2010-11 Roster
The Northeastern men's hockey program welcomes in its second-consecutive class of 10 student-athletes to its 2010-11 roster as announced by head coach
Greg Cronin on Friday. Five forwards, four defensemen and one goaltender will bolster the Huskies' lineup to a team that lost eight skaters, including seniors (
Jim Driscoll,
David Strathman,
Kyle Kraemer,
Greg Costa,
Chris Donovan and Dyland Wiwchar) and freshman
Jake Newton who signed an entry-level contract with the Anaheim Ducks. Rookie defenseman
Chris Student transferred to the University of Minnesota to play in his native state.
The incoming forwards include
Rob Dongara (Scituate, Mass.),
Braden Pimm (Fort St. John, B.C.),
Brodie Reid (Delta, B.C.) and
Zak Stone (Roslyn, N.Y.) while the blue line unit consists of
Anthony Bitetto (Island Park, N.Y.)
Luke Eibler (Pinckney, Mich.),
Jake Hoefler (Newton, N.J.) and
Jamie Oleksiak (Toronto, Ont.).
Clay Witt (Brandon, Fla.) adds depth at the netminder position, joining sophomores
Chris Rawlings and
Bryan Mountain.
Four skaters hail from Canada, including three natives of British Columbia and one from Ontario. In regards to the six American student-athletes, two claim New York as home while Florida, Michigan and New Jersey headline the rest. Dongara is the only new Husky from Massachusetts.
The United States Hockey League (USHL) furnishes Northeastern with five players (Oleskiak, Reid, Eibler, Witt, Bitetto) while the Eastern Junior Hockey League (EJHL) sends over three (Dongara, Hoefler, Stone). The remaining student-athlete skates in from the British Columbia Hockey League (BCHL) (Pimm).
The Huskies enter the 2010-11 season sporting a 29-man roster as 19 icers return from last year's lineup, including sophomore forward
Steve Quailer and senior defenseman
Randy Guzior who were both shelved last season due to injury.
“We don't lose all that much from last year's squad”, Cronin said. “If you look at our top scorers from last season, (Kyle) Kraemer is really all we're losing. Again, we bring in a big class but it serves its purpose in fulfilling roles this team needs. I would consider the defensive players the biggest strength of the incoming class.”
| Stay tuned to GoNU.com for a special feature on each new recruit throughout the next couple of weeks. |
2010-11 Northeastern Men's Hockey Freshmen Class
Anthony Bitetto
D • 6'2 • 205 • Island Park, N.Y. • Indiana Ice (USHL)
Before NU: Played two seasons with the Indiana Ice of the United States Hockey League…in 2009-10, he was named to the All-USHL Second Team…alternate captain…sixth on his team in scoring, registering a line of 11-29-40 in 58 games played…his five game-winning goals tied for first and he had the second best shooting percentage for a USHL defenseman (.136)…totaled the fourth-best plus/minus rating of his squad at +11…led the team with 99 penalty minutes… …logged four points (2–2-4) in the playoffs…in 2008-09, helped the Ice capture the Clark Cup (USHL Championship)…skated in 24 games and scored four points (1-3-4) with a +7 rating…played in 13 playoff games and doled out three assists…attended West Hempstead High School were he played golf for four years.
Personal: Born July 15, 1990…graduated from West Hempstead High School…Class of 2014.
Rob Dongara
F • 5'10 • 175 • Scituate, Mass. • New Jersey Hitmen (EJHL)
Before NU: Played for the New Jersey Hitmen of the Eastern Junior Hockey League and the Springfield Jr. Blues of the North American Hockey League…in 2009-10, tallied 16 goals and 14 assists for 30 points (16-14-30) in 36 games played for New Jersey…tied for second on the squad with four game-winning goals…accrued the second-most penalty minutes with 45…in 2008-09, skated in 49 games, totaling 23 points on 11 goals and 12 assists (11-12-23) for Springfield…totaled 42 penalty minutes…attended Boston College High School where he played hockey for all four years under Joe McCabe…in 2007-08, captained his team and scored 34 points (17-17-34)…in 2006-07, registered 31 points (15-16-31) en route to Boston College High School's second-consecutive state championship…in 2005-06, scored 24 points (11-13-24) to help his school capture its first state championship since 2002…in 2004-05, tallied 20 points (8-12-20) as a freshman…named an All-Scholastic High School All-Star by the
Boston Globe.
