Men’s Ice Hockey Welcomes Eight Transfers to Roster
7/29/2024 11:13:00 AM | Men's Ice Hockey
Group includes three from Hockey East and one from ECAC
FAIRFIELD, Conn. (July 29, 2024) – For the second straight summer, the Sacred Heart University men's ice hockey team welcomes eight incoming transfers to its roster.
Among the incoming players are two of Holy Cross' top five scorers from last season, as the Pioneers were able to poach talent from within Atlantic Hockey. Another pair of in-league transfers from Army are expected to add size and depth to the roster. From outside the league, SHU brings in three transfers from Hockey East, including a pair from Maine, as well as one ECAC transfer. In all, the group brings more than 600 games of college hockey experience to Fairfield.
"We are thrilled about our group of transfers," said head coach C.J. Marottolo. "They all bring a high level of compete, past success, skill and toughness to our team. This group, combined with our freshman class, will certainly make our team hard to play against."
Gabe Blanchard
Previous school: Massachusetts Lowell
Hometown: East Aurora, N.Y.
Position: Defense
Across three seasons with Hockey East member UMass Lowell, tallied 2-4-6 while playing in 65 games. Was a regular in the River Hawk lineup as a junior in 2022-23, when he played in 34 of 36 games for the Hockey East semifinalists, chipped in five points (2-3-5) and was +2. Prior to college, played two seasons with the Sioux City Musketeers (USHL), totaling 23 points (9-14-23) across 93 games. Attended Trinity-Pawling School in Pawling, N.Y.
Marottolo: "A tough, hard-nosed defenseman from UMass Lowell. Will be able to step in and contribute right away."
Max Dorrington
Previous school: St. Lawrence
Hometown: North Reading, Mass.
Position: Forward
Recently wrapped up a four-year ECAC career at St. Lawrence, including three seasons as a lineup regular. Notched 34 points (17-17-34) across 117 games with the Saints, including a career-best 7-7-14 as a junior on the 2022-23 squad. Missed just four games across his junior and senior campaigns in the North Country. Previously, tallied 30-33-63 during a 67-game prep career at Cushing Academy in Ashburnham, Mass.
Marottolo: "Plays the game hard and with a ton of intensity. One of the top faceoff guys in the ECAC last year. Will bring size and toughness to our team."
John Driscoll
Previous school: Army
Hometown: Littleton, Colo.
Position: Defense
One of two West Point transfers joining the red and white this summer, he missed just two games over his two seasons with the Black Knights and contributed 7-26-33 across 69 contests. One of six Army players to top 20 points last season (5-16-21). Has blocked 118 shots over the last two seasons, including 65 last winter, which was eighth-best in Atlantic Hockey. Prior, played for three different USHL teams across four junior seasons, totaling 2-41-43 over 204 games.
Marottolo: "Brings great size, skating ability and skill from the blue line. Played a ton of minutes for Army last year. Had a very solid USHL career."
Tyler Ghirardosi
Previous school: Holy Cross
Hometown: Montrose, British Columbia
Position: Forward
Among four incoming transfers from fellow Atlantic Hockey schools, SHU managed to nab two of Holy Cross' top five scorers from a year ago. Ghirardosi was third for the Crusaders last winter, with 14-13-27 while playing in all 39 games and serving as an alternate captain. Played three seasons in Worcester, including two as a lineup regular, and tallied 25-25-50 in 99 games for Holy Cross. A two-time Atlantic Hockey All-Academic pick and a finalist for the league's Best Defensive Forward award last season. At the junior level, notched 51-60-111 in 152 games across five seasons with the Trail Smoke Eaters (BCHL).
Marottolo: "Brings size, smarts and leadership to our team. Was a finalist for Atlantic Hockey's defensive forward award last year."
Matthew Guerra
Previous school: Holy Cross
Hometown: Orlando, Fla.
Position: Forward
On to his third Atlantic Hockey team, as he began his college career at Robert Morris before that program went on a two-year hiatus. Spent the last three seasons at Holy Cross. In all, has collected 25-48-73 across 131 collegiate games. Missed just two games in three seasons at Holy Cross. Prior, posted 30-86-116 over 109 games in two seasons with the Lone Star Brahmas (NAHL). Played at the prep level with Cushing Academy in Ashburnham, Mass.
Marottolo: "Will bring competitiveness and an edge to our team. One of the top faceoff men in Atlantic Hockey last year."
