DENVER — More than 800 University of Denver students ditched their dorm rooms on Friday night, and instead camped out on the campus lawn.
They were hoping to score free season tickets to the men’s hockey games this year. It’s an annual tradition dating back more than two decades.
Ingrid Nielsen is a freshman at DU.
“When I told my friends back home I'd be camping in Colorado, this is probably not what they imagined,” Nielsen said.
The students had plenty to do all night while they waited for Saturday morning to roll around.
The corn hole boards, the vendors giving us nice free stuff, they set up a mini golf course and there’s also going to be free food later, Cane’s and Snarf’s and good stuff like that,” said Charlie Jennings, a senior.
But what they really want are free season tickets for DU men’s hockey.
“We have a chance to get a golden ticket, which is a free ticket to all the events this year,” Jennings said.
“Pretty much we just camp out all night and hope that we are close enough in line to get the tickets,” Nielsen said.
This is not your average hockey team. DU has won nine national championships. The last time was in 2022.
“Definitely riding the high of two years ago and fingers crossed hoping we can repeat it again this year,” Jennings said.
Saturday morning called for an early wake-up.
“Usually around like 6 in the morning we are all lining up while they're handing them out,” Jennings said.
Even if they don't get the tickets, it's all about the experience.
“This is probably my favorite event we do every year here at DU, and it's just a super fun thing we do to bring the community together and I’m really upset this is my last year getting to do it,” Jennings said. “Walking up and down the rows of tents, you see so many people you know from all the years you've been here and it's really cool to see.”
Short term, the students just wanted good weather.
“Hopefully it will be warm tonight,” Nielsen said.
Long term, the students hoped for a hockey team with skills as good as their skills setting up tents, and making memories along the way.
“It's nice to leave and move onto bigger and better things but I’m always going to cherish my memories here,” Jennings said.
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