2026-27 Men's Ice Hockey Roster
Jersey Number 8
Kristian Epperson
- Position:
- Forward
- Ht./Wt.:
- 6-0 / 180
- Class:
- Sophomore
- Hometown:
- Mequon, Wisconsin
- NHL:
- Los Angeles Kings | 3rd Round | 88th Overall | 2025 NHL Draft
- Last Team:
- Saginaw Spirit (OHL)
NHL: Selected by the Los Angeles Kings in Round 3 (No. 88 Overall) of the 2025 NHL Draft.
Honors and Awards: 2026 NCAA National Champion … NCHC Academic Honor Roll (2025-26) … NCHC Distinguished Scholar-Athlete (2025-26)
2026-27: Participated in the Los Angeles Kings' summer development camp in July 2026.
2025-26: Recorded 11 goals and 11 assists for 22 points while playing in 39-of-43 games during DU’s national championship-winning campaign … Ranked fifth on the team in shooting percentage (.141) as a freshman … Added 78 shots on goal, 14 penalty minutes, 15 blocks and a +11 plus/minus rating … Recorded four multi-point games during the year … Made his collegiate debut on Oct. 10 at Air Force in the season opener and recorded his first point with an assist the next day in the home opener vs. Bentley on Oct. 11 … Scored his first career goal on Oct. 24 at Boston College … Had his first career multi-goal/point game and scored his first game-winner on Nov. 1 vs. Alaska Anchorage … Also had a season-high seven shots on goal vs. UAA and both goals came on the power play, marking the only time during the season that a Pioneer tallied twice with the man advantage in a single game … Had a season-high four penalty minutes on Nov. 14 vs. Colorado College … Scored and had multiple points in consecutive contests for the first time in his career on Jan. 17 at North Dakota (1g/1a) and Jan. 23 vs. St. Cloud State (1g/1a) … Missed his first game of the season on Feb. 14 at Omaha due to an illness and also didn't play in the NCHC Quarterfinals vs. Miami on March 7-8 and NCHC Semifinals vs. Western Michigan on March 14 due to an illness … Tallied his first career overtime goal in double-OT to secure the National Cup for the Pioneers in the league final on March 21 vs. Minnesota Duluth at Magness Arena … Finished the campaign on a season-long, three-game assist/point streak (0g/4a) … Picked up an assist in the NCAA West Regional Final vs. Western Michigan on March 29 … Produced his first career two-assist game in NCAA Frozen Four Semifinals vs. Michigan on April 9, which included the primary helper on game-winning goal by Kent Anderson in double-overtime … Also recorded an assist on Clarke Caswell’s tying goal with 2:46 left in the third period and had a season-high +3 plus/minus rating in DU’s comeback win vs. Michigan in Las Vegas … Recorded an assist on Rieger Lorenz’s tying goal in the third period in the NCAA National Championship Game vs. Wisconsin on April 11 … Took part in the World Junior Summer Showcase with USA Hockey in July/August 2025 in preparation for the 2026 IIHF World Junior Championship.
Before Denver: 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 ... Scored 27 goals and 53 assists for 80 points in 58 regular-season games for Saginaw ... Went on a nine-game point streak (6g/11a) from Sept. 27-Oct. 23, 2024 … Recorded three or more points in 11 games during the season with Saginaw and never went more than two consecutive outings without recording a point … Contributed three goals and one assist in five OHL 2025 playoff matchups ... Split the 2023-24 season between the U.S. NTDP Under-17 and Under-18 squads, playing 14 games for the U17 team (2g/5a) and skating in 42 contests and contributing 16 points (7g/9a) for the U18 team ... Recorded four goals and seven assists in 32 USHL games with the NTDP in 2023-24 ... Won gold with the United States at the 2022 World Under-17 Hockey Challenge, contributing three goals and two assists in six contests ... Skated in a total of 59 matchups for the NTDP in 2022-23 and registered 41 points overall (18g/23a), including 29 points (13g/16a) in 39 USHL contests ... Combined for 64 points (27g/37a) in 115 total NTDP games across two seasons (2022-2024)… Spent two years at Shattuck-St. Mary’s prep school and recorded 100 points (39g/61a) in 56 games in the 2021-22 campaign and 87 points (37g/50a) in 50 outings in 2020-21 … A product of the Milwaukee Jr. Admirals organization.
Personal: Graduated from Shattuck-St. Mary’s prep school in Minnesota in 2024 … Has one brother and two sisters … Enjoys spending time with family and friends in his free time … Likes all kinds of music … Favorite TV show is Peaky Blinders and favorite movie is Django Unchained … Career goals are to win a national championship, continue to develop his game and earn an opportunity to play in the NHL … Has volunteered at local schools and hospitals as part of community outreach efforts … Also participated in lacrosse, soccer and cross-country running while growing up.
Other: Won a USA Tier I national championship in his U14 year … Also won a U11 state championship … Picked in the first round at No. 9 overall by the Madison Capitals of the 2024 USHL Draft … Selected by Saginaw at No. 84 overall in the Round 5 of the 2022 OHL Priority Selection … Rated at No. 201 among North American Skaters by NHL Central Scouting heading into the 2024 NHL Draft and moved up to No. 47 in the rankings for the 2025 Draft.
