Men’s Ice Hockey Announces Addition of 10 First-Year Players
7/30/2024 11:17:00 AM | Men's Ice Hockey
Five forwards, three defenseman and two goalies join Pios
FAIRFIELD, Conn. (July 30, 2024) – It's a major influx of talent from the junior ranks for the Sacred Heart University men's ice hockey team this summer, as the Pios add a total of 10 first-year players to their roster.
The group includes five forwards, three defenseman and a pair of goalies, as head coach C.J. Marottolo and his staff added talent and depth up and down the roster. SHU will hope the newcomers can find some chemistry together right from the get-go, as the additions include several pairs of former junior teammates.
"Our incoming class of first years will bring great character, talent and leadership to our team," said Marottolo. "Our assistant coaches worked really hard all year to find driven young men who love to compete on the ice and push themselves in the classroom as well. All of them have had very successful junior careers and we feel their skill sets will translate well to how we want to play the game. We are very excited to welcome all of them to our hockey family."
Luke Amell
Junior team: Maryland Black Bears (NAHL)
Hometown: Mars, Pa.
Position: Defense
Joins the Pios with three seasons of NAHL experience. Spent the last two winters with the Black Bears after suiting up for the Aberdeen Wings in 2021-22. Had six assists in 11 playoff games this past spring, as Maryland made a run to the Robinson Cup title game. Tallied 6-19-25 in 59 games last season to earn a spot in the NAHL's Top Prospects Tournament. In 114 career NAHL contests, has totaled 7-24-31.
Marottolo: "A hard-nosed, physical defenseman. Takes pride in the defensive side of the game. Will bring toughness and size to our defensive corps."
William Gendron
Junior team: Chilliwack Chiefs (BCHL)
Hometown: Boisbriand, Quebec
Position: Forward
Two seasons of BCHL hockey under his belt. Split time last season between the Nanaimo Clippers and the Chilliwack Chiefs, after playing exclusively for Nanaimo in 2022-23, when he helped the Clippers to the Coastal Conference regular-season crown. Across 95 BCHL games, has tallied 35-44-79, including a 20-goal campaign in 2022-23. Prior, split time between the Hawkesbury Hawks (CCHL) and the South Shore Kings (NCDC) in 2021-22.
Marottolo: "Plays the game with a lot of confidence. Coming off two productive seasons in the BCHL. Has a knack for filling the net and a great release."
Ajeet Gundarah
Junior team: Surrey Eagles (BCHL)
Hometown: Richmond, British Columbia
Position: Goaltender
Backstopped Surrey to the Fred Page Cup last season. Posted a .931 save percentage and a 2.14 goals-against average across 33 regular-season games and then improved those numbers to .939 and 1.97, respectively, in a 17-game postseason run. Awarded the Michael Garteig Trophy as the BCHL's top goaltender. In all, a three-year BCHL veteran, as he spent 2021-22 and 2022-23 minding the net for the Langley Rivermen, including a run to the Fred Page Cup semifinals in 2022.
Marottolo: "Three years in the BCHL with terrific numbers. Ended with a championship for Surrey and garnered the Mike Garteig award for best goalie in the league. Very competitive and reads the play well."
Vitaly Levyy
Junior team: Langley Rivermen (BCHL)
Hometown: Old Brookville, N.Y.
Position: Forward
Over three seasons with the Rivermen – including two as Gundarah's teammate – collected over 100 career BCHL points (49-58-107) in 158 games. Topped 20 goals in each of the last two seasons. Topped 50 points (22-30-52) for the first time this past winter. Chipped in 3-3-6 across 15 playoff games in the team's run to the Fred Page Cup semifinals in spring of 2022.
Marottolo: "Great shot and coming off two great years in the BCHL. Leader, great release, goal scorer. Will look to him to drive the offense"
Paul Minnehan
Junior team: Des Moines Buccaneers (USHL)
Hometown: Cypress, Calif.
Position: Forward
Last season marked his first full season of USHL action, as he contributed 12-16-28 for the Buccaneers across 51 games. A three-year veteran of the NAHL, primarily with the Northeast Generals, with which he notched 54-93-147 across 132 games from 2020-21 through 2022-23. In all, logged 194 games of junior competition over five seasons, including back-to-back 20-goal, 60-point seasons with the Generals in 2021-22 and 2022-23.
