Sept. 29, 2005

DENVER - The back-to-back NCAA Champion Denver Pioneer hockey team opens practice for the 2005-06 season on Saturday, Oct. 1 at 11 a.m. at Magness Arena. DU will practice seven days prior to its first scheduled exhibition game against Lakehead University at Magness on Saturday, Oct. 8 at 7:07 p.m. DU opens regular-season play with a two-game series at Maine on Oct. 14-15. The Pioneers will play their regular-season home opener on Saturday, Oct. 22 against Notre Dame before returning home to host Michigan Tech on Nov. 4-5. DU will raise its seventh NCAA National Championship banner prior to the contest on Nov. 5.

The Pioneers return 13 letterwinners from last season's team that finished 32-9-2 overall and 19-7-2 in the WCHA. Senior Gabe Gauthier (Buena Park, Calif.) and junior Matt Carle (Anchorage, Alaska) will co-captain this year's team along with alternate captain Ted O'Leary (Arvada, Colo.). Gauthier tallied 57 points on 26 goals and 31 assists last season, while Carle netted 44 points on 13 goals and 31 assists. DU became the first team since 1997 to capture the MacNaughton Cup, Broadmoor Trophy and NCAA Championship in the same season.

Individual game tickets are on sale and start as low $17 for adults and $10 for children (under 12) and senior citizens. Tickets can be purchased at the Ritchie Center North Box Office or from www.ticketmaster.com. For more information, please contact the DU Box Office at (303) 871-2336.