The University of Denver announced Thursday morning that junior defenseman Nick Neville has left the team for personal reasons.

You can read the school’s news release on the development here.

Neville, a 5-foot-11, 189-pounder from Bloomfield Hills, Mich., has not played since a Dec. 4 loss at North Dakota. He appeared in 10 of the Pioneers’ first 13 games and scored a goal against Air Force in the second game of the season.

The Pioneers’ top six on defense recently has been senior Nolan Zajac paired with sophomore Tariq Hammond, junior Will Butcher paired with freshman Blake Hillman and junior Matt Van Voorhis paired with sophomore Adam Plant.

Butcher and Zajac are alternate captains and anchors of the group. Coach Jim Montgomery has spoken highly of Hammond’s development this season on several occasions, and Hillman has come on of late. Plant (lower body) and Van Voorhies (concussion) missed a few games apiece earlier this season due to injuries.

Neville’s departure impacts the Pioneers’ depth at a young position group that has shown  improvement of late.

Redshirt sophomore Brad Hawkinson has played just two games because of injuries, and it is uncertain if he will be available this weekend at Nebraska-Omaha. Freshman Sean Mostrom, who has yet to play in a regular-season game, is the only other defenseman on the Pioneers’ roster now.

@MagnessMayhem