DENVER – Two incoming freshmen on the University of Denver hockey team were selected by the host Los Angeles Kings on Saturday at the 2025 NHL Draft. Kristian Epperson was chosen at No. 88 overall in the third round by the Kings before Brendan McMorrow was picked later by the franchise at No. 196 overall in round 7 at L.A. Live's Peacock Theater in Los Angeles, California.
 
This is the 24th straight season that Denver has had a player chosen in the NHL's annual entry selection, and the Pioneers have now had multiple picks in each of the last 10 drafts. Overall, 138 Denver hockey players that have been chosen by NHL clubs.
 
Epperson, 19, spent the 2024-25 season with the Saginaw Spirit of the Ontario Hockey League after playing the previous two years with the U.S. National Team Development Program. He scored 27 goals and 53 assists for 80 points in 58 regular-season games with Saginaw and contributed three goals and one assist in five playoff matchups. At the NTDP, the forward registered 64 points (27g/37a) in 115 total games across two seasons from 2022-2024.
 
The Mequon, Wisconsin, native won a gold medal with Team USA at 2022 World Under-17 Hockey Challenge, contributing three goals and two assists in six contests. He is also a product of Shattuck-St. Mary's prep school in Minnesota where he combined for 187 points (76g/111a) with the Sabres from 2020-2022.
 
McMorrow, 19, is joining the Pioneers this year after playing with the Waterloo Black Hawks of the United States Hockey League last season. The forward scored 24 goals and added 18 assists for 42 points with Waterloo in 58 regular-season games, earning team MVP honors. He tied for fifth in the league in postseason scoring in 2025 with 14 points (7g/7a) in 15 playoff contests and helped Black Hawks reach the Clark Cup Finals.
 
The Lakeville, Minnesota, native skated for two years with the U.S. National Team Development Program from 2022-2024, compiling 74 points (38g/36a) in 121 career games with Team USA. McMorrow won a silver medal with the Americans at the 2024 IIHF U18 World Championships and won a gold for the country at the 2024 World Junior-A Challenge.
 
This is the second-straight season that Denver has had two players selected by the same NHL franchise in the draft, as Jake Fisher (No. 121) and Tory Pitner (No. 185) were each picked by the Colorado Avalanche in 2024.