2011-12 Roster  •  2011-12 Quick Facts

The Northeastern men's hockey program welcomes in seven new student-athletes to the 2011-12 roster as announced by head coach Jim Madigan on Thursday. Four forwards and three defensemen will help usher in a new era of Huskies hockey as Northeastern lost five seniors to graduation (Randy Guzior, Mike Hewkin, Wade MacLeod, Tyler McNeely and Steve Silva) and two skaters to the professional ranks (Jamie Oleksiak and Brodie Reid). Oleksiak was Northeastern's highest draft pick in program history (1st round – 14th overall – Dallas Stars) at the 2011 NHL Entry Draft while Reid signed an entry-level contract with the San Jose Sharks at the conclusion of last season. Drew Muench will also not return to the roster.

Three skaters are international players, including two incomers from Canada and one from Sweden while the rest hail from four different states including Arizona, California, Georgia and Massachusetts. Cornell is the only Husky from the Bay State.

Northeastern's four new forwards are Adam Reid (Chino Hills, Calif.), Ludwig Karlsson (Linköping, Sweden), Joseph Manno (Montreal, Quebec) and Vinny Saponari (Powder Springs, Ga.) while the rear-line unit will consist of Josh Manson (Prince Albert, Saskatchewan), Dan Cornell (Abington, Mass.) and Ben Oskroba (Tempe, Ariz.).

Saponari will dress for Northeastern with junior eligibility. The Powder Springs, Ga., native most recently won the Clark Cup with the Dubuque Saints of the United States Hockey League (USHL) after skating two seasons with Boston University.

The USHL furnishes the Huskies with four players (Karlsson, Oskroba, Reid, Saponari) while the British Columbia Hockey League (BCHL) supplies Manson and the Eastern Junior Hockey League (EJHL) sends over Cornell. Manno skated with South Kent School of the New England Preparatory School Athletic Council (NEPSAC).

Reid skated with both the U-17 and U-18 U.S. National Development Team out of Ann Arbor, Mich., from 2009 to 2011. Reid will be the Huskies' fourth-ever skater from the National Team Development Program. Ray Ortiz (2003-07) skated with the USNTDP in 2001-02 while Bryan Nathe (2001-03) dressed for two seasons, from 1999 to 2001. Willie Levesque (1998-2002) was Northeastern's first representative, playing with the USNTDP in 1997-98.

A pair of NHL clubs own draft rights to two of Northeastern's newcomers. Saponari was selected in the 4th round (94th overall) by the Atlanta Thrashers (now the Winnipeg Jets) in the 2008 NHL Entry Draft while Manson was picked in the 6th round (160th overall) by the Anaheim Ducks in the 2011 NHL Entry Draft.

Northeastern will sport a 26-man roster as 19 student-athletes return from 2010-11. Alex Tuckerman was saddled all of last year and was issued a medical redshirt but is eager to return for his junior year for the 2011-12 season.

Mike McLaughlin will make history this season as the Huskies' only senior. Northeastern has never sported just one senior on its roster since the days when freshmen were not allowed to play varsity. In 1978-79, the Huskies did not have any seniors on their roster. Since then, four teams have had two seniors on the roster, including the 1980-81, 1993-94, 1998-99 and 2007-08 squads.

McLaughlin will serve as the Huskies' captain for 2011-12.


Dan Cornell  •  Defense  •  6-0  •  185  •  Right  •  Abington, Mass.  •  Philadeplhia Revolution (EJHL)
Before NU: Spent the 2010-11 season as captain of the Philadelphia Revolution of the Eastern Junior Hockey League…missed 19 games due to injury…tallied four assists during the shortened season…in 2009-10, helped Kimball Union Academy (NEPSAC) to a regular season NEPSAC East Championship and a Small School Championship via 24-8-2 record…registered one goal and 18 assists from the blue line, in 2008-09, recorded seven goals and nine assists to aid Catholic Memorial High School to a Catholic Conference Championship and a Division 1 Super 8 Championship with a 15-4-4 mark…named to the Catholic Conference All-Star Team and awarded the Catholic Memorial Unsung Hero Award…captained the Kimball Union baseball team at shortstop…played one year of varsity baseball at Catholic Memorial as an outfielder.

Personal: Born August 11, 1990…enjoys playing baseball, golf and boating…plans to major in criminal justice…Class of 2015.


