MARQUETTE, Mich. - The Northern Michigan University hockey team is proud to introduce its freshmen class for the upcoming 2024/25 season: a class that includes three NHL draft picks and a top-70 draft eligible skater.
Hampton Slukynsky | Goaltender | 2023 Los Angeles Kings Draft Pick | Warroad, Minnesota | Fargo Force - USHL
A 2023 4th-round draft pick of the Los Angeles Kings, Hampton Slukynsky is a 6'1" goaltender from Warroad, Minnesota who currently plays for the Fargo Force of the USHL. Slukynsky has been described as playing with a lot of enthusiasm and has a fairly aggressive style to match, where you will normally see him set up with his heels well outside of the crease on rush chances, and catches many shooters by surprise with just how explosive he is laterally.
The brother of current Wildcat,
Grant Slukynsky, Hampton currently leads the USHL in all major goaltender categories, including wins (with an exceptional 28-3-0 record), GA (60), GAA (1.86), SV% (.923), and shutouts (5). Hampton has been named USHL Goaltender of the Week three times this season and is the front-runner for USHL Goaltender of the Year. Slukynsky didn't suffer a regulation loss until his 17th start of the season and has allowed two goals or less in 26 of his 32 appearances.
Slukynsky ended his 23/24 season guiding the Force to a Clark Cup Championship, where he went 9-3-0 with a .931 SV% and a 1.69 GAA with one shutout in 712 minutes played. Hampton was named USHL Goaltender of the Year, named to the All-USHL First Team, named Goaltender of the Clark Cup Final, and earned his fourth USHL Player of the Week honors after his playoff success in the finals.
Coach Potulny on Slukynsky: "Hampton is the top goalie in the USHL and one of the top recruits in the country. He is someone we believe will have an enormous impact from the moment he steps on campus. Hampton has won everywhere he has played and will bring a winning mindset to NMU."
Adam Pietila | Forward | Howell, Michigan | Youngstown Phantoms - USHL
A 6'0" right-shot forward from Howell, Michigan, Adam Pietila comes to the 'Cats from the Youngstown Phantoms of the USHL. This season, Pietila is an alternate captain and led the Phantoms in PPGs (7) and PIM (126), is second on the Phantoms in goals (24), GWGs (3), and SHGs (2), T3 in power-play points (13), fourth in assists (24), and third in points (47) with a +6 rating during the regular season. Pietila scored a hat-trick in his third game with the Phantoms and posted a season-best four-point night with a pair of goals and assists on March 10th.
Most recently, after being down 2-0 through two periods, Adam scored a natural hat-trick in the third frame to help lift the Phantoms 5-2 over the Madison Capitals to force a game three in the opening round of the Clark Cup. After the game, Phantoms head coach Ryan Ward was asked about Pietila: "Adam (Pietila) is a heart-and-soul kid and leaves it out there every night. We challenged all of them this morning, and he answered the bell. He's got a bright future, and he wears a letter for a reason."
Before the Phantoms, Pietila played two seasons with the Bismark Bobcats of the NAHL, where he amassed 42 goals and 40 assists for 82 points with 328 penalty minutes.
Coach Potulny on Pietila: "Adam is a talented player who is great around the net and plays an in-your-face type of game. He is having a great year in Youngstown and his coaches love him because of his versatility and willingness to do whatever it takes to win. He is going to be able to play in all situations for us next season."
Filip Sitar | Center | NHL Draft Eligible - 65th Overall Ranked European Skater | Ljubljana, Slovenia | Malmö Redhawks J20
Ranked 65th by NHL Central Scouting of European players for the 2024 NHL Entry Draft, Filip Sitar is a 5'11" right-shot center from Ljubljana, Slovenia. Sitar has been described as having exceptional hockey smarts, where most of his production can be attributed to his awareness and positional play without the puck and is rather responsible defensively, with consistent scanning habits, smart positioning, and diligent defensive stick.
Sitar spent most of this 23/24 season with the Malmö Redhawks J20 of the J20 Nationell, where he scored 15 goals and 35 assists for 50 points in 40 games, the second-best scorer among skaters who skated in 40 or fewer games, as well as two goals and eight assists for 10 points in eight relegation games. Sitar also represented Slovenia internationally, registering five goals and five assists in five games at the U20 Div. 1B World Championships, highlighted by scoring two goals and an assist in a 5-3 win to lift Slovenia over Ukraine in the gold-medal game.
Coach Potulny on Sitar: "Filip is one of the top-producing forwards in all of Sweden. He is a strong skater with very good top-end speed. Filip is a very mature player who will be able to help generate offense next season, and is great in the dot, as he has led the J20 in face-off percentage the last 2 seasons."
Rasmus Larsson | Defenseman | 2023 New York Rangers Draft Pick | Hasselby, Sweden | Greenbay Gamblers - USHL
A 2023 5th-round pick of the New York Rangers, Rasmus Larsson is a 6'3' left-shot defenseman from Hasselby, Sweden, who currently plays for the Green Bay Gamblers of the USHL. Larsson has been described as a sturdy, puck-moving defenseman with an accurate shot and plenty of natural athleticism .
