The University of Denver hockey team will open its 2009-10 season against Vermont, a Frozen Four qualifier last season, when the Pioneers host the Catamounts on Oct. 9-10, coach George Gwozdecky said Wednesday.
DU’s 36-game schedule is highlighted by two home-and-home series with rival Colorado College, Dec. 4-5 and March 5-6. The Pioneers will play 19 games at home, including against Nebraska-Omaha and Boston College in the Denver Cup on Jan. 1-2.
CU’s Barringer advances at NCAAs.
University of Colorado track standout Jenny Barringer won her heat and qualified for the finals of the 3,000-meter steeplechase at the NCAA outdoor track and field championships Fayetteville, Ark. Barringer finished in 9 minutes, 57.75 seconds. Nicole Bush of Michigan State won the other heat in 9:49.35.
Air Force’s Sara Neubauer and Nick Frawley also advanced to the finals. Neubauer was sixth in the women’s shot put with a mark of 53 feet, 7 1/2 inches. Frawley qualified for the finals for the second straight year with a sixth-place finish in his qualifying heat.
Colorado State senior Missy Faubus recorded a distance of 50 feet, 2 1/2 inches to finish 21st in the women’s shot put competition.
The Rams’ Alex Godell placed 22nd in the men’s hammer throw after recording a toss of 194-3.
Both Rams missed the preliminary cut.
CSU’s Smith promoted to assistant.
Colorado State director of basketball operations Craig Smith has been promoted to assistant coach, replacing Mark Amaral, who left for Cal-Poly last month.
Smith has prior head coaching experience at NAIA Division II Mayville State University in North Dakota, where he earned the division’s national coach of the year honor. CSU coach Tim Miles confirmed the move. Natalie Meisler, The Denver Post
Oraee in charge of AJGA event.
Greeley’s David Oraee fired an 8-under-par 64 at the American Junior Golf Association Junior All-Star at Aspen Golf Club, and is running away from the field after the second round.
Oraee is at 14-under 130 and leads second-place Daniel De La Garza of Monterrey, Mexico, by 13 shots.
Garza makes U.S. roster.
Denver sophomore Sam Garza was named to the U.S. U-20 men’s national soccer team roster for two exhibition games in Egypt on June 27 and 29. The team is preparing for the U-20 World Cup in Egypt starting Sept. 24.
Denver boxer to fight today.
Denver’s Ricky Lopez (3-0, two KOs) will fight Rufino Serrano of Santa Maria, Calif., in a junior featherweight bout today at Club Nokia in Los Angeles. The sanctioned bout will air on the debut of the Versus network’s “Fight Night Club” at 7 p.m.
Lopez, 22, is a former Colorado Golden Gloves champion who became the youngest fighter to be invited to the Olympic Trials by USA Boxing when he was 16 years old. He turned pro May 9 of last year.
