| Denver Pioneers men's ice hockey | |
|---|---|
 Current season | |
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| University | University of Denver |
| Conference | NCHC |
| First season | 1949–50 |
| Head coach | David Carle 8th season, 179–74–17 (.694) |
| Assistant coaches |
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| Arena | Magness Arena Denver, Colorado |
| Colors | Crimson and gold[1] |
| NCAA tournament champions | |
| 1958, 1960, 1961, 1968, 1969, 2004, 2005, 2017, 2022, 2024 | |
| NCAA tournament runner-up | |
| 1963, 1964, 1973[a] | |
| NCAA tournament Frozen Four | |
| 1958, 1960, 1961, 1963, 1964, 1966, 1968, 1969, 1971, 1972, 1973,[a] 1986, 2004, 2005, 2016, 2017, 2019, 2022, 2024, 2025 | |
| NCAA tournament appearances | |
| 1958, 1960, 1961, 1963, 1964, 1966, 1968, 1969, 1971, 1972, 1973,[a] 1986, 1995, 1997, 1999, 2002, 2004, 2005, 2008, 2009, 2010, 2011, 2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2019, 2022, 2023, 2024, 2025 | |
| Conference tournament champions | |
| WCHA: 1960, 1961, 1963, 1964, 1966, 1968, 1969, 1971, 1972, 1973, 1986, 1999, 2002, 2005, 2008 NCHC: 2014, 2018, 2024 | |
| Conference regular season champions | |
| WCHA: 1958, 1960, 1961, 1963, 1964, 1968, 1972, 1973, 1978, 1986, 2002, 2005, 2010 NCHC: 2017, 2022, 2023 | |
| Current uniform | |
 | |
TheDenver Pioneers men's ice hockey team is aNational Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA)Division Icollege ice hockey program that represents theUniversity of Denver. They play atMagness Arena inDenver, Colorado. The Pioneers are a member of theNational Collegiate Hockey Conference (NCHC). Previously, they were members of theWestern Collegiate Hockey Association (WCHA), from its creation in 1959 until 2013.
The Pioneers have won the most all-timeNCAA National Hockey Championships with ten (1958, 1960, 1961, 1968, 1969, 2004, 2005, 2017, 2022, 2024). The Pioneers have won 15 regular season conference championships (13 WCHA, 2 NCHC) and 14 conference playoff championships (15 WCHA, 2 NCHC).
Over 80 Pioneers have gone on to play in theNational Hockey League, includingKeith Magnuson,Kevin Dineen,Matt Carle (2006Hobey Baker Award winner),Paul Stastny andTroy Terry.
Source:[2]
In 1949 theDU Arena, a former WWII surplus drill hall from Idaho was reassembled in Denver with an ice plant, giving the university the ability to properly field an ice hockey team for the first time. Before the end of the yearVern Turner, the rink manager for theBroadmoor Ice Palace and a former semi-professionalgoaltender was hired as the team's first coach and the Pioneers hit the ice for their first game in December, losing to the University of Saskatchewan, 17–0. Denver would, unsurprisingly, lose its first 9 games before recording the first victory againstWyoming on January 27. The following season saw much improvement with the team as it finished with an 11–11–1 record and when Turner stepped down after the year it gaveNeil Celley the opportunity to build the program. When Celley assumed the reins he was the youngest head coach in the history of college ice hockey at 24[2] and had won a national title withMichigan the year before, as a player.[3] The team responded to Celley by raising their record to 18–6–1 and finishing tied for second in the inauguralMCHL standings. Unfortunately, Celley's old team was selected ahead of Denver for the NCAA tournament due to a better overall record. The Pioneers would continue to play well under Celley but their winning percentage dropped every year until1956 when they finished just a hair above .500. Celley resigned after that season and turned the team over to ex-NHLerMurray Armstrong.
Armstrong came to DU and guaranteed an NCAA title within three years, and did it in his second year. Using Armstrong's coaching pipeline to ex-junior players in Canada, it took a year to get going, but by1958, the Pioneers were firing on all cylinders. Denver won its first conference title (tying withNorth Dakota) and received the second western seed for its firstNCAA tournament bid. Denver did not let the bright lights stun them as they rolled through the competition, winning both games 6–2 to gain their first NCAAnational title inMinneapolis.[4] The next season, an argument between conference members over the recruitment ofCanadian players who had played junior hockey, caused the WIHL to collapse and left Denver without a conference.[5] Denver struggled to fill out its schedule and though DU finished with the best record of any western team (22–5–1) their competition was so paltry that the Pioneers were passed over in favor of North Dakota (who had taken three of four matches between them) for the NCAA tournament withBig Ten championMichigan State receiving the other bid. After that disaster, all teams that had been in the WIHL restarted the conference under a new name (WCHA) and instituted a playoff among other reforms. Because the matter of recruitment was left unchanged, Denver was able to take full advantage and build their program into the dominant power for the duration of the decade.
