Denver Pioneers men's ice hockey

The Denver Pioneers men's ice hockey team is a National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) Division I college ice hockey program that represents the University of Denver. The Pioneers are a member of the National Collegiate Hockey Conference (NCHC). They play at Magness Arena in Denver, Colorado. The Pioneers are tied with North Dakota for second in all-time NCAA National Hockey Championships with eight (1958, 1960, 1961, 1968, 1969, 2004, 2005, 2017) trailing only Michigan with nine. Since the creation of the Western Collegiate Hockey Association in 1959, the Pioneers have won 9 WCHA Regular Season Championships (now the recipients of the MacNaughton Cup) and 14 WCHA Playoff Championships (now the recipients of the Broadmoor Trophy). About 75 Pioneers have gone on to play in the National Hockey League, including Keith Magnuson, Kevin Dineen, Matt Carle (2006 Hobey Baker Award winner), Paul Stastny and Will Butcher (2017 Hobey Baker Award winner).
==History==
Source:
===Early years===
In 1949 the DU Arena, a former WWII surplus drill hall from Idaho was reassembled in Denver with an ice plant, giving the university the ability to properly field an ice hockey team for the first time. Before the end of the year Vern Turner, the rink manager for the Broadmoor Ice Palace and a former semi-professional goaltender was hired as the team's first coach and the Pioneers hit the ice for their first game in December, losing to the University of Saskatchewan, 17–0. Denver would, unsurprisingly, lose its first 9 games before recording the first victory against Wyoming on January 27. The following season saw much improvement with the team as it finished with an 11–11–1 record and when Turner stepped down after the year it gave Neil Celley the opportunity to build the program. When Celley assumed the reins he was the youngest head coach in the history of college ice hockey at 24 and had won a national title with Michigan the year before, as a player. The team responded to Celley by raising their record to 18–6–1 and finishing tied for second in the inaugural MCHL standings. Unfortunately, Celley's old team was selected ahead of Denver for the NCAA tournament due to a better overall record. The Pioneers would continue to play well under Celley but their winning percentage dropped every year until 1956 when they finished just a hair above .500. Celley resigned after that season and turned the team over to ex-NHLer Murray Armstrong.
===Armstrong era===
Armstrong came to DU and guaranteed an NCAA title within three years, and did it in his second year. The team, using Armstrong's coaching pipeline to ex-Junior players in Canada, took a year to get going, but by 1958 the DU team started firing on all cylinders. Denver won its first conference title (tying with North Dakota) and received the second western seed for its first NCAA tournament bid. Denver did not let the bright lights stun them as they rolled through the competition, winning both games 6–2 and taking their first NCAA National Title in Minneapolis. The next season, an argument between conference members over the recruitment of Canadian players who had played junior hockey, caused the WIHL to collapse and left Denver without a conference. Denver struggled to fill out its schedule and though DU finished with the best record of any western team (22–5–1) their competition was so paltry that the Pioneers were passed over in favor of North Dakota (who had taken three of four matches between them) for the NCAA tournament with Big Ten champion Michigan State receiving the other bid. After that disaster, all teams that had been in the WIHL restarted the conference under a new name (WCHA) and instituted a playoff among other reforms. Because the matter of recruitment was left unchanged, Denver was able to take full advantage and build their program into the dominant power for the duration of the decade.
====Early 60s====
Denver kicked off its first season in the WCHA by winning the regular season title and being WCHA tournament co-champions along with Michigan Tech. The WCHA had arranged its tournament to take advantage of the NCAA bid policy that would give automatic bids to tournament champions and because there was no rival western conference the WCHA could guarantee that both of its co-champions would make the frozen four. Denver won both of its NCAA games and captured the 1960 National Title. The Tournament MOP was split for the first time that year and while it was given to three separate players, none of them wore Denver sweaters. The Pioneers followed up their second championship by thoroughly dominating the competition in 1961. In what is typically ranked among the best seasons ever, the squad began with five victories before dropping a match to Michigan Tech on the road and then never lost another game. The '61 Pioneers scored 242 times in only 32 contests for a rate of just over 7.5 goals per game. Additionally, they allowed just 59 goals against in that time (1.84). While neither marks were records, the average scoring differential of +5.72 is still an NCAA record. Denver had the second-and third-leading scoring in the nation who were only topped by Phil Latreille scoring an all-time NCAA record of 80 goals in 21 games. Not only did the Pioneers post the first 30-win season in NCAA history but, by playing in every game, George Kirkwood set an NCAA record for wins in a season (30). Denver made sure they also did their damage when it counted the most; in the four playoff games they played (2 conference, 2 NCAA) the Pioneers won each by at least 5 goals and won all four matches by a total of 35–6. In the NCAA championship game against St. Lawrence Denver surrendered the first goal but ended the night by scoring the final nine (an NCAA record) and won the game by 10 goals, 12-2 (also an NCAA record) and were one short of tying the NCAA record of 13 in the championship game. Denver tied the record by placing 5 players on the All-Tournament Team and set the record with 5 players on the All-WCHA First Team as well as the AHCA All-American Team and swept all 5 individual awards offered that year. Three of the players from that team eventually played in the NHL, a rare occurrence for NCAA teams at the time.
After such unparalleled dominance, it was expected that Denver would decline the following year, especially with so many of the players graduating, but the team still finished 3rd in the WCHA. One year later they won both WCHA conference titles and again made the NCAA tournament. After dropping Clarkson in a relatively easy 6–2 semifinal match Denver faced off against North Dakota for a rematch of it first title in 1958. The Fighting Sioux scored three times before 8 minutes had elapsed and, while Denver responded with two quick goals, North Dakota tacked on two more in the first to finish with a 5–2 lead. When they added another 5 minutes into the second it looked as if they were going to walk to a national title but the Pioneers did npt quit and scored twice to cut the lead in half entering the third. North Dakota closed ranks and set up a wall in front of Rudy Unis in the final frame but still could not stop Denver from scoring, however, the Pioneers could only notch one goal and lost their first NCAA tournament game, 5–6. The team's streak of seven consecutive tournament wins from the start is still an NCAA record.
