FAIRBANKS, Alaska – Head coach Dallas Ferguson and the rest of the Alaska Hockey coaching staff are proud to announce the 2020 graduating class, which welcomes 12 new Nooks to the 2016-17 roster. The 12 newcomers marks the largest recruiting class since the 2005-06 season, when then-head coach Tavis MacMillan also brought in 12 new skaters, including former Alaska goaltender Chad Johnson, who spent the 2015-16 season with the Buffalo Sabres.
"The class of 2020 is one of the largest classes we have had in recent years," Ferguson said on Friday. "These men are starting the next phase of their academic and athletic careers. Large freshman classes bring an excitement to every aspect of the day-to-day operations of a program. I believe this will be a very big positive for our team next year."
Ferguson, along with assistant coaches Corbin Schmidt and Lance West, worked tirelessly throughout the past couple of seasons to bring in seven forwards, three defenseman and two goaltenders to round out the 2016-17 roster. After graduating all six seniors this past May, Alaska Hockey has 17 skaters returning to campus this fall.
Forwards
Tyler Cline – Blaine, Minn. // L // Minnesota Wilderness (NAHL)
The 5'9", 179 lbs. center committed to the Alaska Nanooks after playing the past two seasons with the Minnesota Wilderness, collecting the Robertson Cup after the 2014-15 season. In the 2015-16 season, Cline played in 26 games, collected 15 goals and 17 assists for 32 points.
Ross Heidt – Red Deer, Alta., Canada // L // Salmon Arm (BCHL)
The left-winger is known for his speed on the ice, while consistently chipping in offensively. Heidt recently capped off his second season in the BCHL with Salmon Arm, collecting 33 goals and 20 assists for 53 points in 55 games this past season.
Aaron Herdt – Moorhead, Minn. // L // Bismarck (NAHL)
After spending his first full season in the NAHL with Bismarck, Herdt tallied 52 points (19G, 33A) in 57 games with the Bobcats. The Bobcats made it to the NAHL playoffs this past season, where Herdt posted five goals and four assists for nine points in 11 games. Furthermore, Herdt was named to the NAHL All-Central Division Team for 2015-16.
Kylar Hope – Lashburn, Sask., Canada // R // West Kelowna (BCHL)
2015-16 was a big season for Hope, who along with fellow incoming freshman Kyle Marino, won the coveted RBC Cup this past May, along with capturing the BCHL title. Throughout his time with West Kelowna, Hope has evolved into a complete goal-scoring threat that's known to get gritty in the tough areas of the ice. Playing in 58 games for the Warriors this past season, Hope recorded 28 goals and 46 assists for 74 points, including 24 additional points in the playoffs.
Colton Leiter – Edmonton, Alta., Canada // R // Spruce Grove (AJHL)
The 6'1", 200 lbs. forward comes to Alaska after playing the past three seasons with Spruce Grove of the AJHL. This past season, Leiter collected 26 goals and 29 assists for 55 points in 57 games. A two-time AJHL Champion (2014 & 2015), Leiter brings experience and maturity to the 12 incoming freshman.
Kyle Marino – Niagara Falls, Ont., Canada // R // West Kelowna (BCHL)
At 6'2", 220 lbs., Marino comes to the Nanooks after a highly-successful season captaining the West Kelowna Warriors this past season. Alongside Kylar Hope, Marino won the RBC Cup this past May, along with capturing the BCHL title. In 57 regular season games during 2015-16, Marino posted 14 goals and 19 assists for 33 points, including 10 points in the postseason.
Troy Van Tetering – Carstairs, Alta., Canada // R // Lloydminster (AJHL)
After committing to the Nanooks in December of 2014, Van Tetering will finally make his way to Alaska after playing two full seasons with the Lloydminster Bobcats of the AJHL. In the 2015-16 season, Van Tetering recorded 46 points (17G, 29A) in 54 games, including an appearance on Team Canada West (U19) at the World Junior Championships (U19).
"This group of forwards has a good balance of speed, hockey IQ and competitiveness," Ferguson said his seven incoming forwards. "With and without the puck, we want to be hard to play against; with this group's individual skill sets, it will allow us to play with that identity. Positionally, this group will provide more depth for us at center. Playing center brings a lot of responsibility and I believe you can't have enough guys on the bench who are comfortable playing that position."
Defensemen
Danny Kiraly – Glendale, Ariz. // R // Odessa (NAHL)
The 6'1", 190 lbs. defenseman will bring some size and offensive ability to the Nanooks blue line, after spending the past two seasons with the Odessa Jackalopes of the NAHL. Posting 12 goals and 28 assists for 40 points in 58 games this past season, Kiraly was named to the 2015-16 NAHL All-South Division Team.
James LaDouce – Freeland, Mich. // R // Minot (NAHL)
A mobile-defenseman, LaDouce will fit in with some of the other offensive-minded Nanook blueliners. After being named the alternate captain for the Minot Minotauros of the NAHL this past season, LaDouce was named to the 2015-16 NAHL All-Central Division Team after posting 10 goals and 25 assists for 35 points in 56 games.
Tristan Thompson – Canmore, Alta., Canada // L // Brooks (AJHL)
After spending half the season between the Olds Grizzlys and the Brooks Bandits, Thompson concluded his season with a Western Canada Cup appearance and AJHL Championship title with the Bandits. In 33 games with Brooks, Thompson tallied six goals and 27 assists for 33 points.
"Our incoming defensemen are all mobile and comfortable on the power play. In today's game, your ability to use your feet is crucial to play with the pace and efficiency we want. Anything positive offensively usually starts with a clean transition from our defensemen. I like these players ability to move the puck and keep the game clean for us in transition," Ferguson said of his three new blueliners.
Goaltenders
Niko Della Maggiore – Gilroy, Calif. // L // Springfield (NAHL)
A late commitment to the Nanooks, Della Maggiore was a welcome addition to Alaska Hockey. After playing the past two seasons with the Springfield Jr. Blues of the NAHL, Della Maggiore appeared in 24 games posting a 2.82 GAA average and a .913 save percentage.
Anton Martinsson – Klippan, Sweden // L // Amarillo (NAHL)
The first European to play for the Nanooks in over ten years, Martinsson comes to Alaska after spending the past two seasons with the Amarillo Bulls of the NAHL. In 2015-16, Martinsson appeared in 46 games recording a 3.10 GAA average and a .922 save percentage.
"Our leadership has a big responsibility to get this new group started off on the right foot," Ferguson concluded. "We will have 12 new faces in the program so mentoring and teaching will be an important part of the freshmen's transition to NCAA hockey. The staff, along with the returning players, shares the excitement of the new opportunities next season will bring us. We look forward to getting this group together in the fall and start the process of building a successful season."
Below are the returning Nanooks from the 2015-16 season:
Sophomores:
Jordan Burns (D)
Jesse Jenks (G)
Nikolas Koberstein (D)
Ryker Leer (F)
John Mullally (F)
Chad Staley (F)
Jack Weiss (D)
Juniors:
Kyle Froese (D)
Zach Fyre (D)
Nick Hinz (D)
Tayler Munson (F)
Austin Veith (F)
Seniors:
Marcus Basara (F)
Josh Erickson (F)
Davis Jones (G)
Brandon Morley (F)
Justin Woods (R-Jr./D)
For more information on the Alaska Nanooks Hockey team, follow @NanooksHockey on Twitter or like the Alaska Nanooks Hockey page on Facebook.
