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Subscribe to USCHO Game of the Week:After leading Denver to second national championship in three seasons in 2023-24, Pioneers’ Carle selected USCHO.com Coach of the Year
David Carle guided Denver to its second national championship in two years, downing Boston College 2-0 back on April 13 in St. Paul, Minn.
For taking the Pioneers to the top of the college hockey mountain, Carle has been named USCHO.com Coach of the Year for the 2023-24 season in a vote of USCHO.com staff members.
During this past season, his sixth year at the helm of his alma mater, Carle guided the Pioneers to their third NCAA Frozen Four in that time. Denver finished with a 32-9-3 record this season, marking the program’s third consecutive 30-wn campaign—the first time in school history it has reached the threshold in back-to-back-to-back years. It is also the 22nd straight full season where DU has recorded 20 or more victories, extending its “Tenzer” Streak as the longest active stretch in college hockey that dates to 2001-02.
Denver finished second in the NCHC standings during the regular season with 45 points and a 15-7-2 record in conference play. In the postseason, the Pioneers swept Minnesota Duluth in two games in the NCHC quarterfinals before defeating St. Cloud State in the conference semifinals and Omaha in the championship game to pick up their third NCHC Frozen Faceoff championship. Overall, it was DU’s 18 conference tournament title in the team’s 75-season history.
The Pioneers played in their 33rd national tournament and advanced to their 19th Frozen Four and fifth trip in the last eight years (seven tournament appearances) by winning the NCAA Northeast Regional in Springfield, Mass.
Carle picked up his 126th career victory on Nov. 25 against Yale, surpassing his predecessor, Jim Montgomery, for sole possession of fourth place on the school’s all-time wins list. He coached his 200th game—all at DU—on Dec. 9 at Western Michigan to become just the fifth Pioneers coach to reach the milestone. His .675 winning percentage through the first 200 games was the second-best mark among Denver coaches, as only Murray Armstrong was better through his first 200 at .735 while also winning three national titles.
Overall, Carle owns a 148-62-16 all-time record and his current .690 winning percentage is presently the best among coaches in Denver hockey history. Armstrong is second with a .674 winning percentage.
Carle won his second national title as a head coach and his third overall. He became the fourth-youngest coach in college hockey history to win an NCAA championship in 2022 (32 years, five months, zero days) and also won a title as an assistant on Montgomery’s staff in 2017.
He also won a gold medal as well this season for Team USA at the 2024 IIHF World Junior Championship in Sweden in December and January, leading the Americans past the host Swedes in the final for the country’s sixth gold in the last 20 years.
Union assistant men’s coach Childs steps down, heading back to junior hockey as new head coach of USHL’s Lancers
After two seasons as an assistant coach for the Union men’s hockey team, Lennie Childs has stepped down to accept the head coach position for the USHL’s Omaha Lancers.
“My time at Union College was nothing short of tremendous,” said Childs in a statement. I thank Coach (Josh) Hauge for giving me the opportunity to grow and work with highly dedicated players every day. My family and I are excited and honored to be named the next head coach of the Omaha Lancers. It is a blue blood program in the USHL with a tradition of developing top young talent.”
Childs helped guide Union to a 30-37-5 record in his two seasons on the bench, which included two first-round home ECAC Hockey playoff games and a trip to the conference quarterfinals this season.
“I want to thank Lennie for everything he contributed to our program,” said Hauge. “We really enjoyed working with him and the energy he brought to the rink every day. We look forward to watching his coaching journey and wish him and his family the best in Omaha.”
Before coming to Schenectady, Childs served as an assistant coach with the USHL’s Des Moines Buccaneers where he primarily led player development, the penalty kill units, and offensive zone production.
Prior to his time with the Buccaneers, Childs spent two seasons with the NAHL’s Janesville Jets as an assistant coach before being promoted to associate head coach in his third season. In addition to player development and working with the defense, he was responsible for camps, recruiting, and the day-to-day operations of the team. Under his coaching, the Jets had one of the best defensive cores in the NAHL, with the second-ranked penalty kill in the 2020-21 season.
During the 2017-18 season, Childs served as the head coach for the USPHL’s Skipjacks Hockey Club where he guided the team to a 27-10-7 record.
Childs played four years of collegiate hockey at Concordia-Wisconsin where he graduated in 2016 with a degree in marketing.
A search for a new assistant coach will begin immediately.
Muckalt feels ‘instant connection’ as former Michigan hockey player, coach takes over as new bench boss at Lindenwood
Lindenwood has named Bill Muckalt the next head coach of the men’s hockey program.
Muckalt replaces Rick Zombo, who was not retained after the 2023-24 season.
“I am extremely honored and excited to be the next head coach at Lindenwood University,” said Muckalt. “I want to thank Dr. Porter, vice president for intercollegiate athletics Jason Coomer, and all the leadership staff for their vision and commitment to make this hire possible. I also want to take time to acknowledge my family, friends and people that supported me during this process to make it a reality.”
Prior to joining Lindenwood, Muckalt was the associate head coach at Michigan from 2017 to 2023.
“At this time, I feel a real sense of gratitude,” Muckalt said. “Once I was able to visit such a beautiful campus and see all the resources that Lindenwood has to offer, it was a really easy decision for myself and our family. From our university mission statement of serving others, thriving together, doing the right thing and having grit, they were all foundational core values of my coaching philosophy, and I felt an instant connection.”
A press conference will be held at the Centene Community Ice Center on April 25 at 1 p.m. CT to introduce Muckalt and will be open to the public. The introductory press conference will also be live streamed at lindenwoodlions.com.
“We are excited to welcome Coach Muckalt to St. Charles and the Lindenwood family,” said Coomer. “Throughout the search process, Coach Muckalt separated himself from his peers as the right person to lead our young men. It is clear how much he is respected throughout the college and professional hockey community, and we look forward to Bill leading our program.