Ludwig Karlsson  •  Forward  •  6-3  •  200  •  Left  •  Linköping, Sweden  •  Green Bay Gamblers (USHL)
Before NU: Spent the last two seasons with the Green Bay Gamblers of the United States Hockey League and two years with Linkoping HC…in 2010-11, logged 40 points (16-24-40) and boosted Green Bay back to the Clark Cup finals along with a 48-19-4 overall mark…in 2009-10, notched 30 points (8-22-30) and helped Green Bay capture the Clark Cup (USHL Championship)…in 2008-09, posted 22 points (10-12-22) with Linkoping HC and aided the team to a 17-7 record…in 2007-08, secured 22 points (12-10-22) with Linkoping HC and helped assemble a 17-5-2 mark.

Personal: Born January 6, 1991…attended Anders Ljungstedts Gymnasium (high school) and Bodal Skola prep school…enjoys golfing, reading, playing tennis and traveling…plans to study business…aspires to play professional hockey…Class of 2015.


Joseph Manno  •  Forward  •  6-1  •  195  •  Right  •  Montreal, Quebec  •  South Kent School (NEPSAC)
Before NU: Spent the last season with the South Kent School of the New England Preparatory School Athletic Council and two seasons with Lac St.-Louis Midget AAA…in 2010-11, tallied 43 points (16-37-43) and led South Kent School to a 21-9-1 record…earned the Top Gun Award…in 2009-10, notched 55 points (23-32-55) en route to a 15-21-9 mark with Lac St.-Louis…earned Player of the Month and Player of the Week honors after scoring seven points in two games…in 2008-09, registered 38 points (18-10-38) as Lac St.-Louis totaled a 13-25-7 mark…in 2007-08, tied the Midget AAA record with the most overtime goals in the playoffs after logging 13 goals and 12 assists in five games at the LaSalle Tournament…played one year of defense on the lacrosse team at John Rennie High School.

Personal: Born Dec. 23, 1992…active in the community, taking part in wrapping gifts for children and serving war veterans lunch as part of John Rennie High School's program…named to the honor roll at South Kent School…enjoys playing video games, watching movies, listening to country music, playing lacrosse, tennis and beach volleyball…plans to major in sports psychology or computer science…aspires to play professional hockey and open his own sports psychology business…Class of 2015.


Josh Manson  •  Defense  •  6-3  •  205  •  Right • Prince Albert, Saskatchewan  •  Salmon Arm Silverbacks (BCHL)
Before NU: Spent the last two seasons with the Salmon Arm Silverbacks of the British Columbia Hockey League before skating with Prince Albert Mintos of the Saskatchewan Midget AAA Hockey League…in 2010-11, finished 51st overall in the BCHL with 47 total points (12-35-47) and helped Salmon Arm to a 38-19-2-1 record, good for a third-place finish in the Interior Conference…named the most valuable defenseman for Salmon Arm…finished 31st in overall assists (35)…finished tied for fifth on his club in the playoffs with nine points (2-7-9)…in 2009-10, posted 24 points (10-14-24) and helped Salmon Arm to a 29-25-3-3 mark…voted the team's 'Hitman of the Year'…in 2008-09, captained Prince Albert Mintos and tallied 41 points (18-23-41) and helped direct the squad to a 23-15-4-2 mark…voted Team MVP…in 2007-08, scored 14 points (5-9-14) with Prince Albert Mintos and guided the team to a 26-12-4-2 mark…played one year of volleyball at Carlton Comprehensive High School.

Personal: Born Oct. 7, 1991…drafted by the Anaheim Ducks in the sixth round, 160th overall, in the 2011 NHL Entry Draft…father, Dave, was the 11th overall pick of the Chicago Blackhawks in the 1985 NHL Entry Draft and played in the NHL for 17 years, including Chicago, Edmonton, Winnipeg, Phoenix, Montreal, Dallas and Toronto…uncle, Tyler Baker, plays professional golf…attended Carlton Comprehensive High School…enjoys playing golf, boating and hanging out with friends…plans to major in criminal justice…aspires to play professional hockey…Class of 2015.


Ben Oskroba  •  Defense  •  6-5  •  225  •  Left  •  Tempe, Ariz.  •  Lincoln Stars (USHL)
Before NU: Spent the last four seasons with the Lincoln Stars of the United States Hockey League, the Walpole Express of the Atlantic Junior Hockey League and the Phoenix Polarbears of the Western States Hockey League…in 2010-11, tallied 16 points (5-11-16) and helped Lincoln to a 33-22-5 record…racked up the 24th-most penalty minutes (112 PIMs) in the USHL…in 2009-10, notched 30 points (17-13-30) to thrust Walpole to the Presidents Cup (AJHL Championship)…named to the AJHL All-Star Team…set the AJHL record for goals scored by a defenseman (13)…in 2008-09, posted 27 points (12-15-27) to aid Phoenix to the WSHL Championship and the best regular season mark of 42-6…named Phoenix's Player of the Year and Defenseman of the Year…in 2007-08, secured 40 points (19-21-40) with the Phoenix Under-18 team…played first base on the Corona Del Sol High School baseball team.

