The University of Denver is bringing in a stacked freshman class that will now reportedly be headlined by defenceman Daxon Rudolph.
According to multiple reports, the 18-year-old is going to join the Pioneers men's hockey team this upcoming season after a pair of impressive campaigns in the WHL.
Rudolph is expected to be a first-round pick in the upcoming NHL Draft after putting up 28 goals and 78 points through 68 games with the Prince Albert Raiders. In Sportsnet's latest mock draft, he was projected to go at No. 10 to the Nashville Predators.
Through two WHL seasons, the Lacombe, Alta. native has 35 goals and 119 points. He's also fresh off racking up nine goals and 27 points in the WHL playoffs, as he led the Raiders to the final.
He'll be joining a Denver team that's in the midst of a dynastic run, winning a national championship earlier this year — the Pioneers' third title in the last five seasons.
Joining Rudolph this season will be fellow WHL defencemen Ryan Lin and Blake Fiddler, who've also committed to playing in Denver. Lin is also projected to go in the first round of the 2026 NHL draft, while Fiddler was the 36th overall pick by the Seattle Kraken last year.