In his six seasons at Michigan, Muckalt helped 20 players get drafted by NHL teams and was the Wolverines’ lead recruiter during his tenure as associate head coach. Four of the first five draft picks at the 2021 NHL Draft were from Michigan (Owen Power, Matty Beniers, Kent Johnson, Luke Hughes).
“Expectations are high for our program and having someone who has experienced sustained success at various levels and stops was something we were looking for during this process,” said Coomer. “Being the only NCAA Division I hockey program in the state of Missouri, the St. Charles and St. Louis hockey community are excited about what is taking place in our backyard. Without questions, Coach Muckalt will be a great addition to the local hockey scene.”
During the 2022-23 season, Muckalt helped the Wolverines to a 23-12-3 record while clinching the Big Ten championship with a 4-3 win over Minnesota in the B1G championship game. Michigan went to the NCAA Frozen Four that year before eventually losing to Quinnipiac.
The year prior in 2021-22, Michigan also was crowned Big Ten champions after winning the title and finished with a record of 31-10-2, marking their most wins since the 2007-08 season. Muckalt handled recruiting and defensive responsibilities for the Wolverines which ranked ninth in the county allowing only 2.21 goals per game. He also coached Big Ten Medal of Honor winner Nick Blankenburg and seven other Michigan players who signed NHL contracts that season.
Muckalt was responsible for helping five Michigan players get drafted in the first round during the shortened 2020-21 season due to COVID-19. The Wolverines were 15-10-1 in a season where they ranked seventh nationally in offense averaging 3.50 goals per game. Muckalt helped freshman Thomas Bordeleau win the Tim Taylor national rookie of the year award after taking home B1G rookie of the year honors.
Prior to his time at Michigan, Muckalt was the general manager and head coach of the USHL’s Tri-City Storm from 2015 to 17. In his two seasons with Tri-City, Muckalt’s team posted a 49-46-16 record and won its first Clark Cup in franchise history during the 2015-16 season. He became just the fifth coach in Tier I history of the USHL to win a championship in the first season as head coach, joining current Tampa Bay Lightning assistant coach Jeff Blashill.
From 2011 to 2015, Muckalt was an assistant coach at Michigan Tech where he helped the Huskies reach No. 1 in the USCHO.com poll for the first time since 1976. In his final season at Michigan Tech, he helped guide the team to a 29-10-2 record while finishing second in the nation in goals against average (1.80). The Huskies also made the NCAA tournament during the 2014-15 season, the first time since 1981.
Previously, Muckalt held head coaching positions with the NAHL’s New Mexico Mustangs (2010-11), WSHL’s Valencia Flyers (2009-10) and ACHA college team Eastern Michigan (2007-08).
Muckalt spent five years in the NHL, playing with the Vancouver Canucks, New York Islanders, Ottawa Senators and Minnesota Wild. He tallied 97 career points on 40 goals and 57 assists. He retired as a player in 2004.
“I look forward to leading our student athletes to many successes in the classroom, on the ice and in the community,” said Muckalt. “Lindenwood hockey will be relentless, disciplined, cohesive and we will get better together every day. We will build a championship-caliber program. I look forward to reconnecting with so many familiar faces in the St. Louis hockey community as well as developing new relationships. Let’s go Lions.”
A 1998 graduate of Michigan, he was a four-year starter for the Wolverines and part of the 1996 and 1998 national championship teams. Muckalt served as an alternate captain during the 1997-98 season while being honored as part of the 1998 CCHA first all-star team and was named a 1998 West first team All-American.
He received his bachelor’s degree in sports management and communications.
Women’s Division I College Hockey: The PodKaz Episode 20 – Thoughts on the World Championship, transfer portal, Michigan’s feasibility study
Nicole Haase (@NicoleHaase) and Todd Milewski (@ToddMilewski) review Canada’s win over the U.S. for World Championship gold, with Nicole’s thoughts on the tournament in Utica, New York. Then we have a look at action in the transfer portal and some of the issues behind it. And the final segment looks at the movement toward elevating Michigan’s club program to varsity status.
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Boston University’s Celebrini tabbed USCHO.com Rookie of the Year, Player of the Year for 2023-24 college hockey season
Boston University’s Macklin Celebrini came into the 2023-24 season with tremendous hype.
He lived up to the hype, and then some, capping it off with the Hobey Baker Award as the best player in college hockey.
Today, USCHO.com has announced that Celebrini is a dual winner, chosen USCHO.com Rookie of the Year and Player of the Year after a 32-goal, 64-point season over 38 games for the Terriers. He also put up eight points in five games for Canada at the IIHF World Junior Championship.
And he doesn’t turn 18 until two weeks before June’s NHL Draft, an event being held in Las Vegas that could see Celebrini taken with the No. 1 overall selection. He was the youngest player in college hockey this past season.
This season, Celebrini racked up a slew of Hockey East weekly and monthly awards, as well as the Hockey East rookie and Tim Taylor Award as national rookie of the year, New England rookie of the year and Hockey East player of the year. He also led Hockey East in scoring and was named a first team All-American.
The 2023-24 USCHO.com awards were voted on by USCHO.com staff members after the conclusion of the Frozen Four.
The USCHO.com Coach of the Year will be announced Thursday.
Denver’s Carle returning as head coach of 2025 U.S. National Junior Team, also bringing back entire staff from 2024 gold medal-winning squad
Denver coach David Carle, who guided the 2024 U.S. National Junior Team to the gold medal at the IIHF World Junior Championship, will serve as head coach of the 2025 U.S. National Junior Team.
Having recently completed his sixth season as the head coach of the Pioneers, Carle owns a 148-62-16 (.690) record at DU and has guided the Pioneers to two NCAA national titles in the last three seasons, including this year.