The blueliner has four goals and 13 assists for 17 points this year during the regular season, where he is second in assists and points while third in goals among Gambler defensemen. Larsson only has eight penalty minutes on the year, the fewest among Gambler skaters who have appeared in 20 or more games, while holding a solid +7 rating. Before the USHL, Larsson played for both the Sweden U20 and U19 international teams as well as Västerås IK of Sweden's top junior league, where he was one of the top scoring defensemen, scoring 16 goals and 18 assists for 34 points and a +23 rating in 50 games during the 2022-23 season. In that season, his 16 goals led all J20 Nationell defensemen, his +/- rating was fifth, and his points total was seventh.
Coach Potulny on Larsson: "Rasmus is a long, smooth skating defenceman with incredible edge work. He is able to manipulate defenders on the offensive blueline and is someone who will be up in the rush for us next season. He has always generated offense and we believe that will continue to be the case at NMU."
Vladislav Lukashevich | Defenseman | 2021 Florida Panthers Draft Pick | Magadan, Russia | Tri-City Storm - USHL
A 2021 4th-round pick of the Florida Panthers, Vladislav Lukashevich is a 6'1" left-shot defenseman from Magadan, Russia, who currently plays for the Tri-City Storm of the USHL. Lukashevich has been described as having excellent puck-moving skills, deception, patience with the puck, and a desire to beat forecheckers one-on-one to make plays.
This regular season with the storm, Lukashevich had 11 goals and 32 assists for 43 points with a +13 rating. One of the premier offensive-defensemen of the USHL, Lukashevich was third in points and fourth in goals, assists, and power-play points among USHL blueliners during the regular season. Lukashevic had 12 multi-point games for the Storm, including a trio of three-point performances, and recently posted 23 points in an 18-game stretch (6-17--23). In six playoff games this season Lukashevich had four assists, averaging a third-best 0.67 pts/game among USHL defensemen who played a minimum of six games. Prior to his time in the USHL, Lukashevich served as an alternate captain for Loko Yaroslavl of the MHL, a junior hockey league in Russia, where he posted 37 points and a +52 rating in three years.
Coach Potulny on Lukashevich: "Vlad is one of the smartest players in the USHL and he seems to always make the right play. He is always one step ahead of the game and moves the puck on time and to the right player, and his vision on the offensive blueline is elite. Vlad will be a weapon for us on the power play."
Jakub Altrichter | Forward | Prague, Czechia | Waterloo Blackhawks - USHL
A 5'10" left-shot forward, Jakub Altrichter comes to the Wildcats from the Waterloo Blackhawks of the USHL. Altrichter has been described as a very smart player without the puck, can extend plays, and always puts himself in great spots.
Originally from Prague, Czechia, Altrichter opened his season with 11 points in his first 10 games (4-7--11) before amassing 46 points in 54 games, where he was second on the team in assists (35) and points per game (0.85). Trusted in all situations, Altrichter has two game-winning goals, 10 power play assists, three shorthanded goals, two shootout goals, and leads his team with the 12th-best plus/minus in the USHL at +25, 4th-best among USHL forwards. Altrichter had 13 multi-point games this season, including back-to-back multi-point games to earn USHL Forward of the Week on October 16.
Altrichter played 23 games with the Green Bay Gamblers the year prior, where he posted 12 points in 23 games. Before the USHL, Altrichter spent time with Mora IK J20 (10 goals, 15 assists, 25 games played) and AIK J20 (2 goals, 3 assists, 10 games played) of the J20 Nationell league, as well as representing his country on the national stage with both of Czechia's U20 and U19 teams.
Coach Potulny on Altrichter: "Jakub has been in North America for the past two seasons and has acclimated to the North American game very well. He is an elite skater who can generate offense off the rush as well as anyone in the USHL. Jakub plays on the inside and is not afraid to get his nose dirty in hard ice, he will be a big part of our offensive game."
Billy Renfrew | Center | Fairbanks, Alaska | Penticton Vees - BCHL
A 5'11" left-shot center, Billy Renfrew comes to the Wildcats from the Penticton Vees of the BCHL. The Alaska Fairbanks native has been described as a player who shows up and works every day, knows what makes him effective, and plays the right way.
One of the more elite forwards in the BCHL, Renfrew averaged just over a point per game with 20 goals and 32 assists, including five PPGs and three GWGs. During the regular season, Renfrew led the Vees in assists and points per game (1.02), was second in goals and points, and fourth in power-play goals. Renfrew recorded 14 multi-point games this season: including a hat trick, a four-point night with four assists, and ended the regular season with 16 points in 11 games. Renfrew has found success in the post season as well, where he currently has three goals and leads his team with 10 assists in 19 playoff games, including four power play points and one game winning goal.