Denver kicked off its first season in the WCHA by winning the regular season title and being WCHA tournament co-champions along withMichigan Tech. The WCHA had arranged its tournament to take advantage of the NCAA bid policy that would give automatic bids to tournament champions and because there was no rival western conference the WCHA could guarantee that both of its co-champions would make the frozen four. Denver won both of its NCAA games and captured the1960 National Title. TheTournament MOP was split for the first time that year and while it was given to three separate players, none of them wore Denver sweaters. The Pioneers followed up their second championship by thoroughly dominating the competition in1961. In what is typically ranked among the best seasons ever,[6] the squad began with five victories before dropping a match to Michigan Tech on the road and then never lost another game. The '61 Pioneers scored 242 times in only 32 contests for a rate of just over 7.5 goals per game. Additionally, they allowed just 59 goals against in that time (1.84). While neither marks were records, the average scoring differential of +5.72 is still an NCAA record. Denver had the second-and third-leading scoring in the nation who were only topped byPhil Latreille scoring an all-time NCAA record of 80 goals in 21 games. Not only did the Pioneers post the first 30-win season in NCAA history but, by playing in every game,George Kirkwood set an NCAA record for wins in a season (30). Denver made sure they also did their damage when it counted the most; in the four playoff games they played (2 conference, 2 NCAA) the Pioneers won each by at least 5 goals and won all four matches by a total of 35–6. In the NCAA championship game againstSt. Lawrence, Denver surrendered the first goal but ended the night by scoring the final nine (an NCAA record) and won the game by 10 goals, 12-2 (also an NCAA record) and were one short of tying the NCAA record of 13 in the championship game.[7] Denver tied the record by placing 5 players on theAll-Tournament Team[8] and set the record with 5 players on theAll-WCHA First Team[9] as well as theAHCA All-American Team[10] and swept all 5 individual awards offered that year. Three of the players from that team eventually played in the NHL, a rare occurrence for NCAA teams at the time.[11]
After such unparalleled dominance, it was expected that Denver would decline the following year, especially with so many of the players graduating, but the team still finished 3rd in the WCHA. One year later they won both WCHA conference titles and again made the NCAA tournament. After droppingClarkson in a relatively easy 6–2 semifinal match Denver faced off against North Dakota for a rematch of it first title in 1958. The Fighting Sioux scored three times before 8 minutes had elapsed and, while Denver responded with two quick goals, North Dakota tacked on two more in the first to finish with a 5–2 lead. When they added another 5 minutes into the second it looked as if they were going to walk to a national title but the Pioneers did not quit and scored twice to cut the lead in half entering the third. North Dakota closed ranks and set up a wall in front ofRudy Unis in the final frame but still could not stop Denver from scoring, however, the Pioneers could only notch one goal and lost their first NCAA tournament game, 5–6.[12] The team's streak of seven consecutive tournament wins from the start is still an NCAA record.
Denver followed up that disappointment with a second-place finish despite playing only 10 games and a WCHA tournament championship over Michigan. In the NCAA tournament DU produced a very similar result to the year before by dropping their semifinal opponent easily, then allowing the team they defeated in the WCHA championship to score the first three goals. This time it was the Wolverines who would take the title and send the Pioneers home disappointed.[13] The next season Denver finished with a record of 18–8–2, one of the best in the nation, but because they only played 12 conference games and won only 4 matches they finished 6th in the WCHA and were left out of the conference playoffs. The following season Denver increased their conference schedule to 20 games but because the WCHA addedMinnesota–Duluth as a member, the conference tournament now included all 8 teams. Denver was given a regional matchup against the dismalColorado College Tigers and took the game easily to give them a shot against arch-nemesis North Dakota for an entry to the NCAA tournament. Despite being the lower seed the game was played in Denver's home stadium due in part to a terrible blizzard that dropped more than two feet aroundGrand Forks.[14] The home game may have given Denver just enough of an advantage and the Pioneers edged UND, 5–4 in overtime to return to the NCAA tournament. Once there Denver facedClarkson for the third time in the semifinal but the Golden Knights were able to avenge their earlier losses and send DU to its first consolation game. Though they won the match the Pioneers and their fans were far from satisfied with the result. The following season Denver rose to 2nd in the conference but because the WCHA tournament was still arranged for regional matchups the Pioneers had to play top seed North Dakota in the second round and the Fighting Sioux were able to redeem themselves with a win.
