DENVER – The University of Denver hockey team announced today that senior defenseman
Kent Anderson has been named the 96th captain in program history. Joining Anderson on the Pioneers' leadership group are senior forwards
Rieger Lorenz and
Samu Salminen and junior defenseman
Boston Buckberger as alternate captains.
"I am excited to announce
Kent Anderson as our team captain and introduce our leadership group for the 2025-26 season," said Richard and Kitzia Goodman Hockey Head Coach
David Carle. "Kent's role has evolved over his time here at Denver, and he is a role model for our 10 freshmen as they experience their first season of college hockey. Kent, Rieger, Samu and Boston all lead in different ways, and together they will help guide our group as we deal with the highs and lows of the season. They have the trust of their teammates, and I'm confident they will be up to the challenge to lead us this year."
Anderson has suited up in 107 career games for the Pioneers over the past three seasons, totaling
18 points (4g/14a), 30 penalty minutes and a +28 plus/minus rating in his career. He matched his personal high of eight points (1g/7a) and recorded a career-best seven assists while playing in all 44 contests in 2024-25. He also finished his junior campaign with a +13 plus/minus rating and 14 penalty minutes. Anderson suited up in his 100th contest on March 14 against Colorado College in 1 of the NCHC Quarterfinals.
The Calgary, Alberta, native has been a national All-American Scholar in each of his three seasons at DU, recognized on the College Sports Communicators' Academic All-District Team in both 2024 and 2025 and was named as the NCAA Elite 90 award winner at the 2024 Frozen Four.
Anderson last served in a captains role as an alternate in 2020-21 with the Drumheller Dragons of the Alberta Junior Hockey League.
Lorenz has skated in 125 contests with DU and owns 59 points (24g/35a) and a +35 plus/minus rating in his career. The Calgary, Alberta, native tied a career-best with 14 assists while adding six goals and playing all 44 games for the second-straight campaign in 2024-25. He was selected No. 56 overall in the second round of the 2022 NHL Draft by the Minnesota Wild.
Salminen recorded career bests as a junior at Denver last season with 10 goals and 18 assists. He had the highest plus/minus rating among Pioneer forwards at +21 and ranked second on the squad in faceoff-winning percentage (.555). The Helsinki, Finland, native, who played his first two years of NCAA hockey at Connecticut, has 62 points (26g/36a) in 106 career outings. The New Jersey Devils picked Salminen in the third round at No. 68 overall in the 2021 NHL Draft.
Buckberger registered personal highs as a sophomore in 2024-25 with nine goals and 30 points while also contributing 21 assists. He skated in each of the first 41 games of the year and was tied for fifth in the NCAA with a +30 plus/minus rating before suffering a season-ending upper-body injury on March 22 vs. Western Michigan in the NCHC Frozen Faceoff Championship Game. The Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, native had played in each for the first 85 contests of his career before getting hurt. In his collegiate tenure, Buckberger has produced 57 points (14g/43a), 49 penalty minutes and a +62 plus/minus rating—the highest among all active NCAA players heading into this season. He was named the NCAA Elite 90 winner at the 2025 Frozen Four.
UP NEXT: Denver begins play this week with an exhibition against UNLV at Magness Arena on Saturday, Oct. 4 at 6 p.m. MT. The Pioneers open the regular season on Friday, Oct. 10 at Air Force before hosting Bentley the next night on Saturday, Oct. 11 in the home opener.
TICKETS: Single-game tickets and 5-game mini plans for DU hockey's 2025-26 campaign are on sale now.
Click here for more information.
