Junior forward Drew Shore (Denver) and redshirt senior forward Dustin Jackson (Omaha, Neb.) have been selected to lead the 2011-12 Denver Pioneers as team co-captains, head coach George Gwozdecky announced today.
Gwozdecky names co-captains for the first time since the 2005-06 season when Hobey Baker Memorial Award winner and current Philadelphia Flyers defenseman Matt Carle and Gabe Gauthier led the team.
Shore earns one of the “C’s” after a breakout sophomore season. The 6-foot-2, 200-pound forward led DU in scoring with 46 points on 23 goals and 23 assists in 40 games during the 2010-11 season. Shore tallied a team-leading eight power-play goals, one short-handed goal and three game-winners. Shore also led the team in plus/minus rating (+29) and faceoff percentage (61%). In addition, he was named to the All-WCHA Second Team and was the MVP of the Denver Cup Classic. Shore has notched 65 points on 28 goals and 37 assists in 81 career games.
Jackson earns the other “C” after serving as an alternate captain last season. The 6-foot-3, 205-pound forward notched eight points on five goals and three assists in 30 games. Jackson contributed two power-play goals, as well as two game-winners for the Pioneers. Jackson was named to the Denver Cup Classic All-Tournament Team and earned All-WCHA Academic Team honors for the third consecutive season. Jackson has tallied 33 points on 13 goals and 20 assists in 105 career games.
Senior defenseman John Lee (Moorhead, Minn.) and junior defenseman Paul Phillips (Darien, Ill.) will serve as alternate captains this season. Lee tallied 12 points on 3 goals and nine assists in 39 games, while Phillips recorded four points on four assists in 38 games. Lee (63) and Phillips (49) combined for 112 blocked shots last season.
DU opens exhibition play against McGill University (Oct. 1) and the U.S. National Under-18 Team (Oct. 7) before opening the regular season at Boston College on Friday, Oct. 14.
For DU hockey ticket information, please visit www.DenverPioneers.com or call the Daniel L. Ritchie Center North Box Office at (303) 871-GOAL.