Denver followed up that disappointment with a second-place finish despite playing only 10 games and a WCHA tournament championship over Michigan. In the NCAA tournament DU produced a very similar result to the year before by dropping their semifinal opponent easily, then allowing the team they defeated in the WCHA championship to score the first three goals. This time it was the Wolverines who would take the title and send the Pioneers home disappointed. The next season Denver finished with a record of 18–8–2, one of the best in the nation, but because they only played 12 conference games and won only 4 matches they finished 6th in the WCHA and were left out of the conference playoffs. The following season Denver increased their conference schedule to 20 games but because the WCHA added Minnesota–Duluth as a member, the conference tournament now included all 8 teams. Denver was given a regional matchup against the dismal Colorado College Tigers and took the game easily to give them a shot against arch-nemesis North Dakota for an entry to the NCAA tournament. Despite being the lower seed the game was played in Denver's home stadium due in part to a terrible blizzard that dropped more than two feet around Grand Forks. The home game may have given Denver just enough of an advantage and the Pioneers edged UND, 5–4 in overtime to return to the NCAA tournament. Once there Denver faced Clarkson for the third time in the semifinal but the Golden Knights were able to avenge their earlier losses and send DU to its first consolation game. Though they won the match the Pioneers and their fans were far from satisfied with the result. The following season Denver rose to 2nd in the conference but because the WCHA tournament was still arranged for regional matchups the Pioneers had to play top seed North Dakota in the second round and the Fighting Sioux were able to redeem themselves with a win.
====Late 60s====
While many programs may have been happy with the results Denver achieved in '66 and '67 the Pioneers were decidedly nonplussed. When the team began 1968 season slowly, losing three out of their first five games, they were taken to task and responded by winning every remaining game except for a stretch in late December when they played four Olympic squads. Denver finished the season atop the WCHA and with the regional restrictions abolished they were able to take full advantage of their top seed and demolish their competition 27–7 in the three games. In the NCAA tournament Denver faced Boston College for the first time and swatted the Eagles away with a 4–1 victory despite sloppy play. The final brought North Dakota and DU together for a rubber match and the two teams fought a tough defensive battle through two periods before the floodgates opened and Denver scored four times in the final frame while Gerry Powers earned the first shutout in a championship game. The next season was much the same; after a slow start the Pioneers ran through most of their competition, finishing second in the WCHA and taking down much weaker opponents in the conference tournament to return to the NCAA playoff. For this 1969 championship they dissected Harvard 9–2 in the opening match before facing Ken Dryden-led Cornell. The Pioneers did not have any problems scoring against the seemingly impregnable Big Red defense, building leads three times while the final one stuck and Denver won its fifth NCAA national title, 4–3.
====Dynasty's end====
Despite losing many players from the dual national title teams due to graduations Denver did not lose much footing and finished second in the WCHA but lost to new entry Wisconsin in the conference tournament. The next season, Denver finished second for the third straight year and were able to win another league co-championship and receive the top western seed. The Pioneers had to settle for a third place NCAA finish after losing only their second semifinal game in nine opportunities. The next season, Denver won both conference titles for the fifth time in their history but were stunned by a 2–7 loss to Cornell in the semifinal, the team's worst loss to a college team in over six years. As if their recent tournament collapses needed a concrete symbol, the DU Arena roof failed in 1972 and forced the team to play most of their remaining home games at the Denver Coliseum. While the Pioneers were able to overcome that difficulty and win the WCHA yet again and finish as the NCAA runner-up it was a battle off the ice that would eventually cost them dearly.
Throughout the 1960s, the matter of recruiting Canadian major junior players was becoming an issue again, and by the 1970s, Minnesota coach John Mariucci was pushing the NCAA for change. Mariucci did not like his teenage American players, who grew up playing locally in Minnesota, playing against older Canadian players that Denver recruited, due to Denver's lack of local players to recruit. Minnesota even refused to schedule the Pioneers for years in the 1960s, which spurred the NCAA to support Minnesota's position. In 1974, the NCAA asked all schools that rostered major junior Canadian players to declare these students ineligible and in recompense, the current players would have their NCAA eligibility restored as a grandfathering ploy, with all future major junior players remaining ineligible. While most universities acceded to the NCAA demand, Denver did not. The school refused to call its own players 'cheaters', and ended up paying the price. The university had its trip to the 1973 tournament vacated and with its pipeline from Canada cut, the team began to falter in the standings. 1974–75 saw Denver post its first losing season since Armstrong's first year and while the team was slowly recovering, DU would not make another tournament appearance until long after his retirement in 1977.
===Decline===
Armstrong's assistant Marshall Johnston took over and the team jumped up in the standings as the nation's top-ranked team, winning the WCHA regular season crown and breaking the school record for wins with 33 (albeit in 40 games) but DU was stopped in the WCHA second round by an upstart Colorado College team, after finding out that Denver's appeal to be eligible for the 1978 NCAA tournament was denied by the NCAA. After declining to 6th place the following season. Denver ended 1979–80 dead last in the WCHA and missed the playoffs entirely. The team rebounded the next season but afterwards, Johnston returned to the NHL and the program was given to a third-straight former pro, Ralph Backstrom. Backstrom's entry coincided with four WCHA members bolting for the CCHA leaving the conference with only 6 schools. The co-championship format was abolished and though Denver provided some glimpse of hope in Backstrom's first season, the team slipped towards the bottom of the division for three seasons. By the end of the 1984–85 season Denver had lost eight consecutive playoff games and was in danger of becoming an afterthought in the WCHA. The 1985-1986 team provided a surprising start the following campaign, winning seven of their first eight-game en route to the WCHA regular season and playoff championships over Michigan Tech, Minnesota-Duluth and Minnesota, followed by a home NCAA 7-6 total goal series win over Cornell to make it to the Frozen Four. Denver played a school record 48 games that year, and won 34 contests (also a DU record) despite losing in the NCAA semifinal, 5–2 to Harvard in Providence. The stark turnaround garnered Backstrom the Spencer Penrose Award. The highlights were short-lived, however and over the succeeding four years Denver returned to being a middling team in the WCHA.
Backstrom left in 1990 and was replaced by Frank Serratore. While he would later achieve a great deal of success with Air Force Serratore's time in Denver was the darkest period in the history of the program. In his first season, the Pioneers won only 6 games, losing a school record 30 of 38 matches. The following season brought only marginal improvements but when the team rose above .500 in 1992–93 it looked like Serratore's job may be saved, but after slipping back to 9th in the conference the year after he was out as coach and replaced by Wisconsin alumnus George Gwozdecky.
