Off the Ice: A Chat With DU Hockey’s Jack Devine

Jack Devine’s collegiate journey has been marked by impressive accomplishments on the ice. The senior forward, who plays a key role in the University of Denver hockey team’s offense, helped the program win NCAA Championships in 2022 and 2024.

Devine, a Glencoe, Illinois, native, is also a 2025 Hobey Baker Award finalist for the second year in a row. He currently leads the country in points and assists and has racked up 13 goals. Last season as a junior, he finished seventh in the nation in scoring with 56 points and fourth overall with 27 goals.

His accolades also go beyond the ice. The senior finance major is a four-time NCHC Academic All-Conference Team honoree and a four-time NCHC Distinguished Scholar-Athlete.

Individual success is one thing, but the team becoming the first repeat champion since Minnesota Duluth in 2018 and 2019 is something entirely different—and a central goal for Devine.

He and the Pioneers will soon come face-to-face with their first challenge in doing just that.

As the No. 3 seed in the Manchester Northeast Regional, DU will play No.2-seed Providence College at 3:30 p.m. today to begin its 2025 NCAA postseason run.

Denver became the first team to win 10 NCAA Men’s Ice Hockey National Championships after it defeated Boston College 2-0 in April 2024. No. 1 overall seed Boston College is also in the same region and will face fourth-seeded Bentley University on Friday.

The DU Newsroom caught up with Devine recently to chat about how he’s evolved as a DU hockey player, the connections he’s made here, and what rule he would like to see changed in the sport.

What do you enjoy most about being part of the DU Hockey community?

First and foremost, my teammates. Going to the rink every day, being able to spend time with them, it's awesome. They’re some of my best friends and to be able to go into battle with them on the weekends is also awesome. 

I think the fan base does a tremendous job as well. We receive so much support, and I think that's why our team has had so much success. You could really see it in our home games against Colorado College with all the fans that came out to support us.

What’s your favorite thing about studying finance?

There’s a lot of great teachers, and I think you can build some pretty good connections with them. I really enjoyed taking classes with (Professor Andrew) Sherbo. He’s a great guy, a really good teacher, and he really cares about us. I also like going to class with my teammates and spending time with them away from the rink in a setting that’s different from hockey.

What is the best advice you've received from a coach or a teammate?

I’d say be patient and then enjoy the process. It's so easy to compare yourself to others or just look at the end goals, but if you don't enjoy getting there, you're not going to love it once you get there. 

I think that's what's been key when we won the national championships. It's loving every step of the way, even though there's going to be ups and downs, and bounces might not go your way. If you understand that it’s a process, then that end goal will feel so much better.

What aspect of your game do you feel has improved the most since your freshman year?

Skating and strength—those go hand in hand. I've been fortunate enough to work with our staff and specifically Matt Shaw, our strength coach, who has done a really good job helping me gain muscle. I’m able to be faster out there and that helps with making decisions quickly. I also don't feel like I get knocked off the puck as well (because of those changes), so all those are key factors in helping my overall skating.

If you could change one rule in hockey, what would it be and why?

If I could change one rule, I would make the 3-on-3 overtime at least 10 minutes. I think five minutes is too quick. Shootouts are fun, but I think 3-on-3 is a more accurate depiction of (what regulation hockey looks like). 

Who has been the biggest influence in your hockey journey?

I would say my family, my parents. They've made a lot of sacrifices to put me in the situation I am today. Without them driving me to the rink or paying for ice, I wouldn't be here. They’ve given me tons of support, even as I’ve been in college. So, all of my thanks go to them—my parents and my sisters.

Where is your favorite place to play at the collegiate level?

I think North Dakota is always pretty hectic. There’s a lot of people there, and it’s a historic rivalry. We've had a lot of success there, and we’ve also not had success there, so I've been on both sides of it. Boston College was also very cool.

Is there a professional hockey player you try to emulate?

As a kid, I really liked watching Joe Pavelski. He was from Wisconsin, which isn’t too far from Chicago. He found a way to have an awesome career, and he’s also just a really good person—so that’s someone I’ve looked up to.

If you weren’t playing hockey, what sport would you play?

Probably baseball. One of my best friends is a Division-I pitcher, so I will sometimes train with him in the offseason. He never lets me hit off of him, but I think I could. 

What’s your favorite thing to do in Colorado?

Probably go to Avalanche games, Rockies games—those are really fun. We can usually get a good number of guys going.

If you could take a vacation anywhere, where would you go?

If I could take a vacation right now, I would go to Cabo and hang out on the beach with my teammates.