The connections between the University of Denver hockey program and the Colorado Avalanche run deep.
From Peter Statsny to Logan O’Connor and Sean Behrens on the ice, to Peter McNab and Mark Rycroft in the announcing booth and countless fans in this hockey-rich city, there are plenty of folks who enjoy a couple of shades of red. A crimson-and-gold shirt goes well with a burgundy-and-blue hat in this town.
Jake Fisher and Tory Pitner hope to continue the six-mile pipeline from Magness Arena north to Ball Arena in the near future.
“I think it’s good for both of us,” Fisher said. “We go everywhere together. We commute back and forth, driving in the car together and building our relationship. Hopefully, our careers go well at Denver and we continue together here after that.”
Fisher and Pitner were part of both the Avs’ 2024 NHL draft class and an important freshman class last season for the Pioneers. This week, Fisher and Pitner are together again at the Avalanche’s development camp.
Fisher was a fourth-round pick (No. 121 overall). He had eight goals and 15 points in 42 games for the Pios, spending much of the year in a bottom-six role on a deep offensive team.
Pitner was a sixth-round pick (No. 185). He was in the lineup for 40 games, but college teams dress seven defensemen and his playing time was often limited.
“It was honestly a great year. Me and Tory came in as freshmen and both got drafted here,” Fisher said. “Last summer was awesome, and then our freshman year was a great experience for us. The way (DU head coach David) Carle teaches the game is next level. He teaches such good details and habits. It’s how to play the game the right way and keep everyone disciplined. It was awesome for us.”
The Pios were the defending NCAA champions a year ago and reached the Frozen Four before a loss to eventual champion Western Michigan. Denver was a relatively young team, though underclassmen Zeev Buium, Jared Wright and Aiden Thompson signed NHL contracts and joined outgoing seniors Matty Davis, Jack Devine and Carter King as critical players who need to be replaced.
Both Pitner and Fisher should be in line for increased roles as sophomores.
“It definitely was an adjustment,” Pitner said. “It was something that was good for me in my career. I was just starting to kind of get used to that and learn how to play different roles. I feel like I did the best with what I could and it’s up to me, ultimately, to go and earn more. Looking forward to next year, where hopefully I can continue to earn their trust and earn more ice.
“At a school like Denver, you’re always going to have good players. That’s part of the reason why you go … Ten national championships. You don’t commit there without knowing the tradition, and you definitely don’t walk through the halls without knowing it because it’s everywhere. It’s on the walls. It’s what we talk about every day, and that’s why we go, because that’s what we want to do. I’m excited to hopefully add No. 11 next year.”
Tory Pitner (2) skates in a drill during the Colorado Avalanche’s on-ice Development Camp at Family Sports Center in Dove Valley, Colorado, on July 2, 2025. (Photo by RJ Sangosti/The Denver Post)Related Articles
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The two Avs draft picks were roommates last summer and lived one floor away from each other during the school year. They’ve talked about what it would be like to finish their careers at DU and then play for the NHL club just up the road. Both have work to do in the next couple of years, but it’s possible.
“I’m really excited to keep building and ultimately get my game to a place where the staff would trust me enough to give me an NHL contract to sign and be an NHL player one day,” Pitner said. “That’s really been my goal since I was four or five years old, and that’s something that’s going to continue being my goal every day I wake up and go to bed.”
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