Denver has announced that senior forward Kieran Cebrian has been named the 97th captain in Pioneers history.

Joining Cebrian in the Pioneers’ 2026-27 leadership group are fellow seniors Cale Ashcroft and Sam Harris, junior Jake Fisher and sophomore Kyle Chyzowski.

“I am excited to announce our leadership group for the 2026-27 season, with Kieran Cebrian serving as our team captain,” said DU head coach David Carle. “Kieran has been part of the Denver hockey family since he was a child skating for the Jr. Pioneers program and has earned this honor. This is a veteran leadership group with him, Cale, Sam, Jake and Kyle, and they understand the commitment to uphold our standard and representing our program with pride.

“They have the trust and respect of their teammates, and I’m confident they will be able to lead us through the challenges ahead as we defend our national title.”

Cebrian is a two-time national champion, as he won titles with DU in both 2024 and 2026. He has suited up in 123 games in his collegiate career and has totaled 45 points on 15 goals and 30 assists while also recording a plus-45 plus-minus rating. The Denver native has won 53 percent of his faceoffs since stepping on campus in 2023 (1011 of 1908), including winning 11 draws in the 2026 NCAA Frozen Four semifinals against Michigan.

Cebrian, who also played youth hockey for the Arapahoe Warriors, recorded career highs with 11 assists and 17 points during his junior campaign and tied a personal best with six goals while playing in all 43 games. He earned 2026 NCAA West Regional All-Tournament Team honors after combining for two goals and an assist in games against Cornell and Western Michigan on March 27-29 in Loveland.

Academically, Cebrian is a three-time NCHC Distinguished Scholar and member of the Academic Honor Roll.

This is the first time that Cebrian has served as team captain since also being in that role with the Colorado Thunderbirds’ 16U AAA team in 2019-20.

The Pioneers open the campaign on Oct. 2-3 at Alaska Anchorage before taking on the U.S. National Team Development Program’s Under-18 Team in an exhibition on Oct. 10 at Magness Arena. DU’s first home weekend of the regular season is Oct. 16-17 when it welcomes Michigan to campus, which includes raising its 2026 national championship banner on that Friday night.

Photo/Justin Tafoya/Clarkson Creative Photography

— Denver Athletics Staff

(September 23, 2026)