The University of Denver's hockey team was first formed in 1949. In the 66 years since that first season, the Pioneers have won 16 conference championships and 7 NCAA tournaments. In the entire history of the team, one coach leads the rest as the "Winningest Coach" in DU history: Coach Murray Armstrong. He coached the team from 1956-1977, winning 5 NCAA tournaments, and was named the Western Collegiate Hockey Association's Coach of the Year in 1961 and 1968. While the DU hockey team remains a major competitor in American intercollegiate hockey, the years that Coach Murray lead the team remain the most impressive of all the seasons.
During his tenure, the DU Pioneers beat their regional rival, the Colorado College Tigers, winning the series in 16 of the 21 seasons. Those 21 seasons also saw wins against international teams, including the U.S. National Team, the Czech National Team, the Canadian National Team, the Austrian National Team, and the Italian National Team. Against the Soviet Union National Team, the Pioneers team tied two games and lost one.
Images courtesy of University of Denver Special Collections and Archives