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Tag: university of denver

  • Quentin Miller has huge shoes to fill as DU’s No. 1 goalie, but the freshman looks up to the task

    There is tough news for the other top NCAA hockey programs that were happy to see Matt Davis exhaust his college eligibility: It appears the University of Denver has found another one.

    It was a winding journey for Quentin Miller to get here, but he looks quite at home in net for the Pioneers. He made 29 saves Friday night, outdueling Colorado College star netminder Kaidan Mbereko in a 2-1 overtime win in front of the largest crowd ever for a hockey game at Magness Arena (7,073).

    “He’s amazing. He’s the best person and kid too, so you just want to see him have success,” DU defenseman Boston Buckberger said. “I think what he’s done for our team, being kind of a brick and our foundation back there, we know we can rely on him. He’s bailed us out numerous times already. When we go the other way and get our chances, we’ve got to look back and give kudos and credit to him.

    “If it weren’t for him, we wouldn’t have been able to come back (Friday) night. Huge credit to him. I just hope he keeps it rolling, because it’s awesome.”

    People toss around the term legend too loosely in sports, but Davis became one at DU after his incredible 2024 postseason run leading the Pioneers to an NCAA-record 10th national championship. He also helped the Pios back to the Frozen Four last year, and finished his career 6-1 in NCAA Tournament games with eight goals allowed.

    Those are massive skates to fill. Enter Miller, who played for three different Canadian junior teams and 10 months ago wasn’t playing at all because of an injury.

    A Montreal native, Miller was the backup goalie for the Patrick Roy-led Quebec Ramparts in 2022-23. That team won the Memorial Cup, and helped Roy return to the NHL with the New York Islanders. His work also made him a fourth-round pick in the 2023 NHL draft by his hometown Montreal Canadiens.

    Miller was traded in the middle of the next season to Rimouski. He needed shoulder surgery in September 2024, so Rimouski, which was hosting the Memorial Cup, traded for another goaltender. When he was getting close to returning from the surgery, there wasn’t going to be obvious playing time for him, so he went west to the BCHL and joined the Chilliwack Chiefs.

    That’s when the Pioneers got involved. Before players with CHL experience were granted NCAA eligibility, junior players often committed years in advance of college. The forthcoming rule change drastically altered the recruiting landscape last season.

    “(Assistant coach Tavis MacMillian) learned of a guy in Chilliwack that was coming out of injuries, so just connections and people that we know up there,” DU coach David Carle said. “We didn’t have a long time to watch him, because he came back from injury sometime in late January, early February. We made the decision to recruit him and fortunately for us, he was able to get (33) games in through the BCHL playoffs.

    “We have good connections in the Montreal organization as well, and they were supportive of him coming here. That all kind of factors into it.”

    Miller played 10 regular-season games for the Chiefs, then helped them to the BCHL championship series before losing to the Brooks Bandits. The Pios not only had to replace Davis, but his backup from the past two seasons, Freddie Halyk, also transferred to Brown.

    The three goalies on the roster are two freshmen — Miller and Johnny Hicks — plus junior Paxton Geisel, who had appeared in one game in two years.

    “I think that was the big question coming into this year. We didn’t really have a goalie,” junior defenseman Eric Pohlkamp said. “But (Miller) has come in and he’s been fantastic. Even from game one against Air Force, he had a really good game, and he’s just embraced it. He’s super confident. He’s easy to play with. He’s getting better on his goalie breakouts and just keeps improving.”

    Miller improved to 6-2-1 with a .941 save percentage after the win Friday night. He helped DU go to Western Michigan, the defending NCAA champs, and sweep the Broncos last weekend with 76 saves on 80 shots.

    Corey Masisak

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  • University of Denver moving to West Coast Conference in 2026, according to report

    The University of Denver is riding the latest wave of college realignment.

    DU is moving from the Summit League to the West Coast Conference in 2026, according to a report by ESPN’s Pete Thamel. The Pioneers will be a member of the conference in nine sports.

    A move to the WCC fits the bill for DU, a private school, as the league is comprised of private schools on the West Coast. Though Gonzaga, historically the conference’s best basketball school, is leaving for the rebuilt Pac-12 in 2026, the conference is still a step up for the Pioneers in the college athletics landscape.

    The Pioneers have belonged to the Summit League since 2013. Prior to that, DU spent a year in the Western Athletic Conference, was in the Sun Belt from 1999-2012, and was independent from 1962-99. Before that, DU was a part of the Mountain States Athletic Conference.

    Basketball-wise, the WCC will be a challenge for DU’s men’s basketball team, which struggled to find a consistent footing in the Summit and has never made an NCAA Tournament appearance. The Pioneers begin the 2025-26 season next week under first-year coach Tim Bergstraser, and haven’t had a winning season since 2016-17.

