2025-26 Men's Ice Hockey Roster
Jersey Number 9
Boston Buckberger
- Position:
- Defenseman
- Ht./Wt.:
- 6-0 / 190
- Class:
- Junior
- Hometown:
- Saskatoon, Saskatchewan
- Last Team:
- Lincoln Stars (USHL)
NHL: Signed a two-year, entry-level contract with the NHL Columbus Blue Jackets as a college free agent on April 13, 2026.
Honors and Awards:2x NCAA National Champion (2024, 2026) … 2026 NCAA Frozen Four All-Tournament Team … 2026 NCHC Frozen Faceoff All-Tournament Team … 2025-26 All-NCHC Third Team … 2025 NCAA Elite 90 Award … 4x NCHC Defenseman of the Week (Nov. 18, 2025; Dec. 2, 2025; Oct. 23, 2023; Feb. 24, 2025) … 2024 NCAA Northeast Regional All-Tournament Team … NCHC Rookie of the Month (October 2023) … 3x NCHC Academic Honor Roll (2023-23, 2024-25, 2025-26) … 3x NCHC Distinguished Scholar-Athlete (2023-23, 2024-25, 2025-26) … 3x AHCA National All-American Scholar (2023-23, 2024-25, 2025-26) … CSC Academic All-America First Team (2026) … 2x CSC Academic All-District (2025, 2026) … NCHC Rookie of the Week (Oct. 30, 2023) … Hobey Baker Award Nominee … DU Hockey Keith Magnuson Best Defensive Player Award (2025-26) ... DU’s Dr. Art Mason Top Scholar-Athlete Award (2024-25)
2025-26: Named an alternate captain prior to his junior campaign on Oct. 3 and helped lead the Pioneers to the program’s 11th National Championship … Recorded 29 points with a career-high 10 goals and while finishing fifth on the squad with 19 assists … Skated in all 43 games while leading Denver and finishing second among both fellow blueliners and all NCAA players with a +32 plus/minus rating … Ranking third at his position in the country and second on the team with five power-play goals (tied) … Led Denver with 14 power-play points (5g/9a) … Was fourth among NCAA D-men and third on the Pioneers with 130 shots on net … Blocked a career-high four shots and had the primary assist on the game-winning goal by Kyle Chyzowski in the NCAA Championship Game on April 11 vs. Wisconsin, winning his second career national title (also in 2024) … Had six multi-point games during the year, including matching career highs in assists and points with three helpers on Nov. 1 vs. Alaska Anchorage … Had a season-high +4 plus/minus rating twice: Oct. 24 at Boston College and Nov. 8 at Western Michigan … Registered 20 points (7g/13a) in a 19-game stretch from Oct. 18-Jan. 9, which included five multi-points games in that time … Recorded five goals in a five-game stretch from Nov. 14-29 (5g/1a) and went on a career-long, three-game goal streak from Nov. 14-21 (3g/1a), marking the second time during season that a Denver D-man had tallied in at least three straight games (Eric Pohlkamp, four straight, Nov. 1-14) … Tallied his first career overtime goal on Nov. 14 vs. Colorado College and recorded the game-winner on Nov. 15 at CC in the series finale … Named NCHC Defenseman of the Week for the performance vs. Colorado College and was the first DU player to score the game-winning goal in back-to-back games since Cale Ashcroft on Dec. 14, 2024 vs. CC and Jan. 3, 2025 at Maine … Scored 26 seconds into the second period on Nov. 21 at Arizona State for the fastest goal to begin a period this season for the Pioneers … Played in his 100th career contest and named the Denver Player of the Game on Nov. 29 vs. Minnesota in the U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame Game at Ball Arena after recording his first career two-goal outing, including tallying with 23 seconds left in the third period, to force overtime and earn NCHC Defense of the Week accolades … Went on two, season-long four-game point streaks from Nov. 8-21 (3g/2a) and Nov. 29-Dec. 12 (2g/3a) … Fired a career-high nine shots on goal on Jan 9 vs. Western Michigan … Had an assist in Game 2 of the NCHC Quarterfinals vs. Miami on March 7 … Scored the tying goal with 3:41 left in the third period en route to a 2-1 overtime win on March 14 vs. Western Michigan in the NCHC Semifinals … Also tallied in the NCHC Frozen Faceoff Championship on March 21 vs. Minnesota Duluth to help the Pioneers claim the National Cup for the second time in three seasons … Finished his college career with 86 points (24g/62a) while playing in 128-of-131 total games, only missing three outings at the end of the 2024-25 season due to injury … Ended his collegiate tenure with a +94 plus/minus rating, the second-highest among all NCAA players since the statistic first began being tracked in 2004 and the highest all-time by a skater that played four or fewer seasons.
