Zac Larraza is far more accustomed to being a Pioneer than most of his fellow freshmen on the DU hockey team.

Larraza graduated from Pioneer High School in Ann Arbor, Mich. last spring, where he played hockey for the United States National Team Development Program (USNTDP). As a member of the USNTDP, Larraza travelled throughout the United States and journeyed overseas to compete against a number of European teams in the U18 World Championships.

“Over the past two years I traveled to Slovakia, Sweden, the Czech Republic and Germany.  We beat Sweden in overtime to capture the gold,” said Larraza. “That was by far the best moment in my hockey career.”

Larraza also helped Team USA earn the gold at the 2011 U18 Five Nations Tournament in Hradec Kralove, Czech Republic, as well as the International Ice Hockey Federation World Men’s U18 Championship in Crimmitschau, Germany.

Larraza’s traveling tendencies are reflective of the mascot he has represented and continues to represent as a DU student. He skated for the first time when he was one years old, starting hockey three years later with much encouragement from his father, Alan, who had played the sport his whole life.

Larraza grew up in the southwestern part of the country, where hockey is generally less competitive and popular than in Michigan and other regions of the Midwest. In his hometown of Scottsdale, Ariz., he began a life-long series of frequent trips to play official games.

“Being from Arizona, we had to travel to play competitive hockey, so I have been traveling for a while,” said Larraza.

The experiences Larraza has gained throughout his fourteen-year-long hockey career have helped prepare him for playing to the prestigious expectations of DU fans and faculty.

“The coaching staff was unbelievable in helping me make my decision [to come to DU],” said Larraza.

Having grown accustomed to managing his time between hockey and school, Larraza has quickly acclimated to the rigorous schedule of maintaining both DU academia and athleticism.

“Sleep is really hard in college, with workouts in the morning and then practice in the afternoon. It is difficult [to manage], but there are a ton of late nights and early mornings to get all the work done so I can stay eligible to play.”

With his position as a DU Pioneer and his goal to play in the NHL, more traveling exists in Larraza’s future. Denver has proven to be a positive choice for Larraza with its myriad of travelling opportunities as well as the short distance between the city and Scottsdale.

“I also chose DU because I love the campus and how close it is to my home in Arizona,” said Larazza.