Steve Miller, the associate head coach of the University of Denver’s hockey program, announced the final eight student athletes who will represent DU on the ice during the 2011-2012 season via Twitter earlier this week.

The eight skaters were each announced every five minutes starting at 2 p.m. MT on Monday. The purpose of this method of was to attract students and fans a like to follow the seven-time national champion Denver Pioneers on Twitter.

The eight players who saw their names selected via Twitter were goaltender Zach Hope, forward Matt Tabrum, defenseman, and brother of sophomore Beau Bennet, Wade Bennet, forward Larkin Jacobson, goaltender Juho Olkinuora, forward Ty Loney, forward Daniel Doremus and defenseman Josiah Didier at 2:35 p.m.

Tabrum, Doremus and Didier are all Colorado natives.

In addition to the final selected players, the 2011-2012 DU hockey roster will also have three freshman players, including defenseman Joey LaLeggia, forward Zac Larraza and defenseman Scott Mayfield.

Laleggia previously played for the Penticon Vees of the British Columbia Hockey League (BCHL), where he was an offensive machine. He tallied 82 points (20 goals and 62 assists) in 58 games last season and was named BCHL Interior Conference Most Valuable Player and Defense Player of the Year in 2010-2011. He also selected to represent Team Canada West in the World Junior A Challenge in 2011.

Larraza played for the prestigious United States National Team Development Program out of Ann Arbor, Mich., in 2010-2011. He opposed the Pioneers on October 2, 2011 when DU routed the U.S. U18 team 8-1. As the season rolled along team USA, Larraza tallied 18 points (9 goals and 9 assists) in 57 games. Larraza has been a Pioneer for many years as he graduated from Pioneer High School in Ann Arbor.

Mayfield will be one of 12 Pioneers to have come from the United States Hockey League (USHL), where he was a member of the Youngstown Phantoms last season. He recorded 16 points (7goals 9 assists) and spent 159 minutes in the penalty box in 2010-2011. In 2010, he was selected to represent Team USA in the World Junior A challenge and was named MVP for his defensive play. Team USA defeated Team Canada 6-4 to take home the gold medal. Mayfield was also drafted in the 2nd round (34th overall) in the 2011 NHL Entry Draft.

“We are pleased to complete our 2011-12 roster with eight quality student-athletes,” said Miller in a press release. “Each one of our 11 incoming student-athletes will play a role making us a better college hockey team. We look forward to the start of the 2011-12 season on Oct. 1.”

With 17 returning players from the 2010-2011 Pioneer hockey team, DU looks to hit the ice running in 2011-2012. After falling one game short of the Frozen Four in the spring, the Pioneers are primed and ready to make a serious run for their 8th NCAA championship. The offensive tandem of Drew Shore and Jason Zucker looks to lead the Pioneers from in scoring as newcomers Mayfield and Laleggia will add depth to a defensive unit led by Bennett.