While many programs may have been happy with the results Denver achieved in '66 and '67 the Pioneers were decidedly nonplussed. When the team began1968 season slowly, losing three out of their first five games, they were taken to task and responded by winning every remaining game except for a stretch in late December when they played fourOlympic squads. Denver finished the season atop the WCHA and with the regional restrictions abolished they were able to take full advantage of their top seed and demolish their competition 27–7 in the three games. In the NCAA tournament Denver facedBoston College for the first time[15] and swatted the Eagles away with a 4–1 victory despite sloppy play. The final brought North Dakota and DU together for a rubber match and the two teams fought a tough defensive battle through two periods before the floodgates opened and Denver scored four times in the final frame whileGerry Powers earned the first shutout in a championship game.[2] The next season was much the same; after a slow start the Pioneers ran through most of their competition, finishing second in the WCHA and taking down much weaker opponents in the conference tournament to return to the NCAA playoff. For this 1969 championship they beatHarvard 9–2 in the opening match before facingKen Dryden-ledCornell. The Pioneers did not have any problems scoring against the seemingly impregnable Big Red defense, building leads three times while the final one stuck and Denver won its fifth NCAA national title, 4–3.
Despite losing many players from the dual national title teams due to graduations Denver did not lose much footing and finished second in the WCHA but lost to new entryWisconsin in theconference tournament. The next season, Denver finished second for the third straight year and were able to win another league co-championship and receive the top western seed. The Pioneers had to settle for a third place NCAA finish after losing only their second semifinal game in nine opportunities. The next season, Denver won both conference titles for the fifth time in their history but were stunned by a 2–7 loss to Cornell in the semifinal, the team's worst loss to a college team in over six years.[2] As if their recent tournament collapses needed a concrete symbol, the DU Arena roof failed in 1972 and forced the team to play most of their remaining home games at theDenver Coliseum.[16] While the Pioneers were able to overcome that difficulty and win the WCHA yet again and finish as the NCAA runner-up it was a battle off the ice that would eventually cost them dearly.
Throughout the 1960s, the matter of recruiting Canadian major junior players was becoming an issue again, and by the 1970s, Minnesota coachJohn Mariucci was pushing the NCAA for change. Mariucci did not like his teenage American players, who grew up playing locally in Minnesota, playing against older Canadian players that Denver recruited, due to Denver's lack of local players to recruit.Minnesota even refused to schedule the Pioneers for years in the 1960s, which spurred the NCAA to support Minnesota's position. In 1974, the NCAA asked all schools that rostered major junior Canadian players to declare these students ineligible and in recompense, the current players would have their NCAA eligibility restored as a grandfathering ploy, with all future major junior players remaining ineligible.[16] While most universities acceded to the NCAA demand, Denver did not. The school refused to call its own players 'cheaters', and ended up paying the price. The university had its trip to the1973 tournament vacated and with its pipeline from Canada cut, the team began to falter in the standings.1974–75 saw Denver post its first losing season since Armstrong's first year and while the team was slowly recovering, DU would not make another tournament appearance until long after his retirement in 1977.
Armstrong's assistantMarshall Johnston took over and the team jumped up in the standings as the nation's top-ranked team, winning the WCHA regular season crown and breaking the school record for wins with 33 (albeit in 40 games) but DU was stopped in the WCHA second round by an upstart Colorado College team, after finding out that Denver's appeal to be eligible for the1978 NCAA tournament was denied by the NCAA. After declining to 6th place the following season. Denver ended1979–80 dead last in the WCHA and missed the playoffs entirely. The team rebounded the next season but afterwards, Johnston returned to the NHL and the program was given to a third-straight former pro,Ralph Backstrom. Backstrom's entry coincided with four WCHA members bolting for theCCHA leaving the conference with only 6 schools. The co-championship format was abolished and though Denver provided some glimpse of hope in Backstrom's first season, the team slipped towards the bottom of the division for three seasons. By the end of the1984–85 season Denver had lost eight consecutive playoff games and was in danger of becoming an afterthought in the WCHA. The1985–86 team provided a surprising start the following campaign, winning seven of their first eight-game en route to the WCHA regular season and playoff championships over Michigan Tech, Minnesota-Duluth and Minnesota, followed by a home NCAA 7–6 total goal series win over Cornell to make it to theFrozen Four. Denver played a school record 48 games that year, and won 34 contests (also a DU record) despite losing in the NCAA semifinal, 5–2 to Harvard inProvidence. The stark turnaround garnered Backstrom the Spencer Penrose Award. The highlights were short-lived, however and over the succeeding four years Denver returned to being a middling team in the WCHA.