    The school has yet to make a formal announcement about the move, though that is expected to come sometime Friday morning. DU athletics staff members received emails early Friday morning stating there would be a mandatory meeting at 9 a.m., a source told The Denver Post.

    This story will be updated.

    Kyle Newman

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  • After breakout season, Max Curran offers hope for Avalanche late-draft success story

    Max Curran grew up in Prague, but he’s already seen the destination of his lifelong dream up close.

    Curran is one of countless young European hockey players who have seen NHL games in his hometown as part of the league’s global series. He’s watched four NHL teams play at Prague’s O2 Arena, including the return of hometown hero Tomas Hertl in 2022 with the San Jose Sharks.

    Now, after a breakout season and spending some time with Hertl this past offseason, Curran can see the fruition of his work starting to come together.

    “I think I can get better at everything. I want to develop my game,” Curran said. “I want to get bigger and more physical, but I think everyone can get better at everything. I just want to trust the process and hopefully it happens one day.”

    “It” is playing for the Avalanche in the NHL. The Avs selected Curran with pick No. 161 in the 2024 NHL draft.

    Listed at 6-foot-3 and 179 pounds, Curran had a great post-draft year on and off the ice with Tri-City in the Western Hockey League. He led the Americans with 74 points in 65 games.

    “It was awesome,” Curran said. “It was a great year, great group of guys. Really enjoyed it. I think (my) speed, doing everything faster (helped).”

    Curran also got stronger and added weight. The size is pretty tantalizing, and the promise of a big, two-way center with some offensive skill is there.

    “Playing in Tri-City was a good spot for him. He developed well, kind of rounded out his game to a more 200-foot game,” Brian Willsie, the Avalanche’s director of player development, said. “He played a bit of center and a bit of wing. Learned under Stu Barnes, who is a good mentor there.

    “He has a big frame and broad shoulders, so for him to put on some weight is great.”

    The Avs need the 2024 draft class to be a success. Colorado drafted nine players in 2024, nearly as many selections as 2022, 2023 and 2025 combined (10). But only two were in the top 120 selections, and one (William Zellers) was already traded in the deal for Charlie Coyle.

    Colorado hasn’t drafted a player outside the top 120 picks who went on to play at least 300 games since both Brad Richardson (No. 163) and David Jones (No. 288) did so in the 2003 class. From 1995-2003, the Avalanche selected 11 players after pick No. 120 who played 300-plus games in the NHL, including Willsie at No. 146 in 1996.

    The guy who came closest is former University of Denver star Will Butcher — pick No. 123 in 2013. He played 275 NHL games, but never signed with the Avs after his DU career ended.

    Goalie Ilya Nabokov, the No. 38 selection in 2024, is expected to join the Avs or Eagles at the end of his KHL season and could crack the NHL depth chart soon. The rest of the class could take longer to develop, but Curran has moved to the top of the list with his potential.

    The next step is to play for the Avs at the 2025 Rookie Showcase. Colorado is hosting the event this weekend at South Suburban Sports Complex in Highlands Ranch. Curran and the Avs will play Utah on Friday night and Vegas on Sunday afternoon.

    After that, Curran will not be returning to Tri-City. He was traded to Edmonton in a huge offseason deal. The Oil Kings gave up four future draft picks to add Curran to an already talented roster.

    Corey Masisak

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  • How Your Dog Can Help You Manage Stress | Animal Wellness Magazine

    Imagine walking into a stressful situation, feeling the weight of the world pressing down on you. Now picture your loyal companion by your side, tail wagging, ready to help. A recent study about dogs and stress management from the University of Denver reveals the profound impact dogs have on managing stress, offering more than mere comfort.

    The Stress Epidemic

    In today’s fast-paced life, over one-third of U.S. adults report feeling overwhelmed. This statistic highlights a growing concern about mental well-being. As stress levels rise, the consequences on health become alarming. Increased risks of heart disease, cancer, and even dementia loom. Finding effective ways to combat stress is essential, and your furry friend might hold the key.

    How Dogs Help

    Researchers at the University of Denver studied dogs and stress management and the biological effects of dogs on stress response. They focused on two critical stress pathways: the HPA axis and the SAM axis. During a stress test, participants either brought their dogs or left them at home. Those with dogs showed lower cortisol spikes and a balanced alpha-amylase response. These findings indicate a healthier reaction to stress.

    The Science Behind the Bond

    Why do dogs excel at stress relief? Their presence triggers a calming effect. While cortisol levels drop, alpha-amylase rises, showing alertness and engagement. This balanced response helps individuals deal with stressful situations more effectively. Your dog’s companionship provides not only emotional support but also physiological benefits.

    Practical Tips for Stress Relief with Dogs

    Incorporating your dog into daily routines enhances stress management. Take regular walks together, explore nature, or engage in fun activities. Playing fetch or practicing obedience can strengthen your bond. Consider scheduling quiet time to relax together. These moments of connection reduce anxiety and increase feelings of safety.

