All I know is that the Big 10, WCHA and NCHC are all currently accepting applications for on ice officials. We could end up with anyone and no one really knows right now.
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All Things Denver--XXXV
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All I know is that the Big 10, WCHA and NCHC are all currently accepting applications for on ice officials. We could end up with anyone and no one really knows right now.
Re: All Things Denver--XXXV
Could history be repeating itself? Are the stars aligning in just the right way for another NC? The team I saw play Friday night can beat anyone. Now we have time to heal our injuries, and not get a rash of new ones in the Final Five. We can sit back and watch UND and Minnie and St. Cloud beat the hell out of each other, while we get fresh and hungry for the real tourney. Call me delusional, but I'm feeling good right now.
Could history be repeating itself? Are the stars aligning in just the right way for another NC? The team I saw play Friday night can beat anyone. Now we have time to heal our injuries, and not get a rash of new ones in the Final Five. We can sit back and watch UND and Minnie and St. Cloud beat the hell out of each other, while we get fresh and hungry for the real tourney. Call me delusional, but I'm feeling good right now.
You are delusional.
A Shot and a Goal
Hupamone
Re: All Things Denver--XXXV
This, that and the other while waiting for the Selection Show next weekend.
Denver began the current season by sprinting from the starting line and fashioning a 9-1-0 record in its first ten games. I've always thought it was important to consider how good a team was at the time you beat it and then to assess how good those same teams were late in the season. Using this parameter I think the Denver team which began the season by winning nine of ten games was a nugget of pyrite...fool's gold. I'll explain later.
In those nine wins Denver beat Lowell once, split a pair of games with Saint Cloud and swept Mankato to compile an impressive 4-1 mark against three teams which seem likely to make the NCAA field. This cluster of five games constitutes good work by the Pioneers against teams which proved to be NCAA-tournament worthy throughout the season.
The Pioneers took a single game from Air Force [17-13-7 for the season], swept a series from Tech [13-20-4] and swept a series from CC [currently 16-18-5]. Unless CC goes on to win the WCHA Final Five this week none of those three teams will make the NCAA field. Air Force was swept, at home, in a first round AHA playoff series over the weekend. Tech lost a decisive third game versus North Dakota.
One side of the coin shows that in the opening ten games Denver went 6-1 at home and 3-0 on the road. The other side of the coin shows that since that time Denver has gone 11-12-5 [.482], and this twenty-eight game stretch is why I consider the team to be fool's gold: viewed in the totality of the season's 38 games the team which started 9-1 has been in evidence far too infrequently. While we won't know the identity of all sixteen teams in the NCAA event until next weekend, I can't foresee there'll be another team entering the tournament which has shown such a desultory record over its past twenty-eight games as Denver. The Pioneers' uneven performance over the last four months does not inspire confidence as the NCAA event approaches.
If the Pioneers make the NCAA field the calendar shows they won't have to play until at least Thursday March 28 which would allow bumps and bruises to heal, and perhaps, allow time for Shawn Ostrow to be healthy enough to play.
In regard to one player.....Given how well Joey LaLeggia played as a freshman, I have been disappointed with his performance this season. No Denver player has suffered a more marked decline in his plus/minus figure from last season to this season than LaLeggia. Last season he was a robust plus thirteen as opposed to his current minus six. He had a particularly difficult series versus CC going 0, -1, -3 in the three games for a total of -4 for the weekend. CC scored nine goals in the series and Joey was on the ice for six of them [counterbalanced by the two DU goals for which he was on the ice]. LaLeggia sees as much ice time as any DU defenseman. While his skating ability, puckhandling and acumen in delivering crisp accurate passes are well established, unfortunately, so too, is his inattentiveness to strong defensive play this season. If Denver does indeed make the NCAA field it will need a more stalwart defensive performance by LaLeggia to extend its post-season.
Of all the players on the Denver team, I feel LaLeggia has the greatest capacity to lift the level of his play from the regular season to the NCAA tournament. Whether it means greater vigilance in covering a man near the crease, short-circuiting a vigorous forecheck by making an effective outlet pass or making sure he doesn't force a clearing pass into congestion in the defensive zone thereby leading to a potentially dangerous turnover, I see LaLeggia's improved play as a critical component to Denver's success in the NCAA tournament.
On a completely different topic, I hope local alumni, their families and friends will attend the NIT game tomorrow night at Magness. My wife and I have good friends whose son is part of Joe Scott's coaching staff and we'll be sitting with those friends at the game. I hope lots of folks will turn out to fill the void created by the student body which is on Spring Break.