Marottolo: "Comes from a successful junior career in both the NAHL and USHL, where he was a point producer. We expect him to drive offense and make plays."
Cole O'Donnell
Junior team: Rochester Jr. Americans (NAHL)
Hometown: Rochester, N.Y.
Position: Goaltender
In his lone junior season, logged just over a quarter of Rochester's minutes in net last season. Posted an .886 save percentage and a 3.37 goals-against average in 18 regular-season games between the pipes. Made 81 saves against 87 shots across a trio of playoff games (.931 save percentage). Played 30 games across two seasons of prep hockey at the Berkshire School in Suffield, Mass.
Marottolo: "Had a strong year for the Rochester Jr. Americans, an expansion franchise in the NAHL, and helped lead them to the playoffs. Also had two strong years at the Berkshire School. A student of the game."
Michael Rubin
Junior team: Coquitlam Express (BCHL)
Hometown: Blauvelt, N.Y.
Position: Defense
Played more than 100 games (106) for the Express over the last two winters, tallying 9-44-53 along the way. Chipped in six assists across 12 career playoff games, though Coquitlam was eliminated in the first round of the Fred Page Cup playoffs both seasons. Prior, a three-year veteran of the USHL, as he logged 51 games between the Des Moines Buccaneers and the Youngstown Phantoms.
Marottolo: "Big, tough, 200-foot defenseman. Split his junior career between the USHL and the BCHL. Plays a lot of minutes and in all situations."
Charles Tardif
Junior team: Maine Nordiques (NAHL)
Hometown: Quebec City, Quebec
Position: Forward
Has spent significant time in both the NAHL and the BCHL across a five-season junior career. Had his most productive winter this past season, as he put together a 36-28-64 campaign across 60 games for the Nordiques, who finished second in the East Division. Over the two seasons prior, tallied 22-32-54 over 82 games with the BCHL's Nanaimo Clippers, where he played alongside another fellow incoming Pio, in Gendron.
Marottolo: "Brings a hard, physical game, wins faceoffs, can shoot the puck, and plays a 200-foot game. Captain of his junior team, the Maine Nordiques, in the NAHL."
Jeremi Tremblay
Junior team: Maryland Black Bears (NAHL)
Hometown: Quebec City, Quebec
Position: Forward
Joined fellow SHU newcomer Amell in Maryland, where he chalked up a very symmetrical 22-22-44 over 48 games with the Black Bears last season, helping the team to the East Division title. Added an impressive 6-6-12 across 11 playoff games in the team's run to the final game of the Robertson Cup. Prior, spent two seasons in the SJHL with the Flin Flon Bombers, where he totaled 43-47-90 across 81 games.
Marottolo: "A 200-foot player who takes pride in his game with and without the puck. Had a really strong junior career with winning programs, including the Flin Flon Bombers of the SJHL and the Maryland Bears of the NAHL."
Aiden VanRooyan
Junior team: Des Moines Buccaneers (USHL)
Hometown: Dakota Dunes, S.D.
Position: Defense
Three seasons of NAHL experience, including the last two with the Buccaneers. Had a career-best 3-16-19 in 58 games last season. Is +9 with 6-27-33 over 149 career USHL games. Also had a 2-16-18 campaign across 53 games with the NAHL's Bismarck Bobcats in 2021-22.
Marottolo: "Big, strong defenseman out of Des Moines in the USHL. Can really skate for a big guy. Played a ton of minutes, plays a heavy game, was captain of the team last year."
***
The 10 incoming first-year players join eight transfers and 13 returners to make up SHU's 31-player roster. The Pios will get the 32nd season in program history started on Oct. 11-12, with a two-game set at ECAC member Colgate. Season tickets are on sale now through Ticketmaster. Individual game tickets, including both days of CT Ice, will go on sale on Thursday, Aug. 15.
Pictured, top row, left-to-right: Amell, Rubin, Gundarah, Minnehan and Tremblay. Bottom row, left-to-right: Gendron, O'Donnell, VanRooyan, Levyy and Tardif. Levyy picture courtesy Langley Rivermen, via the team's website. Minnehan photo courtesy The Rink Live. Rubin picture courtesy Coquitlam Express, via Instagram. All other photos courtesy of the respective student-athlete.
