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At the University of Denver there is nothing that gets the student body stirring more than Pioneer Hockey and, this Saturday at 8 a.m., the Pioneer hockey student season tickets went on sale.

A tradition of camping out for these tickets has been adopted by students at DU and this year was no different.

Tents lined the northwest corner of the Ritchie Center. Folding chairs and blankets were scattered among the tents but there were no students down on the sidewalk. Rather, the hundreds of students waiting were packed onto the landing next to the North Box Office eagerly awaiting the clock to strike eight.

At 7:45 a.m., the waiting students received a surprise as the entire Pioneer hockey team along with the coaches came out of the Ritchie Center bearing boxes of doughnuts and began passing them out to the students.

Coach George Gwozdecky told the crowd that the tradition of the team coming out and thanking the students waiting for their season tickets started about six years ago.

“The enthusiasm is always great, and it seems to get bigger and bigger as our student body becomes stronger and stronger in their support of the hockey program,” said Coach Gwozdecky. “The players appreciate all the support they get from their fellow students and the enthusiasm these young kids show in lining up for tickets and at games is critically important for our success. We really appreciate it.”

The players shared in Gwozdecky’s appreciation for the fans lined up to pay to see them.

Senior J.D. Corbin said, “It’s nice to have the students at our games because they provide a pretty good dynamic at home ice for us, so we just come out here and thank them and bring them some doughnuts.”

Junior goalie Peter Mannino was happy to be thanking the fans saying, “It’s awesome the support we get from our fans. This is what makes our games so special, to have the student section cheering for us makes it hard to come into Magness and play against us.”

As Gwozdecky addressed the crowd close to 8 a.m. Saturday morning, he expressed his appreciation and thanks for their support of the hockey program.

Also, he rewarded the first two students in line this year by pulling his credit card from his wallet and purchasing their season tickets. Those two students were freshman John Buist and freshman Samantha Metsger.

Both Buist and Metsger set a new record as they waited for 40 hours outside the ticket booth beginning 4 p.m. Thursday afternoon. John was so exhausted by the time 8 a.m. rolled around that he forgot to get his tickets from Coach Gwozdecky and started walking away.

He didn’t get too far, however, without the coach calling out to him and handing him his coveted season tickets.

Metsger’s thoughts on the wait for tickets were as simple as, “It’s a good time.”

Coach Gwozdecky was impressed by the devotion of the two fans, saying, “I don’t think I have ever experienced anybody coming out earlier than Friday morning. John and Samantha set a new record.”

All 450 season tickets were sold out by 10 a.m. Saturday morning. goalieThe remaining student tickets will be sold every Monday before a home series.

The Pioneers will play the University of Calgary in an exhibition game Saturday, Sept. 30 in Magness Arena.