What can we expect from the returning Pioneers? Will their production rise? How will they contribute elsewhere? We will start by taking a look at DU’s four seniors.

Tanner Jaillet

The goaltender could etch his name atop several categories in the DU record books when his career is all said and done. His 96  games already are tied for ninth all-time, and if he plays another 38 as he did last year, he will obliterate Stephen Wagner‘s DU mark of 124. He is fourth in wins (60), and Athletic Director Ron Grahame‘s record of 82 would fall with anything close to a repeat of last season. He also is seventh in goals-against-average (2.36) all-time and sixth in save percentage (.917). He won the Mike Richter Award as the nation’s top Division I goaltender after a 28-5-4 record with a .929 save percentage and a 1.84 gaa. Given he has two freshmen backing him up as opposed to two seniors last season, a lot more will be riding on him this season. He’s up to the task but how much more can one improve upon what he did last season behind a less experienced defense?  

Rudy Junda

The hope is the forward becomes this season’s Evan Ritt story – a Coloradoan who emerges as an every night jack of all trades in the lineup. Junda played nine games last season after three the year before. He can bring a physical element, much like Ritt, and cause havoc on the forecheck. His experience with a younger roster will be valuable.  Look for him to play more and get on the scoresheet from time to time.

Tariq Hammond

Hammond has a skill set that no one else his size (6-foot-2) had on the DU blue line last season. He routinely draws the toughest shutdown assignments and clears the trash out in front of Jaillet. He makes good first passes and he has the speed to jump into plays and still be able to recover to be in position defensively. His shot is underrated. His 9 points last season were one off his career high of 10 (in four fewer games) in 2015-16. However, he scored three of his five career goals a season ago. He also was a plus-21 despite a majority of his starts coming in the defensive zone. There are two questions coming into the season: One, is his fractured ankle (twice operated on) going to be fully healed early in the season? Two, how will he and Adam Plant shepherd a young defense while wearing letters for the first time? The bet here is they will thrive as every situation leaders.

Adam Plant

Plant teamed with Hobey Baker winner Will Butcher to form an elite top pair last season. At 5-9, 161 pounds he is pound-for-pound the toughest Pioneer. He took and delivered some devastating hits last season and rarely missed a shift. He’s also an elite skater, probably the best on a team full of them. Lost in the shuffle last season was the fact Plant, who often plays in every situation and almost certainly will this season, had a career-high 13 points and three goals in 43 games. Like Hammond, he takes on tough assignments, which is as much as any reason why the two led the team in penalty minutes (Hammond, 49, and Plant, 45).

Final analysis

Though small in size, this four-person class should have a lot to say about how the Pioneers fare. Jaillet is the best goaltender in Division I, and with no college experience behind him, he’ll have to play like it again. Hammond and Plant not only have crucial leadership roles, but they’ll be the defensive stoppers for a younger blue line. Part of the Pioneers’ success under coach Jim Montgomery is players buying into whatever role they’re given, and Junda could thrive in an energy role.

Go inside the numbers with DU’s juniors

Go inside the numbers with DU’s sophomores

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