On Thursday, the University of Denver announced that junior defenseman Nick Neville (Bloomfield Hills, MI) will leave the program for “personal reasons.”
Throughout his career at DU, Neville made 54 appearances while recording six points (2 G, 4A). He also recorded a +4 plus/minus rating.
“We’d like to thank Nick for his contribution to our program the last two and a half years,” DU head coach Jim Montgomery said.
While Neville never played top D-pairing minutes, he certainly added some good depth along the blue line for the Pioneers, especially when another blueliner was scratched. This year, Neville appeared in 10 games and recorded his second career goal for his only point of the season.
Montgomery offered Neville the opportunity to return next year, his senior year, “The door is open for him to return to DU for his senior season but regardless of what he decides he’ll always be a Pioneers.”
LetsGoDU certainly wished Neville all the best in the future and will always have the Pioneers’ undying support.
DU travels to Omaha this weekend for a huge matchup with the 6/6 Nebraska-Omaha Mavericks.
This is a curious departure. Most players who leave a college team do so because they aren’t happy with the playing time or role they are playing on the team. Hillman and Hammond have beat out Neville for top six slot this year so I am assuming that’s why he left . If you can’t crack a top six Division I d-corps by your junior year, your future career is likely not in professional hockey, especially when you are undersized and undrafted, as Neville is. So why not stick it out, get a great degree and be happy you were good enough to play at the college level? Wish him well and hope he gets the sheepskin…
This is a curious departure. Most players who leave a college team do so because they aren’t happy with the playing time or role they are playing on the team. Hillman and Hammond have beat out Neville for top six slot this year so I am assuming that’s why he left . If you can’t crack a top six Division I d-corps by your junior year, your future career is likely not in professional hockey, especially when you are undersized and undrafted, as Neville is. So why not stick it out, get a great degree and be happy you were good enough to play at the college level? Wish him well and hope he gets the sheepskin…