# 2024–25 Denver Pioneers men's ice hockey season

The 2024–25 Denver Pioneers men's ice hockey season will be the 76th season of play for the program and 12th in the NCHC. The Pioneers will represent the University of Denver in the 2024–25 NCAA Division I men's ice hockey season, play their home games at Magness Arena and be coached by David Carle in his 7th season.

## Departures

| Player | Position | Nationality | Cause |
| Sean Behrens | Defenseman | United States | Signed professional contract (Colorado Avalanche) |
| Tristan Broz | Forward | United States | Signed professional contract (Pittsburgh Penguins) |
| Shai Buium | Defenseman | United States | Signed professional contract (Detroit Red Wings) |
| Jack Caruso | Goaltender | United States | Graduation (retired) |
| Tristan Lemyre | Forward | Canada | Transferred to Western Michigan |
| Miko Matikka | Forward | Finland | Signed professional contract (Utah Hockey Club) |
| Lucas Ölvestad | Defenseman | Sweden | Transferred to Massachusetts |
| Massimo Rizzo | Forward | Canada | Signed professional contract (Philadelphia Flyers) |
| McKade Webster | Forward | Canada | Graduation (retired) |

## Recruiting

| Player | Position | Nationality | Age | Notes |
| Hagen Burrows | Forward | United States | 18 | Orono, MN; selected 128th overall in 2024 |
| Jake Fisher | Forward | United States | 19 | Woodbury, MN; selected 121st overall in 2024 |
| Tory Pitner | Defenseman | United States | 18 | Greenwich, CT; selected 185th overall in 2024 |
| Eric Pohlkamp | Defenseman | United States | 20 | Brainerd, MN; transfer from Bemidji State; selected 132nd overall in 2023 |
| James Reeder | Forward | United States | 18 | Glenview, IL; selected 198th overall in 2024 |
| Samu Salminen | Forward | Finland | 21 | Helsinki, FIN; transfer from Connecticut; selected 68th overall in 2021 |
| Alec Whipple | Defenseman | United States | 20 | Far Hills, NJ |

## Roster

As of August 3, 2024.

## Standings

2024–25 National Collegiate Hockey Conference Standingsvte :
| | Conference record | Conference record | Conference record | Conference record | Conference record | Conference record | Conference record | Conference record | Conference record | Conference record | Overall record | Overall record | Overall record | Overall record | Overall record | Overall record |
| | GP | W | L | T | OTW | OTL | SW | PTS | GF | GA | GP | W | L | T | GF | GA |
| #3 Western Michigan † | 24 | 19 | 4 | 1 | 4 | 3 | 0 | 57 | 98 | 51 | 36 | 28 | 7 | 1 | 146 | 75 |
| #11 Arizona State | 24 | 14 | 9 | 1 | 2 | 5 | 1 | 47 | 91 | 69 | 36 | 21 | 13 | 2 | 134 | 99 |
| #6 Denver | 24 | 15 | 8 | 1 | 2 | 1 | 0 | 45 | 89 | 59 | 39 | 28 | 10 | 1 | 157 | 83 |
| Omaha | 24 | 14 | 9 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 44 | 82 | 69 | 36 | 18 | 17 | 1 | 105 | 99 |
| #17 North Dakota | 24 | 14 | 9 | 1 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 42 | 81 | 73 | 37 | 21 | 14 | 2 | 118 | 107 |
| Colorado College | 24 | 11 | 12 | 1 | 4 | 1 | 1 | 32 | 68 | 72 | 37 | 18 | 18 | 1 | 106 | 113 |
| Minnesota Duluth | 24 | 9 | 13 | 2 | 2 | 2 | 1 | 30 | 63 | 77 | 36 | 13 | 20 | 3 | 99 | 117 |
| St. Cloud State | 24 | 7 | 16 | 1 | 2 | 3 | 0 | 23 | 53 | 79 | 36 | 14 | 21 | 1 | 79 | 110 |
| Miami | 24 | 0 | 23 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 0 | 4 | 38 | 114 | 34 | 3 | 28 | 3 | 63 | 143 |
| Championship: March 22, 2025 † indicates conference regular season champion (Penrose Cup) * indicates conference tournament champion (Frozen Faceoff Championship Trophy) Rankings: USCHO.com Top 20 Poll Updated: March 17, 2025 |||||||||||||||||||