    A Lifelong Relationship

    Understanding the role dogs play in stress management opens new possibilities. They become allies in maintaining mental health. Their unconditional love and support can ease the burdens of chronic stress and PTSD.

    Dogs offer more than companionship; they serve as vital partners in stress management. Their ability to lower cortisol levels and promote engagement can enrich our lives. Embrace the unique bond you share. Your dog is more than a friend; they are a powerful ally in tackling life’s challenges.

    Animal Wellness

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  • How the University of Denver plans to recruit more students from rural communities

    How the University of Denver plans to recruit more students from rural communities

    Denver news

    The University of Denver announced its participation last week in the Small Town and Rural Students College Network, or the STARS College Network, now in its second year.

    Students walk the halls of Fowler High School, a rural school in Colorado. The University of Denver joined a network that hopes to help more students from rural communities see a path to college.

    Mark Reis for Chalkbeat

    This story was originally published by Chalkbeat. Sign up for their newsletters at ckbe.at/newsletters

    By Jason Gonzales, Chalkbeat

    Rural students may graduate high school at higher rates than their peers, but they’re also less likely to end up on a college campus.

    The University of Denver wants to change that statistic through a partnership that’s brought together 32 prominent public and private universities to help rural students learn about their college options, help them enroll, and support them to graduation.

    In July, the Denver private university announced its participation in the Small Town and Rural Students College Network, or the STARS College Network, now in its second year. Participating schools include private institutions like Yale, Vanderbilt, and Duke, historically Black university Spelman College, and public flagships such as the University of Texas at Austin and the University of California, Berkeley.

    The program doubled in size from 16 to 32 schools this year, with the University of Denver joining as the only Colorado school participating in the program.

    “We want to open the minds of students in rural areas,” said Todd Rhinehart, vice chancellor for enrollment at the University of Denver. “They have the academic horsepower, and with financial aid from these schools, they have the ability to enroll and really make it a reality.”

    Nationally, about 61% of high school graduates enroll in college, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics. And about 55% of rural students go directly to college after they graduate, according to the National Student Clearinghouse.

    In Colorado, the rates are lower, however, with recent state data showing about half of all students enroll — and 47.5% of the state’s rural students go directly to college.

    Rhinehart said he’s hopeful the network can reverse a national trend that’s seen fewer rural students going to college since 2019.

    Trott Family Philanthropies funds the program and has committed more than $150 million over 10 years to help recruit and support rural students, according to the STARS website. The network offers services such as webinars, math tutoring, college planning services, and campus visits for students.

    School representatives also visit communities, Rhinehart said, and he hopes to someday place a STARS recruiter on the Western Slope.

    “Their focus would really be on all of Western and Southwestern Colorado and certainly New Mexico and Arizona,” he said. “They’d be able to visit far more high schools than we’re able to now.”

    Rhinehart aims to clear up misconceptions among rural high school communities that selective colleges like DU aren’t for them. A college education comes with the promise of higher wages and economic stability, and Rhinehart said he hears that students wonder if they are academically ready or can afford to go to selective colleges.

    Rhinehart said the network will get the message out that the school has financial aid available for them and that schools will help them succeed.

    “We’re going to get out there and say, ‘You are a strong student, you should definitely be applying, and we would love to have you.’”

    Jason Gonzales is a reporter covering higher education and the Colorado legislature. Chalkbeat Colorado partners with Open Campus on higher education coverage. Contact Jason at [email protected].

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  • Can direct cash payments alleviate poverty? Here’s what Denver has learned

    Can direct cash payments alleviate poverty? Here’s what Denver has learned

    Authorities force a cleanup of an encampment at 4th Avenue and Kalamath Street. April 25, 2024.

    Kevin J. Beaty/Denverite

    Does giving direct cash payments to people experiencing homelessness help alleviate poverty?

    A one-year study following around 800 participants in Denver, one of the largest studies of its kind, says yes.

    The Denver Basic Income Project is reporting “significant improvements in housing outcomes” among its participants, according to results released by researchers from University of Denver on Tuesday.

    The study found that about 45 percent of original participants, all of whom were unhoused at the start, were living in their own house or apartment one year into the program.

    Researchers also found that direct cash payments can lead to cost savings for public dollars, with participants reducing their use of public services and visits to places like emergency rooms and shelters.

    What is basic income?

    Universal basic income — cash payments to people living in poverty, no strings attached — has taken off as an idea among some philanthropists and politicians in recent years.

    Denver’s nearly $10 million pilot project began in 2021, funded with a mix of private donations and $4 million from the city. DU’s study is one of the largest looking into the efficacy of the idea.