===Gwozdecky era===
When Denver hired Gwozdecky they hoped they were getting the same coach that had won back-to-back CCHA Coach of the Year awards and in his first season he delivered by getting the Pioneers to win 10 more games than they had the year before and jump from 9th in the conference to a tie for second place. After a disappointing opening round loss in the WCHA playoffs the following year Denver finally returned to the NCAA tournament in 1997 and beat a very strong Vermont squad in the first round. In 1999 the Pioneers were able to a dominant North Dakota to take their first conference championship in thirteen years but lost their first NCAA tournament game to Michigan in the first meeting between the two since the Wolverines left the WCHA. Denver stumbled over the next two years before winning their first WCHA regular season title under Gwozdecky as well as a second conference championship. Unfortunately the Pioneers found themselves pitted against Michigan in the first game and lost to the Maize and Blue yet again. The pioneers lost in the first round of the WCHA tournament each of the next two years but their record in 2004 was good enough to get them a #2 seed despite the loss.
====Back-to-back titles====
DU was able to defeat Gwozdecky's previous team, Miami, in a close game before advancing to face North Dakota in the West Regional Final. The top team in the nation held Denver off the scoresheet and out shot the Pioneers 23–13 in the opening two periods but the Fighting Sioux could not get the puck past Adam Berkhoel. The two teams remained scoreless until just 2:29 remained in regulation when Luke Fulgham deflected a puck into the net and sent the Pioneers into the frozen four for the first time in 18 years. Denver met Minnesota–Duluth in the semifinal and looked like were outmatched when the Bulldogs scored twice in the first five minutes of the game. Even when Denver cut the lead in half a second power play goal by 2004 Hobey Baker winner Junior Lessard followed soon thereafter. The Pioneers, however, were not deterred and came out firing in the third, tying the score in less than four minutes and adding another two goals before the period was half over. Duluth was so stunned by the comeback that they could only muster 6 shots in the period as Denver took the game to make their first national championship since their vacated appearance in 1973. With Maine as the only obstacle left in their path, Denver put up in front of Adam Berkhoel and allowed only 24 shots to reach their goalie, including none during a 6-on-3 power play advantage in the last minute and a half of the game. Berkhoel earned the shutout, making the lone goal from Gabe Gauthier in the first as the winner.
After winning their first title in 35 years Denver raised their game, tying Colorado College for the WCHA crown and producing the #2 offense in the country. In the WCHA tournament, however, it was their defense that led the way. With rookie goaltender Peter Mannino standing on his head for two shutouts, the Pioneers allowed only two goals in four games, winning three one-goal games to take the conference championship. DU earned the #2 overall seed and had to survive a scare from Bemidji State in their first game. After allowing 3 to the much weaker Beavers, Glenn Fisher was benched in favor of Mannino for the remaining three games and the Pioneers cruised to the championship game with 4–2 and 6–2 wins. In the Final Denver met North Dakota for the fourth time, matching the record for championship meetings with Michigan and Colorado College. The two teams exchanged goals in the first but future NHLer Paul Stastny put the Pioneers into the lead with a power play marker just after the midpoint. With their season on the line North Dakota began an onslaught on the DU net, firing 23 shots in the third but Mannino was equal to the take and kept everything out. The Pioneers scored twice in the third to put the game away and take their seventh national championship.
====Playoff disappointments====
The next season brought Denver its first Hobey Baker winner in Matt Carle but the team floundered in the first round of the WCHA tournament and this time their record was not good enough to get them into the championship. After another first round exit the following year Denver righted the ship and won the WCHA tournament in 2008. In the first round they found themselves facing conference rival Wisconsin, only the second time in NCAA history that two teams from the same conference met in the opening round. Despite being favored in the game the Pioneers were beaten 2–6 and sent home disappointed. The pioneers would return to the tournament each of the next five seasons but the results were much the same, losing in the first round four times and thoroughly dismissed by North Dakota in the 2011 regionals. Despite the regular season success the early playoff exits, coupled with a contract structure dispute, led Denver to fire their head coach in 2013, only 17 wins away from tying Murray Armstrong's program record.
===New coach, new conference===
Gwozdecky's firing coincided with the founding of the NCHC, a power conference that was created due to Wisconsin and Minnesota leaving to restart the Big Ten hockey division. Denver was accompanied by all of its traditional rivals and began its tenure under Jim Montgomery but finishing 6th in the 8-team conference. Despite their lackluster start the Pioneers were provided with an opportunity by facing weaker-than-expected opposition in the final two games and were able to win the inaugural championship, as they had done with the WCHA 54 years earlier. The Pioneer's NCAA run was predictably short-lived but the team seemed to have found new life under Montgomery's watch which they demonstrated by increasing their win total in each of the next three years. In addition they won progressively more tournament games, reaching the frozen four in 2016 before taking the crown the next season along with getting their second Hobey Baker Award, this one going to Will Butcher. After the team won its second NCHC tournament title in 2018 Montgomery left to join the Dallas Stars as head coach, continuing the recent trend of NHL teams hiring college head coaches. DU replaced Montgomery with his Denver assistant, 28-year-old David Carle. Carle took Denver to the 2019 Frozen Four in his rookie season, after first and second round NCAA wins over Ohio State and American International, but the Pioneers fell in the Frozen Four semi-finals to Massachusetts, 4–3 in overtime in Buffalo, New York.
===9th National Championship===
In 2022, following wins against UMass Lowell and Minnesota Duluth, David Carle and the Denver Pioneers entered the Frozen Four for the 18th time in school history. In the semi-finals, Denver played the University of Michigan. Carter Savoie scored in overtime to secure a 3-2 victory, and advance the Pioneers to the National Championship game for there 12th time in program history. In the National Championship game, Denver failed to score until the third period against Minnesota State. However, Denver finally broke through adding 5 goals to clinch their 9th National Championship in program history.https://www.ncaa.com/brackets/icehockey-men/d1/2022
==Season-by-season results==
Source:
==Denver/Colorado College rivalry==
Of all the rivals that the Denver Pioneer's hockey program play against the most intense rivalry is that from Colorado College. Since Denver's hockey program started in 1949 the two schools have played at least four times a season. In the 1993–94 season a gold pan trophy was added as a reward for the winning team thus the rivalry has been dubbed the Battle for the Gold Pan.David Kensa, "College Hockey's Top 10 Rivalries," College Hockey News, February 8, 2006
==Head coaches==
David Carle is the current head coach of Denver hockey, hired in May 2018.