## Schedule and results

| Date | Time | Opponent$^#$ | Rank$^#$ | Site | TV | Decision | Result | Attendance | Record |
| Regular Season ||||||||||
| October 5 | 8:07 pm | at Alaska Anchorage* | #1 | Avis Alaska Sports Complex • Anchorage, Alaska | | Davis | W 6–2 | 710 | 1–0–0 |
| October 6 | 7:07 pm | at Alaska Anchorage* | #1 | Avis Alaska Sports Complex • Anchorage, Alaska | | Davis | W 4–1 | 659 | 2–0–0 |
| October 18 | 7:00 pm | #19 Northeastern* | #1 | Magness Arena • Denver, Colorado | | Davis | W 5–2 | 6,837 | 3–0–0 |
| October 19 | 7:00 pm | #19 Northeastern* | #1 | Magness Arena • Denver, Colorado | | Davis | W 5–2 | 7,051 | 4–0–0 |
| October 25 | 7:00 pm | #20 Wisconsin* | #1 | Magness Arena • Denver, Colorado | | Davis | W 4–2 | 6,935 | 5–0–0 |
| October 26 | 7:00 pm | #20 Wisconsin* | #1 | Magness Arena • Denver, Colorado | | Davis | W 6–1 | 6,560 | 6–0–0 |
| November 1 | 5:00 pm | at Yale* | #1 | Ingalls Rink • New Haven, Connecticut | ESPN+ | Davis | W 6–0 | 1,498 | 7–0–0 |
| November 2 | 5:00 pm | at Yale* | #1 | Ingalls Rink • New Haven, Connecticut | ESPN+ | Halyk | W 5–1 | 2,162 | 8–0–0 |
| November 8 | 7:00 pm | Lindenwood* | #1 | Magness Arena • Denver, Colorado | | Davis | W 4–1 | 6,369 | 9–0–0 |
| November 9 | 7:00 pm | Lindenwood* | #1 | Magness Arena • Denver, Colorado | | Davis | W 4–1 | 6,582 | 10–0–0 |
| November 15 | 6:07 pm | at #9 North Dakota | #1 | Ralph Engelstad Arena • Grand Forks, North Dakota (Rivalry) | Midco Sports | Davis | W 5–2 | 11,597 | 11–0–0 (1–0–0) |
| November 16 | 5:07 pm | at #9 North Dakota | #1 | Ralph Engelstad Arena • Grand Forks, North Dakota (Rivalry) | Midco Sports | Davis | W 3–2 | 11,633 | 12–0–0 (2–0–0) |
| November 22 | 7:00 pm | Arizona State | #1 | Magness Arena • Denver, Colorado | | Davis | L 2–3 | 6,304 | 12–1–0 (2–1–0) |
| November 23 | 6:00 pm | Arizona State | #1 | Magness Arena • Denver, Colorado | | Davis | L 2–5 | 6,490 | 12–2–0 (2–2–0) |
| December 6 | 5:00 pm | at #7 Western Michigan | #2 | Lawson Arena • Kalamazoo, Michigan | | Davis | L 2–3 | 3,586 | 12–3–0 (2–3–0) |
| December 7 | 4:00 pm | at #7 Western Michigan | #2 | Lawson Arena • Kalamazoo, Michigan | | Davis | W 3–2 | 3,930 | 13–3–0 (3–3–0) |
| December 13 | 7:00 pm | at #10т Colorado College | #4 | Ed Robson Arena • Colorado Springs, Colorado (Rivalry) | SOCO CW | Davis | L 4–5 | 3,952 | 13–4–0 (3–4–0) |
| December 14 | 7:00 pm | #10т Colorado College | #4 | Magness Arena • Denver, Colorado (Rivalry) | Altitude 2 | Davis | W 2–1 | 6,606 | 14–4–0 (4–4–0) |
| December 28 | 6:00 pm | #3 UNLV* | #5 | Magness Arena • Denver, Colorado (Exhibition) | | Davis | T 6–6 $^{SOL}$ | 6,455 | |
| January 3 | 5:00 pm | at #7 Maine* | #6 | Alfond Arena • Orono, Maine | ESPNU | Davis | W 2–1 | 5,043 | 15–4–0 |
| January 4 | 5:00 pm | at #7 Maine* | #6 | Alfond Arena • Orono, Maine | ESPN+ | Davis | L 1–2 | 5,043 | 15–5–0 |
| January 10 | 7:00 pm | Miami | #6 | Magness Arena • Denver, Colorado | | Davis | W 4–1 | 6,585 | 16–5–0 (5–4–0) |
| January 11 | 6:00 pm | Miami | #6 | Magness Arena • Denver, Colorado | | Davis | W 6–2 | 6,719 | 17–5–0 (6–4–0) |
| January 24 | 6:07 pm | at Minnesota Duluth | #5 | AMSOIL Arena • Duluth, Minnesota | | Halyk | L 3–4 | 5,986 | 17–6–0 (6–5–0) |