    “Our current social safety net is really built on a more paternalistic type of set of rules and expectations for people,” said Mark Donovan, founder and executive director of Denver Basic Income Project. “When we approach people and say to them, ‘We believe in you. We trust you,’ at first they don’t believe us because they’re so used to being let down. But when we actually start delivering the unconditional cash, even in small amounts … we see this wall of distrust lowered quickly, and we create a platform for change.”

    How the Denver Basic Income Project worked

    Program leaders worked with local nonprofits to connect with eligible participants, who must have been unhoused and without severe, unaddressed substance abuse or mental health issues.

    Participants were also chosen to reflect the racial and gender demographics of people experiencing homelessness, where a number of minority groups are overrepresented.

    They were then randomly split into three groups.

    Group A received $1,000 per month. Group B received $6,500 upfront and $500 per monthly moving forward. Group C, the control group, received $50 monthly.

    Researchers reported that participants largely spent money on things like transportation, hygiene, groceries, housing, health care and debt.

    “We know that unhoused people use resources in the same way housed people do – to cover basic needs — and we’ve seen this program bring relief, peace of mind, and stronger paths to stability to the participants we’ve enrolled,” said Cathy Alderman, chief communications and public policy officer with Colorado Coalition for the Homeless, in a statement Tuesday.

    So, what did we learn?

    The study found that the percentage of participants in stable housing approximately doubled within 10 months in all three groups, a statistically significant result according to researchers.

    Data Source: Denver Basic Income Project

    All three groups also saw reductions in accessing public services, another statistically significant result.

    Data Source: Denver Basic Income Project

    Participants also reported an increase in overall financial well-being and an increase in full-time employment.

    Researchers also looked at a number of other factors including sleep quality, food insecurity, anxiety, parenting stress, transportation resources and more, with full qualitative and quantitative results released online.

    Overall, the study found that the probability of experiencing homelessness decreased for all through groups while receiving cash payments for 12 months.

    Chart courtesy: Denver Basic Income Project

    “The most impact it had on me was a promising future, versus before, it wasn’t looking so good,” said one anonymous participant quoted in the report. “It’s a light at the end of the tunnel, and before, I was kinda lost. It just really gave me some hope.”

    What’s next for Denver’s universal basic income experiment?

    The program was extended for a second year, thanks in part to a $2 million infusion from the city.

    Donovan said he hopes to see the program sustain funding in Denver for a third year, while also replicating the study in other cities to test the ability to scale universal basic income.

    While other cities have also experimented with basic income pilots, Denver’s program is one of the biggest studies on the concept so far.

    Sustained funding remains a challenge. The program needs another $2 million to fill out its second year, while also fundraising $8 million with the hope of running for a third year.

    Ultimately, Donovan wants to see universal basic income incorporated into public policy.

    “The first year we see is creating a sense of stability, but we’re already seeing the housing incomes continue to improve month to month, and we believe that the second year, and even beyond, can be even more profoundly transformational,” Donovan said. “We know what happens when benefits are eliminated, and we know about the benefits cliff, but we don’t know what it looks like when you sustain an income floor.”

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  • DU gymnastics star Lynnzee Brown is headed to the Olympics

    DU gymnastics star Lynnzee Brown is headed to the Olympics

    The University of Denver women’s gymnastic team’s Lynnzee Brown flies through the air during a practice on campus. March 28, 2023.

    Kevin J. Beaty/Denverite

    After setting numerous records at University of Denver, the International Gymnastics Federation announced Thursday that DU alumna Lynnzee Brown will become the first female gymnast to represent Haiti at the Paris Olympics this summer.

    Brown received a universality spot, a position reserved for athletes representing countries that have sent an average of eight or fewer athletes to the past two Olympics.

    She competed for the U.S. and DU before representing Haiti at the World Championships in 2023. She is also an assistant coach at Penn State. 

    “I’m trying to think of what to say but I honestly have nothing that feels good enough,” Brown told Penn State on Thursday. “I’m grateful for this journey and those that have supported me through it. I am honored that the Haitian federation is supporting me through this process, and I look forward to seeing what the next generation of athletes will do.”

    The University of Denver women’s gymnastic team’s Lynnzee Brown chalks her hands during a practice on campus. March 28, 2023.
    Kevin J. Beaty/Denverite

    Brown will be the fourth DU gymnast to compete at the Olympics. 

    “(I’m feeling) just a lot of pride, a lot of excitement, a lot of thankfulness,” said Melissa Kutcher-Rinehart, head coach for DU gymnastics.

    Kutcher-Rinehard emphasized Brown’s resilience throughout her career. Brown lost her mother when she was in college. She came back from tearing her Achilles tendon to win an NCAA floor title — only to tear her other Achilles tendon a few years later. She recoverd from that injury, too, and competed in 2023 for DU and on the world stage.

    “The first real thought that came to my mind is, this I know was something she had discussed with her mom,” Kutcher-Rinehart said about Brown making the Olympics. “I know her mom is smiling down [at] her from heaven and just so proud of Lynnzee. And this was a goal of Lynnzee’s forever, and it also makes me think of Lynnzee and her incredible perseverance.”

