This is the first in a series of previews of top-ranked Denver’s 2022-23 hockey team. 

Junior McKade Webster is your average Pioneer, at least by height and weight. The forward goes 5-foot-11, the average height of a Denver player on the 2022-23 roster, and he is listed at 184 pounds, one less than the team average of 185.

When breaking down DU’s 2022-23 roster, a few things stand out:

• The defending national champions trend young, with 16 of 26 players (62 percent) being underclassmen.
• In the view of NHL scouts, however, they’re talented, having 12 draft picks – including four second-rounders – on the roster.

Here is a closer look by the numbers:

By class

• Seniors/Grad: 4/2
• Juniors: 4
• Sophomores: 9
• Freshmen: 7
• Total: 26

By position

• Goalie: 3
• Defenseman: 8
• Forward: 15

By height

• 5-8: 1 (Kyle Mayhew)
• 5-9: 4
• 5-10: 4
• 5-11: 5
• 6-0: 4
• 6-1: 3
• 6-2: 1
• 6-3: 3
• 6-5: 1 (Magnus Chrona)
• Average: 5-11

By weight

• 200 pounds and heavier: 4 (Shai Buium at 220 is the heaviest)
• 185-199 pounds: 7
• 184 pounds or lighter: 15 (Mayhew at 160 is lightest)
• Average: 185.1 pounds

NHL draft picks by round

• Total: 12
• Second: Sean Behrens (Colorado), Tristan Broz (Pittsburgh), Shai Buium (Detroit), Rieger Lorenz (Minnesota)
• Third: Carter Mazur (Detroit), Aidan Thompson (Chicago)
• Fourth: Mike Benning (Florida)
• Fifth: Magnus Chrona (Tampa Bay, rights traded to San Jose)
• Sixth: Jared Wright (Los Angeles)
• Seventh: Jack Devine (Florida), Massimo Rizzo (Carolina), McKade Webster (Tampa Bay)

Junior league

• USHL: 14
• AJHL: 3
• NAHL: 3
• BCHL: 2
• USNTDP: 2
• Europe: 1 (Magnus Chrona)
• High school: 1 (Casey Dornbach)

NCAA games played

75-100: 3 – Casey Dornbach (98), Justin Lee (92), Magnus Chrona (81)

50-74: 4 – Brett Edwards (68), Mike Benning (61), McKade Webster (60), Connor Caponi (59)

25-49: 7 – Carter Mazur (41), Carter King (40), Shai Buium (39), Massimo Rizzo (39), Sean Behrens (37), Tristan Broz (36), Jack Devine (36)

0-24: 11 – Owen Ozar (21), Lane Krenzen (11), Matt Davis (8), Jack Caruso (4) and seven freshmen

©First Line Editorial 2022