recruits03

Michael Olson piled up the honors as a junior hockey player for the Nanaimo Clippers of the British Columbia Junior Hockey League. The ultimate honor was being named the top Junior "A" player in Canada for 2004-05. He finished his third season as captain of the Clippers with 32 goals and 70 points during the regular season as he led his team to first place in the Island Division of the BCHL. Additional honors included Nanaimo team MVP, Most Popular Player, Coaches Award, Columbia Fuels Three-Star Award, BCHL First Team All-Star, BCHL Power Poll MVP and Coastal Conference MVP. In 2003-04 Olson put up 64 points on 29 goals in 59 games and 34 points in 24 playoff games. In 2002 he led his Tisdale AAA midget team to the championship of the Air Canada Cup national midget tournament. Nanaimo coach Bill Bestwick stated "Michael is truly a coaches dream player. As Michael's coach for the past three seasons, I have observed the impact Michael has made on his teammates, his peers, the BCHL and the community he represents. He is truly a leader on and off the ice and has led our team with dignity, honor, courage and a will to succeed beyond expectations as our captain for two seasons." Contrary to those who say his skating may need improvement, he was runner-up in the fastest skating competition at the 2004-05 BCHL All-Star game. Olson will bring maturity, leadership skills and an unquestioned work ethic to the Huskies. This player should see immedaite playing time for the Huskies and will be a fan favorite.

Mike Olson video HERE (scroll down)

The Huskies picked up a gem of a goaltender in this draft choice of the Pittsburgh Penguins who is a transfer from Providence College of Hockey East.

Goepfert is without a doubt one of the top amateur goaltenders in the USA and proved it during his play for Cedar Rapids of the USHL, the 2003 USA World Junior team and at Providence of HE. During the 2004-05 season Goepfert was limited to practicing with the Huskies as he sat out his mandatory transfer season due to NCAA rules. In 2003-04 Goepfert took hold of the starting goaltender position of the Providence Friars and appeared in 28 games, winning 15 with a 2.52 GAA and .918 save percentage. In 2002-03 he played in 13 games for the Friars and had a .924 SV% and 2.39 GAA. He was selected to the USA World Junior team in 2003 and led the USA team to a fourth place finish after several strong showings between the pipes particularly vs Team Canada in the semifinals. During his two years of play with Cedar Rapids of the USHL Goepfert had a 2.04 GAA and .936 SV% in 2001-02 and 2.92/.916 statistics in 2001-01. He was named USHL player of the year and Goalie of the Year in 2001-02 and was also selected to play on the 2002 USA Viking Cup team. He was named to the USHL all-rookie team in 2000-01. Goepfert is a sixth round draft choice of the Pittsburgh Penguins of the NHL. He is described as "fearless" in the front of the net. An aggressive goaltender, he has quick reactions, a very good glove hand and clears the puck well. He will battle the returning SCSU goaltenders hard for the starting position in 2005-06.

Another transfer player to join the Huskies for the 2005-06 season, Kronick practiced with the team in 2004-05 while sitting out the mandatory transfer season. A two-year member of WCHA rival, UMD, Kronick joined the Bulldogs as a true freshman after a strong high school career at Holy Angels Academy of Richfield, MN. In 2003-04 he appeared in four games for the Bulldogs prior to sustaining a back injury that shelved him for the balance of the season. He subsequently earned a medical redshirt to regain his eligibility for that year. In 2002-03, as a freshman, he appeared in 10 games and scored 4 points. As a senior at Holy Angels Academy, he was ranked as one of Minnesota's top HS players but suffered an early season broken leg which kept him out of the lineup for the majority of the season. He returned for the sectional playoffs and played a crucial roll for the Stars leading them to the Minnesota high school state tournament. Once there, he went on a tear leading all state tourney players in goal scoring with six including four in one game. As a result, he was named to the 2002 all- tournament team. Kronick's size and strength should work to his advantage as he battles for a position in the Huskies line-up.

He posesses a strong and quick wrist shot and has good scoring ability. With his injuries behind him Kronick hopes to make an impact in the SCSU lineup in 2005-06. Please also see the Dan Kronick feature HERE.

This three-year veteran of the United States Hockey League joins the Huskies after a solid tenure with the Lincoln Stars. Playing on a team with some top scoring forwards, Carlisle was not counted on to produce offensively allowing him to concentrate on the defensive game. As a result, he led the team in plus/minus with +15 in 2004-05, +5 in 2003-04 and +11 in 2002-03. He was a member of the 2003 Clark Cup Champions and participated in the 2004 USHL Prospects All-Star Game. In 2004-05 he produced 14 points including 2 goals. As a youth, he was a teammate of current Husky Nate Raduns on several traveling teams. A versatile player, Carlisle can also play forward. The Huskies are adding to their depth on defense with a hard-working player who makes good passes, plays solid defense and is a good leader.

Swanson will join Nate Raduns and Matt Hartman as the third St. Cloud area player on the current team. This former St. Cloud Tech Tiger had a slow start offensively for the Lincoln Stars of the USHL in 2004-05 but was energized by his trade to the Chicago Steel. He nearly doubled his output with the Steel putting up 20 points in 16 games while scoring 11 points in 33 games for the Stars. In 2003-04 Swanson had 5-2-7 in 16 games for the Lincoln Stars splitting time with his high school team. During his senior season at St. Cloud Tech, he scored 64 points and was named the St. Cloud Times Area Player of the Year. In 2003-04 he also competed in the Midwest High School Elite League and led the league in scoring prior to leaving for the Lincoln Stars. A three-year player for St. Cloud Tech, he scored 126 career points putting him fourth on the all-time school scoring charts. He also led the team to their first ever Central lakes Conference title. A standout player and captain of his St. Cloud Tech HS team, Swanson has excellent speed, is a good playmaker and is always a threat to score. He should excel on the larger NHC ice surface.

