Denver is celebrating 70 years of hockey this weekend, with more than 160 alumni expected to descend upon the Front Range for DU’s non-conference series against Niagara.

So I thought it would be fun to compile 70 (maybe a few more) fun facts as a way to say Cheers to the Pioneers!

Part 1 includes Nos. 70-36

Part 2 includes Nos. 35-1

70

1970 was the year that recently retired athletic director Ron Grahame began his career at DU as a player, and what a career it was. When it was all said and done, Grahame led the program in several statistical goaltending categories. His 82 wins (tied with Tanner Jaillet) remain a high-water mark, as do his 3,565 saves. His 120 games played has only been surpassed by players whose seasons included more games per season (Jaillet and Stephen Wagner). Grahame was an All-American in 1972-73 and went on to have a lengthy pro career in the WHA and NHL before returning to the school to serve in a variety of capacities. If there is a face of DU hockey, he’s it.

69

This is the year of Denver’s fifth championship. … And five men are tied for this position on DU’s all-time scoring list – Anders Bjork, Bjorn Engstrom, Paul Josephson, Kelly Popadynetz and Marc Rousseau – each with 109 points.

68

The year of DU’s fourth NCAA title, 1968 was the first of two seasons in which defenseman Keith Magnuson was an All-American. Legendary for his toughness, leadership and commitment, Magnuson, who perished in an automobile accident in 2003, went on to captain the Chicago Blackhawks and had his No. 3 retired by the Original Six franchise.

67

The most assists a Denver player has registered in a season, by Dallas Gaume in 1985-86. Gaume also has the most points (266) and assists (188) in school history.

66

To say Gaume hit the ground running at DU would be an understatement. He posted 66 points in 1982-83, a freshman record. … Also, 1966 was the first year a Pioneer was selected in the NHL Entry Draft, with forward Brian Morenz going to Chicago in the fourth round. He’s the first of 112 NHL picks from Denver. … And, it’s also the average points per season at DU for forward Dwight Mathiasen, whose 198 points are second only to Guame.

65

Three players have scored 65 goals in their DU careers – Doug Berry (1975-78), Mike Lampman (1969-72) and John MacMillan (1957-60), and each has a fascinating back story. Berry spent part of his pro career playing for the NHL’s Colorado Rockies from 1979-81. Lampman was the lowest drafted player from the 1970 draft (10^th round, 111^th overall) to reach the NHL, where he played for four seasons. He also played for the Denver Spurs of the minor-league WHL. And MacMillan, who was a key member of DU’s first two NCAA title teams, went on to win two Stanley Cups with the Toronto Maple Leafs. He’s also the uncle of current DU assistant coach Tavis MacMillan.

64

Among those tied for 64^th on DU’s career scoring list is long-time NHL player and executive Craig Patrick, who also served as the general manager for the 1980 U.S. Olympic team. Patrick, who played at DU from 1966-69 before beginning his NHL playing career, had an evenly matched 57 goals and 57 assists for the Pioneers.

63

The number of wins Peter Mannino had in net for the Pioneers. The MVP of the 2005 Frozen Four, Mannino played seven seasons of pro hockey, before jumping into coaching. He’s currently the coach of the USHL’s Des Moines Buccaneers after assistant coaching stints with NCHC rivals Omaha and Miami.

62

One of the more popular players in recent times at DU, Colorado native Troy Terry, is tied with George Morrison for 62^nd on the school’s scoring list with 115 points. Terry was exactly a point-per-game player, while Morrison amassed his total in just 64 games from 1968-70. Morrison left for the St. Louis Blues of the NHL, then spent five seasons in the World Hockey Association. Terry is in his second season with the NHL’s Anaheim Ducks.

61

Denver’s five All-Americans in 1961 remain the most the program has had in any one season, in addition to defenseman Marty Howe and center Bill Masterton, goalie George Kirkwood, defenseman Grant Munro and winger Jerry Walker each were so honored. The 1960-61 team – also a national title winner – was DU’s highest-scoring team ever. It averaged more than 7.5 goals per game.

60

All three Denver All-Americans in 1960 – Howe and fellow defenseman George Konik, as well as Masterton – went on to lengthy professional careers, and all three reached the NHL. ’60 also marked the first year that DU had multiple All-Americans.

59

Jim Brown – not to be confused the NFL star of that era with the same name – led the Pioneers with 62 points (24 goals, 38 assists) in their 10^th anniversary season, 1959.

58

Bill Masterton started his DU career in 1958 and in just three seasons amassed 196 points (tied for third) in 89 games. That is the fewest games played of any scorer in the top 47 of DU’s all-time points list. Masterton is the only player to die as a direct result of injuries suffered in an NHL game. Playing for the Minnesota North Stars, he passed on Jan. 15, 1968, after suffering massive head injuries following a hit in a game against the Oakland Seals. The NHL’s annual award for perseverance and dedication to hockey is named in his honor.

