DENVER – The University of Denver hockey team had two players honored on Tuesday by the National Collegiate Hockey Conference as junior
Boston Buckberger was named the league's Defenseman of the Week and freshman
Quentin Miller was selected as Goaltender of the Week.
This is the second straight week that the Pioneers have had two players pick up weekly accolades from the NCHC, as Buckberger and Miller helped Denver to a weekend sweep of then-No. 17 Colorado College. The Pios won 2-1 in overtime on Friday at Magness Arena and 3-2 on Saturday in Colorado Springs in the home-and-home series.
Buckberger received his first Defenseman of the Week award of the season after he tallied the game-winning goal in both victories against the CC Tigers. He tallied his first career overtime marker in Friday's game before registering his third career game-winner on Saturday. He is the first Pioneer to score the game-winning tally in back-to-back contests since teammate
Cale Ashcroft did it last season on Dec. 14 versus Colorado College and Jan. 3 at Maine.
The D-man is tied for second on the team in scoring with 10 points and shares the top spot on the squad with eight assists. The Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, native also leads DU and ranks tied for third in the NCAA with a plus-14 rating.
This is Buckberger's third career Defenseman of the Week award and fourth weekly honor overall as he was once named Rookie of the Week as a freshman in 2023-24.
Miller was recognized for the second consecutive week after he earned the top rookie award last Tuesday. The DU first-year made 67-of-70 saves against CC to compile a 1.46 goals-against average and .957 save percentage, leading all NCHC goaltenders in both categories on the weekend. On Friday, he stopped 29 shots, which included facing and denying his first career penalty shot from Tomas Mrsic in the first period. Miller made 38 saves on Saturday, including each of the first 19 in the opening two periods.
The Montreal, Quebec, native has stared in nine consecutive games and has won each of his last five starts. He owns a 7-2-1 record this season and ranks seventh in the NCAA with a 1.58 goal-against average, fifth with a .942 save percentage and his two shutouts on the campaign are tied for fourth.
UP NEXT: The Pioneers continue a three-game road swing this weekend as they travel to play at the Arizona State Sun Devils in Tempe. Friday's game begins at 7 p.m. MT and will be broadcast regionally on Altitude, while Saturday's start time from Mullett Arena is 5 p.m. MT. Both games will also be available on NCHC.tv.
TICKETS: Single-game tickets and 5-game mini plans for DU hockey's 2025-26 campaign are on sale now.
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