One of the top players from North Dakota girls hockey, Currier racked up numerous honors during her 3 years of club hockey and three years of varsity hockey. She put up 30-33-63 in 2004-05 while helping lead her Fargo North HS team to the North Dakota state championship and was nominated as a finalist for North Dakota Ms Hockey. She earned the Girls Hockey Volunteer Service Award and Hardest Working Player Award in 2004-05. She participated in the USA Hockey Minnkota Development camp, North American Showcase (Burlington, VT) and Chicago Showcase in 2004. In 2003-04 she scored 49 points on 26 goals and 23 assists and again led her team to the North Dakota State Championship.

In 2003 she participated in the Chicago Showcase and CODP Festival in Blaine, MN. In 2002-03 she had 29 goals and 22 assists for 51 points. She was named to the All-State Team for four consecutive years, was named MVP for three consecutive years and was a co-captain for three years. A hard-working player with strong offensive ability she'll add great depth to the Huskies lineup in 2005-06.

This transfer from the University of Maine brings 31 games of NCAA Division I hockey experience to the Huskies. During her high school career she had 83 goals and 112 assists for 195 points and scored 27-31-58 for the Moorhead Spuds HS team during her senior year. This four-year letter winner was named MVP and earned the Playmaker and Hustle awards for her previous team, Wahpeton HS. She was also a two-year captain of this team and a member of the North Dakota Selects. This multi-sport athlete was also a four-year letter winner in softball where she was all-conference with a .500 batting average. Solid defensively, she finished the season +2 for the Black Bears in 2004-05. She'll bring experience and hustle to the lineup for SCSU.

Nixon was a six-year varsity player for the Blaine (MN) Bengals HS team. She helped her team to the finals of the MN state HS tourney as an eighth grader in 2001. She was an offensive dynamo for the Bengals scoring 139 goals in 169 games. She finished second on the schools all-time points list with 243 points. During the 2004-05 season she put up 64 points including 44 goals and was named all -metro while her team won the Northwestern Suburban Conference championship. In 2003-04, she had 66 points and was named all conference, all-state honorable mention and team outstanding offensive player. She also earned rookie of the year honors as a seventh grader. A team captain, she led by example through dedication to hard work and on-ice success. Nixon has excellent speed, good on-ice vision and an accurate shot. Despite her size, she is known for her desire to fight through traffic and dig for the puck. Nixon is very coachable and should see action with the Huskies as a first- year player.

McCarthy accumulated 218 points in her final three varsity seasons with Eden Prairie high school. A consistent scorer and leader for the Eagles, she received the Athena Award her senior year while racking up 40 goals and 42 assists for 82 points. She had 13 multi-point games including six goals and three assists vs Owatona in 11/04. In 04/05 she was named to the Pioneer Press (second team) all-state and to the MN Hockey Coaches Association all-state team. She was also named to the all-conference team. In 2003-04 she had 36-33-69 and had 17 multi-point games and was honorable mention associated press and Pioneer Press all-state team. She was also named to the MSHL all-tournament team. In 2002-03 she accumulated 67 points on 33 goals and 34 assists and again was named to the MSHL all-tournament team. As a freshman she was named Eden Prairie Rookie of the Year. She was a teammate of current SCSU hockey player Brittni Kuyper. She was also a participant in the USA National Development program in Lake Placid. This top-ranked Minnesota high school player will be counted on to have an impact in 2005-06. A good shooter and scorer, she should see regular ice time for the Huskies.

Schroeder is the all-time leading scorer and six -time letterwinner for the Wright County Blades with 199 points. In her six varsity seasons with the Blades, the team has won the North Suburban Conference title five times. As a senior, she was the second leading scorer on the team with 15-21-36 despite playing defense. She was named to the all-metro first team in 2004-05. She is a six time all-conference player, two-time all-state selection to the Star Tribune, MN Hockey Coaches Association and Pioneer Press teams and led her team to a fourth place finish in the 2005 MSHL state tourney. She's also been a participant in the USA Hockey Lake Placid development program. A multi-sport athlete and top student, she earned six letters in soccer, four in track and once in lacrosse. Good size, the ability to move the puck out of the zone effectively and good on-ice vision is the key to her game. She will become a key defensive player for the Huskies and will be relied upon to contribute in 2005-06. She will continue her college hockey along with Michelle Moen a teammate at Wright County.

Moen finished her 2004-05 prep season with the Wright County Blades as the team scoring leader and as one of the state's top scorers with 31 goals and 18 assists for 49 points. The team captain, led the Blades in scoring, was all-conference, team MVP, All-State honorable mention and was named "Miss Offense" of her team. In 2002-03 and 2003-04 she was named all-conference honorable mention and "Miss Offense" for the Blades. Her team also finished fourth in the MSHL state tourney in 2004. As a testiment to her athleticism, she was named All-State honorable mention as a goaltender in soccer. She received four letters in soccer and one in track. She joins former Blades teammate Brita Schroeder on the Huskies in 2005-06. An excellent student, she will compete for playing time at forward for the Huskies.