Fresh off winning the NCAA championship, a pair of Denver juniors have signed NHL contracts — defenseman Eric Pohlkamp has signed an entry-level deal with the San Jose Sharks, and Garrett Brown inked a two-year deal with the Winnipeg Jets.
Pohlkamp, 22, recorded 39 points (18 goals, 21 assists) in 43 games this season for the University of Denver and was a finalist for the Hobey Baker Award. He led all college defensemen in points and goals, and led his team in points, shots (188), blocked shots (83), and finished tied for second in game-winning goals (3). His 18 goals by a defenseman tied for third all-time in program history, the most such goals by a blueliner since the 1975-76 season. Over the course of his career in the NCAA, he appeared in 119 games, scoring 98 points (40 goals, 58 assists).
The 5-foot-11, 205-pound native of Brainerd, MN was selected by San Jose in the 2023 NHL Draft (fifth round, 132nd overall).
Brown’s deal with the Jets will begin in the 2026-27 season and he has signed an amateur tryout contract with the AHL’s Manitoba Moose for the remainder of the 2025-26 season.
Brown, 22, played 33 games for Denver Pioneers this season, recording 12 points (2 goals, 10 assists) and 12 penalty minutes. He had a pair of assists in the NCAA championship game. A fourth-round pick (99th overall) in the 2022 NHL Draft, Brown posted 24 points (4 goals, 20 assists).
Neither the Sharks nor the Jets made the NHL playoffs.