The University of Denver Pioneers will welcome nine talented freshmen to campus for the 2017-8 season. Ranked as a top-five recruiting class in the country, the 2017-18 freshman class appears to be stocked with potential. Between now and the start of the Pioneers’ season, Mile High Hockey will be profiling each of the incoming freshmen and examining their potential impact on the 2017-18 season and beyond.
Forward Jack Doremus committed to play at Denver in July of 2015 after finishing his final season with the highly-respected Colorado Thunderbirds program.
Doremus, an Aspen native, spent two full seasons in the USHL after leaving his home state. He has deep roots in hockey in the state of Colorado and the DU program in particular. His older brother Daniel, now in the San Jose Sharks organization, tallied 90 points in four years with the Pioneers.
Jack posted two modest seasons in the USHL, first with the Sioux Falls Stampede and then a shorter stint with the Lincoln Stars.
Doremus has never lit up the scoresheet over his career, even dating back to his years with the Thunderbirds. But a 20-goal season in the USHL last year is nothing to turn your nose up at and it does suggest substantial improvement from his first season in juniors.
It seems unlikely that Doremus will make a huge contribution in his first NCAA season, although that has more to do with the depth and talent at forward in front of him. With his family ties, the road he has taken to DU is a great story. Once the depth chart clears out a bit more in his favor, Doremus seems well-positioned to emerge as a two-way forward with some even if he’s unable to match the offensive production of his older brother.