WHILE not quite boasting the same advanced numbers of local talents that when on to play U.S. college hockey at such schools as Minnesota-Duluth, Michigan Tech and North Dakota, Thunder Bay has seen a quality share of individuals achieve success at the University of Denver.
For the past 70 years, the Pioneers have played NCAA Division I hockey and have continually been one of the top program across the U.S.
No other individual spent more seasons behind the DU bench than Lakehead product George Gwozdecky.
In all, he had 19 years at the helm of the Pioneers guiding Denver to 443 victories, the second-most in school history.
Arriving back in 1994, Gwozdecky solidified the school as a perennial top-10 program.
Under his watch, the Pioneers captured two NCAA championships, three Western Collegiate Hockey Associations regular-season titles and four WCHA playoff championships during his tenure.
He led the Pioneers to a total of 16 20-win seasons and nine campaigns with 25 or more victories. Gwozdecky is also the only coach in NCAA history to win a hockey national championship as a player, assistant coach and head coach.
Twice he earned NCAA D-I Coach of the Year honours and collected four WCHA best coach accolades.
Including previous head coaching stints at Miami (Ohio) and Wisconsin-River Falls, Gwozdecky boasts 592 wins in the NCAA, which places him 16th overall in U.S. collegiate history.
Among the local products to attend school and skate for the Pioneers, Terrace Bay’s Aaron MacKenzie served as team captain in his senior year and had an ‘A’ on his jersey as a junior.
He also collected the WCHA Defensive Player of the Year award in 2003.
Meanwhile former Thunder Bay Flyers blueliner Ryan Caldwell captained Denver in 2004.
Then 30 years before that Mike Busniuk donned the ‘C’ at DU in 1973-74, the same year he was tabbed Denver’s Most Valuable Player.
Prior to that, another local standout in Vic Venasky was named their MVP in 1970-71 before going to a seven-year NHL career with the Los Angeles Kings.
Others from the city to pick up honours there include Derek Robertson being selected the team’s Most Sportsmanlike Player in 1998.
One-year later, Erik Adams was named the Pioneers Freshman of the Year while MacKenzie and Caldwell followed that in rapid succession.
MacKenzie (2002 & 2003) and Caldwell (2004) also added Most Inspirational Player recognition to their hockey resumes at DU while also collecting Keith Magnuson Best Defensive Player trophies.
Three local players are members of the Pioneers’ 100-point club in their NCAA careers there.
Pacing that list is Rick Bragnalo, who had 126 points in 137 outings.
Busniuk was next with 108 in 145 games while Venasky had 102 in just 57 contests before he left school and turned pro after his sophomore season.
Venasky stills sits tied for third in points by a freshman in the school record books with 56 and remains in the same spot among first-year
Team scoring leaders saw Bragnalo lead the Pioneers offensively in points (46) and goals (24) 1973-74 while Venasky was tops in scoring (56) and helpers (36) in 1970-71.
In terms of being named All-Americans, Venasky accomplished that feat in 1970-71 as did Caldwell in 2003-04.
While Gwozdecky led Denver to a couple of NCAA championship teams as head coach in 2004 and 2005, those from the Lakehead and the region who played at Denver over the past seven decades include Erik Adams; Rick Bragnalo; Chris Burns; Mike Busniuk; Aaron MacKenzie; Joe Ritson; Derek Robertson and Vic Venasky.