DENVER – The University of Denver hockey program announced today that senior forward Cole Guttman has been named team captain for the upcoming 2021-22 campaign.  In addition, senior Ryan Barrow and juniors Bobby Brink and Justin Lee will serve on the Pioneers' leadership group as alternate captains.
 
"I am proud to announce Cole Guttman as the captain of your 2021-22 Denver Pioneer Hockey Team," Richard and Kitzia Goodman Head Coach David Carle said. "Cole's drive to improve, his ability to bring others together and his care for Pioneer Hockey has earned him the respect and trust of both his teammates and coaches, making him a great choice to be this year's captain."
 
Guttman, 22, led Denver with 22 points and 14 assists and ranked second on the team with eight goals during the shortened 2020-21 season.  He was named the 2021 recipient of DU's Dallas Gaume Award as the team's offensive player of the year and Bill Masterton Award as team MVP.  An NCHC Academic All-Conference Team member in each of his previous three years, Guttman tallied five power-play goals and two game-winning markers last season, ranking second on the squad in each category.  The Los Angeles, California, native has recorded 36 goals and 40 assists in 99 career NCAA games.
 
"It's an honor to be named captain and to be thought of by my teammates and coaches that way," said Guttman. "To be the captain of such a great program with a rich history and all of the prestigious players that have played here before me, it's really a true honor and privilege. I'm excited to hit the ice this season and get started with our team."
Barrow, 24, is entering his fifth season at DU and also served as an alternate captain for the Pioneers in 2020-21.  The forward appeared in all 24 games for Denver last season, recording four goals and five assists and a plus-3 rating.  Barrow has been named to the NCHC Academic All-Conference Team and an NCHC Distinguished Scholar-Athlete in each of his previous four seasons.  The Banff, Alberta, native has recorded 44 points (18g/26a) and a plus-10 rating in 127 career NCAA contests.
               
Brink, 20, tied for fourth on the team in scoring with 11 points (2g/9a) in 15 games last season.  The forward was named to the NCHC Academic All-Conference Team and an NCHC Distinguished Scholar-Athlete in each of this first two seasons with the Pioneers.  The recipient of the Barry Sharp Award as Denver's freshman of the year in 2019-20, Brink was also a unanimous choice for that season's NCHC All-Rookie Team and was a finalist for the conference's rookie of the year honor.  The Minnetonka, Minnesota, native has registered 35 points (13g/22a) in 53 career collegiate outings.
 
Lee, 21, played in all 24 contests during the 2021-22 season and led all Denver defensemen with four goals while also contributing two assists.  He scored a career-high two goals last year in DU's win versus Omaha on Feb. 6 and finished with 29 blocked shots on the season, second-most on the team.  The Waskada, Manitoba, native has suited up in 55-of-60 career games for the Pioneers, registering six goals and six assists in that time.
 
"We are looking forward to all four of these student-athletes taking on a leadership role with our team," Carle said. "As a group, they raise the level of our program in everything they do through their competitiveness, their ability to connect with their teammates and their team-first attitude. Leadership is a great responsibility that we believe this group is ready to take on with the full respect and trust of their teammates and coaches."
 
The Pioneers begin the 2021-22 regular season with a back-to-back set at Magness Arena against Arizona State University on Oct. 8-9.
 
TICKETS: Season tickets and four-game packs for the 2021-22 campaign are on sale now and can be purchased here. Single-game tickets go on sale on Wednesday at 10 a.m. MT.
 
CORONAVIRUS UPDATES: Masks are required at all indoor athletic events. For the latest University of Denver updates on the coronavirus, click here.

DONATE: Fans interested in making a donation to the Pioneers Athletic Fund can do so by clicking here. Your gift will transform the lives of our student-athletes by giving them the first-class resources needed to excel in the classroom, in the classroom and beyond. Thank you for Building Pioneers for Life!
 
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