Jake Hewitt
Previous school: Army
Hometown: Fitchburg, Mass.
Position: Forward
Played in all 35 games as a first-year for Army last season and tallied 7-10-17 along the way. Earned the Atlantic Hockey Rookie of the Week award on Nov. 27. Prior, played two seasons with the Nanaimo Clippers (BCHL) and went for 36-45-81 across 97 games. Previously, notched 7-5-12 in 22 games with the Danbury Jr. Hat Tricks (NAHL) in 2020-21.
Marottolo: "Has good speed and plays the right way. Had a productive first year at Army. We expect him to continue to get better and build on last year's success."
Reid Pabich
Previous school: Maine
Hometown: Verona, Wisc.
Position: Forward
One of two transfers from Hockey East member Maine. Played in 52 games for the Black Bears over the last two seasons and totaled 3-9-12. At the junior level, played five years in the USHL, including four with the Madison Capitols and one with the Sioux Falls Stampede. Tallied 43-61-104 in 259 USHL games.
Marottolo: "Plays the entire 200 feet and thinks the game well. Brings great energy and has a knack around the net. Looking for him to be disruptive on the forecheck."
Felix Trudeau
Previous school: Maine
Hometown: Terrebonne, Quebec
Position: Forward
Also joining the Pioneers after two years in Orono. Appeared in 52 games for Maine, contributed 6-7-13 and was +3. Prior, played 49 games for the West Kelowna Warriors (BCHL) and went for 27-34-61 in the 2021-22 season. Played nine games and totaled 5-4-9 with the Amherst Ramblers (MHL) in 2020-21.
Marottolo: "Will bring a high hockey IQ and has great vision. Had a great offensive junior career coupled with two solid years at Maine. Looking for him to drive the offense."
***
In addition to the transfers, the Pios bring 10 first-year players into the fold for 2024-25. We'll be back to tell you all about that group later this week.
The newcomers, plus SHU's 13 returning letterwinners, open the program's 32nd season of varsity play on Oct. 11-12, with a weekend trip to ECAC member Colgate. Season tickets are available now through Ticketmaster (link). Individual tickets, including both days of CT Ice, will go on sale to the public on Thursday, Aug. 15.
Pictured, top row, left-to-right: Ghirardosi, Trudeau, Driscoll and Blanchard. Bottom row, left-to-right: Dorrington, Guerra, Pabich and Hewitt. All photos courtesy respective student-athlete's previous institution.
Among the incoming players are two of Holy Cross' top five scorers from last season, as the Pioneers were able to poach talent from within Atlantic Hockey. Another pair of in-league transfers from Army are expected to add size and depth to the roster. From outside the league, SHU brings in three transfers from Hockey East, including a pair from Maine, as well as one ECAC transfer. In all, the group brings more than 600 games of college hockey experience to Fairfield.
"We are thrilled about our group of transfers," said head coach C.J. Marottolo. "They all bring a high level of compete, past success, skill and toughness to our team. This group, combined with our freshman class, will certainly make our team hard to play against."
Gabe Blanchard
Previous school: Massachusetts Lowell
Hometown: East Aurora, N.Y.
Position: Defense
Across three seasons with Hockey East member UMass Lowell, tallied 2-4-6 while playing in 65 games. Was a regular in the River Hawk lineup as a junior in 2022-23, when he played in 34 of 36 games for the Hockey East semifinalists, chipped in five points (2-3-5) and was +2. Prior to college, played two seasons with the Sioux City Musketeers (USHL), totaling 23 points (9-14-23) across 93 games. Attended Trinity-Pawling School in Pawling, N.Y.
Marottolo: "A tough, hard-nosed defenseman from UMass Lowell. Will be able to step in and contribute right away."
Max Dorrington
Previous school: St. Lawrence
Hometown: North Reading, Mass.
Position: Forward
Recently wrapped up a four-year ECAC career at St. Lawrence, including three seasons as a lineup regular. Notched 34 points (17-17-34) across 117 games with the Saints, including a career-best 7-7-14 as a junior on the 2022-23 squad. Missed just four games across his junior and senior campaigns in the North Country. Previously, tallied 30-33-63 during a 67-game prep career at Cushing Academy in Ashburnham, Mass.
Marottolo: "Plays the game hard and with a ton of intensity. One of the top faceoff guys in the ECAC last year. Will bring size and toughness to our team."
John Driscoll
Previous school: Army
Hometown: Littleton, Colo.
