McBride began playing for Denver a year after the team made a surprise run to the Frozen Four. The Pioneers sank back to the middle of the pack afterwards and McBride could only help the team finish a game above .500. After his freshman season the Pittsburgh Penguins took a flyer on McBride, using a 10th-round selection on him in NHL Draft. He rewarded the selection with a 30-goal season the year after and he led the Pioneers in scoring. Denver wasn't much better than they were in his first season and remained a mediocre team through the end of his junior season. Despite the lack of team success, McBride was named an All-American in 1989 and led Denver to the WCHA Championship.