Tenure 	Coach 	Years 	Record 	Pct.
1949–1951 	Vern Turner 	2 	15–24–1 	
1951–1956 	Neil Celley 	6 	81–43–6 	
1956–1977 	Murray Armstrong 	21 	460–215–31 	
1977–1981 	Marshall Johnston	4 	89–63–7 	
1981–1990 	Ralph Backstrom 	9 	182–174–14 	
1990–1994 	Frank Serratore 	4 	49–92–9 	
1994–2013 	George Gwozdecky 	19 	443–267–64 	
2013–2018 	Jim Montgomery 	5 	125–57–26 	
2018–Present	David Carle 	4 	86–43–13 	
Totals 	9 coaches 	73 seasons	1,530–997–171	
==Awards and honors==
===Hockey Hall of Fame===
Source:
*Craig Patrick (2001)
*Glenn Anderson (2008)
===US Hockey Hall of Fame===
Source:
*Craig Patrick (1996)
===NCAA===
====Individual Awards====
Hobey Baker Award
*Matt Carle, D: 2006
*Will Butcher, D: 2017
Spencer Penrose Award
*Murray Armstrong: 1961
*Ralph Backstrom: 1986
*George Gwozdecky: 2005
*Jim Montgomery: 2017
Tim Taylor Award
*Joey LaLeggia, D: 2012
Mike Richter Award
*Tanner Jaillet: 2017
NCAA Division I Ice Hockey Scoring Champion
*Ed Beers, LW: 1982
*Bobby Brink, RW: 2022
Tournament Most Outstanding Player
* Murray Massier, C; 1958
* Bill Masterton, C; 1961
* Gerry Powers, G; 1968
* Keith Magnuson, D; 1969
* Adam Berkhoel, G; 2004
* Peter Mannino, G; 2005
* Jarid Lukosevicius, RW; 2017
* Michael Benning, D; 2022
====All-Americans====
AHCA First Team All-Americans
*1951-52: Eddie Miller, F
*1957-58: Ed Zemrau, F
*1959-60: Marty Howe, D; George Konik, F; Bill Masterton, F
*1960-61: George Kirkwood, D; Marty Howe, D; Grant Munro, D; Jerry Walker, F; Bill Masterton, F
*1962-63: Bill Staub, F
*1964-65: Wayne Smith, D
*1965-66: Wayne Smith, D
*1966-67: Jim Wiste, F
*1967-68: Keith Magnuson, D; Jim Wiste, F
*1968-69: Keith Magnuson, D; George Morrison, F
*1969-70: George Morrison, F
*1970-71: Mike Christie, D; Vic Venasky, F
*1971-72: Tom Peluso, F
*1972-73: Ron Grahame, G; Rob Palmer, F
*1977-78: Ernie Glanville, G; Doug Berry, F
*1986-87: Dallas Gaume, F
*2003-04: Ryan Caldwell, D
*2004-05: Matt Carle, D
*2005-06: Matt Carle, D
*2009-10: Marc Cheverie, G; Patrick Wiercioch, D; Rhett Rakhshani, F
*2013-14: Sam Brittain, G
*2014-15: Joey LaLeggia, D
*2016-17: Will Butcher, D; Henrik Borgström, F
*2017-18: Henrik Borgström, F; Troy Terry, F
*2019-20: Ian Mitchell, F
*2021–22: Bobby Brink, F
AHCA Second Team All-Americans
*1985-86: Chris Olson, G; Jim Smith, F; Dwight Mathiasen, F
*1988-89: Daryn McBride, F
*1989-90: Dave Shields, F
*1998-99: Paul Comrie, F
*2001-02: Wade Dubielewicz, G
*2004-05: Brett Skinner, D
*2005-06: Paul Stastny, F
*2007-08: Chris Butler, D
*2011-12: Jason Zucker, F
*2012-13: Juho Olkinuora, G
*2013-14: Joey LaLeggia, D
*2014-15: Trevor Moore, F
*2015-16: Will Butcher, D
*2016-17: Tanner Jaillet, G
*2017-18: Tanner Jaillet, G
===MCHL/WIHL/WCHA===
====Individual Awards====
Most Valuable Player/Player of the Year
* Jerry Walker, F; 1961
* Keith Magnuson, D; 1968
* Ron Grahame, G; 1973
* Dallas Gaume, C; 1986
* Matt Carle, D; 2006
* Marc Cheverie, G; 2010
Defensive Player of the Year
* Aaron MacKenzie, 2003
* Ryan Caldwell, 2004
* Matt Carle, 2006
Goaltender of the Year
* George Kirkwood: 1960, 1961
* Buddy Blom: 1964
* Gerry Powers: 1968
* Ron Grahame: 1973
* Ernie Glanville: 1978
* Wade Dubielewicz: 2001, 2002
* Marc Cheverie: 2010
Student-Athlete of the Year
* Dave Shields, C: 1990
* Brian Konowalchuk, C: 1994
* Petri Gunther, D: 1997
* Connor James, C: 2004
* Ted O'Leary, F: 2006
* J. P. Testwuide, D: 2009
Sophomore/Freshman/Rookie of the Year
* George Kirkwood, G: 1960
* Jack Wilson, D: 1964
* Keith Magnuson, D: 1967
* George Morrison, LW: 1969
* Craig Redmond, D: 1982
* Dave Shields, C: 1987
* Rick Berens, F: 1988
* Paul Stastny, C: 2005
* Jason Zucker, LW: 2011
* Joey LaLeggia, D: 2012
Coach of the Year
* Murray Armstrong: 1961, 1968
* Marshall Johnston: 1978
* Ralph Backstrom: 1986
* George Gwozdecky: 1995, 2002, 2005, 2010
Most Valuable Player in Tournament
* Stephen Wagner: 1999 
* Wade Dubielewicz: 2002
====All-Conference====
First Team All-MCHL/WIHL/WCHA
* 1951–52: Don Burgess, D; Eddie Miller, D
* 1952–53: Eddie Miller, D
* 1957–58: Ed Zemrau, D
* 1959–60: George Kirkwood, G; Marty Howe, D; Bill Masterton, F
* 1960–61: George Kirkwood, G; Marty Howe, D; George Konik, D; Bill Masterton, F; Jerry Walker, F
* 1961–62: Jack Wilson, D
* 1962–63: Bill Staub, F
* 1963–64: Bill Staub, F
* 1964–65: Wayne Smith, D
* 1965–66: Wayne Smith, D
* 1966–67: Keith Magnuson, D; Jim Wiste, F