2024-25: Recorded career bests with nine goals and 30 points while also adding 21 assists … Ranked in the top 10 in each of the three scoring categories on the team and was third among defensemen in those areas during the year … Skated in each of the first 41 games of the year before suffering a season-ending upper-body injury on March 22 vs. Western Michigan in the NCHC Championship Game … He had played in each of the first 85 games of his career prior to getting hurt … Was tied for fifth in the NCAA with a +30 plus/minus rating, ranking second on the squad and was leading the team in plus/minus at the time of his injury … Had 71 shots on goal, blocked 36 shots, produced 22 penalty minutes and contributed five power-play points (0g/5a) … Had seven multi-point games, including tying a career best with three points (1g/2a) on Feb. 14 vs. North Dakota … Registered nine points (2g/7a) in his first nine games of the season from Oct. 5-Nov. 8 … Went on a career-long four-game assist streak from Oct. 26-Nov. 8 (1g/4a) … Played his 50th career game on Oct. 26 vs. Wisconsin … Tallied his first career game-winning goal on Nov. 16 at North Dakota … Had four penalty minutes on Dec. 13 at Colorado College, a career high … Tied a career best and team season high with a +4 plus/minus rating on Feb. 1 vs. Omaha … Blocked a career-high three shots twice during the year (Nov. 2 at Yale, Feb. 21, at Miami) … Picked up his second career NCHC Defenseman of the Week award on Feb. 24 after totaling two assists and five blocks in the series at Miami (Feb. 21-22) … Recorded his 50th career point with an assist on Feb. 28 vs. St. Cloud State … Fired a career-high five shots on March 8 at Colorado College … Tied a personal best with three points (1g/2a) on Feb. 14 vs. North Dakota … Registered 17 points (6g/11a) in his final 16 games he played … Scored three goals and had three assists in a six-game stretch from March 7-21 … Recorded four points (2g/2a) in five NCHC Tournament Games, including scoring just 1:29 into the first period in the Frozen Faceoff Semifinals on March 21 vs. Arizona State for the fastest Denver goal to begin a game during the season … Suffered a lower-body injury in overtime in the NCHC Frozen Faceoff Championship on March 22, missing the final three games of the year … Named the 2025 recipient of the NCAA Elite 90 award for having the highest GPA at the Frozen Four (4.0) ... Attended Colorado Avalanche development camp in July 2024 as an invitee.