This, that and the other while waiting for the Selection Show next weekend.
Denver began the current season by sprinting from the starting line and fashioning a 9-1-0 record in its first ten games. I've always thought it was important to consider how good a team was at the time you beat it and then to assess how good those same teams were late in the season. Using this parameter I think the Denver team which began the season by winning nine of ten games was a nugget of pyrite...fool's gold. I'll explain later.
In those nine wins Denver beat Lowell once, split a pair of games with Saint Cloud and swept Mankato to compile an impressive 4-1 mark against three teams which seem likely to make the NCAA field. This cluster of five games constitutes good work by the Pioneers against teams which proved to be NCAA-tournament worthy throughout the season.
The Pioneers took a single game from Air Force [17-13-7 for the season], swept a series from Tech [13-20-4] and swept a series from CC [currently 16-18-5]. Unless CC goes on to win the WCHA Final Five this week none of those three teams will make the NCAA field. Air Force was swept, at home, in a first round AHA playoff series over the weekend. Tech lost a decisive third game versus North Dakota.
One side of the coin shows that in the opening ten games Denver went 6-1 at home and 3-0 on the road. The other side of the coin shows that since that time Denver has gone 11-12-5 [.482], and this twenty-eight game stretch is why I consider the team to be fool's gold: viewed in the totality of the season's 38 games the team which started 9-1 has been in evidence far too infrequently. While we won't know the identity of all sixteen teams in the NCAA event until next weekend, I can't foresee there'll be another team entering the tournament which has shown such a desultory record over its past twenty-eight games as Denver. The Pioneers' uneven performance over the last four months does not inspire confidence as the NCAA event approaches.
If the Pioneers make the NCAA field the calendar shows they won't have to play until at least Thursday March 28 which would allow bumps and bruises to heal, and perhaps, allow time for Shawn Ostrow to be healthy enough to play.
In regard to one player.....Given how well Joey LaLeggia played as a freshman, I have been disappointed with his performance this season. No Denver player has suffered a more marked decline in his plus/minus figure from last season to this season than LaLeggia. Last season he was a robust plus thirteen as opposed to his current minus six. He had a particularly difficult series versus CC going 0, -1, -3 in the three games for a total of -4 for the weekend. CC scored nine goals in the series and Joey was on the ice for six of them [counterbalanced by the two DU goals for which he was on the ice]. LaLeggia sees as much ice time as any DU defenseman. While his skating ability, puckhandling and acumen in delivering crisp accurate passes are well established, unfortunately, so too, is his inattentiveness to strong defensive play this season. If Denver does indeed make the NCAA field it will need a more stalwart defensive performance by LaLeggia to extend its post-season.
Of all the players on the Denver team, I feel LaLeggia has the greatest capacity to lift the level of his play from the regular season to the NCAA tournament. Whether it means greater vigilance in covering a man near the crease, short-circuiting a vigorous forecheck by making an effective outlet pass or making sure he doesn't force a clearing pass into congestion in the defensive zone thereby leading to a potentially dangerous turnover, I see LaLeggia's improved play as a critical component to Denver's success in the NCAA tournament.
On a completely different topic, I hope local alumni, their families and friends will attend the NIT game tomorrow night at Magness. My wife and I have good friends whose son is part of Joe Scott's coaching staff and we'll be sitting with those friends at the game. I hope lots of folks will turn out to fill the void created by the student body which is on Spring Break.
Re: All Things Denver--XXXV
Are we talking about a potential biding war? Geography obviously enters into it. I'm not exactly optimistic.
Are we talking about a potential biding war? Geography obviously enters into it. I'm not exactly optimistic.
Re: All Things Denver--XXXV
Soo, went back to the game video--normally PioVision doesn't show replays of the opponents goals, but this one--shaking head sadly.
The shot was to Jussi's stick side and was going to be wide. Jussi appears to be going to chip/push the puck to the sidewall and when he moves back to the center of the net somehow the puck stays with his stick and goes into the net behind him. Watched it several times. Freakish!
Jussi has been a bright light for the Pios this year and I can't imagine how he feels. He is still our Fine Finn!
(On the game video it is after the DU timeout and occurs around the 2:06 mark.)
DU didn't post any highlights for the game and that certainly wasn't one. To be honest I don't remember seeing it when it happened--don't know where I was physically or mentally
Soo, went back to the game video--normally PioVision doesn't show replays of the opponents goals, but this one--shaking head sadly.
