing and he, though unhappy, would have accepted this Gwoz situation after a while because his loyalty to DU was so strong. I guess how quickly he would have accepted the Gwoz firing would have depended on who his replacement will be.

Also, I stepped into his opening on his crew (I assume you know what I'm talking about) and have been doing my best to carry on his legacy in any way I can. He deserved this out of me.

 

[du78]

Re: All Things Denver--XXXV

In order for DU to come out without any egg on their face, and boy right now it looks like at least a dozen are on it, they are going to have to pull off a Tierney move in their hire. Look at Gwoz's resume and then look at anyone out there with something similar. Folks, there aren't many out there; York, Parker, Berensen, Blais, Lucia, Eaves. I don't see anyone of them on their way to DU. Going into a new league with a new coach without Gwoz's credentials is a pretty tall order to fill. I don't know what is going to happen but there won't be much of a honeymoon for any new coach as he isn't inheriting a broken down program. He better make sure they compete for the NCHC title and are in the NCAAs his first year.

 

[du78]

Re: All Things Denver--XXXV

Who would i like to see? Lassonde/Miller.

Seat7 came up with an alum - Kevin Dineen might want to take a giant step backwards, but actually win some games.

I am sure you will need a college degree and Kevin left DU after 2 years, so he probably doesn't meet the school's education requirements. Personally, I think he would be a great hire but he is coaching the big boys now after years of toiling in the AHL.

 

[Chris]

Who would i like to see? Lassonde/Miller.

Seat7 came up with an alum - Kevin Dineen might want to take a giant step backwards, but actually win some games.

A name that just popped in my head: Troy Ward

He was an assistant here under Serratore and is an extremely nice guy who has also been a coach at Wisconsin, in the ECHL, the IHL, the AHL and the NHL.

 

[Mannino Saves]

Re: All Things Denver--XXXV

Based upon the few hints DG is dropping, this hire will be similar to Gwoz's. To me, that means an up and coming coach from a smaller school that has had recent success and presents himself well. And given that Ritchie is heavily involved in the process, my guess is that we will get whoever we are targeting.

I for one am excited for the prospect. This hire will breathe new life into the program and create some buzz. With Gwoz, lately, the drill became mundane. 20-win season, 1st round flameout. I suspect it will be a while before we win 20 games again, but maybe this coach they are targeting is just as good as Gwoz is/was. Keeping my fingers crossed that they make the right move.

 

[dggoddard]

Re: All Things Denver--XXXV

The banquet this year might be fun or sad, but Seat7 and i have other engagements relating to moving dirt/ash/vegetation around all weekend.

I don't know all the ins and outs of the banquet business, but I can't imagine Gwozdecky being invited.

If they held it at all, the new coach would be the featured speaker.

 

[Meehan Popcorn Guy]

Re: All Things Denver--XXXV

If the decision really boiled down to the team's recent NCAA Tournament record then it was a ridiculous decision which should cast considerable doubt on the competency of those who made it. If, on the other hand, it was a money decision dictated by a lack of progress toward a new contract, then it may be justifiable (depending on the numbers). I hoped Sandy might shed some light on 104.3 but it sounds like he's vacationing or something. No college hockey program is in a position to replace its coach for qualifying for, but losing in, the NCAAs while running a clean shop and winning 23+ and sending players to the NHL six straight seasons. That's simply not a valid reason. Money could be.

 

[A Shot and a Goal]

Re: All Things Denver--XXXV

A former Denver player I came to know well is Bryan Vines. He was an assisatnt coach at Miami and has been on Seth Appert's staff at RPI. Bryan is quite likely not "a big enough name" to replace Gwozdecky, but at some point Bryan will get his chance to coach at the division 1 level and the school hiring him will have gotten itself a solid coach.

 

[AspyDad]

Re: All Things Denver--XXXV

http://unitedstatesofhockey.com/2013/04/02/the-insanity-of-george-gwozdeckys-ouster-at-denver/

 

[vizoroo]

Re: All Things Denver--XXXV

Just watched Gwoz's press conference. CLASS all the way!.