2023-24: Was the only Denver freshman to appear in all 44 games during the season and ranked fourth among team defensemen with 27 points on five goals and 22 assists … Finished with a +32 plus/minus rating, third-highest on the squad … Added 79 shots, 39 blocks and 27 penalty minutes … Picked up six multi-point games … Made his NCAA debut and recorded his first career point with a goal while also adding an assist on Oct. 7 at Alaska Fairbanks in the season opener … Began his collegiate career with 14 points (2g/12a) in his first 15 games from Oct. 7-Nov. 24 … Had a season-long six-game point streak from Oct. 20-Nov. 4 (2g/5a) … Picked up his first two-assist contest on Oct. 28 vs. Air Force … Recognized with consecutive NCHC weekly awards as Defenseman of the Week on Oct. 23 (0g/2a) and Rookie of the Week on Oct. 30 (1g/2a) … Named NCHC Rookie of the Month for October after leading all league freshmen with seven points (2g/5a) in six games, becoming the first DU defenseman to earn the honor and the then-fourth different NCHC blueliner to ever be recognized with the award (Zeev Buium was later recognized as well) … Registered a career-high three assists/points on Feb. 24 vs. Miami … Recorded a personal-long three-game assist streak during the postseason from March 23-30 (1g/3a) … Contributed a helper in the NCHC Frozen Faceoff Championship Game vs. Omaha on March 23 … Scored and added an assist on the overtime-winner in the NCAA Northeast Regional Semifinals vs. Massachusetts in his NCAA Tournament debut on March 28 … Earned Regional All-Tournament Team honors after also contributing an assist in the final vs. Cornell on March 30 … Finished the NCAA Frozen Four on April 11-13 with a combined +2 plus/minus rating and four blocked shots.
Before Denver: Skated in 2022-23 with the Lincoln Stars of the USHL, serving as an alternate captain of the squad … Was named a USHL Third-Team All-Star with Lincoln after producing 45 points (9g/36a) in 62 games … His 36 assists ranked tied for 13th in the league during the year … Added eight points (1g/7a) in nine USHL playoff games … Helped the Brooks Bandits win the Alberta Junior Hockey League Championship in 2021-22 and was named to the AJHL South All-Rookie Team after compiling 31 points (13g/18a) in 59 games … Registered nine points (2g/7a) in 13 AJHL playoff contests en route to the 2022 championship … Product of the Saskatoon Maniacs, Riverkings and Blazers organizations … Registered 40 points (14g/26a) in 43 games with the Saskatoon Blazers U18 AAA in 2019-20.
Personal: Has three siblings, including a twin brother ... Father played professional hockey for six years in the American Hockey League, International Hockey League and West Coast Hockey League … Graduated from Centennial Collegiate school in 2021 … Hopes to play professional hockey after his time at DU … Hobbies include golf, Spikeball, tennis and baseball.
Why DU: "I chose DU as it is an unbelievable campus that has plenty of options academically. Also, the hockey team is very sought after and it will be a pleasure to play on the team.”
Honors and Awards:2x NCAA National Champion (2024, 2026) … 2026 NCAA Frozen Four All-Tournament Team … 2026 NCHC Frozen Faceoff All-Tournament Team … 2025-26 All-NCHC Third Team … 2025 NCAA Elite 90 Award … 4x NCHC Defenseman of the Week (Nov. 18, 2025; Dec. 2, 2025; Oct. 23, 2023; Feb. 24, 2025) … 2024 NCAA Northeast Regional All-Tournament Team … NCHC Rookie of the Month (October 2023) … 3x NCHC Academic Honor Roll (2023-23, 2024-25, 2025-26) … 3x NCHC Distinguished Scholar-Athlete (2023-23, 2024-25, 2025-26) … 3x AHCA National All-American Scholar (2023-23, 2024-25, 2025-26) … CSC Academic All-America First Team (2026) … 2x CSC Academic All-District (2025, 2026) … NCHC Rookie of the Week (Oct. 30, 2023) … Hobey Baker Award Nominee … DU Hockey Keith Magnuson Best Defensive Player Award (2025-26) ... DU’s Dr. Art Mason Top Scholar-Athlete Award (2024-25)
2025-26: Named an alternate captain prior to his junior campaign on Oct. 3 and helped lead the Pioneers to the program’s 11th National Championship … Recorded 29 points with a career-high 10 goals and while finishing fifth on the squad with 19 assists … Skated in all 43 games while leading Denver and finishing second among both fellow blueliners and all NCAA players with a +32 plus/minus rating … Ranking third at his position in the country and second on the team with five power-play goals (tied) … Led Denver with 14 power-play points (5g/9a) … Was fourth among NCAA D-men and third on the Pioneers with 130 shots on net … Blocked a career-high four shots and had the primary assist on the game-winning goal by Kyle Chyzowski in the NCAA Championship Game on April 11 vs. Wisconsin, winning his second career national title (also in 2024) … Had six multi-point games during the year, including matching career highs in assists