CANTON — The St. Lawrence University men's hockey program will welcome 11 new players to the team for the 2024-25 season, Charles W. Appleton II men's hockey head coach Brent Brekke announced.
- The skating Saints will add eight first-year athletes to the lineup with the additions of Issac Bandu, Riley Connors and Chicago Blackhawks draft pick Dominique Basse.
Among the new recruits are two goalkeepers, six forwards and three defensemen.
Goalkeeper | Alexandria, Virginia | St. Cloud State University (NCAA) | Height: 6'6″, Weight: 197 lbs., Catch: Left | Draft: Chicago Blackhawks (NHL)
He began his career at Colorado, playing 2,262 minutes in 43 games with a 3.21 goals-against average and .891 save percentage.
During his time at Colorado State, Basse made 39 saves in two appearances against St. Lawrence University at Appleton Arena.
He transferred to St. Cloud State University to play his final two seasons there, and appeared in 43 games for the Huskies, posting a 2.55 goals-against average, a .903 save percentage, 23 wins, 14 losses, four ties and six shutouts.
After playing 37 games with the Youngstown Phantoms of the USHL, he was selected 167th overall by the Chicago Blackhawks in the sixth round of the 2019 NHL Entry Draft.
Brekke said of Basse: “He's a very athletic goalie with great skills. He's very talented. We have a lot of new guys coming into our program this season, so his four years of collegiate experience will be a great asset.”
Forward | Madison, Connecticut | Yale Bulldogs (NCAA) | Height: 6’1”, Weight: 200 lbs, Shoots: Right
He played three seasons with the Yale Bulldogs and served as team captain in 2023-24.
In total, he has played in 91 games with the Bulldogs, scoring 12 goals and 14 assists for 26 points.
He played 53 games with the Bandits and Pontiacs in the AJHL and then 22 games with the Connecticut Jr. Rangers of the NCDC.
Coach Brekke said of Connors, “Riley is a big, strong forward with a lot of collegiate experience coming out of Yale, where he was captain there last season. Riley is a very good two-way player and is very versatile as a forward who can play on the wing or at center.”
- Isaac Bandu (Junior)Isaac Bandu
Defenseman | Montreal, Quebec | Victoria Grizzlies (BCHL) | Height: 6'2″ Weight: 200 lbs Shoots: Left
He played three seasons with the Victoria Grizzlies of the BCHL, appearing in 93 games and recording six goals, 39 assists and 45 points.
Bandu played the first two seasons of his collegiate career in the CCHA at Northern Michigan University.
He played in 35 games for the Wildcats before transferring to St. Lawrence.
Last season at Northern Michigan University, he had one goal and four assists for five points.
“He's very mobile and uses his skating ability to get loose pucks and get out quickly. Isak is a solid two-way defenseman,” Coach Brekke said of Bandu.
Forward | Warman, Saskatchewan | Humboldt Broncos (SJHL) | Height: 6’0”, Weight: 190 lbs, Shoots: Right
He began his junior career with the Blackfalds Bulldogs of the AJHL, appearing in 84 games and recording 20 goals and 26 assists.
He was traded to the Humboldt Broncos of the SJHL for the 2022-23 season, appearing in 26 games and finishing the season with 16 points.
He appeared in 55 games for the Broncos in 2023-24, directing the offense at will with 47 goals, 41 assists and 88 points.
Brekke said of Bell: “Spencer is a pure goal scorer. He has the talent to score in a variety of ways and has great offensive habits. He was the SJHL's leading scorer and second in the entire league in goals.”
Forward | Windsor, Ontario | Alberni Valley Bulldogs (BCHL) | Height: 6’3”, Weight: 192 lbs, Shoots: Right
He played 153 games over three seasons with the Alberni Valley Bulldogs.
He scored 19 points in his first season with the Bulldogs, then recorded 56- and 63-point seasons the next two years.
He totaled 47 goals and 91 assists for 138 points.
Coach Brekke had this to say about Beneteau: “Nick is a talented centreman with great size and great offensive instincts. He was one of the BCHL's top attacking players last season and we look forward to seeing what he does at St. Lawrence University.”
