November has started off as a roller-coast ride for No. 1 Denver. Which way it goes this weekend against No. 3 North Dakota is anyone’s guess.

One thing we do know is Pioneers senior Rudy Junda is ready and willing to weigh in on that matchup, the start of NCHC play and just how improved the already-strong conference appears to be overall. Rudy also talks about the lessons the Pioneers have learned so far in this young season.

In our first Rude Awakening of the season, we also discussed how a couple of Rudy’s former teammates – Danton Heinen and Will Butcher – are doing in the NHL and the impact their success at hockey’s highest level has on the current DU players.