NCAA: St. Lawrence Adds a Forward, Ferris and Canisius Each add Defensemen

St. Lawrence is continuing to rebuild under first-year head coach Brent Brekke and the Saints added a forward for next season in Logan Ritchie out of the NAHL.

The Missouri native is in his second season with the Kenai River Brown Bears, where he has 22 goals and 26 assists in 52 games. Ritchie had 12 points for the Brown Bears as a NAHL rookie last season following three years with the St. Louis AAA Blues.

“Logan is a hard working player who uses his speed and playmaking ability to be effective,” scouts said. “He also has a quick release and the ability to score goals.”

’99 D Jackson Decker to Canisus for 2020

Decker is an Illinois native who moved to the NAHL this season with Chippewa after a year and a half in the USHL with the Omaha Lancers.

This season Decker has five goals and 13 assists in 26 games for Chippewa; he had 10 points in 23 games for the Lancers before the move.

“Forwards struggled chasing down Decker on the forecheck. He was fast, elusive and smart. He used the best option available to him to get pucks from his end. He made crisp passes, both short and long. He used the net to his advantage, turned quickly to shake the pressure and used the wall when it was called for. He was terrific with the puck and a pure puck mover.”

’99 D Luke Farthing to Ferris State for 2020

Farthing has had a strong offensive season for Chippewa in the NAHL this season, scoring 13 goals and 16 assists in 51 games. The Ohio native traveled north last season where he played in the AJHL after a length career with the Ohio Blue Jackets youth program.

“He is not huge or unbelievably skilled but he played a tough, puck-moving style we liked,” our scouts said. “Farthing played smart hockey on the lines and showed he would knock players down in the process of getting possession. His shot was hard and his one-timer was quick and heavy. He created in the offensive zone as he sped across the blue line and made accurate and sometimes difficult passes to his forwards.”

’99 F Max Cole to Salem State for 2020

Cole is an Ohio native who has played his junior hockey in Rochester, N.Y., but he’ll make his way to Salem State next season. The 5-foot-9 forward has four goals and five assists in 42 games this year for Rochester’s NCDC team.

We saw Cole at the NCDC Showcase, where our scouts said: “Max is a 1999 who is strong and slippery along the wall. he is unafraid of tough areas. He used his defense in the offensive zone and supported them on the breakout. He showed bursts of speed and a slick element in space. He is worth a look for DIII schools as he was a bright spot on a struggling team.”

’99 F Jack Quinn to Hobart for 2020

Quinn is a Lancaster, Mass. native who has 11 goals and six assists in 37 games for the Kenai River Brown Bears this season in the NAHL.

Quinn started the season with the Boston Jr. Bruins in the NCDC and prior to this year played at Northfield Mount Hermon for two seasons; he spent two seasons with the Islanders before that.

“Jack was all over the ice on the weekend,” scouts said. “He has slick hands which he uses to beat defenders in tight spaces as well as break them down in one-on-one situations. He is always around the puck in the offensive zone and made things happen.”

’99 F Drew Lorinchak to Endicott for 2020

Lorinchak has good size at 6-foot-2. The Virginia native began this season in the NAHL with the expansion New Mexico Ice Wolves. There, he had six goals and seven assists in 42 games. More recently he moved to the NCDC with the South Shore Kings, where he has been an impact player with two goals and five assists in just six games.

“He is long, strong and still raw,” said scouts “The late 1999 put a lot of pucks at the net. He was willing to go to dirty areas and we liked that he showed the ability to slip through seams, separate and create shooting space. He is very good below the dots and a player to keep an eye on. Upside as a power forward with touch around the goal.”

’99 D Alec Schwab to Aurora for 2020

Schwab has an intimidating presence at 6-foot-4. The Illinois native spent two seasons in the NOJHL before arriving in the NAHL this season with Chippewa. In 40 games for the Steel, he has scored twice and added five assists.

“Alec clogged up a lot of offensive lanes for opponents as he is big and tall at about 6’4”,” scouts said. “His stick is long and was active. He knocked/deflected a lot of pucks off sticks here. He was excellent on the penalty kill as he could sweep pucks away with his reach and still maintain good positioning. In the corners, he swallowed up opponents and played tough. If he had a chance to hit, he would punish opponents.”

’00 F Greg Peterson to Wesleyan for 2020

Peterson is from Hanover, Mass., and played prep hockey at New Hampton. After finishing with them last season he moved to the NCDC this season where he has 11 goals and eight assists in a combined 46 games for the Northern Cyclones and the Boston Bandits.

Last season at New Hampton the blueliner had 12 goals and 13 assists in 35 games.

’99 F Brandon Holt to Northland for 2020

Our scouts gave Holt an “A” grad at the NA3HL Top Prospects game in 2020. The Michigan native has spent the last three seasons in the league, totaling 47 goals and 76 assists in 127 games.

“He is clever near the net wit a scorer’s blade,” scouts said. “Tipped a backhand home and can snipe. He has quick hands and vision. He processes plays quickly. He wins faceoffs and drives the net. Smart, instinctive player who would be a very solid addition to the Northland roster.”

’99 D Bryce DeFazio to SUNY-Geneseo for 2020

DeFazio has good size at 6-foot-4. A Colorado native, he’s spent parts of the last three seasons in the NCDC and this year has seven goals and 27 assists in 50 games for the Northern Cyclones. He broke out offensively last season with eight goals and 12 assists.

“Bryce is a big defenseman and he used his size appropriately,” scouts said at the NCDC Showcase. “He squeezed off the rush and corralled the cycle. His long reach proved as much a weapon as his great strength. He played well on the penalty kill as he had an active stick, smartly placed. He clogged shooting and passing lanes in all situations and showed some snarl.”