DENVER – The University of Denver hockey program announced today five incoming freshmen that will join the Pioneers for the 2024-25 season.
The rookie class feature forwards
Hagen Burrows (Orono, Minn.),
Jake Fisher (Woodbury, Minn.) and
James Reeder (Glenview, Ill.) and defensemen
Tory Pitner (El Cerrito, Calif.) and
Alec Whipple (Excelsior, Minn.).
"I'm excited to welcome these five freshmen into our Pioneer hockey program for the upcoming season," said Richard and Kitzia Goodman hockey head coach
David Carle. "These student-athletes will continue to build on our success not only on the ice but in the classroom as well. This group brings a high-talent level and versatility that will be key to our roster as we aim for another national championship next season."
More information on all five players is below.
Hagen Burrows | Forward | Orono, Minnesota
6-2 | 178 lbs. | Minnetonka High School (USHS)/Sioux City Musketeers (USHL)
Before DU: Named Mr. Hockey in Minnesota in 2023-24 and was also awarded Metro Player of the Year and the Associated Press's Minnesota Player of the Year … Also named to the AP's All-State First Team … Recorded 59 points on 19 goals and 40 assists in 28 high school games in 2023-24 with Minnetonka … Also named an AP Academic Scholar and Student-Athlete of the Year at Minnetonka High School in 2023-24 … Split the campaign with the Sioux City Musketeers of the USHL where he totaled 22 points (9g/13a) in 25 USHL regular-season contests … Added two goals and two assists in eight USHL postseason outings with the Musketeers … Played three seasons of prep hockey at MHS where he recorded 135 points (58g/77a) in 86 games … Scored 25 goals and 25 assists for 50 points in 31 outings and helped MHS to the Minnesota State Championship and was named to the All-Tournament Team as a junior in 2022-23 … Posted 26 points (14g/12a) in 27 contests as a sophomore at MHS in 2021-22 … Played for the Orono Youth Hockey Association while growing up and also played AAA for the Minnesota Bruins, Minnesota Walleye, Minnesota Blizzard and AA for Minnesota Bantam as a teenager.
Personal: Son of Brent and Kristi … Has an older sister, Kyler, who also attends DU … Graduated from Minnetonka High School in 2024 … Majoring in finance at DU … Wants to help Denver win a national championship and later pursue a professional hockey career in the NHL and work in wealth management … Enjoys golf, pickle ball and wake surfing … Favorite type of music is country … Also played soccer and tennis as a kid … Shawshank Redemption is his favorite movie and Friends is his favorite TV show … Helped raise money from St. Jude's Children's Hospital while in high school.
Other: Rated No. 68 in NHL Central Scouting's final rankings for North American skaters for the 2024 draft.
Why DU: "The hockey program is one of the best in the nation and helps develop hockey players into pros. The staff was a huge factor from head coach David Carle and the assistant coaches to the strength coach and every other staff member that is in place to help us succeed. On top of that the location and academics are amazing as well."
Jake Fisher | Forward | Woodbury, Minnesota
6-2 | 195 lbs. | Fargo Force (USHL)
Before DU: Helped the Fargo Force win the USHL Clark Cup championship in 2023-24 after recording 47 points (23g/24a) in 51 regular-season games and four goals and two assists in 12 playoff contests … Finished top five on the Force in points and goals … Played 12 regular-season and two postseason games with USHL Fargo in 2022-23 while spending the majority of the campaign with Cretin-Derham Hall High School in Minnesota … Was a finalist for Mr. Hockey in Minnesota as a senior and recognized as a Pioneer Press All-Metro First Team member and the East Metro Boys Player of the Year at Cretin-Derham Hall in 2022-23 … Totaled 62 points (34g/28a) in 29 games as a senior at CDHHS while also serving as a captain … Played four seasons of high school hockey at Cretin-Derham Hall from 2019-2023 and finished second all-time in school history in both points (168) and goals (86) … Recorded 52 points (23g/29a) in 29 games a junior at CDHHS in 2021-22 … Also played with Team MAP South in 2021-22 and 202-23 … Product of the Woodbury Youth Hockey Association and played AAA with the Minnesota Kings, Minnesota Bolts and Blue Army organizations.