| January 25 | 5:07 pm | at Minnesota Duluth | #5 | AMSOIL Arena • Duluth, Minnesota | | Davis | W 2–1 | 6,229 | 18–6–0 (7–5–0) |
| January 31 | 7:00 pm | Omaha | #5 | Magness Arena • Denver, Colorado | | Davis | T 3–3 $^{SOL}$ | 6,493 | 18–6–1 (7–5–1) |
| February 1 | 6:00 pm | Omaha | #5 | Magness Arena • Denver, Colorado | | Davis | W 11–2 | 6,657 | 19–6–1 (8–5–1) |
| February 7 | 7:00 pm | at #12 Arizona State | #6 | Mullett Arena • Tempe, Arizona | CBSSN, Fox 10 Xtra | Davis | W 5–4 $^{OT}$ | 5,215 | 20–6–1 (9–5–1) |
| February 8 | 5:00 pm | at #12 Arizona State | #6 | Mullett Arena • Tempe, Arizona | Fox 10 Xtra | Davis | L 5–6 $^{OT}$ | 5,191 | 20–7–1 (9–6–1) |
| February 14 | 7:00 pm | #17 North Dakota | #6 | Magness Arena • Denver, Colorado (Rivalry) | | Davis | W 4–0 | 6,344 | 21–7–1 (10–6–1) |
| February 15 | 6:00 pm | #17 North Dakota | #6 | Magness Arena • Denver, Colorado (Rivalry) | | Halyk | L 1–3 | 6,740 | 21–8–1 (10–7–1) |
| February 21 | 5:05 pm | at Miami | #6 | Steve Cady Arena • Oxford, Ohio | | Davis | W 5–1 | 1,507 | 22–8–1 (11–7–1) |
| February 22 | 5:05 pm | at Miami | #6 | Steve Cady Arena • Oxford, Ohio | | Halyk | W 5–2 | 2,328 | 23–8–1 (12–7–1) |
| February 28 | 7:00 pm | St. Cloud State | #6 | Magness Arena • Denver, Colorado | | Davis | W 3–1 | 6,417 | 24–8–1 (13–7–1) |
| March 1 | 6:00 pm | St. Cloud State | #6 | Magness Arena • Denver, Colorado | | Davis | L 1–2 | 6,518 | 24–9–1 (13–8–1) |
| March 7 | 7:00 pm | #20т Colorado College | #7 | Magness Arena • Denver, Colorado (Rivalry) | Altitude | Davis | W 4–1 | 7,023 | 25–9–1 (14–8–1) |
| March 8 | 6:00 pm | at #20т Colorado College | #7 | Ed Robson Arena • Colorado Springs, Colorado (Rivalry) | | Davis | W 4–3 | 3,532 | 26–9–1 (15–8–1) |
| NCHC Tournament ||||||||||
| March 14 | 7:00 pm | Colorado College* | #6 | Magness Arena • Denver, Colorado (NCHC Quarterfinal Game 1; Rivalry) | | Davis | L 1–3 | 6,708 | 26–10–1 |
| March 15 | 6:00 pm | Colorado College* | #6 | Magness Arena • Denver, Colorado (NCHC Quarterfinal Game 2; Rivalry) | | Davis | W 6–3 | 6,743 | 27–10–1 |
| March 16 | 6:00 pm | Colorado College* | #6 | Magness Arena • Denver, Colorado (NCHC Quarterfinal Game 3; Rivalry) | | Davis | W 9–2 | 5,063 | 28–10–1 |
| March 21 | 3:00 pm | vs. #11 Arizona State* | #6 | Xcel Energy Center • Saint Paul, Minnesota (NCHC Semifinal) | CBSSN | | | | |
| *Non-conference game. $^#$Rankings from USCHO.com Poll. All times are in Mountain Time. Source: ||||||||||
* ↑ ACHA rank

## Rankings

| Poll | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week | Week |
| Poll | Pre | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | 24 | 25 | 26 (Final) |
| USCHO.com | 1 (42) | 1 (43) | 1 (47) | 1 (48) | 1 (48) | 1 (48) | 1 (48) | 1 (50) | 2 (7) | 2 (4) | 4 | 5 | – | 6 (1) | 6 | 7 (1) | 5 | 5 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 6 | 7 | 6 | 6 | | |
| USA Hockey | 1 (27) | 1 (26) | 1 (33) | 1 (33) | 1 (33) | 1 (33) | 1 (34) | 1 (34) | 2 (5) | 2 (2) | 4 (1) | 5 | – | 6 | 6 | 6т (1) | 5 | 5 | 6 | 6 | 7 | 6 | 7 | 6 | 6 | | |
Note: USCHO did not release a poll in week 12. Note: USA Hockey did not release a poll in week 12.