DENVER – The University of Denver hockey program mourns the loss of former Pioneers captain Bruce Hill, who passed away on May 30 at the age of 60.
 
Hill played 137 games across four seasons at DU from 1984 to 1988, serving as team captain during his senior campaign in 1987-88 and was named that year's winner of Denver's hockey's Dr. Ralph Verploeg Most Inspirational Player award. A member of the Pioneers 'Century Club,' he recorded 40 goals and 61 assists for 101 points, which presently ranks tied for 100th in program history.
 
From Olds, Alberta, Hill helped Denver reach the NCAA Tournament for the first time in 13 seasons as a sophomore in 1986, with the Pioneers defeating Cornell in the quarterfinals at home to earn a return trip to the national semifinals that year in Providence, Rhode Island. DU won both WCHA championships in 1985-86, claiming the regular-season title for the first time since 1978 and winning the tournament for the first time since 1973.
 
Hill recorded career highs during his junior campaign of 1986-87 with 14 goals, 16 assists and 30 points. He also scored three short-handed goals that season, tied for the sixth-most in a single campaign by a Pioneer. Overall, he tallied on the penalty kill five times in his career, which ranks tied for fourth in DU hockey history. Hill recorded eight goals and 16 assists in 36 games as a senior.
 
The center played two seasons with the Olds Grizzlys of the Alberta Junior Hockey League from 1982-1984 before coming to Denver. He was selected by the Hartford Whalers in the 12th round of the 1985 NHL Draft (236th overall).
 
Hill earned his bachelor's degree in business and master's in computer science from DU. A member of Kappa Sigma fraternity and a teaching assistant, he was also a former assistant coach of the Pioneers and an active member of the program's alumni group. After graduation, Hill joined business partner Bill Carlson in operating their own computer business for almost 20 years.
 
Born Robert Bruce Hill on May 17, 1965 in Lethbridge, Alberta, he was the youngest of three children. He spent the last six years back in Canada and was surrounded by immediate family after being diagnosed with early onset dementia. He leaves behind sister, Donna (Harold), and brother, Doug (Heide); and his sister, Deanne, (Rick) who had been adopted and recently reunited with the family.
 
In lieu of flowers, the family requests that donations be made in Bruce's memory to the Mountain View Food Bank Society (Olds). A small private family gathering will be held at a later date. To view and share photos, condolences and memories of Bruce with the family, please visit www.choicememorial.com.