University of Denver Athletics

Honors and Awards: 2020-21 alternate captain...NCHC Academic All-Conference Team (2017-18, 2018-19, 2019-20, 2020-21)...NCHC Distinguished Scholar-Athlete (2017-18, 2018-19, 2019-20, 2020-21)...Pioneers' Keith Magnuson Best Defensive Player (2019-20, 2020-21)...Pioneers' Dr. Ken Bredesen Sportsmanship Award (2019-20)...

2020-21: Played in 24 games and tallied two assists…-7 rating…12PIMs…30 blocked shots…Distributed assists in Denver’s 4-1 win over North Dakota on January 17 and in Denver’s 5-1 win over CC on February 25.

2019-20: One of eight Pioneers to appear in all 36 games…Recorded a career-high nine-point season…Finished third on the team with a +13 rating…Fired a career-high 49 shots…Logged his first-career multi-point game with two assists on Nov. 1, 2019 vs. Niagara…Participated in St. Louis Blues Development Camp.
 
2018-19: One of seven Pioneers to appear in all 41 games…Posted a +16 plus/minus rating, tied for fourth-highest on the team…Doubled his production from his freshman season with one goal and five assists…Recorded points in back-to-back games for the first time on March 15-16, 2019 vs. North Dakota.

2017-18: Appeared in 33 of 41 games…Recorded first collegiate goal and point on Oct. 21, 2017 vs. Lake Superior State.

Before Denver: Skated with the Penticton Vees (BCHL) from 2015-17, amassing 24 points (4-20-24) and 20 PIMS in 106 career appearances... Won BCHL Championship with Penticton in 2017... Helped Team Canada White win a gold medal at the 2015 World U-17 Hockey Challenge, tallying one assist and 6 PIMS in six games…Captured a Canadian Sport School Hockey League championship with Okanagan Hockey Academy in 2015…

Personal: The son of James & Donna Mendel… Has one brother, Harrison… Favorite TV show is Game of Thrones… Favorite movie is Talladega Nights… Favorite musical artist is Drake… Favorite video game is Counter-Strike: Global Offensive… Favorite NHL player is Shea Weber… Career goal is to play in the NHL, then become a physiotherapist… Enjoys playing soccer, basketball and spikeball…Chose to attend DU because of its great athletic & academic tradition…