Johnny Hicks - 2026-27 Men's Ice Hockey Roster
Jersey Number 31
Johnny Hicks
- Position:
- Goaltender
- Ht./Wt.:
- 5-10 / 160
- Class:
- Sophomore
- Hometown:
- Kamloops, British Columbia
- Last Team:
- Victoria Royals (WHL)
Honors and Awards: 2026 NCAA National Champion … 2026 NCAA Frozen Four Most Outstanding Player … 2026 NCAA West Regional Most Outstanding Player … 2026 NCAA Frozen Four All-Tournament Team … 2026 NCAA West Regional All-Tournament Team … 2026 NCHC Frozen Faceoff Most Outstanding Player … 2026 NCHC Frozen Faceoff All-Tournament Team … National Goaltender of the Month (March/April 2026) … 2x NCHC Goaltender of the Month (February 2026; March/April 2026) … NCHC Goaltender of the Week (Feb. 17, 2026) … NCHC Rookie of the Week (Feb. 3, 2026) … NCHC Academic Honor Roll (2025-26) … NCHC Distinguished Scholar-Athlete (2025-26) … DU Athletics Male Student-Athlete of the Year (2025-26) … DU Hockey’s 2025-26 Bill Masterton MVP & Barry Sharp Freshman of the Year.
2026-27: Participated in the Edmonton Oilers' summer development camp in July 2026 as an invitee.
2025-26: Capped off a historic rookie season by helping lead the Pioneers to their 11th national championship and the team’s third title in the past five years … Set an NCAA and Denver school record during the season with a .957 save percentage while his 1.19 goals-against average also led the nation and tied Jimmy Howard for second-best all-time in a single campaign … Became the first DU goaltender to go unbeaten in his first 17 career decisions, posting a 16-0-1 record after entering early in the first period on Jan. 24 vs. St. Cloud State following an injury to starter Quentin Miller … The 17-game unbeaten streak is believed to be the longest stretch by a DU goaltender to begin his collegiate career in program history … Allowed one goal or fewer in 11 of the 17 games during his unbeaten streak and won each of the final 13 outings … Appeared in 21 total games during the year and started each of the final 16 contests after making five relief appearances … Also set the DU program record for the best single-season winning percentage (.971) in addition to his goals-against average (1.19) … Put together two memorable and historic performances during the NCAA Frozen Four in Las Vegas, Nevada, beginning by making a career-high 49 saves on 52 shots faced in a 4-3 double-overtime win vs. No. 1 Michigan in the semifinals on April 9, which included 21 saves in 32:35 of the overtime periods … The 49 saves vs. Michigan in the Frozen Four were the most by a Pioneer goalie since Tanner Jaillett stopped 51 shots in a 4-3 win in double-overtime against Omaha on March 12, 2016 … Made 29-of-30 saves in a 2-1 comeback victory in the National Championship Game on April 11 against Wisconsin … Previously recorded career-best performances in back-to-back weekends during the NCHC Tournament at Magness Arena by making 38 saves on 39 shots faced in an overtime win vs. Western Michigan on March 14 in the conference semifinals before denying 41-of-44 shots in a double-OT victory in the championship game vs. Minnesota Duluth on March 21 … Began the NCAA Tournament with his third individual shutout by stopping all 24 shots vs. No. 3-seed Cornell in the NCAA West Regional Semifinals on March 27 in Loveland, Colo. … Recorded 26-of-28 saves vs. No. 1-seed Western Michigan in the Regional Final on March 29 to secure the Pioneers’ berth into a third-straight Frozen Four … Made his collegiate debut by playing 1:28 of relief late in the third period in a 5-2 win vs. Miami on Dec. 6 (one save) … Stopped all 13 shots he faced in 27:37 of relief vs. Western Michigan on Jan. 10 … Made 15-of-16 saves in the third period during a relief appearance at North Dakota on Jan. 16 … Recorded his first career win on Jan. 24 vs. St. Cloud State by making all 22 saves and sharing a team shutout with Quentin Miller after entering in relief at 4:49 of the first period following an injury to Miller … Made his first career start on Jan. 30 vs. UMD and stopped 29-of-30 shots before leaving in the third period with a lower-body injury … Returned to action the next night on Jan. 31 and recorded his first individual shutout by making all 19 saves in a 1-0 overtime win against the Bulldogs … Selected as NCHC Rookie of the Week on Feb. 3 after totaling 48-of-49 saves in a sweep of Minnesota Duluth … Earned his second of two NCHC weekly honors during the season on Feb. 17, as he was named Goaltender of the Week after stopping 57-of-60 shots in the series at Omaha on Feb. 13-14 … Made a then-season-best 31 saves at UNO on Feb. 13 before denying 26 shots on Feb. 14 in the series finale … Went unbeaten in each of the six starts in February at 5-0-1 and led the NCHC in wins and GAA (1.50) and ranked second in save percentage (.944), earning the league’s Goaltender of the Month … Posted a career-best 117:36 shutout streak across three games from Feb. 28 to March 7 … Stopped all 23 shots for his second career individual shutout in Game 1 of the NCHC Quarterfinals vs. Miami on March 6 … Stopped 11-of-12 shots in Game 2 vs. Miami on March 7 … Named both the NCHC and National Goaltender of the Month for March and April by going 8-0-0 with a 1.24 GAA and .956 save percentage.
