Three Kings prospects advance to NCAA Frozen Four, Slukynsky's season ends in Elite Eight

Denver University trio of Reeder, McMorrow and Epperson reach college hockey's biggest stage, while Western Michigan's Slukynsky falls short in bid to repeat as national champion.

Mar. 30, 2026 at 12:50am

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A cubist, geometric painting depicting the action and energy of a college hockey game, with the competing teams' colors and uniforms fractured and blended together in an abstract, multi-perspective composition.The LA Kings' NCAA prospects shine as the road to the Frozen Four intensifies.Loveland Today

Three LA Kings prospects - James Reeder, Brendan McMorrow and Kristian Epperson - have advanced to the NCAA Frozen Four tournament with the University of Denver, while goaltender Hampton Slukynsky and the University of Western Michigan were eliminated in the Elite Eight round. The Pioneers defeated Slukynsky's Western Michigan team 6-2 to punch their ticket to the Frozen Four in Las Vegas, where they will face the Michigan Wolverines on April 9.

Why it matters

The Kings have a strong contingent of NCAA prospects, with Slukynsky, Reeder, McMorrow and Epperson all playing key roles for their respective teams this season. The Frozen Four appearance for the Denver trio is an important milestone, as the Kings look to continue developing their pipeline of young talent through the college ranks.

The details

Reeder, a seventh-round pick in 2025, led the Pioneers in assists this season and has continued his strong play in the tournament, recording a pair of assists. McMorrow, who represented the U.S. at the 2026 World Juniors, scored a goal and added an assist in the win over Western Michigan. Epperson, a 2025 third-round selection, picked up his first career NCAA Tournament point with an assist in the same game. Meanwhile, Slukynsky, the reigning national champion, was unable to replicate his tournament heroics from a year ago, as his Western Michigan squad fell to Denver.

  • On March 24, Denver defeated Cornell 5-0 in the opening round of the NCAA Tournament.
  • On March 25, Western Michigan defeated Minnesota State 3-1 to advance to the Elite Eight.
  • On March 26, Denver defeated Western Michigan 6-2 to advance to the Frozen Four.

The players

James Reeder

A seventh-round pick by the LA Kings in the 2025 NHL Draft, Reeder is one of the top-scoring forwards for the University of Denver this season. He has recorded a pair of assists in the team's two tournament wins so far.

Brendan McMorrow

McMorrow, who represented the United States at the 2026 World Junior Championships, has been a spark plug for the University of Denver this season. He scored a goal and added an assist in the team's 6-2 win over Western Michigan to advance to the Frozen Four.

Kristian Epperson

A 2025 third-round pick by the LA Kings, Epperson is a freshman forward for the University of Denver. He recorded his first career NCAA Tournament point with an assist in the win over Western Michigan.

Hampton Slukynsky

Slukynsky, the reigning national champion goaltender, had a strong sophomore season for the University of Western Michigan. However, his bid to repeat as a national champion came to an end with a 6-2 loss to Denver in the Elite Eight round of the NCAA Tournament.

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What they’re saying

“We must be playing our best hockey right now. The Frozen Four is the biggest stage in college hockey and we're excited for the challenge ahead.”

— James Reeder, University of Denver Forward

“It's tough to see our season end, especially after winning it all last year. But I'm proud of the way our team competed and I'm grateful for the opportunity to represent Western Michigan.”

— Hampton Slukynsky, University of Western Michigan Goaltender

What’s next

The University of Denver will face the Michigan Wolverines in the Frozen Four on April 9, with the winner advancing to the national championship game on April 11.

The takeaway

The LA Kings' pipeline of NCAA prospects continues to produce, with three players from the organization advancing to the Frozen Four tournament. While Slukynsky's bid to repeat as a national champion fell short, the success of Reeder, McMorrow and Epperson at Denver is an encouraging sign for the Kings' long-term development strategy.