Smithburger, 11 other Buffs shine in BMHC All-Star Game

Members of the Frosted Mugs BMHC All-Star Game from all five 2025-26 BHMC schools. From left to right: David Levkus (Colorado), Jared Barton (Colorado State), Matt Clift (Metro State), Blake Blazi (Denver) and Mario Rodriguez (Wyoming). (Photo from BTR Clothing/Facebook).

After dominating the Big Mountain Hockey Conference, the Division II Colorado Buffaloes dominated this year's All-Star Game roster. The Buffs sent 12 players to the game at Edge Ice Arena in Littleton on Saturday, a conference-high. 

Seven Buffs played for team Locomotives: defenseman Gage Perri, defenseman Will Hadrick, forward Dominic Aliaksandrov, forward Kory Diponio, defenseman Zaine Polacsek, forward Issac Nefs, and goaltender Harrison Smith. The other five Buffs, goaltender Caleb Allen, defenseman Calvin Stone, forward Brick Fisher, forward Connor Smithburger, and forward David Levkus, played for the Frosted Mugs. 

Colorado was the only school to send two goaltenders, and both Allen and Smith saw action. Smith only played the second period for the Locomotives, allowing three goals on 14 shots. Starting Buff goaltender Allen saw more action than his back-up, entering with eight minutes to go in the second and finishing out the game for the Frosted Mugs. In his 28 minutes of ice time, Allen faced 30 shots and allowed five goals. 

On the offensive side, CU’s skaters scored the most of any school represented. Smithburger and Perri both had a pair of goals for a total of four goals by the Buffs. For his two-goal effort, Smithburger won team MVP for the Frosted Mugs.

Fisher, the BMHC Player of the Year, captained the Frosted Mugs, while Metro State University’s Jackson Tillinghast led the Locomotives. 

The Locomotives got off to a hot start, leading 4-1 after about a period and a half of play. Momentum shifted the way of the Frosted Mugs after Matt Cliff of MSU scored on a wrist shot that went past Smith’s glove. The Frosted Mugs battled back to tie it at four on a breakaway by Smithburger for his second of the game. Smithburger’s goal sent the game into the third, all tied up.

After an underpowered performance to end the second, the Locomotives lit a fire in their engines for the third period. Off the back of Wyoming's Joe May’s natural hat trick and a 20-save shut-out performance by MSU’s goaltender Patric Loeffler, the Locomotives took home the win with a final score of 9-4.

With the end of the 6th annual BMHC All-Star Game, the Buffs will rest up and prepare for the new season next semester.