Personal: Born August 4, 1990…attended Corona Del Sol High School …enjoys all sports, listening to music and hanging out with friends and family… plans to study criminal justice…aspires to play professional hockey… Class of 2015.


Adam Reid  •  Forward  •  6-4  •  205  •  Left  •  Chino Hills, Calif.  •  U.S. U-18 National Team Development Program (USHL)
Before NU: Spent the last two seasons with the Under-17 and Under-18 U.S. National Team Development Program as part of USA Hockey in Ann Arbor, Mich.…in 2010-11, totaled six points (3-3-6) with a +1 plus/minus rating as a member of the U-18 squad…member of the U-18 World Championship team…in 2009-10, posted nine points (4-5-9) with the U-17 team…member of the World U-17 Challenge Championship team.

Personal: Born January 29, 1993…attended Ruben S. Ayala High School and Ann Arbor Pioneer High School …enjoys fishing, going to the beach, kayaking, reading and working out… majoring in general studies…aspires to play professional hockey… Class of 2015.


Vinny Saponari  •  Forward  •  6-1  •  195  •  Right  •  Powder Spring, Ga.  •  Dubuque Saints (USHL) / Boston University (Hockey East Association)
Before NU: Spent last season with the Dubuque Fighting Saints of the United States Hockey League after skating with Boston University for two seasons from 2008 to 2010…in 2010-11, named to the All-USHL Second Team while helping Dubuque capture the Clark Cup (USHL Championship) after a 37-14-9 season…finished sixth in the USHL in scoring with 64 points (18-46-64) in 56 games while tying for 19th in the league with a +17 plus/minus rating…notched the third most assists in the league (48) and tied for the third most power play (19) and short-handed helpers (3)…logged the seventh most shots in the USHL (196).

At Boston University: In 2009-10, finished with 30 points (12-18-30) and helped the Terriers to an 18-17-3 mark…scored a goal against UMass Lowell on Oct. 31 ...tallied a goal and an assist at Merrimack on Nov. 13...notched seven points (1-6-7) in five-game point streak from Nov. 20-Dec. 4…assisted on both of Zach Cohen's goals in 6-5 win at Harvard on Nov. 24…registered two assists against Vermont on Dec. 4…assisted on both of Colby Cohen's goals, including the game-winner, in 7-3 win at Massachusetts on Jan. 2…tallied a career-best three points with two assists and an empty-net goal in 6-4 win over Merrimack on Jan. 16…scored a goal in 5-4 win at Boston College on Jan. 22 that was chosen as ESPN's Top Play of the day…netted a power-play goal in 6-2 win over Massachusetts on Jan. 29…posted six points (3-3-6) in four-game point streak from Jan. 16-23…in 2008-09, appeared in 44 contests and notched 17 points (8-9-17) as part of the 2009 NCAA National Championship and Hockey East Championship squads…ranked third among freshmen on the team with 17 points (8g, 9a)…scored a power-play goal in the NCAA semifinals vs. Vermont on April 9 to earn Hockey East Rookie of the Week honors…scored first career goal in a 5-2 win against Merrimack in the league opener on Oct. 17…named to Hockey East Honor Roll on Feb. 9.

Before BU: Two-year member of the Under-17 and Under-18 U.S. National Team Development Program as part of USA Hockey in Ann Arbor, Mich.…in 2007-08, finished third on the U-18 team in scoring with 36 points (13-23-36)…called up from the U-17 team to the U-18 team in 2007 and helped Team USA claim the silver medal at the World U-18 Championships…scored a short-handed goal in the championship game…tallied two assists on bronze-medal U-18 team at 2008 World Championships…in 2005-06, led Culver Academy (Ind.) in scoring and played in the 2005 Bantam national championship.

Personal: Born January 15, 1990… drafted by the Atlanta Thrashers (Winnipeg Jets) in the fourth round, 94th overall, of the 2008 National Hockey League Entry Draft…attended the Culver Academy and Ann Arbor Pioneer High School …enjoys golfing… plans to major in history…Class of 2013.