and points with three helpers on Nov. 1 vs. Alaska Anchorage … Had a season-high +4 plus/minus rating twice: Oct. 24 at Boston College and Nov. 8 at Western Michigan … Registered 20 points (7g/13a) in a 19-game stretch from Oct. 18-Jan. 9, which included five multi-points games in that time … Recorded five goals in a five-game stretch from Nov. 14-29 (5g/1a) and went on a career-long, three-game goal streak from Nov. 14-21 (3g/1a), marking the second time during season that a Denver D-man had tallied in at least three straight games (Eric Pohlkamp, four straight, Nov. 1-14) … Tallied his first career overtime goal on Nov. 14 vs. Colorado College and recorded the game-winner on Nov. 15 at CC in the series finale … Named NCHC Defenseman of the Week for the performance vs. Colorado College and was the first DU player to score the game-winning goal in back-to-back games since Cale Ashcroft on Dec. 14, 2024 vs. CC and Jan. 3, 2025 at Maine … Scored 26 seconds into the second period on Nov. 21 at Arizona State for the fastest goal to begin a period this season for the Pioneers … Played in his 100th career contest and named the Denver Player of the Game on Nov. 29 vs. Minnesota in the U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame Game at Ball Arena after recording his first career two-goal outing, including tallying with 23 seconds left in the third period, to force overtime and earn NCHC Defense of the Week accolades … Went on two, season-long four-game point streaks from Nov. 8-21 (3g/2a) and Nov. 29-Dec. 12 (2g/3a) … Fired a career-high nine shots on goal on Jan 9 vs. Western Michigan … Had an assist in Game 2 of the NCHC Quarterfinals vs. Miami on March 7 … Scored the tying goal with 3:41 left in the third period en route to a 2-1 overtime win on March 14 vs. Western Michigan in the NCHC Semifinals … Also tallied in the NCHC Frozen Faceoff Championship on March 21 vs. Minnesota Duluth to help the Pioneers claim the National Cup for the second time in three seasons … Finished his college career with 86 points (24g/62a) while playing in 128-of-131 total games, only missing three outings at the end of the 2024-25 season due to injury … Ended his collegiate tenure with a +94 plus/minus rating, the second-highest among all NCAA players since the statistic first began being tracked in 2004 and the highest all-time by a skater that played four or fewer seasons.
2024-25: Recorded career bests with nine goals and 30 points while also adding 21 assists … Ranked in the top 10 in each of the three scoring categories on the team and was third among defensemen in those areas during the year … Skated in each of the first 41 games of the year before suffering a season-ending upper-body injury on March 22 vs. Western Michigan in the NCHC Championship Game … He had played in each of the first 85 games of his career prior to getting hurt … Was tied for fifth in the NCAA with a +30 plus/minus rating, ranking second on the squad and was leading the team in plus/minus at the time of his injury … Had 71 shots on goal, blocked 36 shots, produced 22 penalty minutes and contributed five power-play points (0g/5a) … Had seven multi-point games, including tying a career best with three points (1g/2a) on Feb. 14 vs. North Dakota … Registered nine points (2g/7a) in his first nine games of the season from Oct. 5-Nov. 8 … Went on a career-long four-game assist streak from Oct. 26-Nov. 8 (1g/4a) … Played his 50th career game on Oct. 26 vs. Wisconsin … Tallied his first career game-winning goal on Nov. 16 at North Dakota … Had four penalty minutes on Dec. 13 at Colorado College, a career high … Tied a career best and team season high with a +4 plus/minus rating on Feb. 1 vs. Omaha … Blocked a career-high three shots twice during the year (Nov. 2 at Yale, Feb. 21, at Miami) … Picked up his second career NCHC Defenseman of the Week award on Feb. 24 after totaling two assists and five blocks in the series at Miami (Feb. 21-22) … Recorded his 50th career point with an assist on Feb. 28 vs. St. Cloud State … Fired a career-high five shots on March 8 at Colorado College … Tied a personal best with three points (1g/2a) on Feb. 14 vs. North Dakota … Registered 17 points (6g/11a) in his final 16 games he played … Scored three goals and had three assists in a six-game stretch from March 7-21 … Recorded four points (2g/2a) in five NCHC Tournament Games, including scoring just 1:29 into the first period in the Frozen Faceoff Semifinals on March 21 vs. Arizona State for the fastest Denver goal to begin a game during the season … Suffered a lower-body injury in overtime in the NCHC Frozen Faceoff Championship on March 22, missing the final three games of the year … Named the 2025 recipient of the NCAA Elite 90 award for having the highest GPA at the Frozen Four (4.0) ... Attended Colorado Avalanche development camp in July 2024 as an invitee.