    The University of Denver women’s gymnastic team’s Lynnzee Brown somersaults off of a bar during a practice on campus. March 28, 2023.
    Kevin J. Beaty/Denverite

    What’s next for Lynnzee Brown? And how does that universality spot work exactly?

    The universality spot goes to one male and one female Olympic gymnast each cycle.

    To receive the spot, athletes needed to meet a number of criteria including attempting to qualify through other competitions first and meeting certain competitive scores.

    Brown failed to qualify for Olympic spots at the World Championships and other competitions in the past year, but her performance made her eligible for the universality spot.

    She will compete in the qualifications round, the first Olympic gymnastics event, on July 28, in an attempt to qualify for event and all-around finals.

    Denverite has reached out to Brown for comment.

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  • Where to watch the DU men’s lacrosse team play Notre Dame

    Where to watch the DU men’s lacrosse team play Notre Dame

    University of Denver fans wait to get into Crimson & Gold Tavern to watch their Pioneers mens hockey team face off against Boston College in the NCAA’s Frozen Four final. April 14, 2024.

    Kevin J. Beaty/Denverite

    As Colorado sports fans recover from two heartbreaking playoff exits for their beloved teams, one of Denver’s collegiate squads could help elevate their cloudy spirits.

    The No. 5 seed University of Denver men’s lacrosse team will face defending champion No. 1 seed Notre Dame in the national semifinal this Saturday at 10 a.m. 

    The game will be hosted at the Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia and broadcast on ESPN2 and 104.3 The Fan HD3.

    DU most recently won its record-breaking tenth NCAA Men’s hockey championship. 

    A win on Saturday would mark the lacrosse program’s second trip to the final. The team nabbed their first title back in 2015 under the direction of legendary coach Bill Tierney.

    Denver vs. Notre Dame series

    DU last faced Notre Dame in May 2020, just before the COVID-19 pandemic shut down collegiate sports.

    Denver holds an 11-14 all-time record against Notre Dame, including an identical meeting in the 2015 national semifinal. Twelve of the last 13 matches have been decided by three goals or less.

    This is Denver’s 13th appearance in the NCAA Tournament and the first since the 2021 season. The Irish hold a 14-1 record to Denver’s 13-3 record this season. 

    Notre Dame leads the country in scoring offense at 15.87 goals per game. Denver enters the week first in the country in man-down defense, stopping teams 84.4 percent of the time they find themselves with someone in the penalty box.

    Denver’s 2015 title made them the first team to win it all outside of the Eastern Time Zone, when they beat Maryland 10-5.

    Here are five places to catch the action this Saturday: 

    Campus Lounge

    Address: 701 S. University Blvd.

    Stadium Inn

    Address: 1701 E. Evans Ave.

    The Pioneer Bar

    Address: 2401 S. University Blvd.

    The DNVR Sports Bar

    Address: 2239 E. Colfax Ave.

    Crimson and Gold Tavern

    Address: 2017 S. University Blvd.

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  • DU men’s lacrosse takes down Syracuse, clinches first Final Four bid in seven years

    DU men’s lacrosse takes down Syracuse, clinches first Final Four bid in seven years

    The DU Pioneers are Final Four bound.

    Surging ahead with a six-goal third quarter, the University of Denver men’s lacrosse team beat Syracuse, 10-8, at Johnny Unitas Stadium in Towson, Md., to secure a spot in next weekend’s NCAA Tournament Final Four.

    The fifth-seeded Pioneers (13-3) will take on top-seeded Notre Dame (14-1) on Saturday, May 25, at Lincoln Financial Field in Philadelphia. It will mark the Pios’ first Final Four trip since 2017 and sixth overall, with first-year head coach Matt Brown looking to win the program’s second national title.

    Michael Lampert, J.J. Sillstrop, Cody Malawsky and Ty Hussey scored two goals apiece, Alec Stathakis picked up six ground balls and Casey Wilson had five, while goaltender Malcolm Kleban made 10 saves.

    The Pioneers entered the fourth quarter with a 10-5 lead, then survived a flurry of offense from the fourth-seeded Orange (12-6) to pick up the victory.

    The Denver Post

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  • DU women’s lacrosse eliminated by Northwestern in NCAA Tournament

    DU women’s lacrosse eliminated by Northwestern in NCAA Tournament

    The University of Denver women’s lacrosse team ran into a familiar roadblock Sunday afternoon.

    The Northwestern Wildcats eliminated the Pioneers from the NCAA Tournament for the second year in a row, rolling to a 17-4 victory on their home turf in Evanston, Ill.

    The No. 1 overall seed netted 13 goals in the first half to take a commanding 10-goal lead into the break, then cruised from there to halt the Pios’ tournament run two wins shy of a return trip to the Final Four.