The shot was to Jussi's stick side and was going to be wide. Jussi appears to be going to chip/push the puck to the sidewall and when he moves back to the center of the net somehow the puck stays with his stick and goes into the net behind him. Watched it several times. Freakish!
Jussi has been a bright light for the Pios this year and I can't imagine how he feels. He is still our Fine Finn!
(On the game video it is after the DU timeout and occurs around the 2:06 mark.)
Garibaldi83
Registered User
Re: All Things Denver--XXXV
The WORST call of the night was the early whistle late in the 3rd when the puck was in the crease and not covered...... Absoulutley horrendous!
The WORST call of the night was the early whistle late in the 3rd when the puck was in the crease and not covered...... Absoulutley horrendous!
Re: All Things Denver--XXXV
I know it's been a week, but here's Patrick Wiercioch's takedown of Adam McQuaid.
http://www.cbssports.com/nhl/blog/e...eil-takes-questionable-hit-later-delivers-one
More Pioneer alumni news:
I know it's been a week, but here's Patrick Wiercioch's takedown of Adam McQuaid.
http://www.cbssports.com/nhl/blog/e...eil-takes-questionable-hit-later-delivers-one
More Pioneer alumni news:
http://www.cbssports.com/nhl/blog/e...rida-panthers-willing-to-trade-almost-anybody
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Re: All Things Denver--XXXV
Another excellent Swami-like analysis. Thanks. And major props for "desultory."
Another excellent Swami-like analysis. Thanks. And major props for "desultory."
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Re: All Things Denver--XXXV
ASaaG, have to agree with your comments about Joey Leggs. After putting up qaudy numbers for a rookie D-man and receiving League and National honors perhaps we were willing to look past some weaknesses on Defense. As i recall at the end of the season there were whispered reports from scouts and others in the know that Mayfield was actually playing better than LaLeggia. To be fair, they play very different roles on the blue line.
Watching the games this weekend it did seem Leggs was all over the ice. He wasn't perfect but he is definitely a playmaker and exciting to watch. With all the initial and, at times, ongoing concerns about goal scoring, is it possible that the coaches have given him more leeway on the offensive side?
Former PIo, D-man William Wrenn, has moved up, on a PTO, to the AHL, Texas Stars. 2=2=4 +1 in 11 games. Good Luck!
ASaaG, have to agree with your comments about Joey Leggs. After putting up qaudy numbers for a rookie D-man and receiving League and National honors perhaps we were willing to look past some weaknesses on Defense. As i recall at the end of the season there were whispered reports from scouts and others in the know that Mayfield was actually playing better than LaLeggia. To be fair, they play very different roles on the blue line.
Watching the games this weekend it did seem Leggs was all over the ice. He wasn't perfect but he is definitely a playmaker and exciting to watch. With all the initial and, at times, ongoing concerns about goal scoring, is it possible that the coaches have given him more leeway on the offensive side?
Former PIo, D-man William Wrenn, has moved up, on a PTO, to the AHL, Texas Stars. 2=2=4 +1 in 11 games. Good Luck!
dggoddard
New member
Re: All Things Denver--XXXV
DU was 6-1-0 this season on weekends coming off bye weeks or breaks. Including some of their best performances of the season.
Wins over Lowell, Air Force, BU, Duluth [2], and a split with North Dakota.
The problems occurred when DU was worn down or injuries mounted.
DU is most likely going to face Quinnipiac, BC or Miami in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. Gwozdecky has two weeks to prepare for those teams and we all know his track record when DU appears to be hopelessly overmatched.
Compound the the fact that Quinnipiac, BC and Miami are all distracted with conference championships this weekend and their potential opponents in the NCAA Tournament could be over a dozen or more different teams.
DU just has to circle the calender and show up and play their best hockey of the season in two weeks. This is why lower seeded teams can have a huge advantage in one & done tournaments.
DU was 6-1-0 this season on weekends coming off bye weeks or breaks. Including some of their best performances of the season.
Wins over Lowell, Air Force, BU, Duluth [2], and a split with North Dakota.
The problems occurred when DU was worn down or injuries mounted.
DU is most likely going to face Quinnipiac, BC or Miami in the first round of the NCAA Tournament. Gwozdecky has two weeks to prepare for those teams and we all know his track record when DU appears to be hopelessly overmatched.
