Photo by: University of Denver Athletics
Denver Hockey Announces 2025-26 Team Awards
5/13/2026 1:44:00 PM | Ice Hockey
Goaltender Johnny Hicks recognized as Team MVP and Freshman of the Year
DENVER – The University of Denver Hockey program unveiled its 2025-26 team honors on Tuesday night at its 69th annual awards banquet at Magness Arena.
Goaltender and NCAA Frozen Four Most Outstanding Player Johnny Hicks was recognized with two awards as the Bill Masterton MVP and Barry Sharp Freshman of the Year. Senior captain Kent Anderson also picked up a pair of honors as he was chosen as the Dr. Ralph Verploeg Most Inspirational Player and earned his second Dr. Art Mason Top Scholar-Athlete accolade of his career. Senior forward Rieger Lorenz also repeated as an honoree as the recipient of the Murray Armstrong Most Improved Player for the second time in the past three seasons.
The full list of DU hockey's 2025-26 award winners:
Pohlkamp was a first-team All-American and Hobey Baker Award Hat Trick finalist as the nation's top player, and he is the first defenseman to win DU's offensive player award since Matt Carle shared the trophy with Paul Stastny in 2006. Pohlkamp led all Denver skaters and NCAA defensemen this season with 18 goals and 39 points in 43 games and finished third on the team with 21 assists. The Baxter, Minnesota, native was also first in the country with 188 shots on goal while ranking tied for ninth among the nation's rear guards and third on the squad in plus-minus rating (+24). Named the Offensive Defenseman of the Year in the National Collegiate Hockey Conference, Pohlkamp was recognized on the All-NCHC First Team and was runner-up for the league's Player of the Year award. His 18 goals this season were the most in a single season by a defenseman in conference history. He also scored three goals on Oct. 12 against Bentley to become just the 12th Denver defenseman to score a hat trick and marking the fifth such instance in the NCHC record book. Pohlkamp signed a two-year, entry-level contract with the NHL San Jose Sharks after the season on April 16
Buckberger scored a career-high 10 goals and also added 19 assists for 29 points while being recognized on the All-NCHC Third Team during his junior campaign. The Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, native finished second among all NCAA players with a +32 plus-minus rating while ranking third at his position with five power-play goals (tied) and fourth with 130 shots on net. A nominee for the 2026 Hobey Baker Award and a member of both the 2026 NCAA Frozen Four and NCHC Frozen Faceoff All-Tournament Teams, Buckberger finished his collegiate career with plus-94 rating, the second-highest among all NCAA players since the statistic first began being tracked and the highest all-time by a skater that played four or fewer seasons. The alternate captain had the primary assist on the game-winning goal by Kyle Chyzowski in the NCAA Championship Game on April 11 vs. Wisconsin and scored key markers in the NCHC Frozen Faceoff Semifinals and Final on March 14 and 21 to help DU capture its second National Cup in three seasons. Buckberger signed a two-year, entry-level contract with the NHL Columbus Blue Jackets as a college free agent on April 13. This is his second career team award after being named DU's Dr. Art Mason Top Scholar-Athlete in 2025.
Anderson was named the 96th team captain in program history prior to the season and guided Denver to his second national championship victory after also winning in 2024 as a sophomore. The Calgary, Alberta, native appeared in all 43 games during the campaign and suited up in his 150th career contest in the NCAA Championship Game against Wisconsin on April 11. The defenseman totaled four points on two goals and two assists, had 12 penalty minutes and blocked 40 shots during his senior year. He scored his first career overtime goal in this year's Frozen Four to lift the Pioneers to a 4-3 win in double-OT against Michigan on April 9. This is the second time that Anderson has been named the recipient of the Dr. Art Mason Top-Scholar Athlete award after also garnering honors in 2024. He completed his bachelor's degree in finance in March and will walk next month at DU's graduation ceremony.
Lorenz recorded career highs during his senior season by tallying 17 goals and 18 assists for 35 points while playing in all 43 games. He finished second on the team in both goals and points behind Eric Pohlkamp while also registering 103 shots on goal, 38 penalty minutes and a +25 plus-minus rating. The Calgary, Alberta, native went on a career-long, 12-game point streak from Jan. 31-March 27 (8g/8a) and a five-game goal streak from Jan. 31-Feb. 14 (5g/2a). He scored the tying marker in the NCAA Championship Game against Wisconsin on April 11 to ignite Denver's comeback en route to a 2-1 win, marking the second time in his career that he tallied in the title contest after also doing so in 2024. Lorenz was the NCAA active leader in games played this past season and finished with 169 career outings, ranking second all-time in DU hockey history and the most-ever by a four-year player at the school. After the season, he signed a two-year, entry-level contract with the NHL Minnesota Wild on April 15. Lorenz was also named the Murray Armstrong Most Improved Player after his sophomore campaign in 2023-24.