Backstrom left in 1990 and was replaced byFrank Serratore. While he would later achieve a great deal of success withAir Force Serratore's time in Denver was the darkest period in the history of the program. In his first season, the Pioneers won only 6 games, losing a school record 30 of 38 matches. The following season brought only marginal improvements but when the team rose above .500 in1992–93 it looked like Serratore's job may be saved, but after slipping back to 9th in the conference the year after he was out as coach and replaced by Wisconsin alumnusGeorge Gwozdecky.
When Denver hired Gwozdecky, they hoped they were getting the same coach that had won back-to-backCCHA Coach of the Year awards at Miami (Ohio). In his first season in 1995, he delivered by getting the Pioneers to win 10 more games than they had the year before, and jump from 9th in the conference, to a tie for second place and an NCAA win over New Hampshire. After a disappointing opening round loss in the WCHA playoffs the following year, Denver returned to the NCAA tournament in1997 and beat a very strongVermont squad in the first round. In1999 the Pioneers were able to defeat a dominant North Dakota to take their first conference championship in thirteen years, but lost their first NCAA tournament game to Michigan in the first meeting between the two since the Wolverines left the WCHA.[17] Denver stumbled over the next two years before winning their first WCHA regular season title under Gwozdecky, as well as a second conference championship. Unfortunately, the Pioneers found themselves pitted against Michigan in the first game, and lost to the Maize and Blue yet again. The Pioneers lost in the first round of the WCHA tournament each of the next two years, but their record in2004 was good enough to snag the #2 seed despite the loss.[18]
DU was able to defeat Gwozdecky's previous team,Miami, in a close game before advancing to face North Dakota in the West Regional Final. The top team in the nation held Denver off the scoresheet and out shot the Pioneers 23–13 in the opening two periods but the Fighting Sioux could not get the puck pastAdam Berkhoel. The two teams remained scoreless until just 2:29 remained in regulation whenLuke Fulghum deflected a puck into the net and sent the Pioneers into theFrozen Four for the first time in 18 years.[19] Denver met Minnesota–Duluth in the semifinal and looked like were outmatched when the Bulldogs scored twice in the first five minutes of the game. Even when Denver cut the lead in half a second power play goal by 2004Hobey Baker winnerJunior Lessard followed soon thereafter. The Pioneers, however, were not deterred and came out firing in the third, tying the score in less than four minutes and adding another two goals before the period was half over. Duluth was so stunned by the comeback that they could only muster 6 shots in the period as Denver took the game to make their first national championship since their vacated appearance in 1973.[20] WithMaine as the only obstacle left in their path, Denver put up in front ofAdam Berkhoel and allowed only 24 shots to reach their goalie, including none during a 6-on-3 power play advantage in the last minute and a half of the game. Berkhoel earned the shutout, making the lone goal fromGabe Gauthier in the first as the winner.[21]
After winning their first title in 35 years Denver raised their game, tying Colorado College for the WCHA crown and producing the #2 offense in the country. In the WCHA tournament, however, it was their defense that led the way. With rookie goaltenderPeter Mannino standing on his head for two shutouts, the Pioneers allowed only two goals in four games, winning three one-goal games to take the conference championship. DU earned the #2 overall seed and had to survive a scare fromBemidji State in their first game. After allowing 3 to the much weaker Beavers, Glenn Fisher was benched in favor of Mannino for the remaining three games and the Pioneers cruised to the championship game with 4–2 and 6–2 wins. In the Final Denver met North Dakota for the fourth time, matching the record for championship meetings with Michigan and Colorado College. The two teams exchanged goals in the first but future NHLerPaul Stastny put the Pioneers into the lead with a power play marker just after the midpoint. With their season on the line North Dakota began an onslaught on the DU net, firing 23 shots in the third but Mannino was equal to the take and kept everything out. The Pioneers scored twice in the third to put the game away and take their seventh national championship.[22]
The next season brought Denver its first Hobey Baker winner inMatt Carle but the team floundered in the first round of the WCHA tournament and this time their record was not good enough to get them into the championship. After another first round exit the following year Denver righted the ship and won the WCHA tournament in2008. In the first round they found themselves facing conference rival Wisconsin, only the second time in NCAA history that two teams from the same conference met in the opening round. Despite being favored in the game the Pioneers were beaten 2–6 and sent home disappointed. The Pioneers would return to the tournament each of the next five seasons, but the results were much the same, losing in the first round four times and thoroughly dismissed by North Dakota in the2011 regionals. Despite the regular season success the early playoff exits, coupled with a contract structure dispute, these results led Denver to fire their head coach in 2013, only 17 wins away from tying Murray Armstrong's program record.[23]
Gwozdecky's firing coincided with the founding of theNCHC, a power conference that was created due to Wisconsin and Minnesota leaving to restart the Big Ten hockey division. Denver was accompanied by all of its traditional rivals and began its tenure underJim Montgomery but finishing 6th in the 8-team conference. Despite their lackluster start the Pioneers were provided with an opportunity by facing weaker-than-expected opposition in the final two games and were able to win the inaugural championship, as they had done with the WCHA 54 years earlier. The Pioneer's NCAA run was predictably short-lived but the team seemed to have found new life under Montgomery's watch which they demonstrated by increasing their win total in each of the next three years. In addition they won progressively more tournament games, reaching the Frozen Four in2016 before winning their 8th National Championship in the2017 season along with getting their second Hobey Baker Award, this one going toWill Butcher. After the team won its second NCHC tournament title in2018, Montgomery left to join theDallas Stars as head coach.