2023-24: Was the only Denver freshman to appear in all 44 games during the season and ranked fourth among team defensemen with 27 points on five goals and 22 assists … Finished with a +32 plus/minus rating, third-highest on the squad … Added 79 shots, 39 blocks and 27 penalty minutes … Picked up six multi-point games … Made his NCAA debut and recorded his first career point with a goal while also adding an assist on Oct. 7 at Alaska Fairbanks in the season opener … Began his collegiate career with 14 points (2g/12a) in his first 15 games from Oct. 7-Nov. 24 … Had a season-long six-game point streak from Oct. 20-Nov. 4 (2g/5a) … Picked up his first two-assist contest on Oct. 28 vs. Air Force … Recognized with consecutive NCHC weekly awards as Defenseman of the Week on Oct. 23 (0g/2a) and Rookie of the Week on Oct. 30 (1g/2a) … Named NCHC Rookie of the Month for October after leading all league freshmen with seven points (2g/5a) in six games, becoming the first DU defenseman to earn the honor and the then-fourth different NCHC blueliner to ever be recognized with the award (Zeev Buium was later recognized as well) … Registered a career-high three assists/points on Feb. 24 vs. Miami … Recorded a personal-long three-game assist streak during the postseason from March 23-30 (1g/3a) … Contributed a helper in the NCHC Frozen Faceoff Championship Game vs. Omaha on March 23 … Scored and added an assist on the overtime-winner in the NCAA Northeast Regional Semifinals vs. Massachusetts in his NCAA Tournament debut on March 28 … Earned Regional All-Tournament Team honors after also contributing an assist in the final vs. Cornell on March 30 … Finished the NCAA Frozen Four on April 11-13 with a combined +2 plus/minus rating and four blocked shots.
Before Denver: Skated in 2022-23 with the Lincoln Stars of the USHL, serving as an alternate captain of the squad … Was named a USHL Third-Team All-Star with Lincoln after producing 45 points (9g/36a) in 62 games … His 36 assists ranked tied for 13th in the league during the year … Added eight points (1g/7a) in nine USHL playoff games … Helped the Brooks Bandits win the Alberta Junior Hockey League Championship in 2021-22 and was named to the AJHL South All-Rookie Team after compiling 31 points (13g/18a) in 59 games … Registered nine points (2g/7a) in 13 AJHL playoff contests en route to the 2022 championship … Product of the Saskatoon Maniacs, Riverkings and Blazers organizations … Registered 40 points (14g/26a) in 43 games with the Saskatoon Blazers U18 AAA in 2019-20.
Personal: Has three siblings, including a twin brother ... Father played professional hockey for six years in the American Hockey League, International Hockey League and West Coast Hockey League … Graduated from Centennial Collegiate school in 2021 … Hopes to play professional hockey after his time at DU … Hobbies include golf, Spikeball, tennis and baseball.
Why DU: "I chose DU as it is an unbelievable campus that has plenty of options academically. Also, the hockey team is very sought after and it will be a pleasure to play on the team.”
Thursday, September 10
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Tuesday, June 30
