16 former USHL players suited up for the Pioneers in 2025-26
The Denver Pioneers claimed NCAA glory on Saturday night, defeating the Wisconsin Badgers 2-1 in the Men’s Frozen Four Finals to take home their 11th national title.
The Pioneers’ roster consisted of 16 United States Hockey League alumni, including Tory Pitner, Cale Ashcroft, Garrett Brown, Kristian Epperson, Boston Buckberger, Sam Harris, Hagen Burrows, Payton Nelson, Jake Fisher, Kent Anderson, Brendan McMorrow, Eric Pohlkamp, Kieran Cebrian, James Reeder, Reid Varkonyi, and Paxton Geisel.
The Pioneers trailed 1-0 for most of the hockey game until Brown and Epperson teamed up to help set up Rieger Lorenz’s game-tying goal at 7:31 of the third period.
Brown, a former USHL champion back in 2021-22 with the Sioux City Musketeers, spent two full seasons in the USHL with both the Musketeers and Waterloo Black Hawks. Over 117 career regular-season USHL games, the defenseman recorded seven goals and 27 assists, while also adding one assist over 13 USHL playoff games. Brown was selected during the fourth round of the 2022 NHL Entry Draft by the Winnipeg Jets, 99th overall.
Epperson spent two seasons in the USHL with the U.S.A. National Team Development Program before joining the Saginaw Spirit of the OHL ahead of the 2024-25 season. In 71 career USHL regular-season games, the now 19-year-old recorded 17 goals and 23 assists. Epperson was a part of the 2022-23 U.S. NTDP that included the likes of Gabe Perreault, Cole Eiserman, Will Smith, and James Hagens, to name a few. Epperson finished that season tied for sixth most points with 29 and is a Los Angeles Kings third-round pick from last summer’s draft.
The Pioneers then broke the tie with 5:52 remaining in the third period with the help of Buckberger and Brown, in what is one of the biggest goals in Pioneer hockey history. Brown slid a pass across to Buckberger, whose one-timer was deflected by Kyle Chyzowski.
Buckberger spent one season in the USHL with the Lincoln Stars during the 2022-23 campaign. In 62 regular-season games, the defenseman recorded nine goals and 36 assists, good for the team lead in points among all Stars defensemen. During the team's playoff run, Buckberger added eight points in nine playoff games. Buckberger’s younger brother, Ronan Buckberger, is currently a member of the Madison Capitols.
The USHL has always been a strong pathway to the NCAA level, and it was proven once again as three of the top five scorers on the Pioneers’ roster, Pohlkamp, Harris, and Reeder, spent time in the ever-so-competitive junior hockey league.
As another NCAA men’s hockey season comes to a close, the USHL continues to shine on the world stage in developing hockey players to succeed at the next level, while also helping players get shots at the ultimate dream of playing in the NHL.