DU replaced Montgomery with his former assistant, then 28-year-oldDavid Carle. Carle took Denver to the2019 Frozen Four in his rookie season, after first and second-round NCAA wins overOhio State andAmerican International, the Pioneers fell in the Frozen Four semi-finals toCale Makar-ledMassachusetts, 4–3 in overtime inBuffalo, New York.
In 2022, following NCAA Loveland Regional wins againstUMass Lowell andMinnesota Duluth, David Carle and the Denver Pioneers entered theFrozen Four in Boston for the 18th time in school history. In the semi-finals, Denver played theUniversity of Michigan, a team with a record seven first-round NHL Draft picks, including four of the first five picks the prior summer. Denver's Carter Savoie scored in overtime to secure a 3–2 victory, and advance the Pioneers to the National Championship game for their 12th time in program history. In the National Championship game, Denver failed to score until the third period againstMinnesota State. However, Denver finally broke through adding 5 third period goals to clinch its 9th National Championship in program history.[24]
In 2023, Denver finished the'22-'23 season with 30-10-0 overall, earned a spot in the NCAA Tournament as the fourth #1 seed. However, they succumbed toCornell 2–0 in the opening Regional Semifinals.[25]
In 2024, Denver became the first NCAA Men's Ice Hockey team to reach 10 National Championships, breaking the tie at nine that the Pioneers had held with theUniversity of Michigan. Playing as the #3 overall seed, they shutout top-overall seedBoston College, 2-0, to secure their 10th title.[26] Denver was anchored by strong goalie play fromMatt Davis who saved 35 shots in the decisive game.[27]
Source:[28]
Of all the rivals that the Denver Pioneer's hockey program play against the most intense rivalry is that fromColorado College. Since Denver's hockey program started in 1949 the two schools have played at least four times a season. In the 1993–94 season a gold pan trophy was added as a reward for the winning team thus the rivalry has been dubbed theBattle for the Gold Pan.[29]
David Carle is the current head coach of Denver hockey, hired in May 2018.
As of the end of the 2024–25 season[17]
| Tenure | Coach | Years | Record | Pct. |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1949–1951 | Vern Turner | 2 | 15–24–1 | .388 |
| 1951–1956 | Neil Celley | 6 | 81–43–6 | .646 |
| 1956–1977 | Murray Armstrong | 21 | 460–215–31 | .674 |
| 1977–1981 | Marshall Johnston | 4 | 89–63–7 | .582 |
| 1981–1990 | Ralph Backstrom | 9 | 182–174–14 | .511 |
| 1990–1994 | Frank Serratore | 4 | 49–92–9 | .357 |
| 1994–2013 | George Gwozdecky | 19 | 443–267–64 | .614 |
| 2013–2018 | Jim Montgomery | 5 | 125–57–26 | .663 |
| 2018–Present | David Carle | 7 | 179–74–17 | .694 |
| Totals | 9 coaches | 76 seasons | 1,623–1028–175 | .605 |
Hockey Hall of Fame[edit]Source:[30]
| United States Hockey Hall of Fame[edit]Source:[31]
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NCAA Division I Ice Hockey Scoring Champion
| Tournament Most Outstanding Player
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AHCA Second Team All-Americans
Most Valuable Player/Player of the Year
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Sophomore/Freshman/Rookie of the Year
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Second Team All-MCHL/WIHL/WCHA
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Defenseman/Defensive Defenseman of the Year
| Offensive Defenseman of the Year
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This is a list of Denver hockey alumni who were a part of anOlympic team.[32]
| Name | Position | Denver Tenure | Team | Year | Finish |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Glenn Anderson | Right Wing | 1978–1979 |  Canada | 1980 | 6th |
| Ken Berry | Right Wing | 1978–1979, 1980–1981 | Canada | 19801988 | 6th, 4th |
| Kevin Dineen | Right Wing | 1981–1983 | Canada | 1984,2014* | 4th, Gold |
| Marshall Johnston | Defenseman | 1960–1963 | Canada | 19641968 | 4th, Bronze |
| Antti Laaksonen | Forward | 1993–1997 |  Finland | 2006 |  Silver |
| Derek Mayer | Defenseman | 1985–1988 | Canada | 1994 | Silver |
| Ronald Naslund | Forward | 1962–1965 |  USA | 1972 | Silver |
| Craig Patrick | Right Wing | 1966–1970 | USA | 1980,2002† | Gold, Silver |
| Craig Redmond | Defenseman | 1982–1983 | Canada | 1984 | 4th |
| Nick Shore | Center | 2010–2013 | USA | 2022 | 5th |
| Paul Stastny | Center | 2004–2006 | USA | 2010,2014 | Silver, 4th |
| Troy Terry | Right Wing | 2015–2018 | USA | 2018 | 7th |
| David Tomassoni | Forward | 1972–1975 |  ITA | 1984 | 9th |
† Craig Patrick was an assistant coach for the 1980 team and the general manager for the 2002 team.
