DENVER (10/27/11) – The University of Colorado hockey program will take on in-state rival Colorado State in the third annual Rocky Mountain Center Ice Showdown at the Pepsi Center on Saturday, Nov. 5.
The day will include three CU-CSU games on the ice of the Colorado Avalanche. The men’s Division III junior varsity game will kick off the hockey filled afternoon at 3 p.m., while the women’s game will follow at 5 p.m. and the men’s Division II varsity game will close out the day at 7:30 p.m.
Tickets for the event are only $20 and includes admission to all three CU-CSU hockey games plus a voucher for a ticket to one of five Colorado Avalanche games of your choosing, a $42-$56 value in itself. The redemption games are: Nov. 23 vs. Vancouver, Nov. 30 vs. New Jersey, Dec. 13 vs. San Jose, Feb. 10 vs. Carolina or Mar. 24 vs. Vancouver.
Tickets for the CU-CSU game can be bought online at http://www.csuvscu.com/, at the Pepsi Center Box Office on the day of the event, at the CU hockey table at the University Memorial Center in Boulder from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. on Oct. 31 to Nov. 4 or from any member of the CU men’s or women’s hockey teams.
For every ticket purchased, $5 will also be donated to the Colorado hockey program.
Voucher tickets for the Avalanche games can be redeemed at the CU-CSU game at various locations on the main concourse of the arena.
The series is split between the CU and CSU men’s Division II varsity teams at the Pepsi Center with the Rams picking up the victory in last season’s game after the Buffs won the inaugural contest in 2009.
“We are looking forward to the game with the Rams,” said men’s Division II captain and team president Alex Lencioni. “The Pepsi Center is always a fun place to play and we are hoping for the same large crowd as we had last year and hopefully this time we can come away with the win.”
Last season was the first time that the men’s Division III junior varsity game took place at the home of the Avs. Colorado pulled out a 3-2 victory in the contest after Zach Lass scored 1:12 into overtime.
While much of last season’s JV squad is now on this year’s varsity roster, many players still remain from last year’s win, including junior defenseman Christian Matta.
“Last year we came out with a win in overtime and this year we are expecting to come out with the victory as well,” Matta said. “The games with the Rams are always hard hitting and physical and we expect nothing less this year.”
The women’s teams also participated in the inaugural event in 2009, with the Buffs defeating their rival from Fort Collins in blow out fashion.
The women’s team did not play at the Pepsi Center last season and senior forward Lizzie Stoll said the squad is excited to return to Denver to play the Rams.
“That was my favorite game since I joined the team, so I’m really excited for it,” Stoll said. “Our team can’t wait to play Colorado State again because we haven’t shown what we can do against them and we are ready to beat them.”
The CU women’s team has already played CSU twice this season, tying the Rams 2-2 on Sept. 23 in Boulder and winning 4-1 on Sept. 24 in Fort Collins.
For more information on the event, go to www.cubuffshockey.org or contact Kris Schoech at schoech@colorado.edu.
Member of the media who wish to cover the event should contact Ron Knabenbauer, CU men’s hockey director of media relations and broadcasting, by Thursday, Nov. 3. Ron can be reached at knabenba@colorado.edu or at (720) 987-9512
Game Day Timeline
3 p.m. – Men’s Division III Junior Varsity
5 p.m. – Women’s game
7:30 p.m. – Division II Varsity
Colorado Avalanche Redemption Games
Wednesday Nov. 23rd vs. Vancouver Canucks
Wednesday Nov. 30th vs. New Jersey Devils
Tuesday Dec. 13th vs. San Joes Sharks
Friday Feb. 10th vs. Carolina Hurricanes
Saturday Mar. 24th vs. Vancouver Canucks
About CU Buffs Ice Hockey
The University of Colorado does not sponsor NCAA level ice hockey; instead there are three “club” hockey teams that participate as part of the school’s Collegiate Sport Clubs program, two men’s teams and one women’s team. The primary difference between NCAA varsity and “club” is that schools offer scholarships in varsity sports while athletes pay their own way to play the sport at the club level. This season, nearly a hundred players attended the men’s tryout with only 50 roster spots available between the two teams. All three CU teams participate in the American Collegiate Hockey Association (ACHA), the governing body for college hockey teams since 1991. The varsity or upper tier men’s team plays in Division II of the ACHA, while the junior varsity or lower tier men’s team plays at the Division III level. The women’s team is one of 21 schools (and one of two in the western United States) that plays at the Women’s ACHA Division I level. CU’s women’s team also plays games in the WACH (Women’s Association of Colorado Hockey). Colorado has won two national championships in ice hockey: 2003 in Men’s Division II and in 2005 in Men’s Division III, a season in which the JV squad went undefeated.