* 1967–68: Keith Magnuson, D; Jim Wiste, F
* 1968–69: Keith Magnuson, D; George Morrison, F
* 1969–70: George Morrison, F
* 1970–71: Mike Christie, D
* 1971–72: Tom Peluso, F
* 1972–73: Ron Grahame, G; Bruce Affleck, D; Rob Palmer, F; Peter McNab, F
* 1977–78: Ernie Glanville, G; Doug Berry, F
* 1981–82: Ed Beers, F
* 1983–84: Jim Leavins, D
* 1985–86: Dallas Gaume, F
* 1988–89: Daryn McBride, F
* 1989–90: Dave Shields, F
* 1998–99: Paul Comrie, F
* 2001–02: Wade Dubielewicz, G
* 2002–03: Aaron MacKenzie, D
* 2004–05: Matt Carle, D; Brett Skinner, D
* 2005–06: Matt Carle, D; Paul Stastny, F
* 2009–10: Marc Cheverie, G; Patrick Wiercioch, D; Rhett Rakhshani, F
* 2011–12: Joey LaLeggia, D
Second Team All-MCHL/WIHL/WCHA
* 1951–52: Bill Abbott, F
* 1952–53: Bill Abbott, F
* 1953–54: Bill Abbott, D; Jack Smith, F
* 1954–55: Bill Abbott, D; Jack Smith, F
* 1955–56: Ed Zemrau, D
* 1957–58: Murray Massier, F
* 1959–60: George Konik, D; John MacMillan, F
* 1961–62: Trent Beatty, F
* 1962–63: Jack Wilson, D; Dominic Fragomeni, F
* 1963–64: Buddy Blom, G; Wayne Smith, D; Jim Kenning, D
* 1967–68: Gerry Powers, G; Cliff Koroll, F
* 1968–69: Gerry Powers, G; Tom Miller, F
* 1969–70: Tom Gilmore, F
* 1970–71: Vic Venasky, F
* 1973–74: Bruce Affleck, D
* 1976–77: Greg Woods, D
* 1977–78: Greg Woods, D; Lex Hudson, D; Perry Schnarr, F
* 1980–81: Ken Berry, F
* 1985–86: Tom Allen, G; Dwight Mathiasen, F
* 1987–88: Daryn McBride, F
* 1989–90: Eric Murano, F
* 1994–95: Sinuhe Wallinheimo, G
* 1995–96: Antti Laaksonen, F
* 2000–01: Wade Dubielewicz, G
* 2002–03: Wade Dubielewicz, G
* 2003–04: Ryan Caldwell, D
* 2004–05: Gabe Gauthier, F
* 2007–08: Chris Butler, D
* 2008–09: Marc Cheverie, G; Patrick Wiercioch, D
* 2009–10: Tyler Ruegsegger, F
* 2010–11: Matt Donovan, D; Jason Zucker, F; Drew Shore, F
* 2011–12: Jason Zucker, F; Drew Shore, F
* 2012–13: Juho Olkinuora, G; Joey LaLeggia, D
Third Team All-WCHA
* 1996–97: Jim Mullin, G
* 1997–98: Paul Comrie, F
* 1998–99: James Patterson, F
* 2001–02: Adam Berkhoel, G; Aaron MacKenzie, D; Connor James, F
* 2002–03: Kevin Doell, F
* 2003–04: Adam Berkhoel, G; Gabe Gauthier, F
* 2005–06: Ryan Dingle, F
* 2006–07: Ryan Dingle, F
* 2007–08: Peter Mannino, G; Tyler Bozak, F
* 2008–09: Anthony Maiani, F; Rhett Rakhshani, F
* 2009–10: Joe Colborne, F
WCHA All-Rookie Team
* 1997–98: Mark Rycroft, F
* 2000–01: Ryan Caldwell, D
* 2003–04: Matt Carle, D
* 2004–05: Paul Stastny, F
* 2005–06: Chris Butler, D
* 2007–08: Tyler Bozak, F
* 2008–09: Patrick Wiercioch, D; Joe Colborne, F
* 2009–10: Matt Donovan, D
* 2010–11: Sam Brittain, G; David Makowski, D; Jason Zucker, F
* 2011–12: Juho Olkinuora, G; Joey LaLeggia, D
* 2012–13: Nolan Zajac, D
===NCHC ===
====Individual Awards====
Player of the Year
* Joey LaLeggia, D; 2015
* Will Butcher, D; 2017
* Henrik Borgström, C; 2018
* Bobby Brink, RW; 2022
Rookie of the Year
* Danton Heinen, RW; 2015
* Henrik Borgström, C; 2017
* Carter Mazur, LW; 2022
Goaltender of the Year
* Sam Brittain; 2014
* Tanner Jaillet; 2017, 2018
Forward of the Year
* Trevor Moore; 2015
* Danton Heinen; 2016
* Henrik Borgström; 2018
* Bobby Brink; 2022
Defenseman/Defensive Defenseman of the Year
* Joey LaLeggia; 2014, 2015
Offensive Defenseman of the Year
* Joey LaLeggia; 2014, 2015
* Will Butcher; 2017
Scholar-Athlete of the Year
* Gabe Levin; 2016
Tournament MVP
* Daniel Doremus; 2014
* Tanner Jaillet; 2018
====All-Conference====
First Team All-NCHC
* 2013–14: Sam Brittain, G; Joey LaLeggia, D
* 2014–15: Joey LaLeggia, D; Trevor Moore, F
* 2015–16: Will Butcher, D; Danton Heinen, F
* 2016–17: Tanner Jaillet, G; Will Butcher, D
* 2017–18: Tanner Jaillet, G; Henrik Borgström, F
* 2019–20: Ian Mitchell, D
* 2021–22: Bobby Brink, F
Second Team All-NCHC
* 2014–15: Danton Heinen, F
* 2016–17: Henrik Borgström, F; Dylan Gambrell, F
* 2017–18: Troy Terry, F; Dylan Gambrell, F
* 2018–19: Ian Mitchell, D
* 2019–20: Emilio Pettersen, F
* 2021–22: Michael Benning, D; Carter Savoie, F
NCHC All-Rookie Team
* 2013–14: Trevor Moore, F
* 2014–15: Danton Heinen, F
* 2015–16: Dylan Gambrell, F
* 2016–17: Michael Davies, D; Henrik Borgström, F
* 2017–18: Ian Mitchell, D
* 2018–19: Filip Larsson, G; Taylor Ward, F
* 2019–20: Magnus Chrona, G; Bobby Brink, F
* 2021–22: Sean Behrens, D; Shai Buium, D; Carter Mazur, F; Massimo Rizzo, F
==Olympians==
This is a list of Denver hockey alumni who were a part of an Olympic team.
