This Week in NCHC Hockey: After knocking off Western Michigan, Denver readying for Gold Pan games against Colorado College

Denver’s two national championships in the NCHC era came in 2017 and 2022, when the Pioneers also won their conference’s regular-season championship trophy, the Penrose Cup. They clinched that again last weekend at eighth-ranked Western Michigan. Third-ranked Denver will feel its job this season is only a third of the way done — there’s still … Read more

This Week in NCHC Hockey: Colorado College depth boosting players’ confidence, ‘belief in what they can help us do’

The longer a hockey season goes on, the less that coaches of teams in the bottom halves of their leagues look for perfection on game day. If something’s working, pretty or not, let it work. Such was the case Saturday for Colorado College in its shootout win at No. 16 Omaha, following a 2-2 tie … Read more

This Week in NCHC Hockey: Recent Colorado College-Denver game at Ball Arena ‘really a great story of everybody pulling together to make a special event happen in a short period of time’

Last Friday’s Gold Pan rivalry game between Denver and Colorado College at Ball Arena, home of the NHL’s Colorado Avalanche, didn’t mark the first time that Denver had played there. But there was a huge difference between the in-state rivals’ latest meeting and DU’s last game downtown, back in 2012. On Oct. 7 of that … Read more

This Week in NCHC Hockey: Despite losing two teeth against St. Cloud State, Colorado College netminder Mbereko ‘has arguably been our best player all year’

It’s usually before Christmas, not after, when you hear about missing front teeth. Don’t tell Colorado College freshman goaltender Kaidan Mbereko about that, though, or Tigers coach and former Union and professional goalie Kris Mayotte. They’ve now both lost teeth during games, after getting hit in just the right spots on their masks. Mbereko and … Read more

This Week in NCHC Hockey: Colorado College not investing in transfer portal, stocking roster with ‘guys we think we can pull out a lot of return on’

It’s less and less surprising these days when college coaches peek through the NCAA transfer portal. There isn’t necessarily anything wrong with just looking, either, as second-year Colorado College coach Kris Mayotte can attest. But he refrained in the last offseason from signing anyone through those means, and that’s helping a Tigers team (6-9-1 overall, … Read more

Denver-Colorado College rivalry heading to Ball Arena on Jan. 27, 2023, to play on home ice of NHL’s Avalanche

Due to record ticket demand for Denver hockey games and in furtherance of the Hockey Capital USA campaign, the Gold Pan series is heading to the NHL. The Pioneers’ series-opening game on Friday, Jan. 27 against in-state foe Colorado College has been moved from Magness Arena on the campus of DU to downtown Denver’s Ball … Read more

NCHC Hockey 2022-23 Season Preview: Denver the early favorite as Pioneers look to repeat as national champions

You’ve clicked on a link to this conference season preview, so chances are you already know how strong the NCHC is. So does Heather Weems, who spent the last decade as St. Cloud State’s athletic director before being named in May as the NCHC’s new commissioner. She succeeds Josh Fenton, who previously accepted another NCAA … Read more

Denver earns 19 first-place votes, sits atop 2022-23 NCHC preseason media poll

The NCHC announced Wednesday the results of the 2022-23 preseason media poll. Defending national champion Denver took the top spot with 19 first-place votes, while second-place North Dakota garnered the remaining four first-place votes. 2022-23 NCHC Preseason Media Poll 1. Denver – 180 points (19 first-place votes) 2. North Dakota – 160 (4) 3. Minnesota … Read more

Sacred Heart assistant coach Durocher named director of hockey operations at Colorado College

Ryan Durocher has been named the director of hockey operations at Colorado College. Durocher comes to Colorado Springs after serving as an assistant coach at Sacred Heart during the 2021-22 season. “I am excited that Ryan will be joining our staff,” Tigers head coach Kris Mayotte said in a statement. “We are fortunate to have … Read more

Colorado College assistant coach Stuart leaving Tigers for same job in NHL with Oilers

Colorado College assistant coach Mark Stuart is leaving his position with the Tigers to become an assistant coach with the NHL’s Edmonton Oilers. Stuart, a former CC All-American who played 12 years in the NHL, spent the 2021-22 season as part of Kris Mayotte’s first staff at Colorado College. “I could not be happier for … Read more

Denver’s Brink named NCHC player of year, North Dakota’s Berry again top coach, Minnesota Duluth’s Fanti chosen best goaltender

The NCHC announced its individual player awards Thursday night. After being named a Hobey Baker Award finalist on Wednesday, Denver junior forward Bobby Brink earned player of the year and forward of the year. Brink was the lone unanimous selection to the all-NCHC first team this season. The Philadelphia Flyers draft pick captured the NCHC … Read more

NCHC announces 2021-22 all-conference teams, with five teams represented on first team

The NCHC on Wednesday announced its all-conference teams, with five different teams represented on the 2021-22 all-NCHC first team. Voting was conducted by the eight head coaches at each institution and eight media members, one covering each member school. Coaches and media voted for six forwards, four defensemen and two goaltenders, awarding first-team votes for … Read more

NCHC starts search for next full-time commissioner to run ‘the premier conference in men’s college hockey’

The NCHC announced Thursday that the conference has begun the search for its next commissioner, contracting with Parker Executive Search, who will facilitate the process to find the conference’s third full-time commissioner since being founded in 2011. The NCHC search committee consists of representatives from all eight member institutions. It is co-chaired by North Dakota … Read more

This Week in NCHC Hockey: Colorado College sweeps Miami on home ice, gaining momentum with identity in brand-new Robson Arena

With its inaugural season winding down, firsts for Colorado College’s Ed Robson Arena are starting to come less regularly. Two more came last weekend, though, when the Tigers earned their first two overtime wins, and CC’s first weekend sweep, at the new on-campus facility. The Tigers (9-18-3) had lost five straight heading into last weekend’s … Read more

NCHC announces slew of schedule changes for Jan. 14-15, makeup dates for rescheduled games

In addition to the Omaha at North Dakota series postponed earlier today, the NCHC has announced this weekend’s series between Western Michigan and Colorado College at CC’s Ed Robson Arena and the St. Cloud State at Denver series at DU’s Magness Arena, both slated for this Friday and Saturday, Jan. 14-15, have been postponed. In … Read more

NCHC commissioner Fenton leaving conference at end of ’21-22 season for similar role with Summit League

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After more than eight years at the helm, NCHC commissioner Josh Fenton is stepping down from his role following the conclusion of the 2021-22 season. Fenton has been hired as the commissioner of the Summit League and will officially begin that role on April 11, 2022. Fenton will start his transition as a special consultant … Read more

This Week in NCHC Hockey: Minnesota Duluth leaning on ‘Swiss Army knife’ Laderoute to fill multiple roles this season

Minnesota Duluth is the No. 4 team in the county and has reached the last four Frozen Fours, winning two of them. Seldom do the Bulldogs see scoring as a huge chore. Neither do other teams of that caliber, so what sets them apart from the rest are players who can do a bit of … Read more