Eric Pohlkamp is keen on shooting the puck. He knows it, his teammates know it, and the stats certainly back it up.
 
His 31 shots this season rank second overall on the Denver Pioneers hockey team and are also the second-most among all defensemen in the country.
 
Those shots fired have certainly led to positive results, as he recorded his first two-goal game of the season on Friday in DU's 6-0 win at Yale and his four tallies on the year are tied for the most by all blueliners in the country.
 
It is a skillset that Pohlkamp has worked hard on through the years. His shot developed from countless hours of target practice on his backyard rink, and the repetition didn't stop during the warmer months while growing up in his hometown of Baxter, Minnesota.
 
"Every day I would go out there and shoot probably 400-500 pucks every single day," Pohlkamp said. "I loved shooting pucks; I would go out there, put my headphones on and just shoot pucks. I think that's where it came from and forearm strength too.
 
"I think that has helped me a ton, and it has allowed me to be on the power play just because of my shot. I try to work on it, I work on it in the summer, I keep working on it."
 
All that work has made him a key weapon in his first season with the Pioneers. His one-timers come out hard, his whipping wrist shots are quick and accurate, and both were on display on Friday.
 
The sophomore buried his first goal on a slap shot from a faceoff win early in the second period that gave DU a 3-0 lead, and his second came in the final minute of play off a wrist shot from a cross-feed by Jack Devine during a DU two-man advantage to cap the game's scoring.
 
"The first goal I had, Sam Harris made an unbelievable screen and it was lucky enough to go in, and that 5-on-3 goal was a nice pass by Devo," Pohlkamp said postgame. "Coming here and playing with these guys, it makes my job 10 times easier, and I'm lucky enough to get those two here tonight."
 
It was just his second multi-goal game of his career as he also tallied twice on March 9 against Ferris State while playing for Bemidji State. He also added an assist on Friday for his second three-point game of his collegiate tenure (March 8, 2024 vs. Ferris State).
 
His helper on Boston Buckberger's marker at 18:33 of the second period was just as pretty, as he sent a high-velocity pass from the corner to his defensive partner high in the slot during 4-on-4 action.
 
"I saw Bucky calling for it," Pohlkamp said. "I just tried to hit the seam and lucky enough it went through, and obviously Bucky made a really nice shot."
 
Offense was certainly expected from Pohlkamp entering this season after he recorded 11 goals and 13 assists for the BSU Beavers as a freshman in 2023-24, earning All-CCHA First Team and All-Rookie Team honors. He also had three points and helped Team USA to a gold medal on the David Carle-coached squad at the 2024 IIHF World Junior Championship.
 
After adding an assist in Denver's 5-1 win on Saturday, Pohlkamp now has points in each of his last seven contests—a career-long stretch—and has recorded assists in three-straight outings, which ties a personal best from last season.
 
He has certainly adjusted to his new squad after transferring to Denver in the offseason and is a reason why the Pioneers lead the nation in scoring with 41 total goals and a 5.1 average through eight games.
 
"I'm still trying to get my shot through and not getting it blocked and getting it through traffic," Pohlkamp said. "The guys know I like to shoot the puck, so if they can get it to me or I try and get as open as much as I can."
 
HALYK STRONG IN SEASON DEBUT
 
The Pioneers have had consistency in-between the pipes since the calendar turned to 2024, as the team's net was guarded in each of the first 33 games by goaltender Matt Davis.
 
After posting a 22-save shutout on Friday versus Yale, Davis finally got a night off as Freddie Halyk made his return to the Denver cage on Saturday. He stopped 21-of-22 shots in a 5-1 victory.
 
It was Halyk's first game since Dec. 8, 2023 at Western Michigan.
 
"It took a little bit. The first few saves I just made sure that I was overtop on pucks, and just stuck to my fundamentals," Halyk said. "As the game wore on I kind of got back into it."
 
He stopped each of the final 14 shots in the last two periods, and the only goal against came from a video review that determined the puck snuck through his pads just before the officials were going to blow whistle.
 
Halyk certainly showed off his 6-foot-5 frame late in the third period, as he denied a flurry of pucks in a scramble around the crease to keep the Bulldogs with one on the scoreboard.
 
"That is my favorite type. I like getting under siege (with shots)," Halyk said. "I find it easier than just a shot here and a shot there. I like when they are over top of me and shooting."
 
PIONEERS PREPARE FOR 75TH ANNIVERSARY CELEBRATION
 
The Denver hockey program won its 1,600th game with Saturday's victory, and it's fitting that the milestone comes on the eve of the team honoring all it has accomplished since its inaugural season in 1949-50. The Pioneers will recognize their NCAA-record 10 national championships and alumni from every decade next weekend with their 75th Anniversary celebration during the home series against Lindenwood.
 
Among the festivities is both a "young" and "old" alumni game, pre and post-game alumni receptions and an on-ice recognition after the first period on Saturday night.
 
"It will be great, unbelievable opportunity to honor our program… Saturday night we'll have all of the alumni come out on the ice," said Richard and Kitzia Goodman Hockey Head Coach David Carle. "We encourage everyone to stay in their seats for the first intermission; we'll keep the team on the bench to see that honoring. Really looking forward to celebrating what our great program is."
 
The current Pioneer players will also wear the new third jerseys for the first time, as they will now don the threads in both games. The uniforms are a throwback to the ones that were originally worn by the inaugural team.
 

TICKETS: Limited amount of tickets for Denver hockey's 75th anniversary in 2024-25 are available. Click here to purchase and for more information.