2023–24 Denver Pioneers men's ice hockey season

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2023–24 Denver Pioneers
men's ice hockey season
NCHC Tournament, Champion
NCAA Tournament, Champion
ConferenceNCHC
Home iceMagness Arena
Rankings
USCHO#3
USA Today#3
Record
Overall32–9–3
Conference15–7–2
Home14–3–3
Road12–6–0
Neutral4–0–0
Coaches and captains
Head coachDavid Carle
Assistant coachesTavis MacMillan
Dallas Ferguson
Ryan Massa
Denver Pioneers men's ice hockey seasons
« 2022–23 2024–25 »

The 2023–24 Denver Pioneers men's ice hockey season was the 75th season of play for the program and 11th in the NCHC. The Pioneers represented the University of Denver in the 2023–24 NCAA Division I men's ice hockey season, played their home games at Magness Arena and were coached by David Carle in his sixth season. The team won the 2024 NCAA Division I men's ice hockey tournament for their NCAA record tenth national championship.

Season[edit]

The game against Omaha on November 18 was halted after the first period due to poor ice conditions. A patch of ice behind the Denver net didn't freeze properly and after attempting to address the problem for over an hour, the game was postponed until the following day. Because an entire period had already been played, the game resumed at the start of the second.[1]

Departures[edit]

Player Position Nationality Cause
Michael Benning Defenseman  Canada Signed professional contract (Florida Panthers)
Magnus Chrona Goaltender  Sweden Graduation (signed with San Jose Sharks)
Brett Edwards Forward  Canada Graduate transfer to Northeastern
Tyler Haskins Forward  United States Transferred to Minnesota State
Lane Krenzen Defenseman  United States Graduate transfer to Omaha
Justin Lee Defenseman  Canada Graduation (signed with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins)
Kyle Mayhew Defenseman  United States Graduation (signed with Colorado Eagles)
Carter Mazur Forward  United States Signed professional contract (Detroit Red Wings)
Owen Ozar Forward  Canada Transferred to Bowling Green

Recruiting[edit]

Player Position Nationality Age Notes
Cale Ashcroft Defenseman  Canada 19 Calgary, AB
Garrett Brown Defenseman  United States 19 San Jose, CA; selected 99th overall in 2022
Boston Buckberger Defenseman  United States 20 Saskatoon, SK
Zeev Buium Defenseman  United States 17 Laguna Niguel, CA
Kieran Cebrian Forward  United States 20 Denver, CO
Freddie Halyk Goaltender  Canada 20 Cochrane, AB
Sam Harris Forward  United States 19 San Diego, CA; selected 133rd overall in 2023
Peter Lajoy Forward  United States 21 Evergreen, CO
Miko Matikka Forward  Finland 19 Helsinki, FIN; selected 67th overall in 2022
Alex Weiermair Forward  United States 18 Los Angeles, CA

Roster[edit]

As of September 27, 2023.[2]