    The Wildcats (16-2) scored the game’s first five goals before Julia Gilbert got DU on the board with a goal with 6:54 left in the first period. Northwestern’s Izzy Scane set a new standard for women’s lacrosse goal-scoring as part of the run, topping Boston College and Duke product Charlotte North’s NCAA record 358 career goals.

    Gilbert finished with two goals for DU, while Lauren Black and Sloane Kipp added goals of their own, but it wasn’t near enough to match the reigning national champions’ offensive firepower. Northwestern beat DU 15-7 in last year’s Final Four en route to its eighth national title.

    The Pioneers (16-4) reached the NCAA Tournament for the sixth consecutive season, excluding the 2020 COVID year. Thanks to a 13-12 victory over Stanford on Friday, they’ve won at least one tournament game in each of those six trips. They also won the Big East tournament for the fourth year in a row.

    Matt Schubert

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  • DU defenseman Sean Behrens signs three-year entry-level contract with Avalanche

    DU defenseman Sean Behrens signs three-year entry-level contract with Avalanche

    The Colorado Avalanche and Sean Behrens finally made it official.

    Behrens signed a three-year entry-level contract with the Avs, the team announced Friday, allowing the University of Denver defenseman to join the franchise that selected him 61st overall in the 2021 NHL draft. The deal begins in 2024-25, but he will join the Colorado Eagles in the AHL for the remainder of the 2023-24 season on an amateur tryout.

    Behrens took part in the Avs’ development camp in back-to-back years in 2022 and ’23. He comes to the Avs following a junior season at DU that saw him post career numbers in goals (4), assists (27), points (31) and games played (44).

    He is a two-time national champion, helping the Pioneers win their 10th NCAA championship just a week ago and their ninth in 2022 when Denver defeated Minnesota State.

    The Denver Post

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  • DU hockey is headed back the NCAA championship

    DU hockey is headed back the NCAA championship

    Denver players celebrate after an overtime win against Boston University in a semifinal game at the Frozen Four NCAA college hockey tournament Thursday, April 11, 2024, in St. Paul, Minn. (AP Photo/Abbie Parr)

    AP

    It seems like an annual occurrence. The University of Denver’s hockey team is once again fighting for an NCAA national championship after a 2-1 win against Boston University in the semi-finals of the Frozen Four in St. Paul, Minnesota on Thursday.

    Tristan Broz scored his second overtime goal of the NCAA Tournament to help No. 3 seed DU beat No. 2 BU. The championship game is at 4 p.m. MT Saturday. Denver will face the winner of the Michigan-Boston College game.

    Denver last won the title in 2022 and is one of the most successful hockey teams in college history

    The Pioneers (31-9-3), playing in its 19th Frozen Four, are looking for their 10th national title in program history on Saturday — which would break a tie with Michigan for the most in college hockey history.

    Denver has just two losses since the start of February, going 14-2-1 in the last 17 games.

    BU senior Luke Tuch opened the scoring at 7:45 of the first period with his 10th goal of the season. He stole the puck and went in alone for a shothanded goal. It was BU’s fourth shorthanded goal of the season — and first scored by somebody other than Nick Zabaneh.

    Boston University (28-10-2) entered 19-1-0 this season when leading after the first period.

    Denver’s Tristan Lemyre tied it at 1-all with his second goal of the season. He took advantage of a wide-open slot by beating BU goalie Mathieu Caron.

    Broz scored from the top of the right circle at 11:09 of overtime by leading a 3-on-2 and sending a wrist shot through the pads of Caron. It was the 40th point of the season for Broz.

    Matt Davis, who made his 25th straight start in net, saved 33 shots for Denver.

    The Pioneers have won five straight games against the Terriers, setting a record for the longest winning streak in the series. Denver won the first four games from 1960-67, while Boston had a four-game winning streak from 1990-99.

    It was the second Frozen Four game in a row to reach overtime after Quinnipiac won last season’s national championship game in extra time.

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  • DU Pioneers beat UMass on Tristan Broz’s goal to claim double-overtime thriller in NCAA Tournament

    DU Pioneers beat UMass on Tristan Broz’s goal to claim double-overtime thriller in NCAA Tournament

    The University of Denver hockey team crossed two time zones to reach its NCAA hockey regional in Springfield, Mass.

    There, the top-seeded Pioneers met a fourth-seeded UMass Minutemen squad that needed to drive approximately 26 miles to arrive at MassMutual Center for Thursday afternoon’s win-or-go home affair.

    Yet somehow, the Pios never ran out of gas.

    In a back-and-forth marathon that featured two brilliant performances in net, forward Tristan Broz slipped a wrist shot into the right side of the goal to send DU to a 2-1 double-overtime victory that left a partisan UMass crowd stunned.

