Freshman defenseman Boston Buckberger‘s initial year at the collegiate level has been nothing short of extraordinary.
His remarkable achievements, including earning the NCHC Rookie of the Month and Defenseman of the Week titles, have set him apart from the rest of the freshman class.
On the ice, Buckberger exudes composure and confidence and, as he said himself, has the memory of a goldfish. Off the ice, Buckberger remains humble, acknowledging that his accomplishments are tied to the incredible team that surrounds him.
Hockey has been Buckberger’s passion since he was a child, with a stick practically an extension of his arm.
“My parents placed a hockey stick in my hands when I was just a little kid, and we even built an ice rink in our yard back home. Playing hockey was just natural for me,” he said.
It wasn’t until he got an offer to continue in the Major Junior or play collegiate hockey that Buckberger had even considered the idea of D-I hockey, but he says it was one of the best decisions he’s ever made.
“Seeing all the hype around collegiate sports, not that it’s just about that, but the experience is just unbelievable. I want to cherish every moment of this as much as I can because this is for sure the time of my life,” he said.
While Buckberger is only just starting to get his footing, he attributes the support of his entire team that he is able to move forward and continue to find success in the Crimson and Gold.
“All of our upperclassmen are easy to look up to. McKade Webster, Matty Davis, those guys make it fun to come in and see them everyday,” he said. “They are so good with the guys; they make sure everyone is together; they look out for everyone so well. Those two amongst many others make it easy to enjoy my time on the team.”
Becoming a defenseman presented its own set of challenges, but Buckberger reiterates that trust within the team makes it much more manageable.
“Reading plays often feels like being the quarterback of the ice. You oversee the entire rink and have to make the right decisions. None of this would be possible without the trust I have in my teammates,” he said.
It isn’t all easy though, and playing such a back and forth sport like hockey can really take a toll on any player.
Buckberger states that one of the most important parts of the game is “staying calm and composed.”
“Obviously things don’t always go your way, but having a short memory, a goldfish mindset, is huge here. It just matters what you do next, rather than what happened before,” he said.
Buckberger also echoes that his success, being named so many titles by the NCHC, isn’t just a result of himself, but is a result of the culture that the Crimson and Gold has built over the years.
“It’s an honor to have those titles, but I want to give a lot of credit to my teammates. Without good bounces and unbelievably skilled teammates, I wouldn’t be able to do anything. It’s a cool honor, but it goes to the whole team more than myself,” he said.
He echoes that these titles aren’t the end goal for him. Buckberger wants to continue to push the limits as far as he can.
“I want to keep establishing myself as a good player on the team, showing up for the conference, and try to be a leader in the room. I want to make a good first impression as a freshman to try to make a lasting impact on the team moving forward,” he said.
Looking ahead, other than his goal of furthering his career at DU, Buckberger wants to continue wearing a hockey jersey for as long as he can, going into the NHL in the future.
“Professional hockey for sure. I want to play in the NHL, I want to make it big, it would be amazing for myself and my family,” he said. “Hopefully Denver can take me there.”
