Photo by: NCAA Photos via Getty Images
Pioneers Have 12 Alumni Named to 2026-27 NHL Opening Night Rosters
9/29/2026 12:00:00 PM | (1) Ice Hockey
Denver hockey leads the NCHC and has fifth-most in the nation
DENVER – The University of Denver hockey program had 12 alumni make 2026-27 NHL Opening Day rosters, the most among all teams in the National Collegiate Hockey Conference.
DU's 12 alums are the fifth-most in the NCAA entering the new campaign and are more than fellow league members North Dakota (11) and Minnesota Duluth (10), as well as last year's national runner-up Wisconsin (10). Overall, there were 248 former college hockey players that made their respective NHL clubs for the first day of the season, which ties last season's record for the most since College Hockey Inc. began tracking data in 2017-18.
Among the Pioneers is 2022 national champion Carter Mazur, who made the Detroit Red Wings roster out of training camp for the first time in his career.
Denver's list includes recent alums Bobby Brink (Minnesota Wild), Garrett Brown (Winnipeg Jets), Tristan Broz (Pittsburgh Penguins) and Zeev Buium (Vancouver Canucks), as well as veterans Troy Terry (Anaheim Ducks), Jason Zucker (Buffalo Sabres), Devin Cooley (Calgary Flames), Logan O'Connor (Colorado Avalanche), Danton Heinen (Columbus Blue Jackets), Trevor Moore (Los Angeles Kings) and Scott Mayfield (New York Islanders). Brown, Broz, O'Connor, Terry and Zucker are all starting the season on their clubs' respective injured reserve and/or non-roster lists.
In 2025-26, Denver had 15 former players play in the NHL, including debuts by Broz (Pittsburgh), Mike Benning (Florida Panthers), Jack Devine (Florida Panthers) and Jared Wright (Los Angeles). Also suiting up last year were Dakota Mermis (Toronto), Brink (Philadelphia and Minnesota), Buium (Minnesota and Vancouver), Cooley (Calgary), Heinen (Pittsburgh and Columbus), Mayfield (NY Islanders), Mazur (Detroit), Moore (Los Angeles), O'Connor (Colorado), Terry (Anahaeim) and Zucker (Buffalo).
Five DU players signed NHL contracts after the program won its 11th national championship and third in five seasons on April 11 in Las Vegas: Brown (Winnipeg Jets), Boston Buckberger (Columbus Blue Jackets), Rieger Lorenz (Minnesota Wild), Eric Pohlkamp (San Jose Sharks) and Samu Salminen (Florida Panthers).
The University of Michigan had the most alumni on NHL rosters with 21, followed by Boston College (20), Boston University (20) and Minnesota (18).
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.
DU's 12 alums are the fifth-most in the NCAA entering the new campaign and are more than fellow league members North Dakota (11) and Minnesota Duluth (10), as well as last year's national runner-up Wisconsin (10). Overall, there were 248 former college hockey players that made their respective NHL clubs for the first day of the season, which ties last season's record for the most since College Hockey Inc. began tracking data in 2017-18.
Among the Pioneers is 2022 national champion Carter Mazur, who made the Detroit Red Wings roster out of training camp for the first time in his career.
Denver's list includes recent alums Bobby Brink (Minnesota Wild), Garrett Brown (Winnipeg Jets), Tristan Broz (Pittsburgh Penguins) and Zeev Buium (Vancouver Canucks), as well as veterans Troy Terry (Anaheim Ducks), Jason Zucker (Buffalo Sabres), Devin Cooley (Calgary Flames), Logan O'Connor (Colorado Avalanche), Danton Heinen (Columbus Blue Jackets), Trevor Moore (Los Angeles Kings) and Scott Mayfield (New York Islanders). Brown, Broz, O'Connor, Terry and Zucker are all starting the season on their clubs' respective injured reserve and/or non-roster lists.
In 2025-26, Denver had 15 former players play in the NHL, including debuts by Broz (Pittsburgh), Mike Benning (Florida Panthers), Jack Devine (Florida Panthers) and Jared Wright (Los Angeles). Also suiting up last year were Dakota Mermis (Toronto), Brink (Philadelphia and Minnesota), Buium (Minnesota and Vancouver), Cooley (Calgary), Heinen (Pittsburgh and Columbus), Mayfield (NY Islanders), Mazur (Detroit), Moore (Los Angeles), O'Connor (Colorado), Terry (Anahaeim) and Zucker (Buffalo).
Five DU players signed NHL contracts after the program won its 11th national championship and third in five seasons on April 11 in Las Vegas: Brown (Winnipeg Jets), Boston Buckberger (Columbus Blue Jackets), Rieger Lorenz (Minnesota Wild), Eric Pohlkamp (San Jose Sharks) and Samu Salminen (Florida Panthers).
The University of Michigan had the most alumni on NHL rosters with 21, followed by Boston College (20), Boston University (20) and Minnesota (18).
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.
DENVER'S HOME FOR COLLEGE SPORTS
Visit DenverPioneers.com for complete coverage of all 18 of DU's NCAA Division I sports
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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
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