* Kevin Dineen was head coach of the Gold Medal Winning Canadian women's team at the 2014 Winter Games in Sochi, Russia.
Source:[17]
| Player | Years | GP | G | A | Pts | PIM |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Dallas Gaume | 1982–1986 | 145 | 78 | 188 | 266 | |
| Dwight Mathiasen | 1983–1986 | 123 | 90 | 108 | 198 | |
| John McMillan | 1983–1987 | 152 | 69 | 127 | 196 | |
| Bill Masterton | 1958–1961 | 89 | 66 | 130 | 196 | |
| Rick Berens | 1987–1991 | 159 | 94 | 86 | 180 | |
| Doug Berry | 1975–1978 | 119 | 65 | 115 | 180 | |
| Dave Shields | 1986–1990 | 146 | 71 | 108 | 179 | |
| Ed Hayes | 1969–1973 | 140 | 74 | 103 | 177 | |
| Greg Woods | 1975–1979 | 161 | 51 | 125 | 176 | |
| Peter McNab | 1970–1973 | 105 | 78 | 92 | 170 |
GP = Games played; Min = Minutes played; W = Wins; L = Losses; T = Ties; GA = Goals against; SO = Shutouts; SV% =Save percentage; GAA =Goals against average
Minimum 30 games
| Player | Years | GP | Min | W | L | T | GA | SO | SV% | GAA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Devin Cooley | 2017–2020 | 32 | 1,708 | 15 | 9 | 4 | 55 | 6 | .927 | 1.93 |
| Tanner Jaillet | 2014–2018 | 135 | 7,560 | 82 | 27 | 16 | 257 | 9 | .925 | 1.94 |
| Evan Cowley | 2013–2017 | 52 | 2,469 | 23 | 15 | 3 | 79 | 6 | .933 | 2.04 |
| Wade Dubielewicz | 1999–2003 | 85 | 4,629 | 44 | 26 | 6 | 170 | 8 | .923 | 2.20 |
| George Kirkwood | 1959–1961 | 66 | — | 57 | 5 | 4 | — | 6 | .904 | 2.20 |
| Magnus Chrona | 2019–2023 | 114 | 6,686 | 73 | 34 | 5 | 245 | 13 | .914 | 2.20 |
Statistics current through the end of the 2022–23 season.
The following is a list of people associated with the Denver men's ice hockey program who were elected into the Denver Athletic Hall of Fame (induction date in parentheses).[33]
As of August 12, 2025.[34]
| No. | Nat. | Player | Class | Pos | Height | Weight | DoB | Hometown | Previous team | NHL rights |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2 | | Tory Pitner | Sophomore | D | 6' 1" (1.85 m) | 183 lb (83 kg) | 2006-03-06 | Greenwich, Connecticut | Youngstown Phantoms (USHL) | COL, 185th overall 2024 |
| 3 | | Cale Ashcroft | Junior | D | 5' 11" (1.8 m) | 190 lb (86 kg) | 2004-08-05 | St. Albert, Alberta | Tri-City Storm (USHL) | — |
| 5 | | Garrett Brown | Junior | D | 6' 3" (1.91 m) | 200 lb (91 kg) | 2004-04-04 | San Jose, California | Waterloo Black Hawks (USHL) | WPG, 99th overall 2022 |
| 6 | | Alec Whipple | Sophomore | D | 6' 0" (1.83 m) | 181 lb (82 kg) | 2004-02-09 | Far Hills, New Jersey | Trail Smoke Eaters (BCHL) | TBL, 213th overall 2019 |
| 8 | | Kristian Epperson | Freshman | F | 6' 0" (1.83 m) | 185 lb (84 kg) | 2006-05-16 | Mequon, Wisconsin | Saginaw Spirit (OHL) | LAK, 88th overall 2025 |
| 9 | | Boston Buckberger | Junior | D | 5' 11" (1.8 m) | 180 lb (82 kg) | 2003-06-01 | Saskatoon, Saskatchewan | Lincoln Stars (USHL) | — |
| 10 | | Brady Milburn | Freshman | F | 6' 1" (1.85 m) | 194 lb (88 kg) | 2005-03-03 | Kamloops, British Columbia | Kamloops (BCHL) | — |
| 11 | | Samu Salminen | Senior | F | 6' 2" (1.88 m) | 182 lb (83 kg) | 2003-04-09 | Helsinki, Finland | Connecticut (HEA) | NJD, 68th overall 2021 |