Name 	Position 	Denver Tenure 	Team 	Year 	Finish
Glenn Anderson 	Right Wing	1978–1979 	Canada 	1980 	6th
Ken Berry 	Right Wing	1978–1979, 1980–1981	Canada 	1980 1988 	6th, 4th
Kevin Dineen 	Right Wing	1981–1983 	Canada 	1984 *2014 	4th, *
Marshall Johnston	Defenseman	1960–1963 	Canada 	1964 1968 	4th,
Antti Laaksonen 	Forward 	1993–1997 	Finland	2006 	
Derek Mayer 	Defenseman	1985–1988 	Canada 	1994 	
Ronald Naslund 	Forward 	1962–1965 	USA 	1972 	
Craig Patrick 	Right Wing	1966–1970 	USA 	1980, 2002†	,
Craig Redmond 	Defenseman	1982–1983 	Canada 	1984 	4th
Paul Stastny 	Center 	2004–2006 	USA 	2010, 2014 	, 4th
Troy Terry 	Right Wing	2015–2018 	USA 	2018 	7th
David Tomassoni 	Forward 	1972-1975 	ITA 	1984 	9th
† Craig Patrick was an assistant coach for the 1980 team and the general manager for the 2002 team.
* Kevin Dineen was head coach of the Gold Medal Winning Canadian women's team at the 2014 Winter Games in Sochi, Russia.
==Statistical leaders==
Source:
===Career points leaders===
Player	Years 	GP 	G 	A 	Pts	PIM
 	1982–1986	145	78	188	266	
 	1983–1986	123	90	108	198	
 	1983–1987	152	69	127	196	
 	1958–1961	89 	66	130	196	
 	1987–1991	159	94	86 	180	
 	1975–1978	119	65	115	180	
 	1986–1990	146	71	108	179	
 	1969–1973	140	74	103	177	
 	1975–1979	161	51	125	176	
 	1970–1973	105	78	92 	170	
===Career goaltending leaders===
GP = Games played; Min = Minutes played; W = Wins; L = Losses; T = Ties; GA = Goals against; SO = Shutouts; SV% = Save percentage; GAA = Goals against average
Minimum 30 games
Player	Years 	GP 	Min 	W 	L 	T 	GA 	SO	SV% 	GAA
 	2017–2020	32 	1,708	15	9 	4 	55 	6 	.927	1.93
 	2014–2018	135	7,560	82	27	16	257	9 	.925	1.94
 	2013–2017	52 	2,469	23	15	3 	79 	6 	.933	2.04
 	1999–2003	85 	4,629	44	26	6 	170	8 	.923	2.20
 	1959–1961	66 	— 	57	5 	4 	— 	6 	.904	2.20
Statistics current through the end of the 2019–20 season.
==Denver Athletic Hall of Fame==
The following is a list of people associated with the Denver men's ice hockey program who were elected into the Denver Athletic Hall of Fame (induction date in parenthesis).
*Murray Armstrong (1996)
*Keith Magnuson (1996)
*Bill Masterton (1996)
*Ron Grahame (1997)
*George Konik (1997)
*Jerry Walker (1999)
*Dallas Gaume (2000)
*Eddie Miller (2000)
*Jim Wiste (2000)
*1960 Championship Team (2000)
*Marty Howe (2001)
*Craig Patrick (2001)
*Marshall Johnston (2002)
*Cliff Koroll (2003)
*1961 Championship Team (2004)
*Gerry Powers (2005)
*George Kirkwood (2006)
*1968 Championship Team (2006)
*1958 Championship Team (2008)
*1969 Championship Team (2010)
*Ed Zemrau (2012)
*George Morrison (2012)
*John MacMillan (2014)
*2004 Championship Team (2014)
==Current roster==
As of August 26, 2022.
==Pioneers in the NHL==
As of July 1, 2022.
	= NHL All-Star team		= NHL All-StarPlayers are identified as an All-Star if they were selected for the All-Star game at any time in their career.			= NHL All-Star and NHL All-Star team		= Hall of Famers
Player 	Position 	Team(s) 	Years 	Games	
Bruce Affleck 	Defenseman	STL, VAN, NYI 	1974–1984 	280 	1^
Glenn Anderson 	Right Wing	, TOR, , STL 	1980–1996 	1129 	6
Erik Andersson 	Left Wing 	CGY 	1997–1998 	12 	0
Ed Beers 	Left Wing 	CGY, STL 	1981–1986 	250 	0
Beau Bennett 	Right Wing	, NJD, STL 	2012–2018 	200 	1
Adam Berkhoel 	Goaltender	ATL 	2005–2006 	9 	0
Doug Berry 	Center 	COR 	1979–1981 	121 	0
Ken Berry 	Left Wing 	EDM, VAN 	1981–1989 	55 	0
Henrik Borgstrom 	Center 	FLA, CHI 	2017–present	110 	0
Tyler Bozak 	Center 	TOR, 	2009–2022 	814 	1
Lyle Bradley 	Center 	CAL, CLE 	1973–1977 	6 	0
Rick Bragnalo 	Center 	WAS 	1975–1979 	145 	0
Bobby Brink 	Right Wing	PHI 	2021–Present	10 	0
Mike Busniuk 	Defenseman	PHI 	1979–1981 	143 	0
Will Butcher 	Defenseman	NJD, BUF 	2017–2022 	275 	0
Chris Butler 	Defenseman	BUF, CGY, STL 	2008–2019 	407 	0&
Ryan Caldwell 	Defenseman	NYI, PHO 	2005–2008 	4 	0