Forward | South Burlington, Vermont | Maine Nordiques (NAHL) | Height: 5’10”, Weight: 170 lbs., Shoots: Right
He began his junior career with the Islanders Hockey Club of the NCDC, scoring 15 points and recording eight assists in 46 games.
In the 2022-23 season, he played in 54 games with the West Kelowna Warriors of the BCHL, scoring 12 goals and 10 assists for 22 points.
Last season, he appeared in 60 games with the NAHL's Maine Nordiques, recording a career-high 54 points with 21 goals and 33 assists.
Coach Brekke said of Bernadette, “Jake is a 200-foot competitive player who is very good on both sides of the puck. He plays hard and has good skill sets that complement his competitive nature.”
Defenseman | Oldwick, N.J. | Okotoks Oilers (BCHL) | Height: 6'2″ Weight: 185 Shots: Left
He last played for the Okotoks Oilers in the BCHL and was previously in the AJHL.
He played 46 games in the AJHL, recording five goals and 21 assists from the defensive line, before moving leagues and playing his remaining 18 games in the BCHL, recording six assists.
As a junior at Salisbury School, he played in 53 games and scored 14 points.
Coach Brekke said of Hall, “He's a very mobile, excellent transition defenseman who can use his mobility to get to opponents quickly and create turnovers. He'll be activating frequently and looking to join the offensive charge.”
Defenseman | Bethesda, Maryland | Maine Nordiques (NAHL) | Height: 6’3”, Weight: 195 lbs., Shoots: Left
He last played three seasons with the Maine Nordiques of the NAHL.
He played in 158 games for the Nordiques, recording 22 goals and 43 assists from the defensive line.
He previously played for the NCDC and began his junior career with the New Jersey Rockets, appearing in 40 games.
“A tall, stable defenseman, Evan will look to move the puck and add to the rush with his strong skating ability,” Brekke said of Orlov.
Forward | Granby, Quebec | Vernon Vipers (BCHL) | Height: 6'1″ Weight: 175 Shots: Left
He played the past two seasons with the Vernon Vipers of the BCHL.
He played in 104 games and had 32 goals and 31 assists for 63 points.
A year ago, he had a breakout season, scoring 23 goals and 16 assists for a total of 39 points.
Coach Brekke said of Tremblay, “Isaac is a skilled centre who moves well and is very creative. He made an impact last year in his second year at Vernon and showed great growth in his game. He doubled his goal tally from his rookie season and led the team in points.”
Forward | Molla, Sweden | Nanaimo Clippers (BCHL) | Height: 6’4”, Weight: 203 lbs, Shoots: Left
He will move to North America ahead of the 2022-23 season to play for the Maryland Black Bears of the NAHL.
He recorded 10 goals and 16 assists in 42 games in 2022-23.
He signed with the Nanaimo Clippers of the BCHL, appearing in 37 games and recording eight goals and 11 assists.
Brekke said of Westling: “Gabriel is a big center with great hockey sense. He has a great skill set for a player his size and can play in any situation.”
Goalie | Plymouth, Minnesota | Lone Star Brummers (NAHL) | Height: 6'1″ Weight: 180 Catches: Left Jack Wieneke
He played a key role for the Maryland Black Bears in the 2022-23 season, posting a record of 14 wins, 6 losses and 1 tie with a 2.10 goals against percentage and a .905 save percentage.
He joined the Black Bears with a 5-0-0 record to open the 2023-24 season, before being traded to the Lone Star Brammers.
He appeared in the Brammers' final 28 games, posting 22 wins, 2 losses and 3 ties with a 1.39 goals against percentage and a .942 save percentage.
He led the team to its second Robertson Cup victory with a 5-1-1 record in the playoffs, earning a spot on the All-Tournament Team and was named NAHL Goaltender of the Year.
Coach Brekke said of Winnecke, “Jack had a great season with Lone Star and won an NAHL championship, so he knows what it takes to be successful and win a title. He was named NAHL Goaltender of the Year because of that great season.”