Personal: Born July 8, 1990…graduated from Boston College High School…enjoys playing golf…plans to major in Communications…hopes to play in the National Hockey League…Class of 2014.
Luke Eibler
D • 6'3 • 185 • 3/20/91 • Pinckney, Mich. • Youngstown Phantoms (USHL)
Before NU: Played for the expansion Youngstown Phantoms of the United States Hockey League and Victory Honda AAA Midget squad…in 2009-10, assembled a scoring line of 8-8-16 from the blue line in 44 games for Youngstown…totaled 76 penalty minutes on the season…in 2008-09, skated in 62 contests, totaling 11 goals and 30 assists (11-30-41), helping Victory Honda to a 42-9-3 record…attended Pinckney High School where he played hockey for two seasons…in 2007-08, captained Pinckney and scored 42 points (18-24-42)…named All-State, All-Area, All-Kensington Valley Conference, best defenseman and Team MVP along with capturing the scoring title…in 2006-07, scored 19 points (6-13-19) for Pinckney and was named the 2006 Rookie of the Year…also played baseball for three seasons and captained Pinckney twice…played shortstop and centerfield…at age 12, his Compuware AAA team compiled a 70-8-5 record and claimed eight tournaments throughout the season.
Personal: Born March 20, 1991…graduated from Pinckney High School…member of the National Education Association's (NEA) Read Across America and awarded a certificate for community service…grandfather was a member of the national championship swimming team at the University of Michigan…mother swam for Western Michigan University and has coached both the men's and women's swimming teams at Pinckney High School since 1999…sister swam for the University of Michigan…enjoys hunting and fishing…plans to major in Business Management or Nursing…hopes to play in the National Hockey League or work in nurse management…Class of 2014.
Jake Hoefler
D • 6'5 • 220 • 4/21/90 • Newton, N.J. • NY Apple Core (EJHL)
Before NU: Played for the NY Apple Core of the Eastern Junior Hockey League and the Boston Bulldogs of the Atlantic Junior Hockey League…in 2009-10, scored 14 points (3-11-14) from the blue line for the Apple Core and was named to the 2010 EJHL Southern Division All-Star team …tied for seventh on the team with 68 penalty minutes…in 2008-09, tallied seven points (1-6-7) in 33 contests for the Boston Bulldogs…attended Brooks School in North Andover, Mass. and was named assistant captain in 2008…three-year member of the lacrosse team where he played attack.
Personal: Born April 21, 1990…graduated from Brooks School…enjoys kiteboarding and golfing…plans to major in environmental science…aspires to play professional hockey…Class of 2014.
Jamie Oleksiak
D • 6'7 • 230 • 12/21/92 • Toronto, Ontario • Chicago Steel / Sioux Falls Stampede (USHL)
Before NU: Split time with the Sioux Falls Stampede and the Chicago Steel of the United States Hockey League last year…in 2009-10, he skated in 53 games, combined, totaling 14 points (2-12-14) for Sioux Falls and Chicago…amassed 75 penalty minutes…finished the season with Sioux Falls to help the Stampede to a 33-15-12 mark and a playoff berth…had the honor of representing the United States with the National U-18 Team at the Ivan Hlinka tournament in Slovakia in the summer of 2009…in 2008-09, was a seventh-round draft Ontario Hockey League draft pick of the Saginaw Spirit…member of the USA Hockey festival and named to the All-Star team… participated in 29 games and finished with four assists and 47 penalty minutes with Chicago after departing from Little Caesars AAA Midget Major squad…played in 30 games and registered 10 points (3-7-10) for Detroit Little Caesars AAA Midget Major squad that won the Buc Bowl Championship…in 2007-08, played for the Toronto Young Nationals…attended Crestwood Preparatory College in North York, Onatrio where he played rugby, ball hockey and ice hockey.
Personal: Born December 21, 1992…attended Crestwood Preparatory College (2006-08), Plymouth-Canton High School (2008-09), Lockport Township High School (2009), Glenboard East High School (2009-10) and American School (2010)…father, Richard, lettered in track at Colgate University and is a member of the Nichols School Hall of Fame in football, basketball and track…brother, Jake, captains Nichols School's hockey team and is a Clarkson recruit…enjoys golfing and playing Xbox…plans to major in Business or Law…Class of 2014.