Position: Defense
One of two West Point transfers joining the red and white this summer, he missed just two games over his two seasons with the Black Knights and contributed 7-26-33 across 69 contests. One of six Army players to top 20 points last season (5-16-21). Has blocked 118 shots over the last two seasons, including 65 last winter, which was eighth-best in Atlantic Hockey. Prior, played for three different USHL teams across four junior seasons, totaling 2-41-43 over 204 games.
Marottolo: "Brings great size, skating ability and skill from the blue line. Played a ton of minutes for Army last year. Had a very solid USHL career."
Tyler Ghirardosi
Previous school: Holy Cross
Hometown: Montrose, British Columbia
Position: Forward
Among four incoming transfers from fellow Atlantic Hockey schools, SHU managed to nab two of Holy Cross' top five scorers from a year ago. Ghirardosi was third for the Crusaders last winter, with 14-13-27 while playing in all 39 games and serving as an alternate captain. Played three seasons in Worcester, including two as a lineup regular, and tallied 25-25-50 in 99 games for Holy Cross. A two-time Atlantic Hockey All-Academic pick and a finalist for the league's Best Defensive Forward award last season. At the junior level, notched 51-60-111 in 152 games across five seasons with the Trail Smoke Eaters (BCHL).
Marottolo: "Brings size, smarts and leadership to our team. Was a finalist for Atlantic Hockey's defensive forward award last year."
Matthew Guerra
Previous school: Holy Cross
Hometown: Orlando, Fla.
Position: Forward
On to his third Atlantic Hockey team, as he began his college career at Robert Morris before that program went on a two-year hiatus. Spent the last three seasons at Holy Cross. In all, has collected 25-48-73 across 131 collegiate games. Missed just two games in three seasons at Holy Cross. Prior, posted 30-86-116 over 109 games in two seasons with the Lone Star Brahmas (NAHL). Played at the prep level with Cushing Academy in Ashburnham, Mass.
Marottolo: "Will bring competitiveness and an edge to our team. One of the top faceoff men in Atlantic Hockey last year."
Jake Hewitt
Previous school: Army
Hometown: Fitchburg, Mass.
Position: Forward
Played in all 35 games as a first-year for Army last season and tallied 7-10-17 along the way. Earned the Atlantic Hockey Rookie of the Week award on Nov. 27. Prior, played two seasons with the Nanaimo Clippers (BCHL) and went for 36-45-81 across 97 games. Previously, notched 7-5-12 in 22 games with the Danbury Jr. Hat Tricks (NAHL) in 2020-21.
Marottolo: "Has good speed and plays the right way. Had a productive first year at Army. We expect him to continue to get better and build on last year's success."
Reid Pabich
Previous school: Maine
Hometown: Verona, Wisc.
Position: Forward
One of two transfers from Hockey East member Maine. Played in 52 games for the Black Bears over the last two seasons and totaled 3-9-12. At the junior level, played five years in the USHL, including four with the Madison Capitols and one with the Sioux Falls Stampede. Tallied 43-61-104 in 259 USHL games.
Marottolo: "Plays the entire 200 feet and thinks the game well. Brings great energy and has a knack around the net. Looking for him to be disruptive on the forecheck."
Felix Trudeau
Previous school: Maine
Hometown: Terrebonne, Quebec
Position: Forward
Also joining the Pioneers after two years in Orono. Appeared in 52 games for Maine, contributed 6-7-13 and was +3. Prior, played 49 games for the West Kelowna Warriors (BCHL) and went for 27-34-61 in the 2021-22 season. Played nine games and totaled 5-4-9 with the Amherst Ramblers (MHL) in 2020-21.
Marottolo: "Will bring a high hockey IQ and has great vision. Had a great offensive junior career coupled with two solid years at Maine. Looking for him to drive the offense."
***
In addition to the transfers, the Pios bring 10 first-year players into the fold for 2024-25. We'll be back to tell you all about that group later this week.
The newcomers, plus SHU's 13 returning letterwinners, open the program's 32nd season of varsity play on Oct. 11-12, with a weekend trip to ECAC member Colgate. Season tickets are available now through Ticketmaster (link). Individual tickets, including both days of CT Ice, will go on sale to the public on Thursday, Aug. 15.
Pictured, top row, left-to-right: Ghirardosi, Trudeau, Driscoll and Blanchard. Bottom row, left-to-right: Dorrington, Guerra, Pabich and Hewitt. All photos courtesy respective student-athlete's previous institution.
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