Renfrew has scored 20+ goals in the last three seasons: scoring 20 goals this year, 23 last year with the Fairbanks Ice Dogs of the NAHL (23g, 32a, 55pts in 48 games), and 25 the year prior with the Ice Dogs. Before the Ice Dogs, Renfrew played 16U AAA and 15U AAA with Little Ceasars, posting back-to-back seasons with 30+ goals and 60+ points.
Coach Potulny on Renfrew: "Billy is having a great year on one of the best teams in junior hockey. From the top of the circles down he is as good as anyone, he has elite hockey sense, and will be used in all situations for us because of it."
Anthony Cliche | Defenseman | Vallee-Jonction, QC, Canada | Vernon Vipers - BCHL
A 6'4" right-shot defenseman from Vallee-Jonction, QC, Canada, Anthony Cliche comes to the Wildcats from the Vernon Vipers of the BCHL. Anthony has been described as one of the most complete defensemen in the BCHL.
A premier defenseman in the BCHL, Cliche led all Viper defensemen in goals (10), assists (25), points (35), points per game (0.70), PPGs (2), and PPpts (10). Among all skaters on the Vipers this season, he was second in power play assists (8), third in assists, and fifth in points, and among all BCHL defensemen, his goals, assists, and points were all top 10, respectively. Cliche had eight multi-point games this season, including exploding for six points (2-4--6) on 10/23/23, and recorded four points in 10 playoff games, second among Viper defensemen.
Coach Potulny on Cliche: "Anthony is a big shutdown defenseman who has generated offense this season for Vernon. He wears the other team's best players down with his physicality and gives them no room to operate. Anthony is a calm steadying presence for his junior team and we expect the same presence for our team."
Joe Schiller | Defenseman | Moorhead, Minnesota | Cedar Rapids Roughriders - USHL
A 5'11" left-shot defenseman from Moorhead, Minnesota, Joe Schiller comes to the Wildcats from the Cedar Rapids Roughriders of the USHL.
Playing in 41 games for the Roughriders this season, Schiller recorded one goal and four assists, including an overtime game-winning goal in a multi-point evening on 2/9/24 against the then-top team in the league, the Dubuque Fighting Saints. Including this season, the blueliner has played 98 games with the Roughriders, including five playoff games, registering 13 points. Before the USHL, Schiller played high school in Minnesota, where he scored three goals and 21 assists for 24 points in 50 games, including scoring a goal in three playoff appearances.
Coach Potulny on Schiller: "Joe is a transporter of the puck and is very good on breakouts and neutral zone transitions. His ability to move pucks will help our team generate rush offense opportunities, and his skating ability on our ice sheet will be a great asset for both him and our team."
Will Diamond | Forward | Carpentersville, Illinois I Austin Bruins - NAHL
A 6'4" left-shot forward from Carpentersville, Illinois, Will Diamond comes to the Wildcats from the Austin Bruins of the NAHL.
Diamond has played 46 games for the Bruins this season, where he's scored six goals and eight assists for 14 points, including three game-winning goals, two power-play goals, and 234 penalty minutes. Diamond played 43 games for the Aberdeen Wings of the NAHL, then played a year with the Omaha Lancers of the USHL before returning to the NAHL. Before juniors, Diamond played 18U AAA with the Chicago Fury, scoring 18 goals and 41 points with 156 penalty minutes in 54 games.
Coach Potulny on Diamond: "Will is a big, tough, in-your-face type of player who does not back down from anyone. He will bring physicality to our lineup and grit around the net. We are adding an honest, hard-working player. "
Julian Molinaro | Goaltender | Mississauga, Ontario, Canada | Calgary Canucks - AJHL
A 5'11" netminder from Mississauga, Ontario, Canada, Julian Molinaro comes to the Wildcats from the Calgary Canucks of the AJHL. Along with being one of the top goalies in the AJHL, Molinaro has been praised for his work ethic and the professionalism he brings to the rink.
Molinaro just finished guiding the Canucks to their 10th AJHL Championship, where he posted a league-best 12 wins in 15 games, was second-best with a .908 SV% and a 2.56 GAA, and recorded a 30-save shutout in a 1-0 win during the post season. Molinaro had a stellar regular season as well, where he led the AJHL in wins (27) and shutouts (6), and was first in both SV% (.916) and GAA (2.60) among netminders who played 35 or more games.
Prior to the AJHL, Julian played two seasons in the OJHL, most recently with the Collingwood Blues where he posted a 15-5 record with a .901 SV% and 2.33 GAA with one shutout. The Blues would go on to win the OJHL Championship that season.
Coach Spratt on Molinaro: "We are very excited to welcome Julian to the Wildcat family. Julian brings a wealth of experience and a championship pedigree, winning championships in both the OJHL and AJHL, bringing a winning experience that will certainly help our locker room. As a goaltender, Julian plays a very calm game and is very well-schooled, making it look easy and has the athletic ability when needed. Hs biggest strength is his ability to remain calm in high-pressure situations, which was on display during this years AJHL finals."