    The game-winner put the Pioneers (29-9-3) a win away their 19th Frozen Four bid, with all that’s standing between them and a trip to St. Paul, Minn., a date with Maine or Cornell on Saturday (2 p.m. MDT) in Springfield.

    “It wasn’t easy,” Broz told the ESPN2 broadcast after the win. “That was a heck of a hockey game and (UMass) gave us everything they had.”

    Of course, Broz wouldn’t have even have had a chance at the game-winner were it not for the play of goaltender Matt Davis in net. The junior turned away 46 shots, including several at close range, and somehow managed to stay in the game after appearing to injure himself doing the splits in the second OT.

    “It felt like they could have had five or 10 goals there,” Broz said of UMass. “… (Davis) is a warrior and we love him.”

    DU entered the regional as the No. 3 overall seed in the 16-team NCAA Tournament bracket and played like it early on, putting up a 10-5 advantage in shots on goal in the first period.

    Matt Schubert

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  • Colorado civil rights attorney Kevin Williams, who fought to improve lives of people with disabilities, dies at 57

    Colorado civil rights attorney Kevin Williams, who fought to improve lives of people with disabilities, dies at 57

    Colorado civil rights attorney Kevin Williams died this week after 26 years of fighting to improve the lives of people with disabilities. He was 57.

    Williams died Tuesday after a short illness, according to colleagues at the Denver-based Colorado Cross-Disability Coalition, where he launched the legal program in 1997 upon graduation from law school.

    A quadriplegic paralyzed from his chest down following a car crash at age 19, Williams steadily increased access for disabled people by filing lawsuits — pressing for enforcement under the Americans with Disabilities Act, the Rehabilitation Act, the Colorado Anti-Discrimination Act and the Fair Housing Act.

    He began this work as a third-year law student at the University of Denver. Shortly before his graduation, he sued his law school. The issue was compliance with the ADA. He prevailed, leading to required improvements, including a wheelchair-accessible graduation venue.

    Often serving as the plaintiff, Williams repeated that feat again and again, expanding access for Coloradans with disabilities in stores, restaurants, public transit systems, theaters, arenas and travel pathways around the state. For example, his litigation compelled the operators of Red Rocks Amphitheatre to provide accessible parking, seating and ticketing.

    He also led other lawyers into disability rights work.

    Williams grew up in the suburbs of Cleveland.  He made Colorado his home in 1990, the year President George H.W. Bush signed the ADA into law. He enjoyed drives in the mountains, attending concerts and visiting local breweries and distilleries.

    Friends this week remembered him as passionate in his pursuit of civil rights.

    “Kevin was contemplative, thorough and certain not to leave any stone unturned, especially in litigation,” said Andrew Montoya, who worked in the coalition’s legal program as an assistant and then was inspired to attend law school.

    “Even seemingly mundane legal issues could occupy hours of lively discussion ranging from interpretive case law to contemporary and historical politics to litigation strategy to the meaning of life, and back again,” Montoya said. “His passion for civil rights, both in general and specifically those of people with disabilities, clearly animated his work, both in the courtroom and in the rest of the world.”

    He also had a knack for making light of difficulties. Friends recalled his adaptation of the Beatles’ “Let It Be” — a rendition that he titled “Let Us Pee.” (“When I find myself in times of trouble; The bathroom door is two-foot-three; Whisper words of wisdom; Let us pee, let us pee.”

    “He was intense, passionate, focused and very analytical. What kept him motivated was seeing people with disabilities face discrimination and knowing that the laws that are supposed to protect us are being violated,” said Julie Reiskin, co-executive director of the coalition.

    “What bothered him was the blatant violation of the law, especially by those who should know better, such as courts and lawyers that made excuses rather than working to fix the problem.”

    Get more Colorado news by signing up for our daily Your Morning Dozen email newsletter.



    Bruce Finley

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  • A timeline of what's happened since Colorado's first legal recreational marijuana sales began – The Cannabist

    A timeline of what's happened since Colorado's first legal recreational marijuana sales began – The Cannabist

    It’s been 10 years since Colorado launched the first legal recreational marijuana market in the world and became a pioneer in drug reform.

    But when it came to the nascent industry, the first sales on Jan. 1, 2014, were more a starting block than a finish line.

    In the decade since legalization, Colorado has refined laws, catalyzed new ones and served as a litmus test for the rest of the country as states followed its lead. Today, cannabis is recreationally available for sale in 24 states — where more than half of Americans live.

    Read the rest of this story on DenverPost.com.

    The Cannabist Network

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  • Condoleezza Rice Fast Facts | CNN Politics

    Condoleezza Rice Fast Facts | CNN Politics



    CNN
     — 

    Here’s a look at the life of Condoleezza Rice, former US secretary of state.

