After losing four seniors to graduation this past season, the NMU hockey team has re-equipped their roster with seven committed players for the 2015-16 season.
“We are exceptionally happy to add this group of student-athletes to our lineup,” head coach Walt Kyle said. “Many of these players are leaders on their respective teams, and many of these players are all stars in their respective leagues. I believe that in this group we have several players who can have an immediate impact on our team and step in to replace seniors who have moved on.”
NMU assistant coach Rob Lehtinen said the incoming freshmen have a winning attitude.
“I really like the character that these kids coming in have,” assistant coach Rob Lehtinen said. “They all want to come in and develop, they want to play here and win a championship. When you have kids like that, you can work with them and build a successful team.”
Troy Loggins is one of the two forwards added to the roster for this upcoming season. Loggins is a native of Huntington Beach, Calif.
Loggins won the Clark Cup in the USHL this past season, winning the MVP of the playoffs and setting the record for most goals in the tournament with 10, and also tying the record for most points with 16.
Forward Filip Starzynski will also be added to the Wildcat lineup this season. Starzynski is entering his second season with the team, but was a non-qualifier last year with limited participation with team.
“Strazynski’s been skating with us for a while now and understands the team,” Lehtinen said. “He’s going to come in and be a great add to our lineup. He has a lot of energy, a great work ethic and is a great character kid. Down the line he’s going to be a fan-favorite who brings his lunch pail to work everyday. He’s the last guy off the practice ice who always wants more, and you have to love a guy with that work ethic.”
U.P. native Jesse Junttila is among the four defensemen joining the Wildcats this season. Junttila is a native of Calumet, and most recently played for the New Jersey Hitmen of the USPHL and the Odessa Jackalopes of the NAHL this past season.
Junttila also played for the Marquette Electricians in 2011-12.
James Vermeulen and Ryan Black are a pair of defensemen from the Alberta league that the ’Cats have added, as well as defenseman Connor Franti from the USHL and goaltender Atte Tolvanen from the NAHL.
Assistant coach John Kyle said the student athletes the team has added this offseason have the attitude the team is looking for.
“We have some very high point scorers here,” John Kyle said. “These players have had some great success with the teams they’re coming from. We think their transition is going to be a positive impact on the team, and they’ll fit in with the team chemistry we’re trying to create.”
The Wildcats are coming off a season where they finished in seventh place out of 10 teams in the WCHA, with a 11-13-4 conference record and 14-18-6 overall.
The ’Cats junior class of nine players has been the group that Walt Kyle has said he’s looking at to bring the hockey program back to WCHA contention and an NCAA tournament berth. The three team captains that were announced this offseason are each from that junior class, and consist of forwards Dominik Shine and Shane Sooth, as well as defenseman Brock Maschmeyer.
“When you see a lot of small programs like us become successful in college hockey, it’s always because of the upper-classmen finding their way,” Lehtinen said. “That’s what’s going to lead you through your season. You need leaders in the locker room, and these guys have done a good job in their first two years. These guys are the leaders now, and it’s their time to shine.”