Why DU: “I chose to join the University of Denver because of its winning culture and strong commitment to player development, both on and off the ice.”
Honors and Awards: 2026 NCAA National Champion … NCHC Academic Honor Roll (2025-26) … NCHC Distinguished Scholar-Athlete (2025-26)
2026-27: Participated in the Los Angeles Kings' summer development camp in July 2026.
2025-26: Recorded 11 goals and 11 assists for 22 points while playing in 39-of-43 games during DU’s national championship-winning campaign … Ranked fifth on the team in shooting percentage (.141) as a freshman … Added 78 shots on goal, 14 penalty minutes, 15 blocks and a +11 plus/minus rating … Recorded four multi-point games during the year … Made his collegiate debut on Oct. 10 at Air Force in the season opener and recorded his first point with an assist the next day in the home opener vs. Bentley on Oct. 11 … Scored his first career goal on Oct. 24 at Boston College … Had his first career multi-goal/point game and scored his first game-winner on Nov. 1 vs. Alaska Anchorage … Also had a season-high seven shots on goal vs. UAA and both goals came on the power play, marking the only time during the season that a Pioneer tallied twice with the man advantage in a single game … Had a season-high four penalty minutes on Nov. 14 vs. Colorado College … Scored and had multiple points in consecutive contests for the first time in his career on Jan. 17 at North Dakota (1g/1a) and Jan. 23 vs. St. Cloud State (1g/1a) … Missed his first game of the season on Feb. 14 at Omaha due to an illness and also didn't play in the NCHC Quarterfinals vs. Miami on March 7-8 and NCHC Semifinals vs. Western Michigan on March 14 due to an illness … Tallied his first career overtime goal in double-OT to secure the National Cup for the Pioneers in the league final on March 21 vs. Minnesota Duluth at Magness Arena … Finished the campaign on a season-long, three-game assist/point streak (0g/4a) … Picked up an assist in the NCAA West Regional Final vs. Western Michigan on March 29 … Produced his first career two-assist game in NCAA Frozen Four Semifinals vs. Michigan on April 9, which included the primary helper on game-winning goal by Kent Anderson in double-overtime … Also recorded an assist on Clarke Caswell’s tying goal with 2:46 left in the third period and had a season-high +3 plus/minus rating in DU’s comeback win vs. Michigan in Las Vegas … Recorded an assist on Rieger Lorenz’s tying goal in the third period in the NCAA National Championship Game vs. Wisconsin on April 11 … Took part in the World Junior Summer Showcase with USA Hockey in July/August 2025 in preparation for the 2026 IIHF World Junior Championship.
Before Denver: 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 ... Scored 27 goals and 53 assists for 80 points in 58 regular-season games for Saginaw ... Went on a nine-game point streak (6g/11a) from Sept. 27-Oct. 23, 2024 … Recorded three or more points in 11 games during the season with Saginaw and never went more than two consecutive outings without recording a point … Contributed three goals and one assist in five OHL 2025 playoff matchups ... Split the 2023-24 season between the U.S. NTDP Under-17 and Under-18 squads, playing 14 games for the U17 team (2g/5a) and skating in 42 contests and contributing 16 points (7g/9a) for the U18 team ... Recorded four goals and seven assists in 32 USHL games with the NTDP in 2023-24 ... Won gold with the United States at the 2022 World Under-17 Hockey Challenge, contributing three goals and two assists in six contests ... Skated in a total of 59 matchups for the NTDP in 2022-23 and registered 41 points overall (18g/23a), including 29 points (13g/16a) in 39 USHL contests ... Combined for 64 points (27g/37a) in 115 total NTDP games across two seasons (2022-2024)… Spent two years at Shattuck-St. Mary’s prep school and recorded 100 points (39g/61a) in 56 games in the 2021-22 campaign and 87 points (37g/50a) in 50 outings in 2020-21 … A product of the Milwaukee Jr. Admirals organization.
Personal: Graduated from Shattuck-St. Mary’s prep school in Minnesota in 2024 … Has one brother and two sisters … Enjoys spending time with family and friends in his free time … Likes all kinds of music … Favorite TV show is Peaky Blinders and favorite movie is Django Unchained … Career goals are to win a national championship, continue to develop his game and earn an opportunity to play in the NHL … Has volunteered at local schools and hospitals as part of community outreach efforts … Also participated in lacrosse, soccer and cross-country running while growing up.
Other: Won a USA Tier I national championship in his U14 year … Also won a U11 state championship … Picked in the first round at No. 9 overall by the Madison Capitals of the 2024 USHL Draft … Selected by Saginaw at No. 84 overall in the Round 5 of the 2022 OHL Priority Selection … Rated at No. 201 among North American Skaters by NHL Central Scouting heading into the 2024 NHL Draft and moved up to No. 47 in the rankings for the 2025 Draft.
Why DU: “I chose to join the University of Denver because of its winning culture and strong commitment to player development, both on and off the ice.”
Tuesday, June 30
Tuesday, June 30
Tuesday, June 30
Tuesday, April 14
