The Broncos’ Champ Bailey, Matt Carle of the University of Denver hockey team and Dana Pounds of the Air Force Academy lead the list of special recognition awards voted Tuesday by the selection committee of the Colorado Sports Hall of Fame.
Bailey, a unanimous all-pro cornerback, is Colorado’s pro athlete of the year for the second consecutive year. Carle was named the male college athlete of the year after winning the Hobey Baker Award, which goes to college hockey’s best player. Pounds won NCAA titles in the javelin as a junior and senior and is the women’s college athlete of the year.
Quarterback Clay Garcia of Alamosa was named boys high school athlete of the year, and Melissa Jones of Legacy was named girls high school athlete of the year for her accomplishments in basketball.
Olympic medalists Gretchen Bleiler (silver) of Aspen, who competed in women’s halfpipe, bronze medalist Toby Dawson of Vail in men’s freestyle and Paralympic gold medalist Allison Jones of Colorado Springs in women’s slalom were recognized. Citations were awarded to the Colorado Mammoth, Limon High School’s football team, McClave High School’s girls basketball team, the Air Force Academy men’s basketball team, Tracy Ringolsby of the Rocky Mountain News and The Post’s Irv Moss.
Fast makes quick exit from DU hockey
Sophomore defenseman T.J. Fast has left the University of Denver hockey team and withdrawn from the university to play major-junior hockey. Fast, from Calgary, was a healthy scratch in five games. His departure gives junior Zach Bloom and sophomore Julian Marcuzzi more opportunities to play.
“He walked in my office on Monday and decided he would withdraw from school and play major-junior hockey with the hope of some day playing pro hockey,” DU coach George Gwozdecky said. “If a student-athlete is unhappy, it can be a big distraction for the team. I think both parties are better off. I wish him the best of luck and we move on.”
Nelson’s goal gives Eagles CHL road win
Riley Nelson scored the tiebreaking goal late in the second period, and goalie Marco Emond and the Colorado Eagles defense made it stand in a 4-3 win over host Oklahoma City, increasing the Eagles’ lead over the Blazers in the Central Hockey League’s Northwest Division.
Louis Amundson and P.J. Tucker each had 15 points as the Colorado 14ers of the NBA Development League beat the Austin Toros 95-90 at the Broomfield Event Center.