“I’m beyond honored to be asked to represent our country again,” said Carle in a statement. “We have a terrific staff and we’re all excited about the chance to work with the top players in our country, with the goal of winning back-to-back gold medals in the World Juniors for the first time in our nation’s history.”
In addition, Carle will have his entire 2024 gold medal staff back with him for the 2025 IIHF World Junior Championship, including assistant coaches Brett Larson (St. Cloud State), Steve Miller (Minnesota), and Garrett Raboin (Augustana), goaltending coach David Lassonde (USA Hockey) and video coach Travis Culhane (Denver).
“We are excited to have our whole coaching staff return, led by David Carle, who is among the most accomplished and highly regarded coaches in our country,” said John Vanbiesbrouck, general manager of the 2025 U.S. National Junior Team and also assistant executive director of hockey operations for USA Hockey. “With so many great teams from around the world, it is never easy to win gold, but it’s a challenge we look forward to and one I know our coaching staff embraces.”
Team USA will play in the 2025 IIHF World Junior Championship Dec. 26, 2024 to Jan. 5, 2025, in Ottawa, Ont. The U.S. is in Group A alongside Finland, Canada, Latvia and Germany and will play its preliminary round games at the Canadian Tire Centre. Group B, which includes Sweden, Czechia, Slovakia, Switzerland and Kazakhstan, will play its preliminary round contests at TD Place Arena.
USCHO.com announces trio of all-USCHO men’s NCAA Division I hockey teams for 2023-24 season
USCHO.com has announced its three all-USCHO teams for the just-completed 2023-24 college hockey season.
Voting was conducted after the conclusion of the Frozen Four by USCHO.com staff members.
First All-USCHO Team
F Macklin Celebrini, Boston University*
F Cutter Gauthier, Boston College*
F Will Smith, Boston College
D Lane Hutson, Boston University*
D Zeev Buium, Denver
G Jacob Fowler, Boston College
Second All-USCHO Team
F Jackson Blake, North Dakota
F Jack Devine, Denver
F Gavin Brindley, Michigan
D Ryan Ufko, Massachusetts
D Artyom Levshunov, Michigan State
G Kyle McClellan, Wisconsin
Third All-USCHO Team
F Ryan Leonard, Boston College
F Collin Graf, Quinnipiac
F Gabe Perreault, Boston College
D Seamus Casey, Michigan
D Gianfranco Cassaro, RIT
G Ian Shane, Cornell
*Unanimous selection
On Wednesday, USCHO.com will announce its rookie of the year and player of the year with the coach of the year announced Thursday.
Broz gives up senior season at Denver, signs NHL deal with Pittsburgh
Denver junior forward Tristan Broz has signed a three-year, entry-level contract with the NHL’s Pittsburgh Penguins beginning in 2024-25.
He will spend the remainder of the 2023-24 campaign with the AHL’s Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins on an amateur tryout.
Broz registered career highs this past season with 16 goals, 24 assists and 40 points. He finished tied for third on the Pioneers in goals and was fourth in points while helping the program win its NCAA-record 10th national championship last weekend.
The Bloomington, Minn., native was third on Denver with four game-winning goals and scored twice in overtime during the NCAA tournament, the first Pioneer ever to accomplish the feat and earned all-tournament honors for both the Frozen Four and Northeast Regional. He tallied in double-overtime on March 28 in the regional semifinals against Massachusetts in the longest tournament game in DU hockey history and also scored in extra time in the national semifinals on April 11 versus Boston University.
Broz was Denver’s top-line center for much of the final eight weeks of the campaign and recorded 19 points (seven goals, 12 assists) in the last 17 games. He finished the year with a plus-20 rating and nine power-play points (two goals, seven assists) as well.
He matched a career high with four points twice in 2023-24, recording two goals and two assists on Jan. 6 vs. Niagara and had a goal and personal-best three assists on Feb. 24 against Miami. He had 11 multi-point outings during the campaign, including a three-point performance with a trio of helpers on March 2 at St. Cloud State.
He tied a career long with a five-game point streak from Nov. 17-Dec. 1, 2023 (three goals, five assists) and set a personal-high assist streak with a four-game run from Nov. 17-25, 2023. Broz appeared in his 100th collegiate game on Jan. 26 at North Dakota and finished his NCAA career with 79 points on 32 goals and 47 assists in 119 career games.
Beginning his collegiate tenure at Minnesota, Broz transferred to Denver in the summer of 2022 after posting 11 points (five goals, six assists) and helping the Gophers reach the Frozen Four in 2021-22. He posted then-career highs the next season with the Pioneers by registering 10 goals and 18 assists in 2022-23.
He tallied his first career overtime goal and first game-winner at Denver on Dec. 9, 2022 at Minnesota Duluth and had a goal and three assists on Dec. 17, 2022 vs. Lindenwood. Broz recorded a career-high four goals — including his final three coming consecutively in the third period — on Jan. 14, 2023 vs. Miami for the first four-goal game by a Denver player since Kevin Doell on Feb. 21, 2003 vs. Michigan Tech.
Broz was selected by the Pittsburgh Penguins in the second round (58th overall) of the 2021 NHL Draft.
Behrens leaves Denver back end, forgoing senior season with Pioneers, signs NHL contract with Avalanche
Denver junior defenseman Sean Behrens has signed a three-year, entry-level contract with the NHL’s Colorado Avalanche beginning in 2024-25.
He will spend the remainder of the 2023-24 campaign with the AHL’s Colorado Eagles on an amateur tryout.
Behrens recorded career highs this past season with four goals and 27 assists for 31 points while appearing in all 44 games. He tallied the first two game-winning goals of his career during the campaign and finished third among DU defensemen in both assists and points.
A two-time national champion, Behrens helped the Pioneers win the NCAA title in 2022 as a freshman and the program’s record-breaking 10th trophy last week as a junior.