Personal: Son of Tony and Janelle Fisher … Has an older brother, Drew, and younger sister, Lauren … Father Tony played professional baseball in the MLB Texas Rangers' organization … Graduated from Cretin-Derham Hall High School in Minnesota in 2023 … Majoring in business … Wants to win a national championship and earn a degree at Denver and later have a successful NHL career … Also played baseball while growing up … Loves to be active, including spending time on the lake wake surfing and jet skiing … Also enjoys pickle ball … Likes country, house and pop music … Favorite movie is Happy Gilmore … Community service projects include volunteering at homeless shelters, raking leaves around the neighborhood and coaching hockey tryouts for younger players.
Other: Invited to USA Hockey's National Junior Evaluation Camp and Summer Showcase in July and August in preparation for the 2024 IIHF U.S. World Junior Championships, which will be coached by Denver's David Carle … Ranked No. 97 by NHL Central Scouting among North American skaters for the 2024 draft.
Why DU: "I chose the University of Denver because the hockey team has a history of winning championships and developing NHL players. The coaches have treated me great, and I have a high level of trust in them that they will put me in the right position to succeed. The schooling as well is a high level, and I love the campus and location in the city."
Tory Pitner | Defenseman | El Cerrito, California
6-1 | 185 lbs. | Youngstown Phantoms (USHL)
Before DU: Recorded 24 points (8g/16a) in 50 games as an alternate captain with the USHL Youngstown Phantoms in 2023-24 … Added a goal in seven 2024 Clark Cup Playoff games … Won the USHL Clark Cup championship with Youngstown in 2022-23, recording nine assists in 36 outings in the regular season (also appeared in nine playoff games) … Twice named to the USHL All-Academic Team (2022-23, 2023-24) … Played for the Selects Academy in 2022-23 … A member of the Los Angeles Jr. Kings and San Jose Jr. Sharks youth programs … Skated with the Jr. Kings at the 2019 Quebec International Pee-Wee Tournament … Played high school hockey with Saint Mary Prep in California in 2020-21 … Captained Team USA to a bronze medal at the 2023 Hlinka Gretzky Cup (0g/1a) also earned a bronze with the United States at the 2023 World Jr. A Challenge (0g/1a).
Personal: Son of Tom and Rysa Pitner … Has an older sister, Rylee … Mother Rysa played softball at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo … Graduated from South Kent School in 2024 … Wants to play professional hockey in the NHL … Also played baseball growing up in addition to soccer and running cross country … Likes to play and watch other sports, including baseball, in his free time … Also enjoys cooking, hiking and fishing … Likes country music … Favorite movie is Miracle and favorite TV show is The Office … Participated in various community service projects with South Kent School, including putting together a 5K run for cancer research and helping a former coach that was diagnosed get treatment after a cancer diagnosis … Born in Greenwich, Connecticut.
Other: Invited to USA Hockey's National Junior Evaluation Camp and Summer Showcase in July and August in preparation for the 2024 IIHF U.S. World Junior Championships, which will be coached by Denver's David Carle … Ranked No. 90 by NHL Central Scouting among North American skaters for the 2024 draft.
Why DU: "I chose to attend the University of Denver because of the blend of elite athletics and academics. The coaching staff with the hockey program is second to none, and their ability to develop NHL players is something that I really valued and was another reason I chose to attend the university."