The group includes five forwards, three defenseman and a pair of goalies, as head coach C.J. Marottolo and his staff added talent and depth up and down the roster. SHU will hope the newcomers can find some chemistry together right from the get-go, as the additions include several pairs of former junior teammates.
"Our incoming class of first years will bring great character, talent and leadership to our team," said Marottolo. "Our assistant coaches worked really hard all year to find driven young men who love to compete on the ice and push themselves in the classroom as well. All of them have had very successful junior careers and we feel their skill sets will translate well to how we want to play the game. We are very excited to welcome all of them to our hockey family."
Luke Amell
Junior team: Maryland Black Bears (NAHL)
Hometown: Mars, Pa.
Position: Defense
Joins the Pios with three seasons of NAHL experience. Spent the last two winters with the Black Bears after suiting up for the Aberdeen Wings in 2021-22. Had six assists in 11 playoff games this past spring, as Maryland made a run to the Robinson Cup title game. Tallied 6-19-25 in 59 games last season to earn a spot in the NAHL's Top Prospects Tournament. In 114 career NAHL contests, has totaled 7-24-31.
Marottolo: "A hard-nosed, physical defenseman. Takes pride in the defensive side of the game. Will bring toughness and size to our defensive corps."
William Gendron
Junior team: Chilliwack Chiefs (BCHL)
Hometown: Boisbriand, Quebec
Position: Forward
Two seasons of BCHL hockey under his belt. Split time last season between the Nanaimo Clippers and the Chilliwack Chiefs, after playing exclusively for Nanaimo in 2022-23, when he helped the Clippers to the Coastal Conference regular-season crown. Across 95 BCHL games, has tallied 35-44-79, including a 20-goal campaign in 2022-23. Prior, split time between the Hawkesbury Hawks (CCHL) and the South Shore Kings (NCDC) in 2021-22.
Marottolo: "Plays the game with a lot of confidence. Coming off two productive seasons in the BCHL. Has a knack for filling the net and a great release."
Ajeet Gundarah
Junior team: Surrey Eagles (BCHL)
Hometown: Richmond, British Columbia
Position: Goaltender
Backstopped Surrey to the Fred Page Cup last season. Posted a .931 save percentage and a 2.14 goals-against average across 33 regular-season games and then improved those numbers to .939 and 1.97, respectively, in a 17-game postseason run. Awarded the Michael Garteig Trophy as the BCHL's top goaltender. In all, a three-year BCHL veteran, as he spent 2021-22 and 2022-23 minding the net for the Langley Rivermen, including a run to the Fred Page Cup semifinals in 2022.
Marottolo: "Three years in the BCHL with terrific numbers. Ended with a championship for Surrey and garnered the Mike Garteig award for best goalie in the league. Very competitive and reads the play well."
Vitaly Levyy
Junior team: Langley Rivermen (BCHL)
Hometown: Old Brookville, N.Y.
Position: Forward
Over three seasons with the Rivermen – including two as Gundarah's teammate – collected over 100 career BCHL points (49-58-107) in 158 games. Topped 20 goals in each of the last two seasons. Topped 50 points (22-30-52) for the first time this past winter. Chipped in 3-3-6 across 15 playoff games in the team's run to the Fred Page Cup semifinals in spring of 2022.
Marottolo: "Great shot and coming off two great years in the BCHL. Leader, great release, goal scorer. Will look to him to drive the offense"
Paul Minnehan
Junior team: Des Moines Buccaneers (USHL)
Hometown: Cypress, Calif.
Position: Forward
Last season marked his first full season of USHL action, as he contributed 12-16-28 for the Buccaneers across 51 games. A three-year veteran of the NAHL, primarily with the Northeast Generals, with which he notched 54-93-147 across 132 games from 2020-21 through 2022-23. In all, logged 194 games of junior competition over five seasons, including back-to-back 20-goal, 60-point seasons with the Generals in 2021-22 and 2022-23.
