After three seasons of hard hits and fast rushes, Pioneer captain Adrian Veideman has accomplished a lot of impressive feats while wearing the DU uniform.

Veideman was a part of the Pioneers’ back to back NCAA championship teams during his freshman and sophomore seasons, and played an integral role on teams that won WCHA conference and tournament titles.

Though these impressive first two seasons would be enough to satisfy most in the sporting world, Veideman still feels that he has a lot left to prove during his final season as a Pioneer.

“Missing out on the (NCAA) tourney last year really hurt,” Veideman said of his only collegiate season without a national title. “It was a real eye opener for me, but I think that it helped us to rededicate ourselves and get after it this year.”

Veideman didn’t have such lofty goals when he first picked up the game at the age of five in his hometown of Sicamous, British Columbia.

“I really just started playing because there was nothing else to do where I come from,” said Veideman of growing up in hockey-obsessed Canada.

But, Veideman has come along way from his early days in youth hockey, and after an impressive junior career in which he was the captain for the Salmon Arm Silverbacks of the British Columbia Hockey League, he chose to move south and join the Pioneers.

“Growing up in Canada, I really didn’t know much about college hockey,” Veideman said of his decision-making process. “But, after seeing the city and campus, DU seemed like the best fit both for hockey and everything with my education.”

He said the coaches were also a deciding factor in his decision, Veideman relished the chance to be able to continue to play hockey while being able to earn a degree from an American university.

The choice worked out well for both Veideman and the Pioneers, as he has been a mainstay in the DU lineup since arriving on campus. Veideman has only missed 14 out of a possible 126 games in his first three seasons while notching 47 points.

However, many in the Pioneer locker-room would be quick to point out that his stats pale in comparison to his leadership abilities, which have earned him the recognition of being named team captain this year.

“It’s really a huge honor for me, I’ll cherish it forever,” said Veideman of his captaincy. “Just knowing that I’m viewed as a leader by my teammates means a lot to me.”

Veideman’s leadership should go a long way toward this year’s DU team achieving its goal of making it back into the NCAA tournament, and a run at its third championship in four years.

Though the Pioneers have started off the season slowly, at 3-3 on the year, after playing some highly-ranked opponents, Veideman thinks very highly of his young team.

“I’ve been really impressed,” said Veideman, whose team lost its top three scorers from last season. “Our freshmen and young guys have really stepped up for us, and I think we have a really good chance of going far this year.”

Veideman hopes to be able to continue his hockey career when he graduates from DU in the spring, but will be more than happy to use his finance and real estate degree toward a career as well.

Now, when looking back on his outstanding collegiate career, Veideman’s best memories are not of games, goals, or glory, but rather of the people and the place that he has shared them all with.

“My best memories are of the camaraderie that we’ve had as a team,” Veideman said. “I’ll always remember the college life and be proud to say that I went to DU. It’s all been awesome.”

Veideman and the rest of the Pioneer hockey team will next be in action this Friday as they travel to the University of Minnesota-Duluth.