DU did not resume contract negotiations. He had a brief meeting with PBD Monday morning. Was stunned.
Proud of the accomplishments, high standards, players and coaches. Disappointed, had hoped to be at DU until he retired from coaching.

Strange timing. Sounds like decision was made awhile ago.
Would this meeting have occured if DU won the regional?
Or, heaven forbid, Frozen Four win(s)?

Personally, have far more respect for Gwoz than whoever are "the powers that be."

 

[COHockey]

Re: All Things Denver--XXXV

Here's the dealio.

Gwozdecky had a 10 year contract signed in [midseason] 2002 when DU was #1 in the country and Michigan State & Sconnie were about to conduct coaching searches. Then they extended after the 2004 Natty to stretch the contract expire after next season. Very unusual provision in the contract was a $1 million dollar annuity that would only be paid at the end of the contract. This was back when a $1 million actually got you more than a cup of coffee and a haircut. But I digress.

Around 2009 Gwozdecky wants to extend his contract to carry him to retirement. At the same time DU has re-upped basketball coach Joe Scott, now the highest paid person at the university, while the hoops team is lucky to draw 500 fans a night. Someone ran to the Denver Post and all the juicy numbers are splashed all over town.

In June 2009 DU signed lax coach Bill Tierney for significantly less than market value and less than Tierney made at Princeton. Suddenly DU is on the map in lax, and hockey takes a little dip in prestige at DU.

In April 2010, the Ohio State job opens up and Gwozdecky goes from consultant to candidate in the blink of an eye. But to get Gwozdecky, OSU would have to pay the annuity, give Gwozdecky his money and spend money for all the bells and whistles Gwozdecky would need to build a winner. Ohio State, with all the money in the world, says "No thank you."

DU continues to tell everyone they are going to re-sign Gwozdecky & Tierney to deals, but there's no hurry with Gwozdecky because of the annuity.

Between 2010 and present DU gets knocked around like a beachball because of conference affiliation [WCHA->NCHC, Sunbelt->WAC->Summit League], spends millions trying to find a home for hoops and and finds out that hockey, skiing, lacrosse and gymnastics success isn't worth a crap in the new world order. Especially when you don't have a football program.

So the decision was made a few weeks ago to buy out Gwozdecky's contract and use the same formula to find a coach they used in 1996 hiring Gwozdecky.

If DU gets the guy they are targeting, you'll find similarities to Gwozdecky hiring in 1996. But is not Enrico, any Gwozdecky disciple or a DU alum.

Yesterday I got off the phone with a former neighbor of mine who (now semi-retired) but used to work at DU and still does a lot of fundraising for the school. I was just going to discuss all that happened and his semi-terse reply was like, "Don't you know I am busy?" He called back today and I know why he was so busy. He was making calls to donors reassuring them, or at least the ones that give to the hockey program.

He confirmed about 80% of what DG said. He also indicated that as recent as four weeks ago, the Gwozdecky negotiations were all good and set to carry him to retirement. Gwoz got busy and a decision might have been changed without him knowing. He was not too certain on that, but that was his general feeling. He does know that since even before Joe Scott's hiring, donors who cared about sports often commented on the dismal state of basketball, and express that if DU ever gets serious, more money would flow into DU's coffers. He said he's heard a lot about basketball recently from donors, both alumni and non-alumni alike.

He indicated a search is moving along, but gave no names to give on the short list. He gave his typical cryptic answer, "If I knew names, I wouldn't be saying them, but since I don't know any names, I can't say them." I know him long enough to know that he would respond like that either way.

As a side, I asked about his unofficial opinion on Boone. His response was also cryptic, "Since the donors aren't harking about it, what's going on is going on." Last I knew, he had a Boone sticker on his SUV and his son who graduated from DU a few years ago, had one on his car.

 

[co14ers]

Re: All Things Denver--XXXV

Let me pose a question to Denver fans who post on a regular basis in the All Things Denver threads. Whom would you like to see as the next head coach of the Pioneers?

Seth Appert.

