Men's Ice Hockey

2021-22 UCHC Men’s Players to Watch List

The United Collegiate Hockey Conference announced its Players to Watch for the 2021-22 season. A total of 30 men’s players from the league’s 10 institutions were selected. The list serves as an annual preseason honor roll of players expected to make an impact on their teams, and on the conference picture as the season gets underway this weekend.
 
Arcadia University
  • Mike Kocsis, Fr., F, Middletown, NJ – Kocsis, a 6-foot-1 forward played last season for Team Maryland in the EHL.
  • Justin Song, Fr., D, Farmington Hills, MI – Song played for the Metro Jets of the USPHL and will look to anchor the Knights defensive unit this season.
  • James Spaargaren, Fr., F, Escondido, CA – Spaargaren was a standout for the New Ulm Steel in the NA3HL.
Team Notes: Arcadia makes its Division III debut this season with 26 first-year players on the roster under head coach Vincent Pietrangelo. The Knights play their first regular season contests on Oct. 29-30 versus Aurora University. First-year goaltender Lucas Brine is a member of the Great Britain national team.
 
Chatham University
  • Aidan Girduckis, Jr., D, Belleville, Ontario – Girduckis, who played his freshman season at Division I Robert Morris, stepped right in and tied for the team lead with seven points from the blueline last spring.
  • Carson Grainer, So., F, Livonia, MI – Grainer led Chatham with five goals in 12 games last spring.
  • Tristan Simm, Sr., F, Surrey, British Columbia – Was tied for the team lead with seven points on two goals and five assists in abbreviated action last year.
Team Notes: The Cougars enter the season tied for fourth in the 2021-22 UCHC Preseason Coaches Poll. Chatham returns a solid mix of veterans and add promising newcomers to the mix in 2021-22. Senior goaltender Ricardo Gonzalez is the program’s all-time leader in wins and saves.
 
King’s College
  • Brandon Daigle, Sr., G, Biddeford, ME –Daigle was named to the UCHC Preseason Watch List in 2019-20. He made a career high 59 saves in a 2-1 win in final game of that season.
  • Michael Dischiavi, Sr., F, Toronto, Ontario – Was a UCHC Preseason Watch List candidate in 2019-20. He recorded 14 points as a sophomore on four goals and 10 assists.
  • Tyler Sayger, Jr., G, Cheektowaga, NY – Was a two-time UCHC Goaltender of the Week in 2019-20.
Team Notes: King’s will have a new look in 2021-22, as 11 newcomers will take the ice since the last time they played in February, 2020. The Monarchs return 17 players for head coach Tom Seravalli, who also makes his UCHC debut this season.
 
Lebanon Valley College
  • Darion Benchich, So., F, York PA – Led the team in scoring last season with six points in seven games.
  • Riley Johnson, So., F, Mechanicsburg, PA – Recorded four points (1-3-4) in seven games.
  • Blake Tosto, So., F, Bloomfield Hills MI – Tallied a pair of goals to go along with two assists in abbreviated action.
Team Notes: Lebanon Valley was picked to finish fourth in the 2021-22 UCHC Preseason Coaches poll. The Flying Dutchmen returns 22 players from last season’s team. Lebanon Valley had a team save percentage of .904 in 2021.
 
Manhattanville College
  • Jamie Dorsey, Gr., D, Wilbraham, MA – Will serve as captain of Manhattanville blueline. Played for two seasons at Elmira College before arriving at Manhattanville.
  • Niko Happo, Sr., F, Kauniainen, Finland – Has recorded 49 career points on eight goals and 41 assists over 53 games. Tied the program record with a six-point game in 2020 vs. King’s. His 29 assists in 2019-20 was the second highest single-season total in program history.
  • Alexi Masanko, Jr., G, West Milford, NJ – Has played in seven games with Manhattanville over two seasons. Posted a .913 save percentage in 2019-20.
Team Notes: The Valiants return 21 players from last season’s team and are just two seasons removed from a UCHC Championship in 2018-19.
 
Nazareth College
  • Mitch Culver, Sr., F, Rochester, NY – Will serve as team captain in 2021-22. Tallied four points last season.
  • Ray Falso, Sr., F, Skaneateles, NY – Led the team in scoring with eight points on four goals and four assists in 2020-21. Is fourth on Nazareth’s all-time career scoring list with 57 points on 26 goals and 31 assists.
  • Henry McKinney, Jr., F, Washington, DC – Had six points on three goals and three assists last season.
Team Notes: The Golden Flyers advanced to the UCHC Quarterfinals during the abbreviated 2021 season. Nazareth recorded 12 wins in both the 2018-19 and 2019-20 season and will look to get back that form this season. The Golden Flyers have 14 new players on the roster in 2021-22.
 