James Reeder | Forward | Glenview, Illinois
5-10 | 170 lbs. | Dubuque Fighting Saints (USHL)
Before DU: Registered 60 points on 20 goals and 40 assists while serving as an alternate captain for the USHL Dubuque Fighting Saints in 2023-24 … Had five points (1g/4a) in 11 USHL Clark Cup Playoff games as the Fighting Saints finished runner-up … Overall, appeared in 114 USHL games over two season with Dubuque, totaling 94 points on 35 goals and 59 assists … Recognized as the 2024 USHL Scholar-Athlete of the Year and a member of the league's 2023-24 All-Academic Team … Won bronze with Team USA at the World Jr. A Challenge in 2023 and was teammates with fellow DU classmate Tory Pitner on the squad … Had the most goals at the WJAC Tournament with eight while adding two assists to finish with 10 points in six games … Was a member of the Chicago Mission youth organization and played for the Mission at the 2018 Quebec International Pee-Wee Tournament.
Personal: Son of William and Tracy … Has two younger sisters, Cate and Sarah … Grandfather, Bob Reeder, played football at Northwester … Uncle, Jim Reeder, played baseball at Northwestern and was later in the MLB Houston Astros minor-league system … Graduated from Dubuque Senior High School in 2024 … Wants to win NCAA and NCHC Championships at DU … Began playing hockey after the NHL Chicago Blackhawks won the 2010 Stanley Cup … Also enjoys playing golf and wake surfing and skiing … Majoring in business at DU … Would like to play professional hockey before later working in finance … Enjoys country music … Favorite movie is Remember the Titans … Is related to Abraham Lincoln … Also played baseball and soccer while growing up.
Other: Invited to USA Hockey's National Junior Evaluation Camp and Summer Showcase in July and August in preparation for the 2024 IIHF U.S. World Junior Championships, which will be coached by Denver's David Carle.
Why DU: "I chose Denver because of the school's academics, hockey team and location. The coaches for the hockey team really help guys get to the next level, and they know how to win. The school offered the major that I wanted in business. I wanted to be close to a city, and Denver offered that."
Alec Whipple | Defenseman | Excelsior, Minnesota
5-11 | 188 lbs. | Trail Smoke Eaters (BCHL)
Before DU: Registered 11 points (0g/11a) and 20 penalty minutes in 54 games with the BCHL Trail Smoke Eaters in 2023-24 … Added three assists in five 2024 postseason games … Scored one goal in 46 outing with Trail in 2022-23 before appearing in four playoff contests … Selected to the Minnesota Senior NIT All-Star Team from the Ted Brill Tournament and also named to the CCM Minnesota HF Final 54 in 2022-23 … Suited up in 27 games with Minnetonka High School in 2021-22, totaling nine points (1g/8a) … Contributed an assist in 19 outings with Minnetonka in 2020-21 … Also played AAA with the New Jersey Rockets (2018-19), Minnesota Blizzard (2019-2021) and Fairbanks Ice Dogs (2021-22) … Began playing high school hockey with Delbarton School in New Jersey … Played in the 2017 Quebec International Pee-Wee Tournament with the New Jersey Devils team.
Personal: Son of Trey and Molly … Has three younger siblings, brothers John and Ford and sister Caroline … Brother John plays at the University of Minnesota and cousin John Stout is set to play at Minnesota Duluth … Graduated Magna Cum Laude from Minnetonka High School in 2022 where he was also the MHS Hockey Scholar-Athlete of the Year … Played with classmate Hagen Burrows on Minnetonka High School in 2021-22 … Majoring in finance with a minor in economics at DU … Also played lacrosse and golf growing up … Plans on participating in Army ROTC at DU … Wants to play professional hockey and serve in the military after college … Favorite TV show is SEAL Team … Favorite movie is Lone Survivor … Favorite music includes country, hard rock, EDM and house … Volunteered with minor hockey in Trail, British Columbia, and has helped with Special Olympics and with reading at elementary schools … Related to John Cromwell—US Navy Captain in World War II that received the Medal of Honor posthumously and Purple Heart for actions during the war … Born in Far Hills, New Jersey.
Why DU: "I chose Denver because of its tradition of winning, high academic standards and quality of people in and around the hockey program."
TICKETS: Season ticket memberships for Denver hockey's 75th anniversary in 2024-25 are available. Click
here to purchase and for more information.