Before Denver: Split the 2024-25 campaign between the Brooks Bandits of the British Columbia Hockey League and Victoria Royals of the Western Hockey League … Began the season with Brooks and recorded an 18-3-0 record, 1.37 goals-against average and .943 save percentage in 21 games … Played in the BCHL All-Star/Top Prospects Game in 2024-25 and finished with the highest GAA and Save% in the BCHL during the year despite only playing half of the season … Joined Victoria on Jan. 3 and went on to produce a 10-4-1 record, 2.69 GAA, .909 Save% in 14 regular season contests and was twice named WHL Goaltender of the Week … Went 5-0-1 while leading the league with a 2.10 GAA and .939 Save% in the 2025 WHL playoffs … Spent a year and a half with Brooks (AJHL/BCHL) from 2023-2024 after suiting up for the Merritt Centennials of the BCHL from 2021-2023 … Named the Most Valuable Player for Merritt in both 2021-22 and 2022-23, while also earning Rookie of the Year honors the first season … Played in his first BCHL Top Prospects Game in 2022-23 … Overall, posted a 33-30-10 record, 3.23 GAA, .913 Save% and six shutouts in 80 BCHL games across four seasons from 2021-2025 … Went 26-3-0 with a 1.98 GAA, .909 Save% and seven shutouts in 30 AJHL outings with Brooks in 2023-24 … Won the BCHL Rocky Mountain Classic in 2024 with Brooks … Posted the best Save% and GAA during the 2023-24 BCHL Playoffs with Brooks … Won a gold medal with Canada West at the 2023 World Junior-A Challenge, appearing in one game.
Personal: Has an older sister and younger brother … Graduated from Valleyview Secondary School in 2023 … Intends to major in psychology … Career goals include playing in the NHL and winning the Stanley Cup … Would also like to become a sports psychologist and start a charity for kids that can’t afford to try out hockey … Loves playing the guitar and has written five songs … Also enjoys hiking, working out, listening to music, being with his family and friends, playing soccer, football, swimming, basketball, tennis, camping, photography and painting … Volunteered with his junior team when the city was flooded.
Why DU: “I chose Denver because of how great of an opportunity it is to go to such a prestigious school and play for such a professional hockey program. Additionally, I want to win and develop as a goaltender, student and person.”
2026-27: Participated in the Edmonton Oilers' summer development camp in July 2026 as an invitee.
2025-26: Capped off a historic rookie season by helping lead the Pioneers to their 11th national championship and the team’s third title in the past five years … Set an NCAA and Denver school record during the season with a .957 save percentage while his 1.19 goals-against average also led the nation and tied Jimmy Howard for second-best all-time in a single campaign … Became the first DU goaltender to go unbeaten in his first 17 career decisions, posting a 16-0-1 record after entering early in the first period on Jan. 24 vs. St. Cloud State following an injury to starter Quentin Miller … The 17-game unbeaten streak is believed to be the longest stretch by a DU goaltender to begin his collegiate career in program history … Allowed one goal or fewer in 11 of the 17 games during his unbeaten streak and won each of the final 13 outings … Appeared in 21 total games during the year and started each of the final 16 contests after making five relief appearances … Also set the DU program record for the best single-season winning percentage (.971) in addition to his goals-against average (1.19) … Put together two memorable and historic performances during the NCAA Frozen Four in Las Vegas, Nevada, beginning by making a career-high 49 saves on 52 shots faced in a 4-3 double-overtime win vs. No. 1 Michigan in the semifinals on April 9, which included 21 saves in 32:35 of the overtime periods … The 49 saves vs. Michigan in the Frozen Four were the most by a Pioneer goalie since Tanner Jaillett stopped 51 shots in a 4-3 win in double-overtime against Omaha on March 12, 2016 … Made 29-of-30 saves in a 2-1 comeback victory in the National Championship Game on April 11 against Wisconsin … Previously recorded career-best performances in back-to-back weekends during the NCHC Tournament at Magness Arena by making 38 saves on 39 shots faced in an overtime win vs. Western Michigan on March 14 in the conference semifinals before denying 41-of-44 shots in a double-OT victory in the championship game vs. Minnesota Duluth on March 21 … Began the NCAA Tournament with his