ROCHESTER, NY – Head Coach Wayne Wilson is proud to announce the RIT men’s hockey Class of 2021 on Monday, July 3. Nine first-year student-athletes—which includes five forwards, two defensemen, and two goaltenders—will join the current squad. RIT has won two of the last three Atlantic Hockey Conference Championships.
“We are very excited to bring in a large class this season, as they fill needs and have a chance to contribute right away,” said Wilson, who is entering his 19th season at RIT. “As always, we like to bring guys in who fit into the up tempo style we like to play and excel in the classroom as well.”
Forwards Nick Bruce (Fall River, Nova Scotia/Johnstown Tomahawks), Reed Delainey (Edam Saskatchewan/Battlefords North Stars), Alden Dupuis (Edmonton, Alberta/Bonnyville Pontiacs), Jake Hamacher (Corona, CA/Dubuque Fighting Saints) and Bryson Traptow (Calgary, Alberta/Camrose Kodiaks) add speed and skill to a deep group of returners. All five newcomers will look to step into the lineup and make significant contributions.
Bruce enjoyed a strong 2016-17 season for the Johnstown Tomahawks of the North American Hockey League (NAHL), finishing third among all NAHL skaters with 67 points on 27 goals and 40 assists in 60 games played. A 6-foot-1 forward, Bruce added eight power-play goals, three game-winners and 126 penalty minutes. He was a five-time NAHL East Star of the Week and was named to the All-East Division team.
“Nick has good size, hockey sense, and can play center or wing,” said RIT assistant coach Dave Insalaco. “He competes very hard and plays a strong 200-foot game.”
Delainey, who also stands 6-foot-1, played the last four seasons with the Battlefords North Stars of the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League (SJHL). In 2016-17, Delainey appeared in 49 games, recording 39 points on 16 goals and 23 assists. He also scored six game-winning goals and added five power-play tallies during the regular season. Delainey added six postseason goals, helping Battlefords win the 2017 Canalta Cup Championship. Delainey recorded 55 goals, 74 assists and 129 points in 173 games over four seasons.
“Reed is an elite skater with great speed,” said Wilson. “He played an extra year of juniors, which has helped in his development.”
Dupuis played the last three full seasons with the Bonnyville Pontiacs of the Alberta Junior Hockey League (AJHL), serving as an assistant captain in 2016-17. He led Bonnyville in scoring last season, recording 58 points on 26 goals and 32 assists in 58 games. A speedy, 5-foot-9 forward, Dupuis led the AJHL with six shorthanded goals. In three AJHL seasons, Dupuis recorded 136 points on 57 goals and 79 assists in 168 games.
“Alden has good speed, competes hard, and is a responsible, two-way forward,” said associate head coach Brian Hills.
Hamacher, who stands 5-foot-8, played the 2016-17 season with the Dubuque Fighting Saints of the United States Hockey League (USHL). Hamacher was fourth on the team in scoring with 40 points on 14 goals and 26 assists in 59 games. Hamacher, who starred in the North American Hockey League (NAHL) from 2014-16, played with RIT defenseman Darren Brady (Lake Orion, MI/New Jersey Titans) on Team East at the 2016 NAHL Top Prospects game.
“Jake had an excellent season in the USHL and will look to make an immediate impact,” said Wilson. “His versatility allows him to play in all situations.”
Traptow, a 6-foot-3 forward, played the last three seasons in the Alberta Junior Hockey League (AJHL). He played for both the Whitecourt Wolverines and Camrose Kodiaks in 2016-17, recording 56 points on 25 goals and 31 assists in 53 games, adding six power-play goals, four game-winners and two shorthanded tallies to go along with 67 penalty minutes. Traptow posted career totals of 50 goals and 83 assists for 133 points and 211 penalty minutes in 162 games over three seasons.
“Bryson has tremendous hockey sense, good skill, sees the ice well, and can be a good face-off guy for us,” said Hills.
