Freshman forward Justin Cole, who committed to Denver over the summer, has returned to his United States Hockey League team, the Cedar Rapids RoughRiders, according to the junior team’s website.

Cole, who committed to the Pioneers shortly after forward Trevor Moore signed with the Toronto Maple Leafs organization, had not played in a regular-season game for DU.

A 1996 birth year, the 6-foot-3, 198-pound Cole joined Cedar Rapids in late November and has a goal and an assist in four games. He had 25 points (12 goals) in 59 games last season for Cedar Rapids after two years of playing prep school hockey at Vermont Academy.

“We wish Justin all the best as he pursues his goals, and we support his decision to return to the USHL,” DU coach Jim Montgomery said on the USHL team’s official website. “He loves to play hockey and rejoining Cedar Rapids gives him a a better opportunity to do that this season.

“Hopefully he can provide some veteran leadership on the RoughRiders and game some valuable experience as he competes in his overage campaign at the junior level.”