Pioneers add two players from the NCAA transfer portal

Originally posted on The Avs Report | By Ryan Sikes | Last updated 4/18/24

There is no rest for David Carle and the Denver Pioneers. Fresh off capturing their NCAA-record 10th National Championship on Saturday, the Pios are already busy on tweaking the roster for the 2024-25 season.

Denver has reportedly added defenseman Eric Pohlkamp and forward Samu Salminen from the NCAA’s transfer portal.

Pohlkamp finished up his freshman campaign at Bemidji State University, where he registered 11 goals, including five power-play markers, and 13 assists in 32 games played. His 24 points were the third-most among defensemen in the CCHA, and his 123 shots ranked fourth-most in the conference.

His outstanding performance earned him recognition as a finalist for the CCHA Defenseman of the Year and CCHA Rookie of the Year honors. Pohlkamp was also named to the All-CCHA First Team and All-CCHA Rookie Team.

I could watch Eric Pohlkamp tee up bombs from the point all day. The Bemidji State commits has his 12th goal of the year, eighth on the powerplay. 3-1 CR.@RidertownUSA #USHL pic.twitter.com/cgUH6TEtmR

— Ryan Sikes (@ryan_sikes10) January 29, 2023

In addition, the Brainerd, Minnesota, native was a fifth-round pick of the San Jose Sharks in the 2023 NHL Draft. Before that, Pohlkamp played for the Cedar Rapids RoughRiders in the USHL, where he scored 16 goals and 51 points in 2022-23 and was named the USHL Defenseman of the Year.

Pohlkamp also played for Denver head coach David Carle at the 2024 World Juniors, where he scored one goal and chipped in two assists en route to helping Team USA win a gold medal.

Salminen played his last two seasons at UConn. As a freshman, he recorded nine goals and 17 points in 27 games played.

Though he faced a setback in his sophomore year, he still managed to record seven goals and match his freshman point total. The New Jersey Devils drafted him in the third round of the 2021 NHL Draft.

Before joining UConn, Salminen captained the Jokerit U20 squad and tallied 19 goals and 48 points in the 2021-22 season.

Furthermore, as team captain for Finland in the 2021 IIHF World U18 Championships, he recorded seven goals and nine points in seven games, helping Finland to a fourth-place finish.

WE HAVE A MICHIGAN GOAL IN CT

Hello Samu Salminen@hockey_east | @NCAAIceHockey pic.twitter.com/UxVdYv0bii

— UConn Men's Hockey (@UConnMHOC) January 26, 2024

Denver had not added a player from the transfer portal since July 2022 when forwards Tristan Broz and Casey Dornbach left Minnesota and Harvard, respectively, to join the Pioneers.

(Featured Image Credit: University of Denver Athletics)

This article first appeared on The Avs Report and was syndicated with permission.

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