Neumann University
  • Richie Brusco, Sr., D, Blackwood, NJ – Has recorded 53 career points on eight goals and 45 assists in 86 career contests.
  • Barry Kneedler, Sr., F, Philadelphia, PA – Was Neumann’s leading scorer during the 2019-20 season, tallying 17 goals and 26 points in 26 games. He has 24 goals and 45 points in 62 career games.
  • Kyle Pantalone, Sr., G, Hammonton, NJ – Recorded a 2.42 goals against average and a stout .932 save percentage in seven games last season.
Team Notes: Neumann returns 19 players from last season after advancing to the UCHC Quarterfinals. The Knights were NCAA Division III National Champions during the 2008-09 season.
 
Stevenson University
  • Ryan Kenny, Jr., G, Sparta, NJ – Earned All-UCHC accolades in 2019-20. Went 11-2-1 between the pipes with a 2.00 goals against average and a .927 save percentage in 2021.
  • Mac Lowry, So., F, Cobourg, Ontario – Lowry was named the 2021 UCHC Rookie of the Year after recording 10 goals and 17 points last season.
  • Ryan Patrick, Sr., F Morgantown, WV – Earned All-UCHC second team accolades in 2021, finishing with 17 points (4-13-17) in 16 games. He has 62 career points in 67 contests.
Team Notes: The Mustangs return 21 players from last season’s team that advanced to the UCHC Championship game after finishing 12-3-1. Overall, Stevenson is 30-11-3 since the start of the 2019-20 season. Stevenson has 25 first or second year players and plenty of veteran leadership. Stevenson was picked to finish second in the 2021-22 UCHC Preseason Coaches Poll.
 
Utica College
  • Jamie Bucell, Gr., F., Garfield Heights, OH – Bucell tallied a career-high 15 points in 2021 (8-7-15) despite playing just 10 games to earn All-UCHC second team accolades.
  • Sean Dickson, Sr. G, Millbrae, CA – Dickson, an All-UCHC second team pick last spring, recorded a .962 save percentage and microscopic 0.75 goals against average with four shutouts in just eight starts in 2021. He has a 1.55 goals against average in 26 career games.
  • Brandon Osmundson, Jr. F, Chesapeake, VA – The 2019-20 UCHC Rookie of the Year and USCHO National Rookie of the Year had 14 points last spring on five goals and nine assists. He has 56 points in 39 games over two seasons.
Team Notes: Utica, picked to finish first in the 2021-22 UCHC Preseason Coaches poll, has won five consecutive league Regular Season Championships between ECAC West and UCHC. Two-time postseason champions. The Pioneers are 33-4-2 over the last two seasons, including a 25-2-2 mark in 2019-20 which included a 20-game winning streak to end the year.
 
Wilkes University
  • Donald Flynn, Sr., F, Randolph, NJ – Was named an All-UCHC first team selection in 2021 after earning CCM Hockey/AHCA First Team East All-American honors in 2020. He was a finalist for the 2020 Sid Watson Award given by the AHCA to the NCAA Division III Player of the Year. He was named All-USCHO Divsion III Second Team and the UCHC Co-Player of the Year.
  • Tyler Barrow, Sr., F, Massapequa, NY – Earned All-UCHC first team honors last spring. Was named the USCHO Rookie of the Year and USCHO All-Rookie Team in 2018-19 in addition to UCHC All-Rookie Team honors.
  • Michael Gurska, Sr., D, Revere, MA – Was named a CCM Hockey/AHCA Second Team East All-American and All-UCHC first team selection in 2019-20 after recording 35 points (2-33-35) in 29 games.
Team Notes: The Colonels return 27 players from last season after advancing to the UCHC Championship game in 2019-20. Wilkes was picked to finish third in the UCHC Men’s Preseason Coaches Poll. Wilkes is 41-22-2 since beginning play in 2018-19. Donald Flynn is the lone returning UCHC player to have topped 100 career points (47-60-107), while Barrow and Nick Fea are not far behind with 92 and 90 points, respectively.
 
The 2021-22 regular season kicks off the weekend of Oct. 29-31. UCHC conference play starts on Nov. 4-5. The top eight teams advance to the 2022 UCHC Championship Tournament, which takes place with quarterfinal play on Feb. 22, semifinals on Feb. 26 and the league championship March 5. The UCHC Champion earns an automatic berth into the 2022 NCAA Division III Men’s Ice Hockey Championship.
 
ABOUT THE UNITED COLLEGIATE HOCKEY CONFERENCE
The United Collegiate Hockey Conference is a collaborative effort between eleven institutions to provide a competitive environment and structure for NCAA Division III men's and women's ice hockey in the Eastern United States. Our membership encompasses a wide geographic area spanning from Central and Western New York to the greater Pittsburgh and Baltimore areas. In its fifth season, the UCHC will incorporate the efforts of ice hockey student-athletes from Arcadia University, Alvernia University, Chatham University, King's College, Lebanon Valley College, Manhattanville College, Nazareth College, Neumann University, Stevenson University, Utica College, and Wilkes University into their strong, but evolving membership that strives for on-ice excellence while also preparing student athletes for their off-ice futures. For more on the UCHC, visit the league's homepage at http://www.TheUCHC.com, or follow the league on Twitter at http://www.Twitter.com/UCHCHockey.