No. S/P/C Player Class Pos Height Weight DoB Hometown Previous team NHL rights
1 Alberta Freddie Halyk Freshman G 6' 5" (1.96 m) 210 lb (95 kg) 2003-08-27 Cochrane, Alberta Camrose (AJHL)
2 Illinois Sean Behrens Junior D 5' 9" (1.75 m) 178 lb (81 kg) 2003-03-31 Barrington, Illinois NTDP (USHL) COL, 61st overall 2021
3 Alberta Cale Ashcroft Freshman D 5' 11" (1.8 m) 190 lb (86 kg) 2004-08-05 St. Albert, Alberta Tri-City (USHL)
4 Illinois Jack Devine Junior F 5' 11" (1.8 m) 175 lb (79 kg) 2003-10-02 Glencoe, Illinois NTDP (USHL) FLA, 221st overall 2022
5 California Garrett Brown Freshman D 6' 3" (1.91 m) 200 lb (91 kg) 2004-04-04 San Jose, California Waterloo (USHL) WPG, 99th overall 2022
6 Missouri McKade Webster Senior F 5' 10" (1.78 m) 175 lb (79 kg) 2000-07-28 St. Louis, Missouri Green Bay (USHL) TBL, 213th overall 2019
7 Colorado Aidan Thompson Sophomore F 5' 11" (1.8 m) 170 lb (77 kg) 2002-02-18 Fort Collins, Colorado Lincoln (USHL) CHI, 90th overall 2022
8 California Shai Buium Junior D 6' 3" (1.91 m) 220 lb (100 kg) 2003-03-26 San Diego, California Sioux City (USHL) DET, 36th overall 2021
9 Saskatchewan Boston Buckberger Freshman D 5' 11" (1.8 m) 180 lb (82 kg) 2003-06-01 Saskatoon, Saskatchewan Lincoln (USHL)
10 Finland Miko Matikka Freshman F 6' 4" (1.93 m) 200 lb (91 kg) 2003-10-26 Helsinki, Finland Waterloo (USHL) ARI, 67th overall 2022
11 Sweden Lucas Ölvestad Sophomore D 6' 1" (1.85 m) 190 lb (86 kg) 2002-03-19 Stockholm, Sweden Dubuque (USHL)
12 California Sam Harris Freshman F 6' 1" (1.85 m) 190 lb (86 kg) 2003-10-14 San Diego, California Sioux Falls (USHL) MTL, 133rd overall 2023
13 British Columbia Massimo Rizzo Junior F 5' 11" (1.8 m) 178 lb (81 kg) 2001-06-13 Burnaby, British Columbia Coquitlam (BCHL) PHI, 216th overall 2019
14 Alberta Rieger Lorenz Sophomore F 6' 2" (1.88 m) 192 lb (87 kg) 2004-03-30 Calgary, Alberta Okotoks (AJHL) MIN, 56th overall 2022
15 Alberta Carter King Junior F 5' 10" (1.78 m) 185 lb (84 kg) 2001-08-30 Calgary, Alberta Surrey (BCHL)
16 Minnesota Tristan Broz Junior F 6' 0" (1.83 m) 183 lb (83 kg) 2002-10-10 Bloomington, Minnesota Minnesota (Big Ten) PIT, 58th overall 2021
17 Colorado Peter LaJoy Freshman F 5' 7" (1.7 m) 165 lb (75 kg) 2002-02-27 Evergreen, Colorado Danbury (NAHL)
18 Minnesota Jared Wright Sophomore F 6' 2" (1.88 m) 176 lb (80 kg) 2002-11-22 Burnsville, Minnesota Omaha (USHL) LAK, 169th overall 2022
21 Alberta Kent Anderson Sophomore D 6' 3" (1.91 m) 205 lb (93 kg) 2003-11-13 Calgary, Alberta Green Bay (USHL)
22 Wisconsin Connor Caponi Senior F 5' 9" (1.75 m) 186 lb (84 kg) 2000-03-20 Milwaukee, Wisconsin Waterloo (USHL)
24 Colorado Kieran Cebrian Freshman F 6' 2" (1.88 m) 195 lb (88 kg) 2003-03-31 Denver, Colorado Tri-City (USHL)
28 California Zeev Buium Freshman D 6' 2" (1.88 m) 180 lb (82 kg) 2005-12-07 Laguna Niguel, California USNTDP (USHL)
29 Quebec Tristan Lemyre Sophomore F 5' 9" (1.75 m) 170 lb (77 kg) 2001-01-15 Mirabel, Quebec Dubuque (USHL)
31 Missouri Jack Caruso Senior G 5' 9" (1.75 m) 187 lb (85 kg) 1999-06-07 St. Louis, Missouri Fairbanks (NAHL)
35 Alberta Matt Davis Junior G 6' 0" (1.83 m) 179 lb (81 kg) 2001-06-16 Calgary, Alberta Green Bay (USHL)
39 California Alex Weiermair Freshman F 6' 1" (1.85 m) 190 lb (86 kg) 2005-05-10 Los Angeles, California USNTDP (USHL)

Standings[edit]

Conference record Overall record
GP W L T OTW OTL SW PTS GF GA GP W L T GF GA
#5 North Dakota 24 15 8 1 1 4 0 49 87 67 40 26 12 2 151 105
#3 Denver * 24 15 7 2 3 0 1 45 110 80 42 30 9 3 198 119
#18 St. Cloud State 24 11 9 4 1 3 2 41 77 74 38 17 16 5 121 114
#15 Colorado College 24 14 8 2 5 2 0 41 66 56 37 21 13 3 111 93
#11 Omaha 24 13 8 3 5 0 3 40 68 74 40 23 13 4 117 112
#14 Western Michigan 24 11 13 0 1 5 0 35 78 64 38 21 16 1 136 97
Minnesota Duluth 24 8 14 2 3 3 2 28 65 80 37 12 20 5 103 125
Miami 24 1 21 2 0 2 0 7 44 100 36 7 26 3 78 135
Championship: March 23, 2024
† indicates conference regular season champion (Penrose Cup)
* indicates conference tournament champion (Frozen Faceoff Championship Trophy)
Rankings: USCHO.com Top 20 Poll

Updated: April 1, 2024

Schedule and results[edit]