 

[vizoroo]

Re: All Things Denver--XXXV

DU Hockey 63 years--40 years of 2 great coaches
Coach Murray Arnstrong 21 years 5 National Championships
Coach George Gwozdecky 19 years 2 National Championships

Who will match these accomplishments?

 

[COHockey]

Re: All Things Denver--XXXV

Random musings - I just got done talking to my son.

My older son (who is now 4) has been going to DU games for quite a while. He went to his first frozen four at five months. Every game he has a ritual: he walks by the murals and waves at Boone, eats popcorn, makes a fast sign, and stands next to the statue of Coach Armstrong and sees how high he can reach. He has always been fascinated with that statue.

I haven't told him about painting over Boone. The popcorn sucks. I enjoy watching him color (he wrote '57' on his own during the playoffs). When I told him they fired Coach Gwozdecky his first question was when they were going to put up a statue of him and would it be next to Coach Armstrong. I had to tell him it'll be a while.

 

[A Shot and a Goal]

Re: All Things Denver--XXXV

Random musings - I just got done talking to my son.

My older son (who is now 4) has been going to DU games for quite a while. He went to hist first frozen four at five months. Every game he has a ritual: he walks by the murals and waves at Boone, eats popcorn, makes a fast sign, and stands next to the statue of Coach Armstrong and sees how high he can reach. He has always been fascinated with that statue.

I haven't told him about painting over Boone. The popcorn sucks. I enjoy watching him color (he wrote '57' on his own during the playoffs). When I told him they fired Coach Gwozdecky his first question was when they were going to put up a statue of him and would it be next to Coach Armstrong. I had to tell him it'll be a while.

Out of the mouths of babes...

 

[Old Pio]

Re: All Things Denver--XXXV

DU Hockey 63 years--40 years of 2 great coaches
Coach Murray Arnstrong 21 years 5 National Championships
Coach George Gwozdecky 19 years 2 National Championships

Who will match these accomplishments?

Very high standards. The short answer: probably nobody. But we can hope.

 

[dggoddard]

Re: All Things Denver--XXXV

They did advertise the date for the event formerly know as an awards banquet, so i hope they hold it for everyone else. Inspite of the misery it inflicts on them having to speak, the players deserve the awards and our gratitude. Some other folks might not want to attend.
We could all attend in Gwoz masks...
No correlation with the events, but this is the first time since '86 neither of us will be there.

Banquet is on.

Friday April 26th.

6 PM

Cable Center

 

[Woodstick]

The university still has to grant a release.

Chris I believe you are wrong or that the committed player can easily gain that release based on circumstances. I don't think DU can decide they won't release a player requesting a release before they're officially enrolled on campus and have stepped on the ice. Very easy to de-commit on either side. I've seen colleges decommit an incoming player for a variety of reasons and players decommit for a variety of reasons.

 

[co14ers]

Re: All Things Denver--XXXV

Banquet is on.

Friday April 26th.

6 PM

Cable Center

Are you sure about that date and time? I'm showing a "Throw Tomatoes and Obsenities at the Vice Chancellor for Athletics and Recreation" get together at the Cable Center on the same day and at the same time. Hmmmm.

 

[Chris]

Chris I believe you are wrong or that the committed player can easily gain that release based on circumstances. I don't think DU can decide they won't release a player requesting a release before they're officially enrolled on campus and have stepped on the ice. Very easy to de-commit on either side. I've seen colleges decommit an incoming player for a variety of reasons and players decommit for a variety of reasons.

De-committing is easy. Getting out of a letter of intent is not, it is a legally binding agreement between a student-athlete and an institution. A request can be made based off of a coaching change but the school still has to grant it. If you do indeed get out of it, you can still lose a year of eligibility.

http://www.ncaa.org/wps/wcm/connect/nli/nli

I am on an iPad and I couldn't get the link to show, but there is much information at that link.

This talks about being released:

http://www.ncaa.org/wps/wcm/connect/2f47b5004e0dc6de94eff41ad6fc8b25/Appeals+Process+Sheet+%2810.01.10%29.pdf?MOD=AJPERES&CACHEID=2f47b5004e0dc6de94eff41ad6fc8b25