The 2023-24 NCHC defensive defenseman of the year and an all-NCHC honorable mention for a second consecutive season, Behrens paced the Pioneers with 70 blocked shots — the most by a Denver player since Will Butcher had 82 and Adam Plant had 80 in 2016-17. He also finished second on the squad with 53 penalty minutes and was second with a plus-25 plus-minus rating.
The Barrington, Ill., native went on career-long seven-game assist streak (10 assists) early in the season from Oct. 8-Nov. 4, which fell one shy of matching his personal-best point run. He tied a career high with three assists/points to start the stretch on Oct. 8 at Alaska. Behrens had seven multi-point outings during the campaign.
Behrens appeared in his 100th career game on Feb. 24 against Miami and contributed a pair of assists in the contest. He scored his first career game-winner on March 2 at St. Cloud State and also tallied the game-decided marker while also adding a helper and a plus-3 rating in Game 2 of the NCHC quarterfinals on March 16 vs. Minnesota Duluth.
The rearguard was named to the 2024 NCAA Frozen Four all-tournament team after registering an assist in each contest, including in the overtime-winning goal against Boston University in the national semifinals on April 11. In the national championship game, he added another assist and had a career-best five blocked shots against Boston College — the second-highest scoring team in the nation this season. Throughout the year, he blocked four shots in a game six times.
Behrens finishes his collegiate career with 81 points in 112 games. He buried 10 goals while his 71 assists rank tied for 11th all-time by a DU defenseman in school history.
One of four Pioneers named to the NCHC all-rookie team in 2021-22, Behrens opened his collegiate career with a five-game assist/point streak (seven assists) from Oct. 8-22, 2021. We went on a career-long eight-game point streak from Jan. 15-Feb. 5, 2022 (two goals, 10 assists), which at the time was the longest by a freshman defenseman in NCHC history and tied for the longest by any blueliner in conference history with Minnesota Duluth’s Andy Welinski in 2013-14 (surpassed by DU’s Zeev Buium in 2023-24).
He finished his freshman campaign with 29 points (three goals, 26 assists) in 37 games and added 21 points (three goals, 18 assists) in 31 contests as a sophomore. He was named to the United States roster for both the 2022 and 2023 IIHF World Junior Championship and helped the Americans win a bronze medal as a sophomore in 2023 in Nova Scotia and New Brunswick, Canada.
Behrens was selected by the Colorado Avalanche prior to his freshman season at DU in the second round (61st overall) of the 2021 NHL Draft.
Western Connecticut State announces plans to add men’s, women’s NCAA D-III hockey programs
Western Connecticut State has added seven new NCAA team sports, including men’s and women’s hockey at the NCAA Division III level.
“In keeping with its tradition of relentless pursuit of excellence and growth, Western Connecticut State University is set to unveil plans to expand its NCAA sports lineup, introducing seven new teams over the next two years,” Western Connecticut director of athletics Lori Mazza said in a statement. “The addition of new intercollegiate sports will increase the total number of intercollegiate teams at WestConn to 23. The additions include women’s golf, men’s and women’s ice hockey, and both indoor and outdoor track & field for men and women. The recruitment of athletes for these teams will commence immediately.”
The men’s hockey team, currently playing successfully at the ACHA level, will step up to join the NCAA and compete in the inaugural season within the LEC, starting to compete in the 2025-26 season. The women’s team will start at the ACHA level in fall 2024, with plans to achieve NCAA status by 2026-27.
Both teams will use the Danbury Ice Arena near the Midtown campus for practice and home games.
“As we usher in a new chapter for WestConn athletics, we’re excited about the enhanced opportunities awaiting our community,” Mazza said. “Given the growing interest from prospective and current students in these sports, we are eager to not only fulfill this demand, but also to help further boost enrollment at our university. It’s the perfect moment to expand into sports such as ice hockey, track and field, and women’s golf. We’re committed to sustaining a dynamic and competitive sports program, bolstered by ongoing strategic support from our administration, ensuring that athletics continue to be a pillar of the student experience here. We appreciate our community partners, and look forward to the future of WestConn athletics, our university, and our community.”
NCAA D-III hockey men’s national tournament going from 12 teams to 14 teams, while women’s tournament moving from 11 teams to 12 teams
The NCAA Division III Management Council took action this week to support expanding the football championship bracket from 32 to 40 teams and to change the championship access ratio for all team sports to 1:6.
This means men’s hockey will go from a 12-team tournament to a 14-team tournament and women’s hockey from 11 teams to 12 teams.
In addition, there will also be a single at-large pool for bids, combining the previously used Pools B and C.
Additionally, the council approved the use of the NCAA Power Index for selection of at-large berths to team sports championships. The changes will go into effect starting with 2024 fall championships.
Saint Michael’s standout Ciancio tabbed winner of Northeast-10 Conference Sport Excellence Award for men’s hockey
Saint Michael’s junior David Ciancio has been named the Northeast-10 Conference Sport Excellence Award winner for his sport.
Ciancio becomes the sixth member of his program over the past 15 years voted the top men’s hockey scholar-athlete in the NE10. He is the second Purple Knight in as many years so honored, after current senior Marshall Murphy landed the accolade for 2022-23.
Ciancio adds to a postseason awards list that includes New England Hockey Writers Association (NEHWA) Division II/III All-Star, NE10 co-defensive player of the year, NE10 all-conference first team, and NE10 academic all-conference. The captain totaled eight goals and 11 assists in 29 games, tying for third in the NE10 in power-play goals (6), and blocked 68 shots as a veteran defenseman. The 2022-23 NE10 Elite 24 Award winner, Ciancio has a 3.85 cumulative grade-point average as a business administration and accounting double major. Ciancio is a five-time NE10 academic honor roll qualifier and earned a 2022-23 Division 2 Athletics Directors Association (D2 ADA) academic achievement award.