Caswell led all Denver players with 26 assists and was first among team rookies in scoring with 34 points. He appeared in all 43 games during his freshman season and had just six penalty minutes on three infractions. Caswell ranked third on the team in faceoff wins (301) while also blocking 22 shots and finishing with a +11 plus-minus rating. The Brandon, Manitoba, native scored eight goals during the season, including the tying marker late in the third period to force overtime in the NCAA Frozen Four Semifinals vs. Michigan on April 9. He was named the National Co-Rookie of the Month for March and April after leading all NCHC freshmen with nine points (4g/5a) in the final eight games.
Ricci played for the Pioneers from 1991-1995 and ranks tied for 13th in school history with 161 points (64g/97a) in 144 career games. He received this year's Daniel Ritchie Spirit Award, which honors an alumnus or friend of Denver hockey who embodies DU Emeritus Chancellor Daniel Ritchie's spirit of giving back to the school – not only financially, but with time and effort. Over the years, Ricci has coached several Denver hockey alums as youths through the Colorado Thunderbirds AAA organization and has worked and volunteered his time to assist in summer skates with active and pro Pioneers. This past season, he volunteered his time and provided his guidance with the coaching staff at select home and road games, including during the Frozen Four in Las Vegas.
In addition to this year's award winners being recognized, the team's graduating seniors gave heartfelt speeches about their time at DU and what it meant for them to play for the Pioneers.
Goaltender and NCAA Frozen Four Most Outstanding Player Johnny Hicks was recognized with two awards as the Bill Masterton MVP and Barry Sharp Freshman of the Year. Senior captain Kent Anderson also picked up a pair of honors as he was chosen as the Dr. Ralph Verploeg Most Inspirational Player and earned his second Dr. Art Mason Top Scholar-Athlete accolade of his career. Senior forward Rieger Lorenz also repeated as an honoree as the recipient of the Murray Armstrong Most Improved Player for the second time in the past three seasons.
The full list of DU hockey's 2025-26 award winners:
- Bill Masterton MVP Award: Johnny Hicks
- Dallas Gaume Offensive Player Award: Eric Pohlkamp
- Keith Magnuson Best Defensive Player Award: Boston Buckberger
- Barry Sharp Freshman of the Year Award: Johnny Hicks
- Dr. Ralph Verploeg Most Inspirational Player: Kent Anderson
- Murray Armstrong Most Improved Player: Rieger Lorenz
- Dr. Ken Bredesen Most Sportsmanlike Player: Clarke Caswell
- Dr. Art Mason Top Scholar-Athlete: Kent Anderson
- Daniel Ritchie Spirit Award: alum Angelo Ricci
Pohlkamp was a first-team All-American and Hobey Baker Award Hat Trick finalist as the nation's top player, and he is the first defenseman to win DU's offensive player award since Matt Carle shared the trophy with Paul Stastny in 2006. Pohlkamp led all Denver skaters and NCAA defensemen this season with 18 goals and 39 points in 43 games and finished third on the team with 21 assists. The Baxter, Minnesota, native was also first in the country with 188 shots on goal while ranking tied for ninth among the nation's rear guards and third on the squad in plus-minus rating (+24). Named the Offensive Defenseman of the Year in the National Collegiate Hockey Conference, Pohlkamp was recognized on the All-NCHC First Team and was runner-up for the league's Player of the Year award. His 18 goals this season were the most in a single season by a defenseman in conference history. He also scored three goals on Oct. 12 against Bentley to become just the 12th Denver defenseman to score a hat trick and marking the fifth such instance in the NCHC record book. Pohlkamp signed a two-year, entry-level contract with the NHL San Jose Sharks after the season on April 16
Buckberger scored a career-high 10 goals and also added 19 assists for 29 points while being recognized on the All-NCHC Third Team during his junior campaign. The Saskatoon, Saskatchewan, native finished second among all NCAA players with a +32 plus-minus rating while ranking third at his position with five power-play goals (tied) and fourth with 130 shots on net. A nominee for the 2026 Hobey Baker Award and a member of both the 2026 NCAA Frozen Four and NCHC Frozen Faceoff All-Tournament Teams, Buckberger finished his collegiate career with plus-94 rating, the second-highest among all NCAA players since the statistic first began being tracked and the highest all-time by a skater that played four or fewer seasons. The alternate captain had the primary assist on the game-winning goal by Kyle Chyzowski in the NCAA Championship Game on April 11 vs. Wisconsin and scored key markers in the NCHC Frozen Faceoff Semifinals and Final on March 14 and 21 to help DU capture its second National Cup in three seasons. Buckberger signed a two-year, entry-level contract with the NHL Columbus Blue Jackets as a college free agent on April 13. This is his second career team award after being named DU's Dr. Art Mason Top Scholar-Athlete in 2025.