Braden Pimm
F • 6'0 • 195 • 12/28/89 • Fort St. John, British Columbia • Vernon Vipers (BCHL)
Before NU: Spent the last three seasons with the Vernon Vipers of the British Columbia Hockey League…in 2009-10, finished with 68 points (25-43-68) in 59 games as the first line centerman and assistant captain…helped lead the Vipers to their second-consecutive BCHL Championship and RBC Cup as National Junior A Champions by scoring eight points (3-5-8) in the playoffs…bestowed with the Coach's Award and was named to the BCHL All-Star Team for the second-consecutive season…in 2008-09, totaled 54 points (24-30-54) in 60 games in first season as assistant captain…aided the Vipers to their BCHL Championship and RBC Cup as National Junior A Championship by scoring 11 points (5-6-11) in 17 playoff fixtures…named to the BCHL All-Star Team…in 2007-08, scored 39 points (15-24-39) in his first season with Vernon…in 2006-07, Midget AAA Notre Dame Houds squad won the MAC's Tournament…attended Athol Murray College of Notre Dame where he was a midfielder for the soccer team.
Personal: Born December 28, 1989…attended Athol Murray College of Notre Dame…enjoys playing basketball…plans to study Business Commerce…aspires to play professional hockey…Class of 2014.
Brodie Reid
F • 6'1 • 195 • 8/25/89 • Delta, British Columbia • Lincoln Stars (USHL)
Before NU: Spent last year with the Lincoln Stars of the United State Hockey League before three stints in the British Columbia Hockey League, including the Penticton Vees, Burnaby Express and Surrey Eagles…in 2009-10, as an assistant captain, led his team in points (16-20-36), goals (16), assists (20) and shots (179) despite skating in 14 less tilts than the second leading scorer for Lincoln…in 2008-09, tallied a combined 39 points (17-22-39) for Penticton and Burnaby and earned a spot on the BCHL All-Star Team…selected to represent Team Canada West at the World Junior A Hockey Challenge in 2009…in 2007-08, led the BCHL in goals after potting 52 for Burnaby, en route to an 87-point season (52-35-87) in 60 games, a spot on the BCHL All-Star Team and earned Burnaby's top forward distinction…in 2006-07, registered 10 points (4-6-10) for Surrey…attended Delta Secondary, Earl Marriott Secondary and St. George's…four-year shortstop for the baseball team that won the provincial and league championship…also played golf and hockey as a junior.
Personal: Born August 25, 1989…attended Delta Secondary, Earl Marriott Secondary and St. George's…grandmother was a member of the Canadian Olympic basketball team…enjoys golfing, baseball and playing cards…Class of 2014.
Zak Stone
F • 5'9 • 200 • 8/3/89 • Roslyn, N.Y. • NH Monarchs (EJHL)
Before NU: Spent the last two seasons with the Eastern Junior Hockey League's NH Monarchs and NY Apple Core…in 2009-10, totaled 60 points (27-33-60) as a member of the first-line unit all season…helped the Monarchs capture the regular season and EJHL Championship…finished 11th in the league in scoring…in 2008-09, finished second on the Apple Core in scoring, tallying 41 points (15-26-41)…in 2007-08, logged three points (1-2-3) for the Cedar Rapids RougRiders of the United States Hockey League…in 2006-07, registered 70 points with Suffolk Hockey as a member of the Metropolitan Junior Hockey League and was named First Team All-League…attended Roslyn High School and played wide receiver, defensive end and kicker for the football team.
Personal: Born August 3, 1989…graduated from Roslyn High School…father played hockey at Queens College…enjoys golfing and playing baseball…Class of 2014.
Clay Witt
G • 6'1 • 205 • 8/24/91 • Brandon, Fla. • Sioux Falls Stampede (USHL)
Before NU: Spent the last two seasons with the Sioux Falls Stampede of the United States Hockey league before a two-year stint with the Boston Jr. Bruins of the Empire Junior Hockey League…in 2009-10, compiled a 24-12-7 mark and led the USHL with six shutouts…amassed the league's fourth-highest save total (1,104), win total (24), total minutes (2570:39), games played (44) and had the fifth-best save percentage (.906)…constructed a goals against average of 2.66 which was eighth-best in the league…played in the USHL All-Star Game…in 2008-09, staffed the net in 18 contests, totaling an 8-6-2 mark with one shutout…allowed 2.99 goals per game with the league's fifth-best save percentage (.911)…from 2006-08, played for the Boston Jr. Bruins under the direction of Chris Masters…participated at a number of USA Hockey festivals.
Personal: Born August 24, 1991…attended Roosevelt High School…enjoys golfing and playing ping pong…plans to major in Business…aspires to play professional hockey…Class of 2014.
