Marcus Antonelli – Sports Editor
August is here, which means a few things come to fruition; the air gets cooler, school comes sooner and of course, Hockey is officially around the corner.
College training camp is in session, which brings a wave of opportunity to a program. Coaches get a chance to look at the returning, the transfers and the new blood. For Merrimack, a total of nine incoming freshmen highlight this years roster.
This article will give you a little insight into each incoming first year player, what they’ve accomplished in their careers and what they can hope to bring to Merrimack for their time here. So without further adieu, here we go.
The Rochester, NY native was originally committed to Bentley before switching to Merrimack in November of 2023. Last year, Cranston was arguably the BCHL’s best player. He was awarded the Brett Hull Trophy and named as a 1st Team All-Star behind his 86 points (30g-56a) in 51 games. He helped lead Surrey all the way to a championship, almost averaging point per game during the playoffs (22p in 24 games.)
“Caden Cranston is a total game changer…His dominant performance is easy to convince all while making everyone better on the ice. A really gifted, crafty & finesse player with an offensive touch most players dream of. Cranston utilizes his precise footwork, mobility and natural stride to dance around opponents all over the ice. ”(From Cory Mickey, Elite Prospects)
Wallace has played with Brooks since 2021 and highlights as the other four-star forward in this class. In the last four years, he’s won back-to-back AJHL Championships. Along with that, he’s accrued 130 points in 137 games. The ‘Hustler’ team award winner is 5’7”, 165 pounds according to Elite Prospects, but judging by his near point per game production in juniors, I’d say ‘size matters not.’
“From what I’ve read, he sounds like the type of player who should be able to carve out a role right away. Given that he excels in all three zones, he is the type of player that can play on the third or fourth line and kill penalties early in his career, but he also seems to have enough pop from a skill standpoint to crack the top-six over the course of his career as well.” (From Mike McMahon, The Mack Report)
King’s recent season with Victoria was outstanding, earning him an early call to college. His 38 points in 51 games were a key factor in moving him to this year’s recruiting class, rather than keeping him in Canada for another year of junior hockey. The increasing offensive production serves the 20-year old, left shot defender well. However, there’s always room for improvement.
“The biggest part of his game he needs to work on is his defending. Because of his size and reach he doesn’t have to do a lot of that in the BCHL. Getting him here, and getting him into the system, playing against men, will really be beneficial for him. He’s a big strong guy, and playing against people who are just as strong will be important for his game.” (From Merrimack HC Scott Borek, via The Mack Report)
In his earlier years, Hughesman was overlooked due to his small size, The Manitoba native was 5-foot-6 before he saw a growth spurt that now puts him at a tall 6-foot-2, 190 lb. frame. That height progression contributed towards his solid career with Brooks.
He averaged nearly half a point per game with the Bandits, recording 44 points in 97 games, which contributed to their AJHL championship in 2022-23. Additionally, this past year, he was honored as the team’s co-Unsung Hero.
The right-shot forward boasts an impressive resume from his time in Alberta Junior. He made a strong start as an All-Rookie in his first season and only continued to excel. Yuhas tallied 161 points over 172 games, all with Drumheller. Averaging a point per game as the Dragons’ captain earned him a spot on the 2023-24 First All-League Team.
The Medicine Hat native is set to reunite with his former Dragon teammate, Ty Daneault, who excelled alongside Yuhas in juniors. Vann’s past production is an encouraging sign, and the idea of him and Daneault teaming up again in North Andover adds to the anticipation.
Pierre brings a strong juniors resume’ into his first year of NCAA play. He was ranked #144th by NHL Central Scouting in 2022, which came from a fair share of USHL glory. The former Wisconsin commit scored the game-winning goal to seal the 2022 Clark Cup for Sioux City. This past year with Omaha, he tallied a solid 38 points in 57 games.
“Pierre gets to the net. He sprints past defenders to get chances off-puck. Anticipates opening and slips behind defenders for rebounds. With the puck, he’s a simple play with a few twists. He uses the inside, kicking pucks out of the boards to the middle and immediately making the next play upon winning possession.” (From Elite Prospects 2022 NHL Draft Guide)
The Saskatchewan native was a late pickup for the Warriors this offseason. Before decommitting from Clarkson, Fitzpatrick notched 58 points in 60 total games last season. The year prior, as a rookie, he had 51 points in 52 games.
Caelan was brought in to fill the spot of former 5th-year transfer John Jaworski, who returned to Sacred Heart after originally committing to Merrimack earlier in the summer.
“Caelen eats pucks with no hesitation and plays a detailed game in his own end, He harasses puck carriers all over getting sticks and whacks on guys to force turnovers or errant passes. Fitzpatrick is a smaller forward but can be a bull at times driving through contact and running guys over.” (From Neutral Zone, via The Mack Report)
O’Connell is a player I’m keeping my eye on. 35 points in his last two years at USHL doesn’t give his game enough justice. He was stellar for Mount St. Charles in 18U, racking up 73 points in 63 games. The New Jersey native stood out to scouts with his grit and toughness—qualities any team would want in their lineup.
“Ryan was first noticed for his excellent effort on the penalty kill where he made strong reads and anticipated the play. We also liked how he put his shoulder down and drove hard to the net with some jam. He’s a pressure guy who finishes checks and has a solid defensive stick for a forward. We had significant standout notes from each game on him; his play is consistent and disciplined.” (From Neutral Zone at the 18U Nationals, via The Mack Report)
The Fairbanks, Alaska native committed to Merrimack just shortly after his New England Championship win against the Islanders Hockey Club. The 6-foot-2 goaltender is a solid pickup to have in the crease for the Warriors.
For the past three seasons, Keyes has been regarded as one of the top goaltenders in the NCDC. In 2023-24, he earned the league’s New England Division Goaltender of the Year, thanks to an impressive .926 save percentage and a 2.01 goals-against average, which led to 31 wins in 41 games. To cap off his stellar season, he also won the league championship with the South Shore Kings.
Keyes, along with transfer Nils Wallstrom and sophomore Max Lundgren, forms a strong goaltending trio for Merrimack.
That wraps up my overview of the incoming freshmen. I hope this article has provided you with valuable insight into each of these talented first-year players and what they could bring to the team during their time here at Merrimack. Keep an eye out for these names—they might just be the future stars of the team!
Stay tuned! For more coverage on Merrimack Men’s Hockey follow Marcus (@antonelli7jr) on Twitter (X) for all things Warriors Hockey. Don’t forget to check out the Beacon Newspaper website for articles on games, players, and more!
