It was a strange feeling last April for David Carle.

When his Denver teams get to the Frozen Four, they often win. They usually make it to at least the championship game on Saturday.

Last season, in the Pioneers’ 20th trip to the Frozen Four, they matched up with NCHC foe Western Michigan for a spot in the title game. Despite being dominated in the first and second periods, DU found a way to tie the score at 2-2 at the end of regulation before falling less than a minute into double overtime and ending the program’s quest for back-to-back championships.

“It was the first semifinal game that we didn’t feel like we played well,” Carle said this week. “Last year was kinda weird. We just didn’t start the game well, so that’s probably stuck with me more than anything. I can sit here and recognize that the best team won the national championship last year. 

“Western (Michigan) was the best team wire-to-wire and they deserved it and (we’re) happy for them and their staff, but we’re certainly looking in the mirrors to how we can be better and we want to get back to the mountaintop.”

The trip back to the top of college hockey begins Friday as the Pioneers travel to Air Force (7 p.m., 104.3 FM). If there’s one thing that defines Carle’s team as he begins year eight in charge, it’s youth. 

The Pios welcomed 10 freshmen into the fold this summer, eight of whom come from the Canadian junior hockey league ranks as NCAA rules have now allowed them to be eligible to play college hockey starting this season. 

“I don’t really look at them as any different from any kid coming from the USHL,” Carle said. “It’s high-level junior hockey and this is the next step in their development. We’re trying to find good kids that are good students that want to get better. I think CHL kids have a misnomer that they’re not good academically, but the six guys that we brought in that have it on their resume … they’re wonderful in the classroom. 

“For me, it hasn’t changed anything. They’re good kids, good players (and) we don’t really care where they play. The makeup or roster construction hasn’t changed at all. We’re still recruiting from the same areas and looking for the same stuff.”

Seven of those players are among a new-look forward group that must replace the entire top line of Aidan Thomspon, Carter King and Jack Devine from last season. Including the 48 points registered by star defenseman Zeev Buium, there are over 200 points to be replaced from the quartet of top points scorers. 

“They get thrown into the fire,” Carle said. “It’s fun to coach a younger team. We’ve had a lot of young teams. Our successful teams have been top-two (or) three youngest in the country. I think what it excites you is they bring in a real breath of fresh air. They bring in a lot of their own excitement and enthusiasm. They also have really high ceilings. They’re coming in with great pedigrees, but we know that they can grow even more at this level.”

Junior forward Sam Harris (team-high 23 goals last yar), as well as seniors Rieger Lorenz (20 points) and Samu Salminen (28 points) are the only returning forwards with any experience.

There’s also a glaring absence in the form of goaltender Matt Davis, who became a cult hero on the way to DU’s national championship run in 2024 and had more heroics in his final few games with the Pios. A pair of freshmen and junior Paxten Geisel will battle it out over the next few weeks to become the program’s next No. 1 goalie in the big shoes left behind by Davis.

“It’s been good. (Assistant coach) Ryan (Massa) has got his hands full with three guys who don’t have a lot of experience and trying to make sure they get the reps and the teaching and the opportunity to learn and grow through practice,” Carle said. “We don’t expect one guy to run with it early. We need to evaluate that position just like every other position, but there’s a lot of potential and good pedigree from those kids coming in. It’s competitive day in and day out, for sure.”

2025-26 Denver Pioneers hockey schedule

Friday: at Air Force (7 p.m.,104.3 FM)

Saturday: vs. Bentley (7 p.m., NCHC.tv, 104.3 FM)

Oct. 17: at Lindenwood (7 p.m., FloHockey.tv, 104.3 FM)

Oct. 18: at Lindenwood (6 p.m., FloHockey.tv, 104.3 FM)

Oct. 24: at Boston College, 5 p.m., ESPN+, 104.3 FM)

Oct. 25: at Northeastern (5 p.m., ESPN+, 104.3 FM)

Oct. 31: vs. Alaska Anchorage (7 p.m., NCHC.tv, 104.3 FM)

Nov. 1: vs. Alaska Anchorage (6 p.m., NCHC.tv, 104.3 FM)

Nov. 7: at Western Michigan (5 p.m., NCHC.tv, 104.3 FM)

Nov. 8: at Western Michigan (4 p.m., NCHC.tv, 104.3 FM)

Nov. 14: vs. Colorado College (7 p.m., Altitude, NCHC.tv, 104.3 FM)

Nov. 15: at Colorado College (6 p.m., NCHC.tv, 104.3 FM)

Nov. 21: at Arizona State (7 p.m., NCHC.tv, 104.3 FM)

Nov. 22: at Arizona State (5 p.m., NCHC.tv, 104.3 FM)

Nov. 29: vs. Minnesota at Ball Arena (7 p.m., NCHC.tv, 104.3 FM)

Dec. 5: vs. Miami (7 p.m., NCHC.tv, 104.3 FM)

Dec. 6: vs. Miami (6 p.m., NCHC.tv, 104.3 FM)

Dec. 12: at St. Cloud State (6 p.m., NCHC.tv, 104.3 FM)

Dec. 13: at St. Cloud State (5 p.m., NCHC.tv, 104.3 FM)

Jan. 2: vs. Maine (7 p.m. NCHC.tv, 104.3 FM)

Jan. 3: vs. Maine (6 p.m. NCHC.tv, 104.3 FM)

Jan. 9: vs. Western Michigan (7 p.m., NCHC.tv, 104.3 FM)

Jan. 10: vs. Western Michigan (6 p.m., NCHC.tv, 104.3 FM)

Jan. 16: at North Dakota (6 p.m., NCHC.tv, 104.3 FM)

Jan. 17: at North Dakota (5 p.m., NCHC.tv, 104.3 FM)

Jan. 23: vs. St. Cloud State (7 p.m., NCHC.tv, 104.3 FM)

Jan. 24: vs. St. Cloud State (6 p.m., NCHC.tv, 104.3 FM)

Jan. 30: vs. Minnesota Duluth (7 p.m., NCHC.tv, 104.3 FM)

Jan. 31: vs. Minnesota Duluth (6 p.m., NCHC.tv, 104.3 FM)

Feb. 6: at Colorado College (7 p.m., NCHC.tv, 104.3 FM)

Feb. 7: vs. Colorado College (7 p.m., NCHC.tv, 104.3 FM)

Feb. 13: at Omaha (6 p.m., NCHC.tv, 104.3 FM)

Feb. 14: at Omaha (6 p.m., NCHC.tv, 104.3 FM)

Feb. 27: vs. Arizona State (7 p.m., NCHC.tv, 104.3 FM)

Feb. 28: vs. Arizona State (6 p.m., NCHC.tv, 104.3 FM)

March 6-8: NCHC Quarterfinals (Best-of-3)

March 13: NCHC Semifinals

March 21: NCHC Final

March 26-29: NCAA Regionals (at Blue Arena in Loveland)

April 9-11: NCAA Frozen Four (at T-Mobile Arena in Las Vegas)