Thread: George Gwozdecky fired as Denver Pioneers hockey coach

George Gwozdecky is out as University of Denver hockey coach, ending a 19-year tenure at the school that included two NCAA championships.

The 59-year-old Gwozdecky was scheduled to complete a 12-year contract after next season and told The Denver Post before the season was over that he thought an extension was forthcoming. Instead, according to two sources, Gwozdeckey was fired and the school will pay the remaining year on his contract.

DU is the only Division I hockey team to have won 20 games in each of the past 12 seasons. However, the Pioneers recently lost in the first round of the NCAA Tournament for the fifth time in the past six years, part of the reason the sources said Gwozdecky was fired. An inability for the school and Gwozdecky to reach a contract extension also figured into the decision.

rest - http://www.denverpost.com/du/ci_2291...coach-after-19

Paul Stastny ‏@PaulyWalnuts26 17m

Shocked/speechless by @DU_Pioneers decision to let Qwoz go! First class coach all the way, one of the best I've ever had! True pioneer!!!
Retweeted by Vic Lombardi

Vic Lombardi ‏@VicLombardi 1h

So Gwozdecky didn't resign. He was fired. Stunning news considering he always has DU in the NCAA tournament.

wow.

Didn't expect this, but I guess we can call it a Schottenheimer firing.

I am totally shocked.