Marottolo: "Comes from a successful junior career in both the NAHL and USHL, where he was a point producer. We expect him to drive offense and make plays."
Cole O'Donnell
Junior team: Rochester Jr. Americans (NAHL)
Hometown: Rochester, N.Y.
Position: Goaltender
In his lone junior season, logged just over a quarter of Rochester's minutes in net last season. Posted an .886 save percentage and a 3.37 goals-against average in 18 regular-season games between the pipes. Made 81 saves against 87 shots across a trio of playoff games (.931 save percentage). Played 30 games across two seasons of prep hockey at the Berkshire School in Suffield, Mass.
Marottolo: "Had a strong year for the Rochester Jr. Americans, an expansion franchise in the NAHL, and helped lead them to the playoffs. Also had two strong years at the Berkshire School. A student of the game."
Michael Rubin
Junior team: Coquitlam Express (BCHL)
Hometown: Blauvelt, N.Y.
Position: Defense
Played more than 100 games (106) for the Express over the last two winters, tallying 9-44-53 along the way. Chipped in six assists across 12 career playoff games, though Coquitlam was eliminated in the first round of the Fred Page Cup playoffs both seasons. Prior, a three-year veteran of the USHL, as he logged 51 games between the Des Moines Buccaneers and the Youngstown Phantoms.
Marottolo: "Big, tough, 200-foot defenseman. Split his junior career between the USHL and the BCHL. Plays a lot of minutes and in all situations."
Charles Tardif
Junior team: Maine Nordiques (NAHL)
Hometown: Quebec City, Quebec
Position: Forward
Has spent significant time in both the NAHL and the BCHL across a five-season junior career. Had his most productive winter this past season, as he put together a 36-28-64 campaign across 60 games for the Nordiques, who finished second in the East Division. Over the two seasons prior, tallied 22-32-54 over 82 games with the BCHL's Nanaimo Clippers, where he played alongside another fellow incoming Pio, in Gendron.
Marottolo: "Brings a hard, physical game, wins faceoffs, can shoot the puck, and plays a 200-foot game. Captain of his junior team, the Maine Nordiques, in the NAHL."
Jeremi Tremblay
Junior team: Maryland Black Bears (NAHL)
Hometown: Quebec City, Quebec
Position: Forward
Joined fellow SHU newcomer Amell in Maryland, where he chalked up a very symmetrical 22-22-44 over 48 games with the Black Bears last season, helping the team to the East Division title. Added an impressive 6-6-12 across 11 playoff games in the team's run to the final game of the Robertson Cup. Prior, spent two seasons in the SJHL with the Flin Flon Bombers, where he totaled 43-47-90 across 81 games.
Marottolo: "A 200-foot player who takes pride in his game with and without the puck. Had a really strong junior career with winning programs, including the Flin Flon Bombers of the SJHL and the Maryland Bears of the NAHL."
Aiden VanRooyan
Junior team: Des Moines Buccaneers (USHL)
Hometown: Dakota Dunes, S.D.
Position: Defense
Three seasons of NAHL experience, including the last two with the Buccaneers. Had a career-best 3-16-19 in 58 games last season. Is +9 with 6-27-33 over 149 career USHL games. Also had a 2-16-18 campaign across 53 games with the NAHL's Bismarck Bobcats in 2021-22.
Marottolo: "Big, strong defenseman out of Des Moines in the USHL. Can really skate for a big guy. Played a ton of minutes, plays a heavy game, was captain of the team last year."
***
The 10 incoming first-year players join eight transfers and 13 returners to make up SHU's 31-player roster. The Pios will get the 32nd season in program history started on Oct. 11-12, with a two-game set at ECAC member Colgate. Season tickets are on sale now through Ticketmaster. Individual game tickets, including both days of CT Ice, will go on sale on Thursday, Aug. 15.
Pictured, top row, left-to-right: Amell, Rubin, Gundarah, Minnehan and Tremblay. Bottom row, left-to-right: Gendron, O'Donnell, VanRooyan, Levyy and Tardif. Levyy picture courtesy Langley Rivermen, via the team's website. Minnehan photo courtesy The Rink Live. Rubin picture courtesy Coquitlam Express, via Instagram. All other photos courtesy of the respective student-athlete.
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