Compound the the fact that Quinnipiac, BC and Miami are all distracted with conference championships this weekend and their potential opponents in the NCAA Tournament could be over a dozen or more different teams.
DU just has to circle the calender and show up and play their best hockey of the season in two weeks. This is why lower seeded teams can have a huge advantage in one & done tournaments.
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Joey has been basically awful to downright scary outside of the offensive zone. The only d-men on the team that I am completely comfortable with in the defensive zone are Mayfield and Didier, with Phillips being close. Zajac doesn't have quite the "Joey Leggs Flair" and tends to hop up in the play just as much but doesn't sacrifice as much D as Joey does.
Right now, I just don't know what to think of Joey as he is probably DU's most dynamic player but also their scariest.
I am also now a bit apprehensive about Olkinoura. He had a fantastic season but I keep thinking of two 3-3 WCHA playoff games...one last season in which Big Sam lifted the team onto his back and had a game for the record books by amassing 67 saves, then one this season in which Olknuora puts the GWG in his own net. Big, huge, massive difference. Jussi also got extremely lucky in the first period on Sunday when he strangely decided to play the puck with 3 CC players bearing down on him and was just a high stick call away from gifting CC a goal. Can Jussi handle playoff pressure the same way Sam did last season? Righ now...It appears as though he just may not.
Re: All Things Denver--XXXV
Posted by Chris:
Friday night Jussi made me nervous more than once when he left the crease to play the puck. But we won so all was forgiven. Just from watching interviews it seems Jussi has a more "loosey-goosey" attitude/approach than Sam, which may put him in more tenuous situations like the ones you mentioned. Play-off pressure or approach?
Jussi has been the difference maker this year while Sam has been good, even very good, but not the Great Brittain we saw in the past. Who steps up the Fine Finn or the Great Brittain?
Posted by Chris:
IMHO Young Mr. Zajac's upside as a "complete" ( offense and defense) blueliner is higher than LaLeggia's. Offense is clearly Joey's bent.
This may be heresy, but at times I felt the same way about Zucker last year.
There is no question that the Great Brittain was just that in his 67 save game last year! Awesome! Stellar!
Friday night Jussi made me nervous more than once when he left the crease to play the puck. But we won so all was forgiven. Just from watching interviews it seems Jussi has a more "loosey-goosey" attitude/approach than Sam, which may put him in more tenuous situations like the ones you mentioned. Play-off pressure or approach?
Jussi has been the difference maker this year while Sam has been good, even very good, but not the Great Brittain we saw in the past. Who steps up the Fine Finn or the Great Brittain?
du78
Gunning For 10
Re: All Things Denver--XXXV
Gwoz in his presser today said team is disappointed they are not going to St. Paul. They had yesterday and today off and will get back at it tomorrow. Had they made it to St. Paul Shawn Ostrow could not have played. Didier played on Sunday but was significantly less than 100%. The silver lining is that the DU team will have some time to heal. He recognizes that the computer models are giving DU a very good chance to make the tourney. He feels that after Friday's games are complete, DU will have a very good sense if they will make the tourney. If they make the tourney, next week will be a normal week of practice before leaving for the tourney as Spring Quarter classes begin.
Gwoz in his presser today said team is disappointed they are not going to St. Paul. They had yesterday and today off and will get back at it tomorrow. Had they made it to St. Paul Shawn Ostrow could not have played. Didier played on Sunday but was significantly less than 100%. The silver lining is that the DU team will have some time to heal. He recognizes that the computer models are giving DU a very good chance to make the tourney. He feels that after Friday's games are complete, DU will have a very good sense if they will make the tourney. If they make the tourney, next week will be a normal week of practice before leaving for the tourney as Spring Quarter classes begin.
A Shot and a Goal
Hupamone
Re: All Things Denver--XXXV
[For those who haven't seen/read this I'm posting it here. It's a communique from the Department of Boone Can Go Drop Dead As Far As We're Concerned].
Dear University of Denver Alumni:
You are a vital part of our DU family, and as part of our efforts to keep you informed we want to let you know of upcoming plans at the University to conduct a study that will result in the adoption of a new mascot. The study, initiated by the Undergraduate Student Government (USG), will seek to include the input of all segments of our campus community. As an alumnus, your feedback and involvement will be a critical part of the process.
To help you understand more about this study, it’s important to provide you with some background on mascots at the University of Denver. We currently do not have an official mascot and have not had one since 2008.