Date Time Opponent# Rank# Site TV Decision Result Attendance Record
Regular Season
October 7 9:07 pm at Alaska* #4 Carlson CenterFairbanks, Alaska FloHockey Davis W 7–3  1,962 1–0–0
October 8 7:07 pm at Alaska* #4 Carlson CenterFairbanks, Alaska FloHockey Davis W 5–2  1,421 2–0–0
October 20 7:00 pm at #10 Providence* #2 Schneider ArenaProvidence, Rhode Island ESPN+ Davis L 3–4  3,465 2–1–0
October 21 7:00 pm at #3 Boston College* #2 Conte ForumChestnut Hill, Massachusetts ESPN+ Davis W 4–3  7,884 3–1–0
October 27 7:00 pm Augustana* #2 Magness ArenaDenver, Colorado   Davis T 5–5  5,343 3–1–1
October 28 6:00 pm Air Force* #2 Magness ArenaDenver, Colorado   Halyk W 4–0  6,278 4–1–1
November 3 7:00 pm Colorado College #2 Magness ArenaDenver, Colorado (Rivalry)   Halyk W 6–1  7,021 5–1–1 (1–0–0)
November 4 6:00 pm at Colorado College #2 Ed Robson ArenaColorado Springs, Colorado (Rivalry) SOCO CW Halyk W 5–1  3,749 6–1–1 (2–0–0)
November 10 7:00 pm at #16 Arizona State* #2 Mullett ArenaTempe, Arizona   Halyk L 5–6 OT 5,102 6–2–1
November 11 5:00 pm at #16 Arizona State* #2 Mullett ArenaTempe, Arizona   Halyk W 8–4  4,996 7–2–1
November 17 7:00 pm Omaha #3 Magness ArenaDenver, Colorado   Halyk W 8–4  5,940 8–2–1 (3–0–0)
November 18 / 19 6:00 pm / 2:00 pm Omaha #3 Magness ArenaDenver, Colorado   Halyk L 3–4  5,813 8–3–1 (3–1–0)
November 24 7:00 pm Yale* #4 Magness ArenaDenver, Colorado   Halyk W 5–0  5,817 9–3–1
November 25 6:00 pm Yale* #4 Magness ArenaDenver, Colorado   Halyk W 9–0  5,823 10–3–1
December 1 7:00 pm #2 North Dakota #3 Magness ArenaDenver, Colorado (Rivalry)   Halyk L 5–7  5,958 10–4–1 (3–2–0)
December 2 6:00 pm #2 North Dakota #3 Magness ArenaDenver, Colorado (Rivalry)   Halyk W 3–2 OT 6,136 11–4–1 (4–2–0)
December 8 5:00 pm at #13 Western Michigan #4 Lawson ArenaKalamazoo, Michigan   Halyk L 3–7  3,558 11–5–1 (4–3–0)
December 9 4:00 pm at #13 Western Michigan #4 Lawson ArenaKalamazoo, Michigan   Geisel W 6–5 OT 3,791 12–5–1 (5–3–0)
December 29 6:00 pm Minot State* #5 Magness ArenaDenver, Colorado (Exhibition)   Halyk W 9–3  6,370
January 5 7:00 pm Niagara* #6 Magness ArenaDenver, Colorado   Davis W 5–2  5,854 13–5–1
January 6 6:00 pm Niagara* #6 Magness ArenaDenver, Colorado   Davis W 6–1  6,255 14–5–1
January 12 7:00 pm #14 St. Cloud State #6 Magness ArenaDenver, Colorado CBSSN Davis W 5–1  6,372 15–5–1 (6–3–0)
January 13 6:00 pm #14 St. Cloud State #6 Magness ArenaDenver, Colorado   Davis T 4–4 SOL 6,201 15–5–2 (6–3–1)
January 19 6:00 pm at #19 Omaha #5 Baxter ArenaOmaha, Nebraska   Davis W 6–3  7,391 16–5–2 (7–3–1)
January 20 6:00 pm at #19 Omaha #5 Baxter ArenaOmaha, Nebraska   Davis W 6–2  6,898 17–5–2 (8–3–1)
January 26 6:07 pm at #5 North Dakota #4 Ralph Engelstad ArenaGrand Forks, North Dakota (Rivalry) CBSSN Davis L 2–5  11,610 17–6–2 (8–4–1)
January 27 5:07 pm at #5 North Dakota #4 Ralph Engelstad ArenaGrand Forks, North Dakota (Rivalry) Midco Davis L 2–4  11,702 17–7–2 (8–5–1)
February 2 7:00 pm #15 Western Michigan #5 Magness ArenaDenver, Colorado   Davis W 3–2  6,467 18–7–2 (9–5–1)
