Denver added goaltender Paxton Geisel, who was scheduled to join its roster in the fall of 2024, effective immediately.

Geisel, who has played in the United States Hockey League for the past two-plus seasons, is eligible because DU has completed its first quarter. He enrolled for the second quarter and was a backup Friday against Yale.

What This Move Means

This move shores up Denver’s goaltending depth, and that is why it was made, plain and simple.

Junior Matt Davis has not played since sustaining (or possibly aggravating) an injury during the fifth game of the season against Augustana. He practiced recently and is considered week-to-week, but the nature of his injury is such that DU’s coaches want him to be 100 percent before returning to the lineup.

“That’s fair,” coach David Carle said after Friday’s game when asked if Davis’ injury is considered week-to-week. He added that bringing in Geisel was a function of Davis’ availability going forward. “It’s just unpredictable with a goaltender and a lower-body injury.”

In Davis’ absence, freshman Freddie Halyk has made every start. After a strong start in which he allowed two goals total in three games, Halyk has given up four or more in each of his past four starts, including six in the first game at Arizona State.

Halyk is 5-2-0 with a .873 save percentage and a 2.97 goals-against average. Davis is 3-1-1 with .872 and 3.07 numbers. Senior Jack Caruso has yet to play.

Get to Know Geisel

Geisel, who committed to DU on Aug. 1, 2020, spent the past two seasons with Dubuque and put up solid numbers. His best USHL season was his first one. He went 25-9-3 with .898 and 3.13 numbers in 2021-22 before slipping to 8-11-2, .865 and 3.99 last season. He was traded to Muskegon in the offseason and was 6-3-0 with .870 and 3.86 numbers this season.

We will update this as more information becomes available. 

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