Over the last few weeks, there has been considerable controversy surrounding the "Denver Boone" figure that was our mascot some years ago. As you may know, "Boone" has not been the mascot of the University since 1998. An effort to resurrect Boone was mounted by student and alumni groups in 2008, and this led to the assembly of a University committee to gather opinions from different sectors and consider the matter at length. It quickly became clear that Boone was a polarizing figure that did not reflect the growing diversity of the DU community, but rather was an image that many women, persons of color, international students, staff and faculty members found difficult to relate to as defining the pioneering spirit. Consequently, it was decided that Boone would not be our official mascot.
The current Boone figure that is seen at athletic events is in keeping with what was outlined in a letter sent to the community in 2008, allowing students and alumni groups to use the image as a celebration of the past, to the extent they may choose. The figure is not used in any official manner by the University, nor is any financial support provided by DU for its use by others.
The study will not be evaluating support for Boone; rather, it will be looking toward a new mascot that the entire DU community can get behind and embrace. The University has offered its support to the student government task force through its office of Marketing and Communications. During the next couple of months, a professional research study will gather input from students, alumni, staff, faculty and other members of the community about how we can express ourselves as Pioneers in a new mascot. This is a similar process that led to the new University logo that was successfully launched last year. The USG plans to engage in this effort through spring quarter, with a recommendation to be forwarded to the Chancellor’s office and the Board of Trustees.
Over the years, the University of Denver has evolved to become a diverse community that strives to be welcoming and inclusive for everyone. It is our intention to continue to involve all of the University’s many constituencies in this process and work collaboratively to find a celebration of school spirit that reflects our identity as the Pioneers, embraces our growing diversity and represents the exciting future of our institution.
We appreciate your continued support of the University of Denver. Please send your comments to alumni@du.edu and include your name, class year and contact information.
Sincerely,
Kristine Cecil
Associate Vice Chancellor for University Advancement &
Executive Director of Alumni Relations
[For those who haven't seen/read this I'm posting it here. It's a communique from the Department of Boone Can Go Drop Dead As Far As We're Concerned].
Dear University of Denver Alumni:
You are a vital part of our DU family, and as part of our efforts to keep you informed we want to let you know of upcoming plans at the University to conduct a study that will result in the adoption of a new mascot. The study, initiated by the Undergraduate Student Government (USG), will seek to include the input of all segments of our campus community. As an alumnus, your feedback and involvement will be a critical part of the process.
To help you understand more about this study, it’s important to provide you with some background on mascots at the University of Denver. We currently do not have an official mascot and have not had one since 2008.
Over the last few weeks, there has been considerable controversy surrounding the "Denver Boone" figure that was our mascot some years ago. As you may know, "Boone" has not been the mascot of the University since 1998. An effort to resurrect Boone was mounted by student and alumni groups in 2008, and this led to the assembly of a University committee to gather opinions from different sectors and consider the matter at length. It quickly became clear that Boone was a polarizing figure that did not reflect the growing diversity of the DU community, but rather was an image that many women, persons of color, international students, staff and faculty members found difficult to relate to as defining the pioneering spirit. Consequently, it was decided that Boone would not be our official mascot.
The current Boone figure that is seen at athletic events is in keeping with what was outlined in a letter sent to the community in 2008, allowing students and alumni groups to use the image as a celebration of the past, to the extent they may choose. The figure is not used in any official manner by the University, nor is any financial support provided by DU for its use by others.
The study will not be evaluating support for Boone; rather, it will be looking toward a new mascot that the entire DU community can get behind and embrace. The University has offered its support to the student government task force through its office of Marketing and Communications. During the next couple of months, a professional research study will gather input from students, alumni, staff, faculty and other members of the community about how we can express ourselves as Pioneers in a new mascot. This is a similar process that led to the new University logo that was successfully launched last year. The USG plans to engage in this effort through spring quarter, with a recommendation to be forwarded to the Chancellor’s office and the Board of Trustees.
Over the years, the University of Denver has evolved to become a diverse community that strives to be welcoming and inclusive for everyone. It is our intention to continue to involve all of the University’s many constituencies in this process and work collaboratively to find a celebration of school spirit that reflects our identity as the Pioneers, embraces our growing diversity and represents the exciting future of our institution.
We appreciate your continued support of the University of Denver. Please send your comments to alumni@du.edu and include your name, class year and contact information.
Sincerely,
Kristine Cecil
Associate Vice Chancellor for University Advancement &
Executive Director of Alumni Relations
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