NE10 Sport Excellence Award winners are chosen by a vote of committee of athletic administrators and faculty athletic representatives. To be eligible for selection, a student-athlete must have met and/or exceeded the following minimum requirements: 1) participated in at least half of the team’s competitions and be either a starter or significant contributor; 2) achieved a 3.30 cumulative GPA; and 3) completed at least one academic year at their current institution.
After three seasons on Denver blue line, Buium leaves Pioneers, inks NHL deal with Red Wings
Denver junior defenseman Shai Buium has signed a three-year, entry-level contract with the NHL’s Detroit Red Wings beginning in 2024-25.
He will report to the AHL’s Grand Rapids Griffins for the remainder of the 2023-24 campaign on an amateur tryout.
Buium recorded career highs this season with seven goals, 29 assists and 36 points while appearing in 43 games. He finished fifth on the team in scoring and fourth in assists, both of which were the second-most by a Denver defenseman. He ended the campaign with a plus-33 plus-minus rating, tied with his brother, Zeev Buium, for the highest on the Pioneers.
He also posted personal highs in shooting percentage (.111), power-play goals (3) and game-winning goals (2). He recorded 14 penalty minutes and was second on DU with 46 blocked shots, tying a career high with three blocks in a game seven times during the campaign.
Buium helped Denver win its NCAA-record 10th national championship this past season and his second as a Pioneer after also winning in 2022. He played in nine career NCAA tournament contests at DU and recorded assists in both the 2022 and 2024 national championship games.
The San Diego, Calif., native earned his first all-conference honors this past season by being recognized on the all-NCHC second team. He was also a finalist for both the NCHC offensive defenseman and defensive defenseman of the year awards.
Buium recorded two career-long six-game point streaks during the season, as he registered two goals and six assists from Nov. 30-Dec. 1 and three goals and five assists from Jan. 20-Feb. 16. He had a season-high and matched a career best with three points on (goal, two assists) on Dec. 1 vs. North Dakota, one of eight multi-point outings for him during the season and helped him earn his first NCHC honor as defenseman of the week on Dec. 4.
The blueliner scored in consecutive games for the first time in his career on Feb. 2-3 vs. Western Michigan and finished the campaign by recording 21 points (3 goals, 18 assists) in the final 24 games in a stretch that began on Jan. 12 vs. St. Cloud State.
Buium appeared in his 100th career contest on Jan. 20 at Omaha, and he recorded his 50th career point on Dec. 1 vs. North Dakota and 50th assist on Feb. 2 vs. Western Michigan.
The junior finishes his collegiate career with 75 points in 120 games across three seasons, recording 14 goals and 61 assists. Buium recorded a then-personal-best 21 points (4 goals, 17 assists) while playing in 38 games as a sophomore in 2022-23, and he was one of four DU players to be named to the 2021-22 NCHC all-rookie team after totaling 18 points (3 goals, 15 assists) in 39 games during his first championship season.
Buium was selected by Detroit the summer before his DU freshman campaign in the second round (36th overall) of the 2021 NHL Draft.
Denver’s Rizzo leaves Pioneers after junior campaign, signs NHL contract with Philadelphia
Denver junior forward Massimo Rizzo has signed a two-year, entry-level contract with the NHL’s Philadelphia Flyers.
Rizzo finished third on the Pioneers in scoring in 2023-24 with 44 points and was second with a career-high 34 assists. He also tallied 10 goals in 30 games. Nationally, he was among the nation’s leaders in scoring for most of the season before missing eight weeks and 14 games late in the campaign with a lower-body injury. He still finished tied for eighth in the country in assists and tied for 22nd in points, while his 1.57 points game was fifth-best on the year.
The Burnaby, B.C., native recorded at least a point in 22 of 30 games this season and returned from his injury last week in the Frozen Four, helping Denver defeat Boston University and Boston College to capture its NCAA-record 10th national championship and his second title after also winning with DU in 2022.
Rizzo opened the season by totaling seven combined assists in the season-opening weekend on Oct. 7-8 at Alaska, recording three helpers in the first game before setting a career high with four the next day. That start was part of a season-best eight-game point streak (5 goals, 12 assists) from Oct. 7-Nov. 4, which marked the longest season-opening point stretch by a Pioneer since Jarid Lukosevicius had points in each of his first nine contests in 2018-19 (8 goals, 5 assists). Rizzo matched a personal long with a four-game goal streak from Oct. 20-28 and was named the NCHC player of the month and the national co-player of the month for October – the first such awards of his career.
The center produced a career-high seven-game assist streak from Nov. 24-Jan. 5, recording two goals and 10 assists in that time. During that stretch, he had four points (goal, three assists) on Nov. 25 vs. Yale and scored his first career overtime goal on Dec. 9 at Western Michigan.
A Denver alternate captain, Rizzo had an eight-point weekend on Jan. 19-20 at Omaha, recording four points each night to match his career high for a single game (now five times). He had a goal and three assists while appearing in his 100th career game on Jan. 19 before tying a personal high with four assists on Jan. 20. Rizzo is the first Pioneer to record back-to-back four-point games and finish a weekend set with eight total points in DU contests going back to the start of the 2015-16 season.
Internationally, Rizzo represented Team Canada this past season at the 2023 Spengler Cup in Switzerland, becoming the first NCAA player to suit up for his home country at the event since DU’s own Ian Mitchell also did so in 2019. He recorded two assists in four games from Dec. 26-30.
Rizzo became the 102nd member of DU’s 100-point club on Nov. 11 at Arizona State, accomplishing the feat in just 87 games to be the second-quickest Pioneer to reach the century mark in the last decade (Dylan Gambrell, 86 games, 2018).
Rizzo finished his collegiate career with 126 points (39 goals, 87 assists) in 107 games and tied for 44th in program history in all-time scoring. His career 1.178 points-per-game average is the most among DU 100-point getters in the modern era (since 1990) and tied for 35th all-time among club members.
