Five players headline the Mercyhurst University men’s hockey team’s recruiting class for the 2012-13 season.
Rick Gotkin, who enters his 25th season as coach, has brought in three defensemen – Anthony Mastrodicasa from Woodbridge, Ontario, Mychal Monteith (Toledo, Ohio) and Justin Stevens (Brantford, Ontario). Mastrodicasa (6-foot 1-inch, 195 pounds), a two-time captain with the Vaughan Vipers of the Ontario Junior Hockey League, had 25 goals and 85 points in 69 games the past two seasons.
Monteith (5-9, 180) led the Texas Tornado to the North American Hockey League’s Robertson Cup finals this past season. Stevens (5-11, 205) had four goals and 24 points in 43 games with the Pembroke Lumber Kings of the Central Canadian Hockey League in 2011-12.
Gotkin also added forward Kyle Cook (6-4, 215) from Middleburg Heights, Ohio, and Moon Township native Alec Shields (5-9, 180). Cook finished sixth in the NAHL this past season with 70 points (31 goals, 39 assists) in 59 games for the Springfield Jr. Blues. Shields had five points in eight games for the NAHL’s Traverse City North Stars before a torn tendon in his hand ended his season. Cook, whose expected to be ready for the start of the 2012-13 season, had 21 goals and 51 points in 50 games with Traverse City two seasons ago.
Mercyhurst begins the season Oct. 6 with a 7:05 p.m. exhibition game against Wilfrid Laurier, from Waterloo, Ontario, at Mercyhurst Ice Center. The regular season opens Oct. 13 with an Atlantic Hockey Association game at Niagara.

Erie Otters forward David Broll was one of 43 players invited to attend Canada’s National Men’s Summer Under-18 Team selection camp, which runs from July 31-August 3 at in Calgary, Alberta.

The camp, which includes 15 Ontario Hockey League players, will be used to determine the players for Canada’s National Men’s Summer Under-18 Team that will play in the 2010 Memorial of Ivan Hlinka tournament, scheduled for August 10-14 in Slovakia and the Czech Republic.

Former Otters center Ryan O’Reilly represented Canada in the 2008 Hlinka tournament, helping the team to a gold medal. Current Otters right wing Shawn Szydlowski played for the United States in 2007, when the squad finished in fifth place.

Broll, the Otters first round draft pick in 2009, finished his rookie year with nine goals and nine assists in 64 games. He has experience in international play with Team Ontario in the 2009 World Under-17 Ice Hockey Challenge.

CHL Players:

Defencemen:

Myles Bell, Regina Pats

Cody Ceci, Ottawa 67’s

Dillon Donnelly, Shawinigan Cataractes

Dougie Hamilton, Niagara IceDogs

Scott Harrington, London Knights

Ryan Murphy, Kitchener Rangers

Ryan Murray, Everett Silvertips

Jimmy Oligny, PEI Rocket

Xavier Ouellet, Montreal Juniors

Stuart Percy, Mississauga St. Michael’s Majors

Jonathan Racine, Shawinigan Cataractes

Reece Scarlett, Swift Current Broncos

Duncan Siemens, Saskatoon Blades

Stephen Woodworth, Lewiston MAINEiacs

Forwards:

Brent Andrews, Halifax Mooseheads

Olivier Archambault, Val d’Or Foreurs

Austen Brassard, Belleville Bulls

David Broll, Erie Otters

Raphael Bussieres, Baie-Comeau Drakkar

Daniel Catenacci, Sault Ste. Marie Greyhounds

Michael Curtis, Belleville Bulls

Phillip Danault, Victoriaville Tigres

Jonathan Huberdeau, Saint John Sea Dogs

Boone Jenner, Oshawa Generals

Jean-Francois Leblanc, Val d’Or Foreurs

Adam Lowry, Swift Current Broncos

Mark McNeill, Prince Albert Raiders

Garrett Meurs, Plymouth Whalers

Bryce Milson, Acadie-Bathurst Titan

Ryan Nugent-Hopkins, Red Deer Rebels

Matt Puempel, Peterborough Petes

Alan Quine, Kingston Frontenacs

Ty Rattie, Portland Winterhawks

Brett Ritchie, Sarnia Sting

Carter Sandlak, Guelph Storm

Colin Smith, Kamloops Blazers

Michael St. Croix, Edmonton Oil Kings

The players, born in 1993, were selected by Hockey Canada head scout Al Murray, in consultation with head coach George Burnett (Port Perry, Ont./Belleville Bulls, OHL) and assistant coaches Ron Choules (Montreal, Que./Acadie-Bathurst Titan, QMJHL) and Jim Hiller (Nelson, B.C./Tri-City Americans, WHL). Murray evaluated these players over the course of the 2009-10 season, following them along with numerous other candidates for the program during league play, as well as during the 2010 World Under-17 Hockey Challenge held from December 29-January 4 in Timmins, Ont.

“The upcoming National Men’s Summer Under-18 Team selection camp will be competitive and exciting,” Murray said. “These players represent the future of Canadian hockey and are a testament to the strength of the Canadian Hockey League and the skill development taking place in minor hockey across the country.”

The camp roster includes 12 skaters from the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League, 15 from the Ontario Hockey League, 10 from the Western Hockey League and one from the Central Canadian Hockey League (Junior A). In total, 36 of those 38 skaters (14 defencemen and 22 forwards) competed at the 2010 World Under-17 Hockey Challenge.

Of the 43 players who have been identified for the selection camp, 22 skaters and two goaltenders will be selected for Canada’s National Men’s Summer Under-18 Team that will play in the 2010 Memorial of Ivan Hlinka tournament, scheduled for August 10-14 in Slovakia and the Czech Republic.

- From Erie Otters, Hockey Canada/CHL news releases