| 12 | | Sam Harris | Junior | F | 6' 1" (1.85 m) | 190 lb (86 kg) | 2003-10-14 | San Diego, California | Sioux Falls Stampede (USHL) | MTL, 133rd overall 2023 |
| 13 | | Hagen Burrows | Sophomore | F | 6' 3" (1.91 m) | 176 lb (80 kg) | 2005-10-13 | Orono, Minnesota | Sioux City Musketeers (USHL) | TBL, 128th overall 2024 |
| 14 | | Rieger Lorenz | Senior | F | 6' 2" (1.88 m) | 192 lb (87 kg) | 2004-03-30 | Calgary, Alberta | Okotoks Oilers (AJHL) | MIN, 56th overall 2022 |
| 15 | | Eric Jamieson | Freshman | D | 6' 3" (1.91 m) | 205 lb (93 kg) | 2005-07-15 | Calgary, Alberta | Everett Silvertips (WHL) | CGY, 177th overall 2024 |
| 16 | | Kyle Chyzowski | Freshman | F | 5' 10" (1.78 m) | 170 lb (77 kg) | 2004-08-16 | Surrey, British Columbia | Portland Winterhawks (WHL) | — |
| 17 | | Peter LaJoy | Junior | F | 5' 7" (1.7 m) | 165 lb (75 kg) | 2002-02-27 | Evergreen, Colorado | Danbury Jr. Hat Tricks (NAHL) | — |
| 18 | | Payton Nelson | Freshman | F | 5' 11" (1.8 m) | 174 lb (79 kg) | 2005-01-17 | Centennial, Colorado | Salmon Arm Silverbacks (BCHL) | LAK, 169th overall 2022 |
| 19 | | Jake Fisher | Sophomore | F | 6' 2" (1.88 m) | 192 lb (87 kg) | 2005-03-27 | Woodbury, Minnesota | Fargo Force (USHL) | COL, 121st overall 2024 |
| 21 | | Kent Anderson | Senior | D | 6' 3" (1.91 m) | 205 lb (93 kg) | 2003-11-13 | Calgary, Alberta | Green Bay Gamblers (USHL) | — |
| 22 | | Brendan McMorrow | Freshman | F | 6' 0" (1.83 m) | 190 lb (86 kg) | 2006-03-27 | Lakeville, Minnesota | Waterloo Black Hawks (USHL) | LAK, 196th overall 2025 |
| 23 | | Eric Pohlkamp | Junior | D | 5' 11" (1.8 m) | 205 lb (93 kg) | 2004-03-23 | Brainerd, Minnesota | Bemidji State (USHL) | SJS, 132nd overall 2023 |
| 24 | | Kieran Cebrian | Junior | F | 6' 2" (1.88 m) | 195 lb (88 kg) | 2003-03-31 | Denver, Colorado | Tri-City Storm (USHL) | — |
| 25 | | Clarke Caswell | Freshman | F | 5' 11" (1.8 m) | 181 lb (82 kg) | 2006-02-02 | Brandon, Manitoba | Swift Current Broncos (WHL) | SEA, 141st overall 2024 |
| 27 | | James Reeder | Freshman | F | 5' 10" (1.78 m) | 168 lb (76 kg) | 2005-10-06 | Glenview, Illinois | Dubuque Fighting Saints (USHL) | LAK, 198th overall 2024 |
| 28 | | Reid Varkonyi | Freshman | F | 5' 10" (1.78 m) | 183 lb (83 kg) | 2006-01-15 | Sherwood Park, Alberta | Sioux Falls Stampede (USHL) | — |
| 29 | | Quentin Miller | Freshman | G | 6' 3" (1.91 m) | 187 lb (85 kg) | 2004-12-23 | Montréal, Quebec | Chilliwack Chiefs (BCHL) | MTL, 128th overall 2023 |
| 30 | | Paxton Geisel | Junior | G | 6' 1" (1.85 m) | 190 lb (86 kg) | 2004-01-18 | Estevan, Saskatchewan | Muskegon Lumberjacks (USHL) | — |
| 31 | | Johnny Hicks | Freshman | G | 5' 11" (1.8 m) | 154 lb (70 kg) | 2005-09-11 | Kamloops, British Columbia | Victoria Royals (WHL) | — |
As of July 1, 2025.[35]
| =NHL All-Star team | =NHL All-Star[36] | =NHL All-Star[36] andNHL All-Star team | =Hall of Famers |
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† Patrick won two Stanley Cups as the general manager for thePittsburgh Penguins.@ Dineen won his Stanley Cup as an assistant coach for theChicago Blackhawks.# Johnston won his Stanley Cup as an executive for theCarolina Hurricanes.^ Affleck won his Stanley Cup as an executive for theSt. Louis Blues.