The duo of Regan Seiferling (Moose Jaw, Saskatchewan/Yorkton Terriers) and Dan Willett (Bayville, NY/Bloomington Thunder) add great mobility, skill and depth to a defensive unit that was among the highest scoring in all of Division I last season.
Seiferling, who stands 6-foot-2, played the last three seasons for the Yorkton Terriers of the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League (SJHL). He appeared in 42 games during the 2016-17 season, recording 34 points on six goals and 28 assists. Seiferling, a two-time Defenseman of the Year with Yorkton, played in the 2016 World Junior A Challenge for Team Canada West in Alberta. He played in 152 games over three seasons with Yorkton, scoring 19 goals while adding 66 assists for 85 points.
“Regan is a very smart player who represented Team Canada West last season,” said Insalaco. “He is a good puck-moving defenseman who will look to follow in the footsteps of former Yorkton Terriers and 2017-18 captains Brady and Chase Norrish (Strongfield, Saskatchewan/Yorkton Terriers).”
Willett played the last five seasons in the United States Hockey League (USHL). Last season, he had 10 points on two goals and eight assists in 52 games as an assistant captain with the Bloomington Thunder. Willett also played for the Lincoln Stars, Muskegon Lumberjacks and Madison Capitals, tallying a career-high 24 points on three goals and 21 assists for Madison in 2015-16 while scoring seven goals and 22 points in 2014-15. Willett, who stands 5-foot-6, is the USHL’s all-time leader with 266 career games played.
“Danny sees the ice really well, plays with great poise, and is a strong addition,” said Wilson. “He has a strong shot and is a good two-way defenseman.”
In net, Ian Andriano (Barrie, Ontario/Ottawa Jr. Senators) and Logan Drackett (Calgary, Alberta/Calgary Canucks) will have a chance to contribute immediately, as RIT will look to replace 2017 graduate Mike Rotolo (Rochester, NY/Cedar Rapids Roughriders). Rotolo was the university’s Division I record-holder in in games played (94), minutes played (5,503) and saves (2,355).
Andriano played the last four seasons for the Ottawa Jr. Senators of the Central Canada Hockey League (CCHL). He enjoyed a tremendous 2016-17 season, going 32-12-1 with two shutouts, a 2.35 goals against average and a .913 save percentage in 49 games, helping lead Ottawa to the finals of the Bogart Cup. Andriano, who stands 6 feet tall, went 9-3 in the postseason with a 1.95 goals against average and a .928 save percentage. Andriano went 80-33-4 with six shutouts, a 2.44 goals against average and a .906 save percentage in 133 games over four seasons and was a two-time CCHL All-Star.
“Ian had an exceptional playoff run and was a major reason for Ottawa’s success last season,” said Wilson. “We like how he plays in big games and pressure situations and will compete for the starting nod.”
Drackett, who also stands 6-feet tall, played the last two seasons with the Calgary Canucks of the Alberta Junior Hockey League (AJHL). He was named the AJHL’s Top Goaltender and earned Viterra South Division All-League Team honors in 2016-17 after finishing 29-14-3 with six shutouts, a 2.35 goals against average and a .918 save percentage. In 2015-16, Drackett earned 2015-16 Viterra South Division All-League honors and was an All-Rookie Team selection, recording a 20-15-2 mark with a pair of shutouts, 2.75 goals against average and a .921 save percentage. He also represented Team Canada West at the 2016 World Junior A Challenge.
“Logan comes in with great credentials and excellent junior numbers,” said Wilson. “He gained valuable experience with Team Canada West and will compete for the starting role.”
The Tigers enter their 13th season at the NCAA Division I level in 2017-18. The upcoming season begins on Oct. 7 with an exhibition contest against Brock University. RIT opens the regular season against Northeastern University on Oct. 14 at Blue Cross Arena in downtown Rochester as part of the university’s Brick City Homecoming & Family Weekend.