He repeated as an All-American this past season, earning West second team honors for the second straight season. Henrik Borgstrom was the last Denver player to earn back-to-back All-America accolades in 2016-17 and 2017-18. A member of the NCHC all-rookie team as a freshman in 2021-22, Rizzo was twice named to the all-NCHC team by earning first team honors in 2022-23 and second team accolades this past season in 2023-24.
As a sophomore in 2022-23, he led all NCHC players in overall scoring with 46 points (17 goals, 29 assists) and in league play with 31 points (11 goals, 20 assists). He produced a career-long 11-game point streak from Nov. 26, 2022-Jan. 14, 2023 (6 goals, 8 assists) and went on a five-game, multi-point streak from Oct. 21-Nov. 4, 2022 (4 goals, 9 assists), the longest such stretch by a Pioneer since Troy Terry also had a five-game multi-point run from Oct. 21-Nov. 4, 2018 (Jack Devine had a five-game multi-point streak as well in 2023-24).
Among the top rookies in the country in scoring in 2021-22, Rizzo recorded 12 goals and 24 assists in 39 games as a freshman. He scored a key insurance goal in the 2022 NCAA national championship game as Denver defeated Minnesota State 5-1 for the program’s then-record-tying ninth title.
Rizzo was selected by the Carolina Hurricanes prior to joining DU in the seventh round at 216th overall in the 2019 NHL Draft. He had his NHL rights and Carolina’s fifth-round pick in the 2025 draft traded to the Philadelphia Flyers on Aug. 9, 2023 in exchange for David Kase.
Duke gives up senior season with Michigan, signs NHL deal with Tampa Bay
The Tampa Bay Lightning announced Monday that the team has signed Michigan junior forward Dylan Duke to a three-year, entry-level contract.
The contract will begin with the 2024-25 season and extend through the 2026-27 season. Duke will report to the Syracuse Crunch this week on an AHL amateur tryout for the remainder of the 2023-24 season.
Duke just completed his junior season with the Wolverines where he was an alternate captain and named to the all-Big Ten second team following a year in which he produced 26 goals and 49 points in 41 contests. Duke scored two goals, including the game winner, and added an assist in the Wolverines 5-2 triumph over Michigan State to earn a spot in the Frozen Four before they bowed out of the NCAA tournament with a loss to Boston College in the national semifinal.
A native of Strongsville, Ohio, Duke played in 123 games during his three years at Michigan and tallied 54 goals and 100 points.
He helped lead the United States to a bronze medal at the 2023 World Junior Championship after producing a goal and four assists in seven games.
Duke was a fourth-round selection (126th overall) of the Lightning at the 2021 NHL Draft.
Michigan top scorer Brindley leaves Wolverines after sophomore campaign, inks NHL contract with Blue Jackets
The NHL’s Columbus Blue Jackets have signed Michigan sophomore forward Gavin Brindley to a three-year, entry-level contract beginning with the 2023-24 season.
Brindley was selected by Columbus in the second round (34th overall) at the 2023 NHL Draft. He is expected to make his NHL debut on Tuesday night when the Blue Jackets host the Carolina Hurricanes at Nationwide Arena.
Brindley recorded 37 goals and 54 assists for 91 points with 50 penalty minutes and a cumulative plus-38 plus/minus rating in 81 career games over two seasons at Michigan from 2022 to 2024. He notched double-digit goals, 25-plus assists and 35 or more points in both of his collegiate campaigns.
The Estero, Fla., native racked up 25-28-53 with 28 penalty minutes and was plus-17 in 40 appearances with the Wolverines this season and was named a first team All-American, Big Ten first all-star team member and the league’s player of the year after finishing among NCAA leaders in goals (tied-sixth), points (eighth) and points-per-game (1.33, 11th).
He also led Michigan in scoring and ranked second in goals and fourth in assists, leading the Wolverines to the 2024 Frozen Four. He also ranked tied for ninth among all NCAA freshmen in assists and 10th in points in 2022-23 with 12-26-38 in 41 outings.
He also has represented the United States at numerous international competitions. He led Team USA to a gold medal at the 2024 IIHF World Junior Championship and was named a top 3 player for his team after finishing tied for third in the tournament in goals and tied for fourth in points with 6-4-10 in seven games. He also helped Team USA capture a bronze medal at the 2023 IIHF World Junior Championship.
Holy Cross, UMass Lowell, Michigan Tech, Omaha to play in inaugural Coachella Valley Cactus Cup in Palm Springs, Calif., Jan. 3-4, 2025
Acrisure Arena, home to the AHL’s Coachella Valley Firebirds, an affiliate of the NHL’s Seattle Kraken, will host the Coachella Valley Cactus Cup 2025 men’s college hockey series.
Holy Cross, UMass Lowell, Michigan Tech and Omaha will play in Palm Springs, Calif., next Jan. 3-4.
The event starts Jan. 3 with Holy Cross taking on Omaha at 3:30 p.m. and Michigan Tech playing UMass Lowell at 7 p.m. PT. The action continues Jan. 4, with two more games starting at the same times. The losers of both Friday matches will compete at 3:30 p.m. on Saturday, and the winners will face off at 7 p.m. on Saturday.
John Page, senior vice president of Acrisure Arena and Coachella Valley Firebirds commented in a news release, “We are thrilled to host the inaugural Coachella Valley Cactus Cup 2025 at Acrisure Arena. This tournament will feature some of the nation’s most exciting NCAA Division I men’s hockey teams, providing fans with an unparalleled experience of high-stakes hockey action. The matchups are set to be intense, showcasing the competitive spirit of college hockey at its finest. We can’t wait to see these teams compete and showcase their talent on our ice.”
