Denver Pioneers hockey picked to finish second in NCHC | Colorado Sunshine
Where good news shines
Denver Pioneers hockey will enter the 2025-26 season with a new card to play.
The underdog card.
Denver was not picked to win the NCHC when the preseason poll was released Thursday. That honor went to Western Michigan — and for good reason. Western Michigan is coming off a season in which it beat Denver in a national semifinal and went on to win the NCAA championship.
Western Michigan earned 19 first-place votes to Denver’s four. The Pioneers were picked second, followed by North Dakota, Arizona State and Colorado College. North Dakota also had more first-place votes than Denver. The Pios had been picked to win the league the previous three years.
Denver has reached the Frozen Four in back-to-back seasons. The Pioneers open their season with an exhibition game against UNLV on Oct. 3.
NCHC preseason poll
1. Western Michigan – 252 points (19 first-place votes)
2. Denver – 225 (4)
3. North Dakota – 220 (5)
4. Arizona State – 180 (2)
5. Colorado College – 128
6. Minnesota Duluth – 120
7. Omaha – 110
8. St. Cloud State – 80
9. Miami – 35
(“Colorado Sunshine” celebrates the good news in sports. Suggestions are encouraged through sports editor Paul Klee at paul.klee@gazettedev.gazette.com.)