Matt Carle 	Defenseman	SJS, TBL, PHI, NSH 	2005–2017 	730 	0
Mike Christie 	Defenseman	CAL, CLE, COR, VAN 	1974–1981 	412 	0
Joe Colborne 	Center 	TOR, CGY, COL 	2010–2017 	295 	0
Paul Comrie 	Center 	EDM 	1999–2000 	15 	0
Ed Cristofoli 	Right Wing	MTL 	1989–1990 	9 	0
Kevin Dineen 	Right Wing	HFD, PHI, CAR, OTT, CBJ	1984–2003 	1188 	1@
Kevin Doell 	Center 	ATL 	2007–2008 	8 	0
Matt Donovan 	Defenseman	NYI, NSH 	2011–2019 	69 	0
Wade Dubielewicz 	Goaltender	NYI, CBJ, MIN 	2003–2010 	43 	0
Dylan Gambrell 	Center 	SJS, OTT 	2017–Present	173 	0
Dallas Gaume 	Center 	HFD 	1988–1989 	4 	0
Gabe Gauthier 	Left Wing 	LAK 	2006–2008 	8 	0
Ron Grahame 	Goaltender	BOS, LAK, QUE 	1977–1981 	114 	0
Danton Heinen 	Center 	BOS, ANA, PIT 	2016–Present	348 	0
Blake Hillman 	Defenseman	CHI 	2017–2018 	4 	0
Lex Hudson 	Defenseman	PIT 	1978–1979 	2 	0
Connor James 	Center 	LAK, PIT 	2005–2009 	16 	0
Marshall Johnston	Defenseman	MNS, CAL 	1967–1974 	251 	1#
Chris Kenady 	Right Wing	STL, NYR 	1997–2000 	7 	0
George Konik 	Defenseman	PIT 	1967–1968 	52 	0
Cliff Koroll 	Right Wing	CHI 	1969–1980 	814 	0
Antti Laaksonen 	Left Wing 	BOS, MIN, COL 	1998–2007 	483 	0
Mike Lampman 	Left Wing 	STL, VAN, WAS 	1972–1977 	96 	0
Player 	Position 	Team(s) 	Years 	Games	
Jim Leavins 	Defenseman	DET, NYR 	1985–1987 	41 	0
Pete LoPresti 	Goaltender	MNS, EDM 	1974–1981 	175 	0
Aaron MacKenzie 	Defenseman	COL 	2008–2009 	5 	0
John MacMillan 	Right Wing	, DET 	1960–1965 	104 	2
Keith Magnuson 	Defenseman	CHI 	1969–1980 	589 	0
Peter Mannino 	Goaltender	NYI, ATL, WPG 	2008–2012 	6 	0
Tom Martin 	Left Wing 	WIN, HFD, MNS 	1984–1990 	92 	0
Bill Masterton 	Center 	MNS 	1967–1968 	38 	0
Dwight Mathiasen 	Right Wing	PIT 	1985–1988 	33 	0
Derek Mayer 	Defenseman	OTT 	1993–1994 	17 	0
Scott Mayfield 	Defenseman	NYI 	2013–Present	346 	0
Peter McNab 	Center 	BUF, BOS, VAN, NJD 	1973–1987 	954 	0
Dakota Mermis 	Defenseman	ARI, NJD, MIN 	2017–Present	25 	0
Paul Messier 	Center 	COR 	1978–1979 	9 	0
Tom Miller 	Center 	DET, NYI 	1970–1975 	118 	0
Ian Mitchell 	Center 	CHI 	2020–Present	47 	0
Trevor Moore 	Forward 	TOR LAK 	2018–Present	204 	0
Gavin Morgan 	Center 	DAL 	2003–2004 	6 	0
George Morrison 	Left Wing 	STL 	1970–1972 	115 	0
Logan O'Connor 	Forward 	 	2018–Present	124 	1
Rob Palmer 	Forward 	CHI 	1973–1976 	16 	0
Craig Patrick 	Center 	CAL, STL, KCS, WAS 	1971–1979 	401 	2†
Matt Pettinger 	Left Wing 	WAS, VAN, TBL 	2000–2010 	422 	0
Lynn Powis 	Center 	CHI, KCS 	1973–1975 	130 	0
Rich Preston 	Center 	CHI, NJD 	1979–1987 	580 	0
Rhett Rakhshani 	Right Wing	NYI 	2010–2012 	7 	0
Craig Redmond 	Defenseman	LAK, EDM 	1984–1989 	191 	0
Mark Rycroft 	Right Wing	STL, COL 	2001–2007 	226 	0
Jim Shires 	Left Wing 	DET, STL, PIT 	1970–1973 	56 	0
Drew Shore 	Center 	FLA, CGY, VAN, CAR 	2012–2021 	98 	0
Nick Shore 	Center 	LAK, OTT, CGY, TOR, WPG	2014–2020 	299 	0
Brett Skinner 	Defenseman	NYI 	2008–2009 	11 	0
Wayne Smith 	Defenseman	CHI 	1966–1967 	2 	0
Paul Stastny 	Center 	COL, STL, WPG, VGK 	2006–Present	1072 	0
Troy Terry 	Right Wing	ANA 	2017–Present	218 	0
Brock Trotter 	Center 	MTL 	2009–2010 	2 	0
Vic Venasky 	Center 	LAK 	1972–1979 	430 	0
Patrick Wiercioch	Defenseman	OTT, COL 	2010–2017 	268 	0
Jim Wiste 	Center 	CHI, VAN 	1968–1971 	52 	0
Jason Zucker 	Left Wing 	MIN, PIT 	2011–Present	561 	0
† Patrick won two Stanley Cups as the general manager for the Pittsburgh Penguins.
@ Dineen won his Stanley Cup as an assistant coach for the Chicago Blackhawks.
# Johnston won his Stanley Cup as an executive for the Carolina Hurricanes.
^ Affleck won his Stanley Cup as an executive for the St. Louis Blues.
& Butler won his Stanley Cup as player for the St. Louis Blues. He did not play enough NHL games to merit engraving his name on trophy that year, but he did get to skate with the Cup in uniform after the final game. He then retired from hockey.
