Every one of the eight freshmen on the 2026-27 Denver hockey team will have one thing in common: they’re all NHL draft picks.

David Carle’s program rounded out its incoming freshman class by seeing the final pair of players hear their names called Saturday on the second day of the 2026 NHL draft.

Calgary, Alberta, native Ben MacBeath became the third Pioneers defenseman taken when he was selected No. 64 overall by the New York Rangers in the second round, and forward Mikey Berchild went No. 105 overall in the fourth round to the Stanley Cup champion Carolina Hurricanes.

That gives DU four players picked in this year’s draft after defenseman Daxon Rudolph became the highest-drafted player in Pios history when he was picked No. 4 overall by the Buffalo Sabres with fellow defenseman Ryan Lin (No. 21 overall to the San Jose Sharks) joining him to become the first pair of Pios to be picked in the first round of the same draft.

Rudolph, Lin and MacBeath come to the Mile High City after most recently playing in Canada’s WHL, which up until recently made players ineligible to compete in the NCAA, while Berchild comes from the U.S. National Team Development Program. 

In addition to the four players who will be on next year’s roster, the Pios also had a pair of committed prospects get drafted Saturday as 6-foot-8 defenseman Sean Burick went No. 95 overall to the Vegas Golden Knights, and forward Logan Stuart was picked No. 208 overall by the Washington Capitals.

Both Burick and Stuart are slated to join the program next summer ahead of the 2027-28 season. 

In total, DU will have 15 players on next season’s roster who competed in one of Canada’s junior leagues, including the Frozen Four Most Outstanding Player in goaltender Johnny Hicks.

Three of the other four incoming freshmen were selected in the 2025 NHL draft, headlined by another talented defenseman in Blake Fiddler, who was picked at No. 36 overall in the second round by the Seattle Kraken. 

Combined with eight returners, the Pios will have 16 of 26 rostered players whose draft rights belong to an NHL team when the puck drops for the 2026-27 season, the most in program history. Last year’s championship-winning squad had 14. 

Carle will begin his ninth season in charge when the quest for a 12th national title begins on the road in his hometown against Alaska Anchorage on Oct. 2. 

An exciting Frozen Four rematch against Michigan kicks off the home slate with two games at Magness Arena on Oct. 16-17.

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DU Pioneers freshman class at NHL draft

F Jack Pridham — 2024 (No. 92 overall to Chicago Blackhawks, rights later traded to Tampa Bay Lightning)

D Blake Fiddler — 2025 (No. 36 overall to Seattle Kraken)

F Ryan Miller — 2025 (No. 130 overall to Pittsburgh Penguins)

F Max Heise — 2025 (No. 150 overall to San Jose Sharks)

D Daxon Rudolph — 2026 (No. 4 overall to Buffalo Sabres)

D Ryan Lin — 2026 (No. 21 overall to San Jose Sharks)

D Ben MacBeath — 2026 (No. 64 overall to New York Rangers)

F Mikey Berchild — 2026 (No. 105 overall to Carolina Hurricanes)