“We are truly excited to offer our fans an opportunity to attend the Cactus Cup tournament in Palm Springs, California,” added UMass Lowell coach Norm Bazin. “We have teams from four different conferences so it should be hockey for all involved. I know these nonconference games will give River Hawk Nation more to be excited about with the upcoming 2024-25 season.”
Mike Gabinet, coach of the Mavericks, continued, “We are very excited to be playing in Palm Springs for this tournament. Having seen the success and enthusiasm of the Coachella Valley Firebirds of the AHL, I know this will be one of the best destinations to watch NCAA hockey. Looking forward to sharing this experience with our athletes and fans.”
“We are excited to be headed to the Cactus Cup next winter in Palm Springs,” said Holy Cross coach, Bill Riga. “It will be a great opportunity to compete against three great college hockey programs in an unconventional setting that will allow us help to spread the Holy Cross hockey brand and the overall college hockey product all the way to the West Coast. Should be a great weekend and we are looking forward to it.”
Joe Shawhan, Michigan Tech coach, stated, “Michigan Tech is excited to travel west for the Cactus Cup. It’s a great opportunity for our team to play high-quality nonconference opponents, and we have a large alumni base in the area who are looking forward to watching the Huskies in their backyard.”
Presales will be open to the respective teams, students, and alumni from Tuesday, April 16, from 1o a.m. to Thursday, April 18, at 10 p.m. All other fans can participate in the presale from Thursday, April 18, from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m.
Tickets go on sale to the general public starting Friday, April 19, at 10 a.m. PT at ticketmaster.com,
Denver to host Minnesota at Ball Arena for U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame Game over Thanksgiving weekend 2025
Denver announced Monday that the school has been awarded the 2025 U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame Game, as the Pioneers hockey team will host Minnesota at Ball Arena in downtown Denver over Thanksgiving weekend 2025.
“The University of Denver is honored to host the 2025 U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame Game and excited to rekindle a rivalry between two of the most storied programs in all of college hockey on the heels of Denver’s 10th national championship,” said Josh Berlo, Denver vice chancellor for athletics and Ritchie Center operations, in a statement. “The eyes of the college hockey world will be on Denver and Ball Arena over that holiday weekend.”
Tickets for the game start at $25. Click here to sign up to get information updates on pre-sale and other ticket packages, including premium seating and suites.
The exact date and time of the 2025 U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame Game will be announced following the NHL schedule release.
The Denver hockey program will serve as the host of the U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame Game for the third time in its history and will be playing in the contest for the fourth time. DU previously hosted the games at Magness Arena on Oct. 11, 2008 against Notre Dame (5-2 win) and Dec. 29, 2012 versus Boston University (6-0 win).
“Those of us with the United States Hockey Hall of Fame Museum are very excited to have two of College Hockey’s premier programs face off in our Hall of Fame Game at Ball Arena in 2025,” said Doug Palazzari of the U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame. “We wish to thank both schools for agreeing to take part in this prestigious event.”
DU and UM have played against one another in the U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame Game once before, as the Pioneers traveled to St. Paul to face the Golden Gophers at Xcel Energy Center in their inaugural participation of the event on Oct. 9, 2004 (DU lost 5-2).
Denver (NCHC) and Minnesota (Big Ten) are two of the winningest college hockey programs in history. The teams have combined for 15 national championships, 42 Frozen Four appearances and featured a total of 25 NHL Draft picks on their respective rosters during the 2023-24 season.
“Our team is excited to participate in the 2025 U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame Game against another great college hockey program in Minnesota and at a great venue for our sport at Ball Arena,” said DU coach David Carle. “Getting a chance to play at our home NHL rink in January 2023 against Colorado College was a highlight for our program and players that season. I know our team and all Pioneers are excited to do it again against another quality opponent in the Golden Gophers.”
Denver and Minnesota will be meeting for the first time since the teams played against one another as members of the WCHA. The squads last faced off on March 1-2, 2013 when the teams split a series in Minneapolis, with DU winning 2-0 in the series opener before UM won 5-1 in the most recent meeting.
The Gophers will be making their first trip to the Mile High City since Feb. 10-11, 2012 when the Pioneers swept the WCHA series at home with wins of 5-3 and 5-4 in overtime.
DU is 13-3-1 in the last 17 meetings against Minnesota since the start of the 2007-08 campaign and has a 41-39-5 all-time mark against them in the city of Denver. The Pioneers have an overall record of 73-94-12 all-time against the Gophers in a series that dates back to Jan. 1, 1951 and are 4-2-1 against their former WCHA foe in seven neutral-site contests.
Denver will be playing its second-ever game at Ball Arena, home the NHL’s Colorado Avalanche since the building first opened in 1999. The Pioneers defeated in-state rival Colorado College 2-0 in their first regular-season game at the arena on Jan. 27, 2023 in front of a crowd of 17,952—the highest attended indoor hockey game in the state of Colorado in DU history.
“We are excited to be partnering with the University of Denver to host the 2025 United States Hockey Hall of Fame game at Ball Arena,” said Avalanche GM Chris MacFarland. “The state of Colorado has a rich tradition of college hockey and what better way to showcase that than with one the most successful programs in NCAA history, the University of Denver, taking on another powerhouse, the University of Minnesota. The U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame weekend is always a special event and the Avalanche and Ball Arena are proud to be a part of the festivities.”
“On behalf of the Denver Sports Commission, we’re excited to partner for this exciting event between two of the top programs in college hockey history,” said Matthew Payne, executive director of the Denver Sports Commission. “Denver is a hotbed for hockey and has been named ‘Hockey Capital USA.’ We are looking forward to hosting not only the dedicated Pioneer faithful but the thousands of Minnesota supporters and visiting hockey fans from across the country to the Mile High City.”
National champion Denver finishes 2023-24 season as No. 1 team in USCHO.com Division I Men’s Hockey Poll
With all 50 first-place votes, national champion Denver is the top team in the final USCHO.com Division I Men’s Poll of the 2023-24 season.