===Retired NHL players stats===
Note: This is a partial list of NHL players who attended DU (75 DU players have played in the NHL)
Forwards/Defensemen	Forwards/Defensemen	Forwards/Defensemen	Forwards/Defensemen	Forwards/Defensemen	Forwards/Defensemen	Forwards/Defensemen
Name 	Seasons 	GP 	G 	A 	P 	PIM
Bruce Affleck 	7 	280 	14 	66 	80 	86
Glenn Anderson 	16 	1,129 	498 	601 	1,099 	1,120
Erik Andersson 	1 	12 	2 	1 	3 	134
Ed Beers 	5 	250 	94 	116 	210 	256
Matt Carle 	12 	704 	44 	231 	275 	245
Mike Christie 	7 	412 	15 	101 	116 	550
Kevin Dineen 	19 	1,188 	355 	405 	760 	2,229
Marshall Johnston 	7 	251 	14 	52 	66 	58
Cliff Koroll 	11 	814 	208 	254 	462 	376
Antti Laaksonen 	8 	483 	81 	87 	168 	152
Keith Magnuson 	11 	589 	14 	125 	139 	1,442
Peter McNab 	14 	954 	363 	450 	813 	179
Bill Masterton1 	1 	38 	4 	8 	12 	4
Craig Patrick 	9 	401 	72 	91 	163 	61
Rich Preston 	8 	580 	127 	164 	291 	348
Craig Redmond 	5 	191 	16 	68 	84 	134
Mark Rycroft 	4 	226 	21 	25 	46 	113
Vic Venasky 	7 	430 	61 	101 	162 	66
===Active players stats===
Active as of the end of the 2017–18 season
Forwards/Defensemen	Forwards/Defensemen	Forwards/Defensemen	Forwards/Defensemen	Forwards/Defensemen	Forwards/Defensemen	Forwards/Defensemen	Forwards/Defensemen
Name 	Seasons 	GP 	G 	A 	P 	+/– 	PIM
Paul Stastny 	12 	824 	220 	426 	646 	19 	384
Tyler Bozak 	9 	594 	136 	229 	365 	−78 	182
Joe Colborne 	7 	295 	42 	72 	114 	−38 	144
Chris Butler 	7 	394 	13 	71 	84 	−30 	187
Jason Zucker 	7 	330 	97 	75 	172 	33 	124
Patrick Wiercioch 	6 	268 	16 	58 	74 	-5 	138
Scott Mayfield 	5 	83 	5 	17 	22 	-14 	98
Henrik Borgstrom 	1 	4 	1 	0 	1 	-1 	0
Troy Terry 	1 	2 	0 	0 	0 	0 	0
Beau Bennett 	6 	200 	24 	40 	64 	-2 	52
Blake Hillman 	1 	4 	1 	0 	1 	-1 	0
Will Butcher 	1 	81 	5 	39 	44 	1 	8
Nick Shore 	4 	236 	15 	38 	53 	-15 	78
Danton Heinen 	2 	85 	16 	31 	47 	7 	18
Dylan Gambrell 	1 	3 	0 	0 	0 	-1 	0
Notes:
*1 Masterton suffered severe head trauma on January 13, 1968, during an NHL game when he fell to the ice and hit his head. He died two days later and became the first player to die as a direct result of an injury during an NHL game. The Bill Masterton Memorial Trophy is awarded annually to the NHL player who best personifies perseverance, sportsmanship and dedication to the game of ice hockey.
===WHA===
Several players also were members of WHA teams.
Player 	Position 	Team(s) 	Years 	
Doug Berry 	Center 	EDM 	1978–1979	0
Tom Gilmore 	Right wing	LAS, EDM 	1972–1975	0
Ron Grahame 	Goaltender	 	1973–1977	1
George Konik 	Defenseman	MFS 	1972–1973	0
Brian Morenz 	Left wing 	NYD, NYG, JK, SDM	1972–1976	0
George Morrison	Left wing 	MFS, CAC 	1972–1977	0
Craig Patrick 	Center 	MFS 	1976–1977	0
Lynn Powis 	Center 	CAC, IND, 	1975–1978	1
Rich Preston 	Right wing	, 	1974–1979	2
Cal Sandbeck 	Defenseman	EDM 	1977–1979	0
Jim Wiste 	Center 	CLC, IND 	1972–1976	0
==Arenas==
===University of Denver Arena (1948–1997)===
University of Denver Arena (DU Arena) was a 5,237-seat multi-purpose arena in Denver. In addition to serving as the Pioneers' home rink, it hosted several Frozen Fours. It was razed in 1997 to make room for the $75 million Magness Arena, (part of the Ritchie Center for Sports and Wellness) which opened in 1999.
Originally a Naval Drill Hall built during World War II in Farragut, Idaho, the DU Arena was donated to the University after the war and reassembled on the Denver campus in 1948–49 to house the University's then-new ice hockey program. The arena was refurbished in 1972–73 when the roof needed repairs, and 14 seven-ton steel trusses were added to shore up the roof. Additional patchwork renovations were added in the 1990s, prior to razing in 1997.
The best known features of the arena were the steep bleacher balcony at the south end, and the 1970s rainbow painted on the north end wall. Famous hockey games held there include the NCAA ice hockey finals in 1961, 1964 and 1976.
===Magness Arena (1999–present)===
Magness Arena is a 7,200-seat multi-purpose collegiate sports arena in Denver, Colorado. It was built from 1997 to 1999 as part of the Daniel L. Ritchie Center for Sports & Wellness, an $84 million, sports complex at the University of Denver. It is home to the University of Denver Pioneers ice hockey and basketball teams. The Ritchie Center replaced the former DU Arena and DU Fieldhouse, which were razed in 1997 to make way for the Ritchie Center. The basketball team also plays smaller games at Hamilton Gymnasium, located in the Ritchie Center.
The arena is named after cable television pioneer Bob Magness, who donated $10 million towards construction costs.
===Other Colorado Arenas===
When the DU Arena roof was being fixed between 1972 and 1973, the Pioneers played home games at the Denver Coliseum.
When Magness Arena was under construction from 1997 to 1999, Denver played its home games at four different arenas around the state: Denver Coliseum, McNichols Arena, Colorado Springs World Arena and at the Air Force Academy's Cadet Ice Arena.
DU has also played a 2012 home exhibition game at Denver's Pepsi Center against the University of British Columbia.
Denver's all-time record hockey crowd was the 2016 regular season outdoor NCHC game against Colorado College, called "The Battle on Blake" before over 35,000 fans at Denver's Coors Field baseball stadium, the most fans to ever see a home DU sporting event in Denver.
DU's indoor record home crowd was the 1995 Denver Cup final at McNichols Arena, where Denver defeated Colorado College before over 16,000 fans.
		
==References==
==External links==
*Denver Pioneers men's ice hockey
 
Category:Ice hockey teams in Colorado