Denver has announced that the team has named Angelo Ricci as the first director of skill development in program history.

In this new role, Ricci will work closely with Denver’s coaching staff and student-athletes with an emphasis on individual skill development and helping players continue to refine their games throughout their careers at DU.

“Angelo has been a part of the Denver hockey family for a long time, and we’re excited to officially bring him onto our staff,” said Pioneers head coach David Carle. “His experience in player development speaks for itself, but just as important, he understands our program, our history and the standard we expect every day. We believe he can have a significant impact on our players and our program.”

The Elgin, Ill., native returns to his alma mater after most recently spending 10 seasons in the NHL where he worked in player development and as a skills coach with the Buffalo Sabres from 2014-18 and as a skills and assistant coach with the Philadelphia Flyers from 2019-25.

“I am both delighted and honored to join the University of Denver hockey program as director of skill development,” Ricci said. “I am deeply grateful to Coach Carle and his staff for this opportunity, and I look forward with great enthusiasm to working with the players and contributing to the defense of our national championship. It is a privilege to give back to my alma mater and help uphold the proud tradition of Pioneer hockey.”

Ricci played four seasons at Denver from 1991-95 under head coaches Frank Serratore and George Gwozdecky. He compiled 161 points with 64 goals and 97 assists in 144 career games and currently ranks tied for 13th all-time in school history in scoring. He earned All-Academic and All-Conference honorable recognition as a player and helped the Pioneers qualify for the NCAA Tournament for the first time in nine years and lead the team to the quarterfinals during his senior year in 1994-95.

Upon earning his bachelor’s degree in marketing from DU in 1995, Ricci went on to play two years of professional hockey from 1995-97 with the ECHL’s Toledo Storm and Louisville Riverfrogs, WPHL’s Amarillo Rattlers and Val Gardena of the Italian Elite League.

Following his pro career, Ricci returned to Colorado to pursue coaching and development, beginning by founding the Ricci Hockey Consulting. He was with the Colorado Thunderbirds organization since its inception in 2002 and served as the executive director beginning in 2009 for the one of the premier USA Hockey Tier I programs that consistently developed future DU players, NCAA student-athletes and NHLers.

As a skills and stickhandling specialist consultant, Ricci has worked with former Pioneers standouts Troy Terry, Scott Mayfield, Logan O’Connor and Dylan Gambrel, as well as current NHLers Seth Jones, Brandon Carlo and Devon Toews. He has also instructed at high-profile NHL player camps, including those with Sidney Crosby, Nathan MacKinnon, Jack Eichel and Jake Guentzel.

Ricci played his junior hockey with the USHL’s Omaha Lancers from 1989-91 and is still the franchise’s all-time leading scorer with 176 points (72 goals, 104 assists) in 89 games while also contributing 38 points (15 goals, 23 assists) in 19 postseason contests. He helped the Lancers win the Clark Cup championship both seasons and has been inducted into both the Omaha Hockey and Omaha Lancers Hall of Fame.

During Denver’s run to its 11th national championship in 2025-26, Ricci volunteered his time and provided guidance to the coaching staff for select home and road games, including at the Frozen Four in Las Vegas. He was recognized after the season with the team’s Daniel Ritchie Spirit Award, which honors an alumnus or friend of Denver hockey who embodies DU Emeritus Chancellor Daniel Ritchie’s spirit of giving back to the school—not only financially, but with time and effort.

Photo/Denver Athletics

— Denver Staff

(September 6, 2026)