The Pioneers are up two spots from the March 25 poll.
Boston College is down one to No. 2, Boston University drops one to No. 3, Michigan vaults up six to No. 4, and Michigan State falls one to No. 5 this week.
USCHO.com Division I Men’s Hockey Poll – April 15, 2024
Quinnipiac moves up two to No. 6, Minnesota stays seventh, North Dakota falls three to No. 8, Cornell moves up three to No. 9, and Maine drops four spots to No. 10.
Wisconsin falls out of the top 10, going from nine to 11, while no new teams enter the final rankings.
In addition to the top 20 teams, four others received votes.
The USCHO.com Division I Men’s Hockey Poll is compiled weekly and consists of 50 voters, including coaches and media professionals from across the country. Media outlets may republish this poll as long as USCHO.com is credited.
Rankings roundup: How the top 20 NCAA hockey teams fared since March 25
Here is a rundown of how the top 20 teams in the USCHO.com Division I Men’s Hockey Poll of March 25 fared in games since that poll.
No. 1 Boston College (34-6-1)
03/29/2024 – No. 20 Michigan Tech 1 vs No. 1 Boston College 6 (NCAA Regional Semifinal)
03/31/2024 – No. 8 Quinnipiac 4 vs No. 1 Boston College 5 (OT, NCAA East Regional Championship)
04/11/2024 – No. 10 Michigan 0 vs No. 1 Boston College 4 (NCAA National Semifinal)
04/13/2024 – No. 3 Denver 2 vs No. 1 Boston College 0 (NCAA National Championship)
No. 2 Boston University (28-10-2)
03/28/2024 – No. 17 RIT 3 vs No. 2 Boston University 6 (NCAA Regional Semifinal)
03/30/2024 – No. 7 Minnesota 3 vs No. 2 Boston University 6 (NCAA West Regional Championship)
04/11/2024 – No. 3 Denver 2 vs No. 2 Boston University 1 (OT, NCAA National Semifinal)
No. 3 Denver (32-9-3)
03/28/2024 – No. 13 Massachusetts 1 vs No. 3 Denver 2 (2OT, NCAA Regional Semifinal)
03/30/2024 – No. 12 Cornell 1 vs No. 3 Denver 2 (NCAA Northeast Regional Championship)
04/11/2024 – No. 3 Denver 2 vs No. 2 Boston University 1 (OT, NCAA National Semifinal)
04/13/2024 – No. 3 Denver 2 vs No. 1 Boston College 0 (NCAA National Championship)
No. 4 Michigan State (25-10-3)
03/29/2024 – No. 14 Western Michigan 4 vs No. 4 Michigan State 5 (OT, NCAA Regional Semifinal)
03/31/2024 – No. 10 Michigan 5 vs No. 4 Michigan State 2 (NCAA Midwest Regional Championship)
No. 5 North Dakota (26-12-2)
03/29/2024 – No. 10 Michigan 4 vs No. 5 North Dakota 3 (NCAA Regional Semifinal)
No. 6 Maine (23-12-2)
03/28/2024 – No. 12 Cornell 3 vs No. 6 Maine 1 (NCAA Regional Semifinal)
No. 7 Minnesota (23-11-5)
03/28/2024 – No. 11 Omaha 2 vs No. 7 Minnesota 3 (NCAA Regional Semifinal)
03/30/2024 – No. 7 Minnesota 3 vs No. 2 Boston University 6 (NCAA West Regional Championship)
No. 8 Quinnipiac (27-10-2)
03/29/2024 – No. 8 Quinnipiac 3 vs No. 9 Wisconsin 2 (OT, NCAA Regional Semifinal)
03/31/2024 – No. 8 Quinnipiac 4 vs No. 1 Boston College 5 (OT, NCAA East Regional Championship)
No. 9 Wisconsin (26-12-2)
03/29/2024 – No. 8 Quinnipiac 3 vs No. 9 Wisconsin 2 (OT, NCAA Regional Semifinal)
No. 10 Michigan (23-15-3)
03/29/2024 – No. 10 Michigan 4 vs No. 5 North Dakota 3 (NCAA Regional Semifinal)
03/31/2024 – No. 10 Michigan 5 vs No. 4 Michigan State 2 (NCAA Midwest Regional Championship)
04/11/2024 – No. 10 Michigan 0 vs No. 1 Boston College 4 (NCAA National Semifinal)
No. 11 Omaha (23-13-4)
03/28/2024 – No. 11 Omaha 2 vs No. 7 Minnesota 3 (NCAA Regional Semifinal)
No. 12 Cornell (22-7-6)
03/28/2024 – No. 12 Cornell 3 vs No. 6 Maine 1 (NCAA Regional Semifinal)
03/30/2024 – No. 12 Cornell 1 vs No. 3 Denver 2 (NCAA Northeast Regional Championship)
No. 13 Massachusetts (20-14-3)
03/28/2024 – No. 13 Massachusetts 1 vs No. 3 Denver 2 (2OT, NCAA Regional Semifinal)
No. 14 Western Michigan (21-16-1)
03/29/2024 – No. 14 Western Michigan 4 vs No. 4 Michigan State 5 (OT, NCAA Regional Semifinal)
No. 15 Colorado College (21-13-3)
Did not play.
No. 16 Providence (18-13-4)
Did not play.
No. 17 RIT (27-11-2)
03/28/2024 – No. 17 RIT 3 vs No. 2 Boston University 6 (NCAA Regional Semifinal)
No. 18 St. Cloud State (17-16-5)
Did not play.
No. 19 New Hampshire (20-15-1)
Did not play.
No. 20 Michigan Tech (19-15-6)
03/29/2024 – No. 20 Michigan Tech 1 vs No. 1 Boston College 6 (NCAA Regional Semifinal)
RV = Received votes
