No. 1 Denver Wins 7-1 vs. U.S. National Under-18 Team

Saturday, October 10

Denver, Colo.

6 p.m. MT

University of Denver

USA Hockey Under-18 Team

Cebrian Postgame Box Score (PDF)Game Notes Highlights

Photo by: Sophie Hamill/Denver Athletics

No. 1 Denver Wins 7-1 vs. U.S. National Under-18 Team

10/10/2026 9:40:00 PM | (1) Ice Hockey

Box Score (PDF)Kieran Cebrian Postgame Pregame Notes Highlights

Pioneers now prepare for home opener and banner raising vs. No. 2 Michigan

By: Ron Knabenbauer

DENVER – The No. 1 University of Denver hockey team defeated the United States National Under-18 Team by a 7-1 score on Saturday night in an exhibition at Magness Arena.

The U.S. National Team Development Program were making their first visit to Denver in 15 years, as the last time the U-18 squad ventured to the base of the Rocky Mountains was Oct. 7, 2011.

The Pioneers (2-0-0) kicked off their regular season last weekend with a road series sweep at Alaska Anchorage, and they resume the main campaign on Friday when they begin a two-game home series against No. 2 Michigan and raise their 2026 National Championship banner to the rafters.

Freshman Jack Pridham and senior Sam Harris each scored twice for Denver, while sophomores Kristian Epperson and Eric Jamieson both finished with a marker and an assist. Sophomore Clarke Caswell led the team with three assists, while Daxon Rudolph also had a multi-point night with two helpers.

Senior captain Kieran Cebrian also tallied for Denver, as he began the night's scoring on a redirection from a shot by Rudolph at 10:51 of the opening frame.

DU goaltender Tyler Krivtsov started and played the first 51:10 and made 15 saves on 16 shots. Brock Stevenson was the only U.S. player to get a puck past the junior keeper by netting an unassisted goal from a streaking wrist shot with 1:44 remaining in the first period.

That tied the game at 1-1 going into the intermission, but Denver responded with three goals in both the second and third periods to pull away for the victory.

Pridham netted the eventual game-winning goal and his first at DU just 16 seconds into the middle frame before Harris tallied twice later in the stanza. Pridham then ended the scoring with 1:42 remaining after Epperson and Jamieson scored earlier in the period.

Senior Paxton Geisel guarded Denver's pipes for the final 8:50 of the contest and stopped the only shot he faced.

DU outshot USA 42-17 in the game, with American goalie Nate Chizik finishing with 35 saves.

The Under-18 Team went 0-for-2 on the power play while Denver didn't have a man advantage opportunity.

UP NEXT: The No. 1 Pioneers host the No. 2 Michigan Wolverines on Friday at 7 p.m. MT to start a two-game series, which begins with raising their championship banner pregame. A rematch from the 2022 and 2026 Frozen Four Semifinals, the teams will conclude their first regular-season series since 1981 on Saturday at 6 p.m. MT.

POSTGAME NOTES

Denver and the U.S. National Team Development Program played in their fifth exhibition all-time, with the Pioneers unbeaten in those contests (5-0).
The U.S. NTDP was making its first visit to Magness Arena since Oct. 7, 2011.
The National Under-18 Team was the first non-ACHA squad that the Pioneers have played since winning 6-4 against Alberta of Canada's USports on Oct. 6, 2018.
DU improved 45-25-8 all-time in exhibition games and now owns a 24-3-3 record in such games at Magness Arena.
Denver is unbeaten in its last 11 exhibition contests dating back to Oct. 6, 2013 vs. New Brunswick.
DU was playing its first game at Magness Arena since winning the NCHC Frozen Faceoff Championship on its home ice on March 21
Sam Harris has scored in all three of DU's games this season.
Jack Pridham scored his first goal as a Pioneer.
All 23 of DU's skaters played in the game.
The Pioneers had three players that are alumni of the National Team Development Program: Sophomores Kristian Epperson and Brendan McMorrow and freshman Mikey Berchidld.

GOAL SUMMARY
1st Period
10:51 DU (1-0) – Kieran Cebrian redirected Daxon Rudolph's shot from the right point into the cage while providing traffic in the slot.
18:18 USA (1-1) – Brock Stevenson chased down the puck and hit twine with a wrist shot from the left point during a rush.

2nd Period
0:16 DU (2-1) – Jack Pridham unleashed a wrist shot from the left circle while on a rush up the ice.
6:00 DU (3-1) – Sam Harris deflected Kristian Epperson's shot from the left wall while stationed at the top of the crease.
19:45 DU (4-1) – Sam Harris took a pass from Clarke Caswell at the blue line and fired a wrist shot into the back of the net during the rush.

3rd Period
0:51 DU (5-1) – Kristian Epperson went far-side with a wrist shot from the right while on a rush up the ice.
7:41 DU (6-1) – Eric Jamieson tallied on a one-timer from the top of the right circle.
18:18 DU (7-1) – Jack Pridham one-touched a shot from the top of the right circle after gathering a loose puck.

QUOTABLES
Senior Forward Sam Harris
On how competing against younger squad in the U.S. Under-18 Team: "It was interesting. But it's just a game at the end of the day, so we did the same preparation that we would normally do. I think that the team did a good job sticking true to our preparation and standards, so it was good."

On his message to underclassmen as a senior: "Nothing is easy, especially when we play 40-odd games, so it's making sure that we are coming ready to play every night. Obviously, we've got some good teams on our schedule this year, and we're looking forward to the challenge."

On his on-ice chemistry with Clarke Caswell: "Him and I are good buddies off the ice, and that translates well on the ice. We know where each other is going to be, which is what happens when you play together for a year and a half now. We are just continuing to build off of that."

Senior Forward Kieran Cebrian
On the team's performance: "Yeah, I think we did well it was a good response after being down in the first period. I think we got more connected breaking pucks out and attacking as the game went on that led to our success."

On the whole roster playing: "Yeah, it's great to see that. Throughout the course of the season, we need all 26 guys, and it's good to be able to do it tonight and build forward with everyone next weekend."

On next weekend: "Lifting the banner will be cool, but all summer we've been thinking about playing Michigan. So I think we will be ready for the challenge when it comes."

TICKETS: Single-game tickets as well as mini plans and group packages for the DU hockey's championship-defense campaign in 2026-27 are on sale now. Click here for more information.

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