DENVER – Senior forward
Kohen Olischefski has been named captain of the Denver Pioneers hockey team presented by Centura Health for the 2020-21 season, while senior forward
Ryan Barrow and senior defenseman
Griffin Mendel will serve as alternates.
"I am extremely honored and humbled to be named captain of the Pioneers," Olischefski said. "This is something that I take a huge amount of pride in and I'm excited to carry on the program's legacy and tradition. We can't wait to get back and start working toward a national championship."
Olischefski has 18 goals and 21 assists for 39 points in 111 career games. The Abbotsford, B.C. native was one of eight Pioneers to appear in all 36 games last season, tallying a career-best season with nine goals and 11 assists for 20 points. He is a three-time member of the NCHC Academic All-Conference team.
"Kohen is uniquely qualified to be the captain of our team next season," Richard and Kitzia Goodman Head Coach
David Carle said. "He has gained the trust and respect of his teammates and coaches because of the person and player he has become. We are proud of his path and excited for him to be the leader of this team."
Barrow enters his senior season with 14 goals and 21 assists for 35 points in 103 career games. A Banff, Alberta native, Barrow had his highest points-per-game total last season with an average of .44 on five goals and seven assists in 27 games. He is a two-time ACHA All-American Scholar and three-time NCHC Distinguished Scholar-Athlete.
Mendel, the lone defensemen in the group, has five goals, 13 assists and a +41 rating in 110 games. The Kelowna, B.C. native had a career-best season in 2019-20 with three goals and six assists in 36 games. He is a three-time NCHC Distinguished Scholar-Athlete. Last season, he was named the co-recipient of the Keith Magnuson Best Defensive Player award as well as winner of the Dr. Ken Bredesen Sportsmanship award.
"What excites us about this leadership group is their ability to lead by example and hold others accountable to the standards of Denver Hockey," Carle said. "They will lead a veteran team in our pursuit of the program's ninth National Championship."
This will mark the first time Olischefski, Barrow and Mendel have worn letters for the Pioneers.
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