third individual shutout by stopping all 24 shots vs. No. 3-seed Cornell in the NCAA West Regional Semifinals on March 27 in Loveland, Colo. … Recorded 26-of-28 saves vs. No. 1-seed Western Michigan in the Regional Final on March 29 to secure the Pioneers’ berth into a third-straight Frozen Four … Made his collegiate debut by playing 1:28 of relief late in the third period in a 5-2 win vs. Miami on Dec. 6 (one save) … Stopped all 13 shots he faced in 27:37 of relief vs. Western Michigan on Jan. 10 … Made 15-of-16 saves in the third period during a relief appearance at North Dakota on Jan. 16 … Recorded his first career win on Jan. 24 vs. St. Cloud State by making all 22 saves and sharing a team shutout with Quentin Miller after entering in relief at 4:49 of the first period following an injury to Miller … Made his first career start on Jan. 30 vs. UMD and stopped 29-of-30 shots before leaving in the third period with a lower-body injury … Returned to action the next night on Jan. 31 and recorded his first individual shutout by making all 19 saves in a 1-0 overtime win against the Bulldogs … Selected as NCHC Rookie of the Week on Feb. 3 after totaling 48-of-49 saves in a sweep of Minnesota Duluth … Earned his second of two NCHC weekly honors during the season on Feb. 17, as he was named Goaltender of the Week after stopping 57-of-60 shots in the series at Omaha on Feb. 13-14 … Made a then-season-best 31 saves at UNO on Feb. 13 before denying 26 shots on Feb. 14 in the series finale … Went unbeaten in each of the six starts in February at 5-0-1 and led the NCHC in wins and GAA (1.50) and ranked second in save percentage (.944), earning the league’s Goaltender of the Month … Posted a career-best 117:36 shutout streak across three games from Feb. 28 to March 7 … Stopped all 23 shots for his second career individual shutout in Game 1 of the NCHC Quarterfinals vs. Miami on March 6 … Stopped 11-of-12 shots in Game 2 vs. Miami on March 7 … Named both the NCHC and National Goaltender of the Month for March and April by going 8-0-0 with a 1.24 GAA and .956 save percentage.
Before Denver: Split the 2024-25 campaign between the Brooks Bandits of the British Columbia Hockey League and Victoria Royals of the Western Hockey League … Began the season with Brooks and recorded an 18-3-0 record, 1.37 goals-against average and .943 save percentage in 21 games … Played in the BCHL All-Star/Top Prospects Game in 2024-25 and finished with the highest GAA and Save% in the BCHL during the year despite only playing half of the season … Joined Victoria on Jan. 3 and went on to produce a 10-4-1 record, 2.69 GAA, .909 Save% in 14 regular season contests and was twice named WHL Goaltender of the Week … Went 5-0-1 while leading the league with a 2.10 GAA and .939 Save% in the 2025 WHL playoffs … Spent a year and a half with Brooks (AJHL/BCHL) from 2023-2024 after suiting up for the Merritt Centennials of the BCHL from 2021-2023 … Named the Most Valuable Player for Merritt in both 2021-22 and 2022-23, while also earning Rookie of the Year honors the first season … Played in his first BCHL Top Prospects Game in 2022-23 … Overall, posted a 33-30-10 record, 3.23 GAA, .913 Save% and six shutouts in 80 BCHL games across four seasons from 2021-2025 … Went 26-3-0 with a 1.98 GAA, .909 Save% and seven shutouts in 30 AJHL outings with Brooks in 2023-24 … Won the BCHL Rocky Mountain Classic in 2024 with Brooks … Posted the best Save% and GAA during the 2023-24 BCHL Playoffs with Brooks … Won a gold medal with Canada West at the 2023 World Junior-A Challenge, appearing in one game.
Personal: Has an older sister and younger brother … Graduated from Valleyview Secondary School in 2023 … Intends to major in psychology … Career goals include playing in the NHL and winning the Stanley Cup … Would also like to become a sports psychologist and start a charity for kids that can’t afford to try out hockey … Loves playing the guitar and has written five songs … Also enjoys hiking, working out, listening to music, being with his family and friends, playing soccer, football, swimming, basketball, tennis, camping, photography and painting … Volunteered with his junior team when the city was flooded.
Why DU: “I chose Denver because of how great of an opportunity it is to go to such a prestigious school and play for such a professional hockey program. Additionally, I want to win and develop as a goaltender, student and person.”
Saturday, October 31
Friday, October 30
Friday, October 30
Friday, October 30
