DENVER – The University of Denver hockey program had 11 former players named to NHL Opening Day rosters this week for the 2024-25 season.
Denver's 11 players were the third-most in the National Collegiate Hockey Conference, with only North Dakota (13) and Minnesota Duluth (12) having more. All nine member schools in the conference had multiple alums make the list.
Overall, DU's 11 players ranked tied for ninth in the NCAA, with 242 total former college players being listed for opening day.
The Pioneer alums that will begin this year on NHL squads are
Bobby Brink (Philadelphia Flyers),
Dylan Gambrell (Columbus Blue Jackets),
Danton Heinen (Vancouver Canucks),
Scott Mayfield (New York Islanders),
Ian Mitchell (Boston Bruins),
Trevor Moore (Los Angeles Kings),
Logan O'Connor (Colorado Avalanche),
Troy Terry (Anaheim Ducks) and
Jason Zucker (Buffalo Sabres). In addition,
Shai Buium (Detroit Red Wings) and
Cameron Wright (Edmonton Oilers) are currently on their respective teams' injured reserve/non-roster list.
Overall, NCHC teams had 60 alumni make 2024-25 NHL rosters, with 48 having played in the conference's 11-year history. A total of 25 NHL teams had at least one NCHC alumnus on their opening-night roster.
In 2023-24, 60 NCHC alumni played at least one game in the NHL, with the Pioneers boating 11 players:
Brink (Philadelphia),
Heinen (Boston),
Mayfield (NY Islanders),
Mitchell (Boston),
Moore (Los Angeles),
O'Connor (Colorado),
Terry (Anaheim),
Zucker (Arizona/Nashville),
Magnus Chrona (San Jose),
Devin Cooley (San Jose),
Cole Guttman (Chicago) and
Dakota Mermis (Minnesota).
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