Men's hockey coach Rick Zombo and his staff have announced the recruiting class that will join the DI and DII programs for the 2011-12 season. This group includes twelve forwards, three defensemen and one goaltender. Eight are from Missouri, three from Michigan, three from Wisconsin, one is from New York and one is from British Columbia, Canada.
“Our goal every year in recruiting is to upgrade our talent,” said head coach Rick Zombo. “It is important that our staff identifies good hockey players, but also good hockey players that are going to make a positive contribution to the Lindenwood University community.”
Student-athletes from the incoming 2011-12 men's hockey recruiting class are listed in alphabetical order.
Steve Brancheau – Forward – River Rouge, MI – Motor City Metal Jackets (NAHL)
Brancheau joins Lindenwood after a successful final season with Motor City. He recorded 28 goals and 43 assists in 55 games. His 71 points ranked second on the team and third in the NAHL.
Thomas Burns – Forward – Pinckney, MI - Metro Jets (NA3HL)
Burns recorded 16 goals and 17 assists in 42 games for the Metro Jets last season. His 33 points finished fourth on the team in scoring.
Nick Carey – Defenseman – Wildwood, MO – St. Louis Bandits (NAHL)
Carey played last season for the St. Louis Bandits and finished the season with 10 goals and 27 assists in 57 games. His 37 points from the blue line were good for fifth on the team in scoring.
Cameron Chinnery – Forward – St. Louis, MO – Washington & Jefferson (ACHA DI)
Chinnery transfers to Lindenwood after playing last season at Washington & Jefferson where he tallied 10 goals and 17 assists. Before college, Chinnery played for the Hartford Jr. Wolfpack in the AJHL.
Kirk Croswell – Goaltender – Nanaimo, BC – Portage Terriers (MJHL)
Croswell joins the Lions after playing with the Portage Terriers of the Manitoba Junior Hockey League. Last season, Croswell finished the year with a 16-12-0 record, a 2.75 GAA and .907 save percentage.
Barclay Eastman – Forward – Fenton, MO – St. Louis Jr. Blues (NA3HL)
Eastman played last season with the St. Louis Jr. Blues and recorded 23 goals and 16 assists in 43 games. His 39 points ranked third on the team in scoring.
Tim Hennessey – Forward – Chesterfield, MO – Becker College (NCAA DIII)
Hennessey saw limited action last year as part of the Becker College program, playing in just four games without registering a point. Before going to Becker, Hennessey played for the Fort Frances Lakers in the SIJHL.
Chad Hickson – Forward – Kenosha, WI – Quad City Flames (NA3HL)
Hickson comes to Lindenwood from Quad City where he recorded 18 goals and 16 assists in 45 games. His 34 points ranked fourth on the team.
Daniel Kaufman – Forward – Defiance, MO – St. Louis Jr. Blues (NA3HL)
Kaufman had 10 goals and 12 assists last season in 40 games for the St. Louis Jr. Blues.
Cooper Mitchell – Forward – Springfield, MO – St. Louis Jr. Blues (NA3HL)
Mitchell joins Lindenwood after playing for the St. Louis Jr. Blues last season. He recorded 15 goals and 11 assists in 44 games.
John O'Connell – Defenseman – Madison, WI – Marian College (NCAA DIII)
O'Connell played last year at Marian College and did not register a point in 8 games played. Before going to Marian, O'Connell played for Quad City and Peoria in the NA3HL. He recorded three goals and seven assists in 2009-10.
Josh Prygon – Forward – Buffalo, NY – Quad City Flames (NA3HL)
Prygon finished last season with 21 goals and 38 assists for Quad City. His 59 points led the team in scoring and finished eighth in the league.
Ethan Scherer – Defenseman – St. Charles, MO – Fresno Monsters (NAHL)
Scherer played last season with the Fresno Monsters and Springfield Jr. Blues in the NAHL. He recorded one goal and eight assists in 38 games last year. Scherer is the younger brother of former Lion Lucas Scherer.
Petrus Sipila – Forward – Grosse Ile, MI – Motor City Metal Jackets (NAHL)
Sipila played in 52 games last season and recorded nine goals and 15 assists for Motor City. Sipila also spent time with Albert Lea in the NAHL.
Tyler Svoboda – Forward – St. Louis, MO – Capital District Selects (EJHL)
Svoboda finished last season with eight goals and 17 assists in 38 games for Capital District. He also played for the Alaska Avalanche in the NAHL in the 2009-10 season.
Kyle Vesling – Forward – Sun Prairie, WI – Quad City Flames (NA3HL)
Vesling played in 41 games last season and tallied 31 goals and 21 assists. His 52 points ranked third on the team and fourteenth in the league in scoring.
Lindenwood also announced the signing of Luke Hayes (Idaho Steelheads), Brendan Bednarz (Wisconsin Rampage), Alec Ball (Oakville HS), Dylan Gates (Marquette HS), Richard Heinold (Highland HS), Scott Leslie (Seckman HS), Tyler Noll (Seckman HS), Jason Mathenia (Illinois Frontenacs), and James Worstenholm (St. Louis Jr. Blues)
