There are exceptions, but very often the NCAA hockey players making the biggest leaps in their game are those that are entering their second year in a program. If you’re a fan of top-ranked Denver, that is a very encouraging sign.

After all, the Pioneers had four players on the six-member NCHC All-Rookie Team, and forward Carter Mazur was selected the league’s top rookie. He was joined by center Massimo Rizzo and defensemen Sean Behrens and Shai Buium.

Given that Mazur had 38 points and 14 goals, Rizzo had 36 and 12, Behrens had 29 points and Buium had 18, it’s fairly safe to say they’ve established themselves as top-shelf NCAA players who should build upon the first-year performances. Indeed, that quartet and another sophomore, Jack Devine, will form a large part of the backbone of the team DU will line up to defend its ninth national title.

Others such as senior goaltender Magnus Chrona and defensemen Justin Lee, the team’s captain, Mike Benning, who rang up 38 points, and Kyle Mayhew are well established, too.

So who are some returning players who figure to take a big step forward in both the Pioneers’ lineup and in NCAA hockey in general?

Here are a few names to consider:

Center McKade Webster

Already, a strong penalty killer, the junior assistant captain should see power-play time as well this season. More than anything he’s been caught in a numbers game at DU. That has plenty to do with why he’s almost exclusively spent time in the second six group of forwards during his first two seasons. Six of the top nine forwards moved on after last season, which should clear the way for him to play more minutes.

“I’ve loved his progression,” said Mayhew, a fellow assistant captain. “Last year, we were so deep he was on the fourth line for a lot of the year. He absolutely ran the fourth line, and that’s a reason why we were so successful. Every single line went right at the other team, and he controlled that line. He was so critical to why we were successful last year, and now he’s a guy who can step in and drive the first or second line. He can step into anywhere and be a huge impact player.”

Webster scored 14 points (six goals) in 39 games. He also played 22 games during the truncated 2020-21 season. He brings a contagious intensity to the lineup, and his leadership abilities are well established. He overcame injuries while playing junior hockey in the USHL and captained Green Bay in his final season, when he averaged a point per game. He attended Tampa Bay’s NHL prospect camp this past summer and was a 2019 draft pick by the Lightning.

Forward Carter King

If you watched Saturday’s exhibition victory over UNLV this is an obvious call, right? However, the arrow has been pointing up for King longer than you might think. He came into DU after the fall quarter in 2020 because the BCHL didn’t play in 2020-21 and got three games of experience in the season’s second half. Last season, he played an under-the-radar 36 games and had 11 points and won the team awards for most improved player and sportsmanship. Like Webster, King also is poised to play more meaningful minutes and in more situations. King has had consecutive offseason to work on getting stronger and refine parts of his game, and his efforts have shown.

“His improvements have blown us all away,” Mayhew said. “How much better he gets by the week, by the month, is honestly incredible. He picks up so much stuff from older guys and coaches. The sky’s the limit for him.”

Wing Jack Devine

Devine has perhaps the most room to grow of any returning Pioneers player simply because he just turned 19 on Oct. 2 and already had a regular role on the third line a season ago (when he scored 19 points) with then seniors Brett Stapley and Ryan Barrow. This season, he’ll play on the power play regularly and most likely get top six minutes. An outstanding playmaker, Devine could pile up points with his increased ice time. Florida picked him in the seventh round of this past summer’s NHL Entry Draft.

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