57

The most power-play goals the Pioneers have scored in a season, something they accomplished in 2004-05 and 1989-90. For context, DU had 25 last season.

56

Denver has had some great defensemen over the years, including a couple of Hobey Baker Award winners in Matt Carle and Will Butcher, but Lindsay Thomson, a 12th-round draft choice of the L.A. Kings in 1974, owns the school record for most career goals by a blue liner. … For good measure, Jerry Walker scored this many goals during the 1960-61 season alone. Walker spent much of pro career in his native Saskatchewan.

55

In 1955, DU’s assist leader was Bill Nixon with 24. In 2019, DU’s assist leader was Emilio Pettersen … with 24.

54

Craig Redmond, who played nearly 200 NHL games, mostly with the Kings, holds the Denver record for points in a season by a defenseman, piling up 54 in the 1982-83 season.

53

Colorado native Luke Fulgham scored 53 goals during his DU career and was a key piece of the Pioneers’ 2004 and ’05 national champions. After a decade of minor-pro hockey, he’s back in the state coaching youth hockey.

52

In 1952, defenseman Eddie Miller was the Pioneers’ first All-American.

51

Bill Abbott started his DU career in 1951 and became the Pioneers’ first great scorer, finishing with 151 points. That led the program for more than 15 years, and he’s still tied for 18^th on the school scoring list. … Angelo Ricci is another former Pioneer who is heavily involved in Colorado’s youth hockey scene. Of his 161 career points, he registered a career-high 51 in 1992-93.

50

Forward Ed Beers was only the second Pioneer to hit the 50-goal plateau in a season when he accomplished it in 1981-82. Beers went on the play 250 NHL games, mainly with Calgary. Beers’ 93 career goals are second to Rick Berens’ 94.

49

1949 was the first year that Denver iced a hockey team, but then you probably knew that.

48

Five members of the 1985-86 team played 48 games – a season record unlikely to be broken. They are Eric Johnson, Scott Mathias, Dwight Mathiasen, Don Mercier and Tom Weiss.

47

America’s got talent, but so does DU. The Pioneers have had 47 All-Americans … and counting.

46

The points per season averaged by forward Rob Palmer, who totaled 138 during his three seasons at DU. He signed with Chicago in 1973 and played parts of three seasons with the Blackhawks.

45

Average points per season by Rick Berens (the program’s all-time leading goal scorer with 94). Berens (1987-91) was a supplemental draft pick by the Quebec Nordiques but never played for the forerunner of the Avalanche.

44

Dylan Gambrell, now of the San Jose Sharks, was one of the more prolific scorers in recent times at DU. He averaged 44 points per season during his three seasons on campus, from 2015-18.

43

Now is a good time to mention Ed Christofoli, DU’s all-time leader in games played with 167. If he’d played five more, he’d have averaged 43 per season.

42

This is how many assists Matt Carle had during his Hobey Baker Award-winning 2005-06 season, a school record.

41

Oh how the game has changed. Grant Arnold led the Pioneers in penalty minutes during his senior season (2015-16) with just 41, the fifth fewest by a DU player in a season. Last season, Brett Stapley led DU with just 35, the fewest ever by a Pioneer. Contrast that with Tom Martin‘s 128 in 1982-83.

40

If you have a good goaltender, then why not have him lead the team out night after night. Marc Cheverie (2008-09), Peter Mannino (2007-08) and Stephen Wagner (1998-99) each played in a school-record 40 games in a season.

39

Denver doesn’t really do NASCAR numbers, but three players have worn this one – all in this century – including two-time captain Grant Arnold (2012-16), Brock Trotter (2005-08) and Jeff Drummond (2001-05).

38

Points per season averaged by Hockey Hall of Famer Craig Patrick during his three campaigns at DU. If there is a first family in hockey, the Patricks could make a strong case. His grandfather was Lester Patrick, who along with his brother Frank introduced 22 rules still used in the game today and has a trophy named after him. Craig’s father Lynn, like his grandfather, also was a long-time NHL player, coach and executive. Craig also had an extensive playing and front-office career, and it’s worth mentioning again that he was the GM of the 1980 U.S. Olympic hockey team.

37

Sophomore Hank Crone is one of just three Pioneers (Nate Dewhurst, 2008-12, and Scott McConnell, 2000-04, are the others) to wear this number. … Also, Perry Schnarr scored this many goals as a freshman in the 1976-77 season. For his efforts, he was drafted by the Washington Capitals and the WHA’s Calgary Cowboys, though he played for neither franchise.

36

Denver has won 36 NCAA Tournament games … and counting.

NEXT: Nos. 35-1

©First Line Editorial 2019