    Birth date: November 14, 1954

    Birth place: Birmingham, Alabama

    Birth name: Condoleezza Rice

    Father: John Wesley Rice Jr., minister and dean

    Mother: Angelena (Ray) Rice, a high school teacher

    Education: University of Denver, B. A., 1974; University of Notre Dame, Master’s degree, 1975; University of Denver, Ph.D., 1981

    Name is from the Italian “con dolcezza” meaning “with sweetness.”

    She enrolled in the University of Denver at the age of 15, and graduated Phi Beta Kappa with a B.A. at the age of 19.

    At the University of Denver, she studied under Josef Korbel, the father of Madeleine Albright.

    Has served on the boards of Dropbox, Chevron, Charles Schwab, the University of Notre Dame, and the Rand Corporation, among others.

    She is a Fellow of the American Academy of Arts and Sciences.

    As a professor at Stanford, she won the 1984 Walter J. Gores Award for Excellence in Teaching and the 1993 School of Humanities and Sciences Dean’s Award for Distinguished Teaching.

    1981 – Appointed to the faculty of Stanford University as a professor of political science.

    1986 – Serves as Special Assistant to the Director of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, while also an international affairs fellow of the Council on Foreign Relations.

    1989 – Appointed Special Assistant to President George H. W. Bush for National Security Affairs.

    March 1991 – Resigns as Senior Director of Soviet and East European Affairs in the National Security Council, and as Special Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs.

    1993 – Becomes the first woman and the first African-American to become provost of Stanford University. She was also the youngest person ever appointed provost.

    June 1999 – Resigns as Provost of Stanford University but remains a faculty member.

    January 22, 2001-2005 – National Security Adviser to President George W. Bush. She is the first woman to hold this post.

    October 5, 2003 – The White House announces the formation of the Iraqi Stabilization Group, headed by Rice. The group will consist of four coordinating committees: counter-terrorism, economic development, political affairs, and media relations. The committees will be headed by four of Rice’s deputies and will include representatives from the CIA and the under-secretaries from the State, Defense and Treasury Departments.

    April 8, 2004 – Rice testifies in public, under oath before the 9-11 Commission after weeks of requests for her to do so. She has previously met with the Commission in private.

    November 16, 2004 – President Bush announces his nomination of Rice as secretary of state.

    November 20, 2004 – Rice is released from Georgetown University Hospital in Washington, DC., after undergoing a uterine fibroid embolization the day before.

    2004-2007 – Time Magazine names Rice as one of the World’s Most Influential People.

    January 26, 2005 – Confirmed as US secretary of state by a vote of 85 to 13 in the Senate. She is the first African-American woman to hold this position.

    January 28, 2005-January 20, 2009 – Serves as the 66th US Secretary of State.

    July 24, 2006 – Arrives in the Middle East to discuss a peace plan between Israel and Lebanon after violence erupts.

    August 16, 2008 – Oversees a cease-fire agreement between Russia and Georgia.

    September 5, 2008 – Meets with Moammar Gadhafi in Libya, the first visit by a US secretary of state to Libya since 1953.

    January 28, 2009 – Stanford University announces that Rice will return “as a political science professor and the Thomas and Barbara Stephenson Senior Fellow on Public Policy at the Hoover Institution.”

    February 2009 – Agrees to a three-book deal with Crown Publishers starting with a memoir about her years in the George W. Bush Administration.

    November 2009 – Is a founding partner of the RiceHadley Group (now Rice, Hadley, Gates & Manuel LLC), an advisory firm, along with former George W. Bush Administration National Security Adviser Stephen Hadley.

    July 28, 2010 – Plays the piano during a performance with the “Queen of Soul,” Aretha Franklin and the Philadelphia Orchestra for a charity event to raise money for inner city music education.

    October 12, 2010 – Rice’s memoir, “Extraordinary, Ordinary People,” is released. The book details Rice’s childhood in segregated Alabama.

    November 1, 2011 – Rice’s memoir, “No Higher Honor: A Memoir of My Years in Washington,” is published.

    August 20, 2012 – Along with financier Darla Moore, becomes the first woman admitted as a member to Augusta National Golf Club.

    October 16, 2013 – Rice is announced as one of 13 members of the College Football Playoff selection committee.

    May 3, 2014 – Rice declines to speak at Rutgers University’s May 18th commencement after students and faculty opposed her support of the Iraq war.

    May 9, 2017 – Rice’s book, “Democracy: Stories from the Long Road to Freedom,” is published.

    October 11, 2017 – It is announced that Rice has agreed to chair the NCAA’s Commission on College Basketball.

    May 2018 – Rice and co-author Amy Zegart’s book, “Political Risk: How Businesses and Organizations Can Anticipate Global Insecurity,” is published.

    January 28, 2020 – Rice announces she will be the next director of Stanford University’s Hoover Institution, a public policy think tank.

    September 1, 2020 – Rice assumes her position as director of the Hoover Institution.

    July 11, 2022 – The Denver Broncos announce Rice is joining the NFL team’s new ownership group.

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