APPLETON, Wis. -- The Lawrence University hockey team will have a dozen newcomers when the Vikings take the ice for preseason practice this fall.
Seven defensemen, four forwards, and one goaltender make up the recruiting class for third-year head coach Mike Szkodzinski.
"This incoming class looks to be a talented group," Szkodzinski said. "We are expecting good things from them not only this year, but for years down the road. They are all excellent students and will do very well in the Lawrence environment. On top of that, each one of the incoming freshmen have proven to be good citizens and ambassadors for their programs away from the rink. We fully expect that they will continue to be great ambassadors for our program as well."
The incoming defensemen include two players from the same team, the Traverse City North Stars of the North American Hockey League. Jameson Raymond, a 5-foot-9, 180-pounder, is a native of Flint, Mich., and Jonathan Sheridan is 6-1 and 195 and comes from Midland, Mich.
Jim Crowley, a native of Billerica, Mass., is a 6-0, 188-pound defenseman who spent last season playing with the New England Huskies of the Eastern Junior Hockey League. Chris Sims, 6-3, 200 pounds, is a Pasadena, Texas, native and also played defenseman for the New England Huskies this past season. Crowley and Sims are joined by another EJHL defenseman, Colin Smith, a 5-10, 170-pounder from Centerville, Ohio. He played for the EJHL's New Jersey Hitmen a season ago.
Jesse Byam-Katzman, who stands 5-11 and weighs 200 pounds, hails from Brooklyn, N.Y., and played defenseman for the Hartford Wolfpack of the Atlantic Junior Hockey League. Reijo Wahlin, a native of Stoughton, Wis., who is 5-11 and 175 pounds, comes directly from playing defense for Stoughton High School.
"We return only three veteran defensemen this season, which is certainly a concern for the coaching staff," Szkodzinski said. "By looking to the junior ranks, we feel that we have found a number of quality guys who will be able to make an immediate impact on our blue line because of their experience over the past couple of seasons."
A third member of the Traverse City North Stars, Matt Hughes, is among the forwards joining the squad. Hughes, 5-8 and 180 pounds, is a native of Goodrich, Mich. Another member of the New England Huskies, Sam Johnson, also joins the group of incoming forwards. Johnson, a native of Portland, Maine, is 5-9 and 185 pounds.
Another former player in the AJHL, forward Ben DiMarco, comes to Lawrence from the Laconia Leafs. A native of Galveston, Texas, DiMarco is 5-10 and 185 pounds. Jonathan Bellotti is a native of Sussex, Wis., and rounds out the group of forwards. Bellotti, who stands 5-10 and weighs in at 165 pounds, played for Milton Academy this past season.
"Our goal for this year's incoming forwards was to enhance our overall speed, depth, and stick skill up front," Szkodzinski said. "We feel like we have addressed all three areas with the young men who will be coming to Lawrence in the fall. We are excited to get these guys on campus to see how quickly they will impact our offense."
The lone goalie in the group is another member of the Laconia Leafs, Brady Kain. Kain, who is 5-10 and 170 pounds, hails from Gloucester, Mass.
Lawrence, which finished 10-14-3 last season, opens its 2008-09 campaign with an exhibition game against the Soo Thunderbirds at the Appleton Family Ice Center on Oct. 17. The Vikings open the regular season at home against defending NCAA Division III champion St. Norbert College on Oct. 28.