After delivering one of the most productive offensive seasons in college hockey, Minnesota Duluth’s Max Plante has been named USCHO Player of the Year. A cornerstone for the Bulldogs offense, Plante finished the season with 52 points on 25 goals and 27 assists in 40 games, ranking third nationally in points and tied for second … Read more
The staff of USCHO.com has announced its three all-USCHO teams for the 2025-26 college hockey season. First Team All-USCHO F: Max Plante, So., Minnesota Duluth* F: T.J. Hughes, Sr., Michigan F: Ethan Wyttenbach, Fr., Quinnipiac D: Eric Pohlkamp, Jr., Denver* D: Cole Hutson, So., Boston University G: Johnny Hicks, Fr., Denver *—Indicates unanimous first-team selection … Read more
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 … Read more
Fresh off winning the NCAA championship with Denver, defenseman Boston Buckberger has signed with the Columbus Blue Jackets to a two-year, entry-level contract starting in the 2026-27 season. Buckberger, 22, played three seasons at Denver and registered 24-62-86 and a cumulative +94 plus/minus rating in 128 games from 2023-26. He helped the Pioneers win the … Read more
St. Cloud State has tapped Nick Oliver as the next men’s hockey head coach. Oliver returns to his alma mater to become the fourth head coach of the D-I era (since 1987-88) and 19th overall in program history. “I’m humbled and honored for the opportunity to be the next head coach of St. Cloud State … Read more
Two North Dakota players are going pro. Jake Livanavage has signed a two-year, entry-level deal with the Pittsburgh Penguins, and Abram Wiebe has signed a two-year, entry-level contract with the Calgary Flames. Livanavage’s contract will begin in the current 2025-26 campaign and runs through the 2026-27 season. Livanavage will report to Pittsburgh and is expected … Read more
LAS VEGAS — Denver needed a spark. Reiger Lorenz was there to provide it. Dominated in almost every statistical category, Lorenz’s goal finally got things going for the Pioneers in the third period, tying the game at a goal apiece. Kyle Chyzowski put Denver ahead for good late in the third, and the Pioneers held … Read more
LAS VEGAS — Let the power schools have their football money and TV contracts. The small schools still rule college hockey. Denver — enrollment 6,619 and without a football team since 1961 — has its 11th NCAA Division I hockey championship, most of any school, after a thrilling 2-1 comeback win over Wisconsin before a … Read more
LAS VEGAS — Five numbers to know from Saturday’s 2-1 national championship win by Denver over Wisconsin. .957 Johnny Hicks wrapped his freshman season leading the country with a .957 save percentage. That should give Hicks the record, unofficially edging Jimmy Howard’s .956 for Maine in 2004. Hicks also led nationally with a 1.19 goals-against … Read more
[gameday game_id=2656] JD (8:06): A sincere thanks to everyone who followed along. Please join USCHO all night long from Las Vegas with full coverage and analysis of Denver’s 2-1 win over Wisconsin in the Frozen Four championship game. Video, highlights, stories, analysis and more, all coming your way. Keep clickin’! And thanks JD (8:05): It’s all over … Read more
LAS VEGAS — Denver and Wisconsin will play for the NCAA title on Saturday. Not too long ago, neither team could win much of anything. Flashback to January 2026: Wisconsin closed out the month on a six-game losing streak, in which it was outscored 30-15. Denver had just one win in its first seven games … Read more
LAS VEGAS — The happiest person in the Park MGM ballroom on Saturday night as the Hobey Baker Award was announced, other than the recipient of course, might have been the recipient’s grandfather. Flash back to 33 years ago, when Minnesota Duluth’s Derek Plante was up for the same award, Bruce Plante, a longtime, highly … Read more
LAS VEGAS — It’s clear that there’s mutual respect between Wisconsin coach Mike Hastings and Denver bench boss David Carle. They went head to head in 2022’s national championship game when Hasting’s Minnesota State squad faced off against Carle’s Denver, with the Pioneers coming out on top, 5-1. “Obviously, (I have) a lot of respect … Read more
LAS VEGAS — Kent Anderson’s goal at 12:35 of the second overtime lifted Denver to a 4-3 win over Michigan in the second Frozen Four semifinal Thursday night at T-Mobile Arena. The Pioneers will face Wisconsin in Saturdays NCAA title game, looking for their 11th national title. The game was the 48th longest in men’s … Read more
LAS VEGAS — Johnny Hicks was under siege all night, and never broke. The Denver goalie had 49 saves, including 21 in overtime, as Denver survivesd Michigan 4-3 in a double-OT thriller on Thursday night at the Frozen Four at T-Mobile Arena. Outshot by a 2-1 ratio over 90 minutes, Denver needed every save Hicks … Read more
LAS VEGAS — Five numbers to know from Thursday’s 4-3 2OT win by Denver over Michigan in the late national semifinal. .667 Denver now has a 6-3 record in NCAA tournament overtime games. The Pioneers lost in the semifinal round in two overtimes to eventual champion Western Michigan, 3-2, last season and beat Boston University … Read more
[gameday game_id=2655] https://x.com/i/status/2042466306566324535 JD (12:49): Denver is your winner in double overtime. The Pioneers will play Wisconsin Saturday in search of their 11th NCAA championship. Kent Anderson with the game-winner at 12:35 JD (12:45): I have just been informed that the North Dakota team plane has touched down in Grand Forks. Kidding. I have no … Read more
LAS VEGAS — They say that defense wins championships, and while Wisconsin is still one win away from a title, its penalty kill made it possible to advance, with a 2-1 win over North Dakota. The Fighting Hawks had five power plays, including a lengthy stretch of five on three in the second period, put … Read more
[gameday game_id=2654] JD (7:45): It’s all over. Wisconsin will play for the NCAA championship vs. either Michigan or Denver. JD (7:40): North Dakota scores, with Spunar pulled, trail 2-1 with 52.7 seconds left. Hold on to your seats… JD (7:34): SPUNAL PULLED. EMPTY NET FOR NORTH DAKOTA JD (7:32): Can Wisconsin do it? Up 2-0 … Read more
While Denver is obviously a college hockey powerhouse, claiming 10 national titles and shooting for an 11th this weekend. But in the larger sports picture, the Pioneers and fellow NCHA member North Dakota are relatively small compared to their Big 10 counterparts in this year’s Frozen Four, Michigan and Wisconsin. The four teams have combined … Read more