& Butler won his Stanley Cup as player for theSt. Louis Blues. He did not play enough NHL games to merit engraving his name on trophy that year, but he did get to skate with the Cup in uniform after the final game. He then retired from hockey.
Retired NHL players stats[edit]Note: This is a partial list of NHL players who attended DU (75 DU players have played in the NHL)
| Active players stats[edit]Active as of the end of the 2017–18 season[37]
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Notes:
Several players also were members ofWHA teams.
| Player | Position | Team(s) | Years | Avco Cups |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Doug Berry | Center | EDM | 1978–1979 | 0 |
| Tom Gilmore | Right wing | LAS,EDM | 1972–1975 | 0 |
| Ron Grahame | Goaltender | HOU | 1973–1977 | 1 |
| George Konik | Defenseman | MFS | 1972–1973 | 0 |
| Brian Morenz | Left wing | NYD, NYG, JK,SDM | 1972–1976 | 0 |
| George Morrison | Left wing | MFS,CAC | 1972–1977 | 0 |
| Craig Patrick | Center | MFS | 1976–1977 | 0 |
| Lynn Powis | Center | CAC,IND,WIN | 1975–1978 | 1 |
| Rich Preston | Right wing | HOU,WIN | 1974–1979 | 2 |
| Cal Sandbeck | Defenseman | EDM | 1977–1979 | 0 |
| Jim Wiste | Center | CLC,IND | 1972–1976 | 0 |
* appeared in postseason games
University of Denver Arena (DU Arena) was a 5,237-seat multi-purpose arena on campus in Denver. In addition to serving as the Pioneers' home rink, it hosted several Frozen Fours. It was razed in 1997 to make room for the $75 million Magness Arena, (part of the Ritchie Center for Sports and Wellness) which opened in 1999.
Originally aU.S. Navy drill hall innorthernIdaho, the structure was built in the early 1940s atFarragut Naval Training Station atLake Pend Oreille.[38] It was donated afterWorld War II and reassembled on the DU campus in 1948–49 to house the new ice hockey program and served for nearly half a century.
The arena was refurbished in 1972–73 when the roof needed repairs, and 14 seven-ton steel trusses were added to shore up the roof. Additional patchwork renovations were added in the 1990s, prior to razing in 1997.
The best-known features of the arena were the steep bleacher balcony at the south end, and the 1970s rainbow painted on the north end wall. Famous hockey games held there include the NCAA ice hockey finals in 1961, 1964, and 1976.
Also on campus,Magness Arena is a 7,200-seat multi-purpose collegiate sports arena, built from 1997 to 1999. It is part of the Daniel L. Ritchie Center for Sports & Wellness, DU's $84 million, 400,000-square-foot (37,000 m2) sports complex, and is home to the Pioneers' ice hockey and basketball teams. The aging DU Arena and DU Fieldhouse were razed in 1997 to make way for the Ritchie Center, which includes Hamilton Gymnasium, utilized for less-attended basketball games.
The arena is named after cable television pioneer Bob Magness, who donated $10 million towards construction costs.
When the DU Arena roof was being fixed between 1972 and 1973, the Pioneers played home games at theDenver Coliseum.
When Magness Arena was under construction from 1997 to 1999, Denver played its home games at four different arenas along theFront Range:Denver Coliseum,McNichols Arena,Colorado Springs World Arena, and at the Air Force Academy'sCadet Ice Arena.
DU has also played a 2012 home exhibition game at Denver'sPepsi Center against theUniversity of British Columbia, and played a league game in2023, a 2–0 win over rivalColorado College before over 17,000 fans (an indoor DU home record) in the same building, now known as Ball Arena.
Denver's all-time record hockey crowd was the 2016 regular season outdoor NCHC game against Colorado College, called "The Battle on Blake" before over 35,000 fans at Denver'sCoors Field baseball stadium, the most fans to ever see a home DU sporting event in Denver.
DU's previous indoor record home crowd was the 1995 Denver Cup final atMcNichols Arena, where Denver defeated Colorado College before over 16,000 fans.
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