The University of Denver hockey team, fresh off a run to the NCAA Frozen Four, unveiled another challenging schedule for 2016-17. The Pioneers, who will again have nonconference games against Boston University, Wisconsin and Michigan State — and possibly Boston College — finished 25-10-6 with the country’s third-most-difficult schedule in 2015-16.
Next season might be just as tough.
Denver opens Oct. 7 by hosting the Ice Breaker Tournament, featuring Boston College, Air Force and Ohio State at Magness Arena. The pairings have yet to be determined. The following week, DU hosts BU for a two-game series in Denver, followed by a two-game trip at Michigan State.
The Pioneers also have nonconference two-game series against Providence and first-ever meetings against Arizona State, plus single games against Air Force and Wisconsin. Denver’s National Collegiate Hockey Conference scheduled has home-and-away two-game sets against Colorado College, Nebraska-Omaha, Miami (Ohio), St. Cloud State and Western Michigan.
DU’s only NCHC games against rival North Dakota, the reigning national champion, are Nov. 11-12 in Grand Forks.
Footnote. DU soon will receive the letter-of-intent signatures from forwards Henrik Borgstrom — a top NHL prospect from Finland — and Tyson McLellan, the son of Edmonton Oilers coach Todd McLellan. They will sign along with defenseman Erich Fear to bring DU’s incoming class to six. Borgstrom is ranked ninth among draft-eligible European skaters. The other incoming freshmen are forwards Kevin Conley and Liam Finlay and defenseman Michael Davies.
Mike Chambers: mchambers@denverpost.com or @mikechambers
