Another shoe dropped Monday afternoon for Denver’s hockey program, but this one landed on the mat inside the front door.

The Pioneers announced rising senior Kohen Olischefski will be their captain for the 2020-21 season, and he’ll be assisted by fellow rising seniors Ryan Barrow and Griffin Mendel. The announcement was made a few hours after it was confirmed junior captain Ian Mitchell had signed a three-year, entry-level contract with the Chicago Blackhawks.

The veteran group will have a luxury the past two Pioneers rosters didn’t – a wealth of experience to draw upon. DU is scheduled to return 15 upperclassmen. The past two senior classes had three and four players. This one equals that even with Mitchell’s departure.

“Our class is a big class, and we’ve come a long way individually and as a group,” Olischefski said. “We’re a seasoned class, and we’re motivated.”

Part of the group’s motivation comes from the premature ending to the NCAA hockey season due to the coronavirus outbreak.

“We realize you only have so many chances. We felt we had a great chance, had a great team. This is just a different feeling, but it’s motivating us.”

Olischefski is one of the most approachable players on a team full of them, and he has no imminent plans to change his M.O.

“I’m going to be myself,” he said of his leadership style. “Guys respect that. I’m not going to, for lack of a better word, come in and be a hard-ass.”

Not only did his statistics grow this past season, but Olischefski said his soft skills increased as well.

“I developed more this year,” he said. “That came by building relationships in the room. I’ve come a long way from my freshman year until now, and I’m really excited about our group.”

Barrow said his teammate’s approachability made him a natural choice to don the “C”.

“He’s one of those guys who has great relationships with everyone,” Barrow said. “He developed into a really good everyday player this season. You always knew what you’d get from him. He led his line, and he developed into a leader on our team.”

Barrow added that Olischefski brings a contrasting style to that of his and Mendel’s.

“I want to lead by example, set a good example on and off the ice,” Barrow said. “I will hold people accountable; I’m not scared to use my voice.

“Griff is a quiet leader, but everyone sees how hard he works.”

In a reflection of the times, the players said they found out via a Zoom meeting with coach David Carle.

All three players are coming off productive seasons on the ice and in the classroom.

Olischefski’s 20 points, mostly on a line with sophomores Cole Guttman and Emilio Pettersen were a career high, in fact one more than his first two seasons combined. His nine goals tied his output from his freshmen and sophomore seasons. He made the NCHC’s All-Academic team for the third year in a row.

Barrow missed nine games due to an upper body injury yet his 12 points were just two off his career high and his five goals tied his career best. He is a two-time ACHA All-American Scholar and three-time NCHC Distinguished Scholar-Athlete (3.5 gpa or higher).

Mendel, another three-time NCHC Distinguished Scholar-Athlete, had as many points last season (nine) as he did during his first two seasons combined.

©First Line Editorial 2020