DU HOCKEY PLAYERS, coaches and staff are revved up to begin their journey for a national title.
The Pioneers have been picked by many to repeat as Western College Hockey Association (WCHA) champs, as well as to contend for the NCAA title in Buffalo N.Y. Head Coach George Gwozdecky, named WCHA Coach of the Year returns this year with 17 letterwinners.
Returning goaltender Wade Dublewicz was 20-4 as a starter last year, making the All-WCHA first team and the All-American second-team.
Other returning stars include senior defenseman Aaron MacKenzie, junior forward Connor James, and junior goaltender Adam Berkhoel. Berkhoel and Dublewicz combined to lead the Pioneers to a 32-8-1 overall record.
Players said that this year they have a tough schedule especially the first six games.
“The guys worked their butts off over the summer and tested well in strength and conditioning testing,” Steve Miller, assistant coach, said. “Because of that, we are excited to get going.”
As for being ranked second in the pre-season USCHO Hockey poll, Miller said, “It is a great honor for the players and the program but the tables are turned, we’re the team with the bulls eye and teams will be gunning for us. . .We are looking to defend both titles (the WCHA playoff and regular season titles) and hopefully get the national championship we missed last year.”
The road to the national championship began Saturday, with an inter squad crimson versus gold game in the Magness Arena at the Ritchie Center.
The season opens at the UNO stampede tournament Oct. 11 and 12 with the game against Michigan State.
The Pioneers first exhibition home game will be against the University of Windsor next Monday, 7:05 p.m. The first regular season home game will be against Alabama-Huntsville on Friday, Oct 25, at 7:35 p.m.
“Fan support last year was great. The team hopes to have even more loud and crazy fans at every game this year to help them win,”Miller said
Students who like to have fun, watch exciting hockey and cheer for DU should come out and watch the games. Tickets are only $4 in the student section.
For more information on DU hockey, go to Denverpioneers.com on the World Wide Web.