February 3 7:00 pm #15 Western Michigan #5 Magness ArenaDenver, Colorado   Davis L 2–7  6,202 18–8–2 (9–6–1)
February 16 6:07 pm at Minnesota Duluth #5 AMSOIL ArenaDuluth, Minnesota CBSSN Davis W 5–4 OT 5,598 19–8–2 (10–6–1)
February 17 6:07 pm at Minnesota Duluth #5 AMSOIL ArenaDuluth, Minnesota   Davis W 5–2  6,131 20–8–2 (11–6–1)
February 23 7:00 pm Miami #3 Magness ArenaDenver, Colorado   Davis T 3–3 SOW 6,341 20–8–3 (11–6–2)
February 24 6:00 pm Miami #3 Magness ArenaDenver, Colorado   Davis W 8–1  6,274 21–8–3 (12–6–2)
March 1 6:30 pm at #15 St. Cloud State #5 Herb Brooks National Hockey CenterSt. Cloud, Minnesota Fox 9+ Davis W 6–2  3,688 22–8–3 (13–6–2)
March 2 5:00 pm at #15 St. Cloud State #5 Herb Brooks National Hockey CenterSt. Cloud, Minnesota Fox 9+ Davis W 7–2  4,270 23–8–3 (14–6–2)
March 8 7:00 pm at #10 Colorado College #4 Ed Robson ArenaColorado Springs, Colorado (Rivalry) SOCO CW, CBSSN Davis L 3–4  3,912 23–9–3 (14–7–2)
March 9 6:00 pm #10 Colorado College #4 Magness ArenaDenver, Colorado (Rivalry)   Davis W 4–3  7,033 24–9–3 (15–7–2)
NCHC Tournament
March 15 7:07 pm Minnesota Duluth* #3 Magness ArenaDenver, Colorado (Quarterfinal Game 1)   Davis W 4–0  5,461 25–9–3
March 16 6:07 pm Minnesota Duluth* #3 Magness ArenaDenver, Colorado (Quarterfinal Game 2)   Davis W 5–2  6,005 26–9–3
March 22 6:37 pm vs. #17 St. Cloud State* #3 Xcel Energy CenterSaint Paul, Minnesota (Semifinal) CBSSN Davis W 5–4 OT 8,977 27–9–3
March 23 6:30 pm vs. #11 Omaha* #3 Xcel Energy CenterSaint Paul, Minnesota (Championship) CBSSN Davis W 4–1  6,929 28–9–3
NCAA Tournament
March 28 12:00 pm vs. #13 Massachusetts* #3 MassMutual CenterSpringfield, Massachusetts (Northeast Regional Semifinal) ESPN2 Davis W 2–1 2OT 3,894 29–9–3
March 30 2:00 pm vs. #12 Cornell* #3 MassMutual CenterSpringfield, Massachusetts (Northeast Regional Final) ESPN2 Davis W 2–1  4,407 30–9–3
April 11 3:00 pm vs. #2 Boston University* #3 Xcel Energy CenterSaint Paul, Minnesota (National Semifinal) ESPN2 Davis W 2–1 OT   31–9–3
April 13 4:00 pm vs. #1 Boston College* #3 Xcel Energy Center • Saint Paul, Minnesota (National Championship) ESPN2 Davis W 2–0    32–9–3
*Non-conference game. #Rankings from USCHO.com Poll. All times are in Mountain Time.
Source:[3]

Rankings[edit]

Poll Week
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 27 (Final)
USCHO.com 4 3 (4) 2 (10) 2 (6) 2 (5) 2 (5) 3 (3) 4 (2) 3 (1) 4 (2) 5 - 6 6 5 (1) 4 (1) 5 6 5 3 5 4 3 3 3
USA Today 5 3 (1) 2 (9) 2 (1) 2 (5) 2 (3) 2 (3) 4 3 5 (1) 5 5 5^ 6 6 4 6 6 3 4 4 3 3 3

Note: USCHO did not release a poll in week 11.[4]
^USA Today did not release a poll in week 12.

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Slush Halts Denver-Omaha Hockey Tilt". Lets Go DU. November 18, 2023. Retrieved November 19, 2023.
  2. ^ "2023-24 Men's Ice Hockey Roster". Denver Pioneers. Retrieved September 27, 2023.
  3. ^ "2023-24 Men's Ice Hockey Schedule". Denver Pioneers. Retrieved September 9, 2022.
  4. ^ "USCHO Division I Men's Poll". USCHO.com. Retrieved November 26, 2019.