DENVER – Junior Boston Buckberger of the University of Denver hockey team was named on Tuesday the NCHC Defenseman of the Week.
 
This is the fourth-straight week that a Pioneer has been recognized as the top defender in the National Collegiate Hockey Conference. Buckberger earned the award previously on Nov. 18, while fellow defensive partner Eric Pohlkamp has earned it three times this year, including last week on Nov. 25 as well as on Nov. 11 and Oct. 14.
 
Buckberger earned his fourth career NCHC Defenseman of the Week honor and fifth career weekly award from the conference after scoring two goals on Saturday against the Minnesota Golden Gophers in the 2025 U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame Game at Ball Arena. It was his first career multi-goal game, and he tallied with 23 seconds left in regulation to tie the contest for DU and force overtime.
 
Named Denver's Player of the Game by the U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame, Buckberger also added four shots and finished with a plus-2 rating in the 6-5 overtime loss.
 
The Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, native is tied for second on the Pioneers in scoring with 13 points (five goals, eight assists), and he has tallied each of his five goals over the past five games—ranking tied for third overall on the squad in markers. He also leads Denver and is tied for third in the entire NCAA with a plus-17 rating.
 
Cullen Potter of Arizona State was named Forward of the Week, Miami's Matteo Drobac was selected as Goaltender of the Week and Brandon Lisowsky of Colorado College was picked as Rookie of the Week in the NCHC. DU senior Samu Salminen was a finalist for this week's top forward award after scoring twice on Saturday against the Gophers.
 
NEXT UP: Denver continues a three-game homestay this weekend as it hosts the Miami RedHawks at Magness Arena on Friday and Saturday at 7 p.m. MT.

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.