Anderson was named the 96th team captain in program history prior to the season and guided Denver to his second national championship victory after also winning in 2024 as a sophomore. The Calgary, Alberta, native appeared in all 43 games during the campaign and suited up in his 150th career contest in the NCAA Championship Game against Wisconsin on April 11. The defenseman totaled four points on two goals and two assists, had 12 penalty minutes and blocked 40 shots during his senior year. He scored his first career overtime goal in this year's Frozen Four to lift the Pioneers to a 4-3 win in double-OT against Michigan on April 9. This is the second time that Anderson has been named the recipient of the Dr. Art Mason Top-Scholar Athlete award after also garnering honors in 2024. He completed his bachelor's degree in finance in March and will walk next month at DU's graduation ceremony.
Lorenz recorded career highs during his senior season by tallying 17 goals and 18 assists for 35 points while playing in all 43 games. He finished second on the team in both goals and points behind Eric Pohlkamp while also registering 103 shots on goal, 38 penalty minutes and a +25 plus-minus rating. The Calgary, Alberta, native went on a career-long, 12-game point streak from Jan. 31-March 27 (8g/8a) and a five-game goal streak from Jan. 31-Feb. 14 (5g/2a). He scored the tying marker in the NCAA Championship Game against Wisconsin on April 11 to ignite Denver's comeback en route to a 2-1 win, marking the second time in his career that he tallied in the title contest after also doing so in 2024. Lorenz was the NCAA active leader in games played this past season and finished with 169 career outings, ranking second all-time in DU hockey history and the most-ever by a four-year player at the school. After the season, he signed a two-year, entry-level contract with the NHL Minnesota Wild on April 15. Lorenz was also named the Murray Armstrong Most Improved Player after his sophomore campaign in 2023-24.
Caswell led all Denver players with 26 assists and was first among team rookies in scoring with 34 points. He appeared in all 43 games during his freshman season and had just six penalty minutes on three infractions. Caswell ranked third on the team in faceoff wins (301) while also blocking 22 shots and finishing with a +11 plus-minus rating. The Brandon, Manitoba, native scored eight goals during the season, including the tying marker late in the third period to force overtime in the NCAA Frozen Four Semifinals vs. Michigan on April 9. He was named the National Co-Rookie of the Month for March and April after leading all NCHC freshmen with nine points (4g/5a) in the final eight games.
Ricci played for the Pioneers from 1991-1995 and ranks tied for 13th in school history with 161 points (64g/97a) in 144 career games. He received this year's Daniel Ritchie Spirit Award, which honors an alumnus or friend of Denver hockey who embodies DU Emeritus Chancellor Daniel Ritchie's spirit of giving back to the school – not only financially, but with time and effort. Over the years, Ricci has coached several Denver hockey alums as youths through the Colorado Thunderbirds AAA organization and has worked and volunteered his time to assist in summer skates with active and pro Pioneers. This past season, he volunteered his time and provided his guidance with the coaching staff at select home and road games, including during the Frozen Four in Las Vegas.
In addition to this year's award winners being recognized, the team's graduating seniors gave heartfelt speeches about their time at DU and what it meant for them to play for the Pioneers.
DENVER'S HOME FOR COLLEGE SPORTS
Visit DenverPioneers.com for complete coverage of all 18 of DU's NCAA Division I sports
Like Denver Pioneers and Denver Hockey on Facebook
Follow @DU_Pioneers and @DU_Hockey on X
Follow @DenverPioneers and @DU_Hockey on Instagram
Visit DenverPioneers.com for complete coverage of all 18 of DU's NCAA Division I sports
Like Denver Pioneers and Denver Hockey on Facebook
Follow @DU_Pioneers and @DU_Hockey on X
Follow @DenverPioneers and @DU_Hockey on Instagram
Players Mentioned
Defenseman
/ Ice Hockey
Defenseman
/ Ice Hockey
Forward
/ Ice Hockey
Forward
/ Ice Hockey
Goaltender
/ Ice Hockey
Forward
/ Ice Hockey
Goaltender
/ Ice Hockey
Defenseman
/ Ice HockeyTuesday, June 30
Tuesday, June 30
Tuesday, June 30
Tuesday, April 14
