Men's Hockey | 11/7/2017 3:11:00 PM

Mankato, Minn. ---   Men's hockey coach Mike Hastings has announced that five student-athletes have signed NCAA Letters of Intent to attend Minnesota State University.

Committing to Minnesota State during the early signing period are defensemen Wyatt Aamodt (Hermantown, Minn./Lincoln (USHL)) and Andy Carroll (Northfield, Minn./Green Bay (USHL)), goaltender Dryden McKay (Downers Grove, Ill./Madison (USHL)) and forwards Julian Napravnik (Bad Nauheim, Germany/Des Moines (USHL)) and Nathan Smith (Hudson, Fla./Cedar Rapids (USHL)).

Biographies of the five student-athletes are listed below.

"We're extremely pleased to announce this recruiting class," said Hastings, currently in his sixth season as head coach of the Mavericks. "I'm excited about this group and look forward to them contributing as soon as possible in 2018-19. As we have had with previous classes, the expectations are that these student-athletes will do their part to continue moving Maverick Hockey to new heights."

Wyatt Aamodt, D, 5-11, 200, Hermantown, Minn./Chicago (USHL)
2016 Reed Larson Award recipient as the state of Minnesota's top boys high school defenseman, served as team captain on Hermantown team that captured state title as a senior (2016)...2016 Duluth New Tribune Boys Hockey Player of the Year and finalist for state of Minnesota Mr Hockey Award...Will come to Minnesota State after spending the 2017-18 campaign with Lincoln of the United States Hockey League...Manned the blue line for Chicago (USHL) in 2016-17 where he had 1-18--19 in 53 games and helped the Steel capture the Clark Cup as league postseason champions.

Andrew Carroll, D, 5-11, 170, Northfield, Minn./Green Bay (USHL)
In first season with Green Bay of the United States Hockey League...Had 6-34--40 in 55 games for Aberdeen of the North American Hockey League in 2016-17...Awards won in 2016-17 included NAHL Second Team, NAHL All-Rookie Team First Team, NAHL All-Central Division Team, NAHL All-Central Division Rookie Team...Had 14-52--56 in 58 games played with Sioux Falls Stampede U18 team in 2015-16 coached by former Minnesota State captain Rylan Galiardi...2015 Northfield (Minn.) High School grad where he was a four-year letterwinner (13-41--54 in 94 GP)...Father (Todd) served as head coach of the Minnesota State women's hockey program from 1998-2001.

Dryden McKay, G, 5-11, 175, Downers Grove, Ill./Madison (USHL)
In second year with Madison of the USHL...Named USHL Goaltender of the Week Oct. 29 after stopping 49 of 50 shots in a 5-1 win over Waterloo (.980 sv%, 1.99 GAA in the win)...Saw action in 39 games with the Capitols in 2016-17 where he crafted a 18-17-3 mark with a 2.70 goals against average and a .917 saves percentage...Had a 2.47 GAA and .921 sv% iin 34 appearances with Corpus Christi of the NAHL in 2015-16.

Julian Napravnik, F, 5-11, 180, Bad Nauheim, Germany/Des Moines (USHL)
In second season with USHL's Des Moines Buccaneers...Had 19 goals and 19 assists for 38 points in 51 games for the Bucs in 2016-17...Has played for the German national junior team at two IIHF D1A World Junior tournaments where he helped lead his country to a silver medal in 2016-17...Named DNL Player of the Year after scoring 29 goals and assisting on 43 others for 72 points in 38 games with Jungadler Mannheim U19...Also represented Germany internationally at U18 and U17 international tournaments.

Nathan Smith, F, 6-0, 180, Hudson, Fla./Cedar Rapids (USHL)
In first season with Cedar Rapids of the USHL where he currently ranks second on the RoughRiders in scoring with three goals and six assists for nine points in nine games...Product of Tampa (Fla.) Scorpions midget AAA program...Two-time International Silver Stick midget AAA all-star (2015-16 and 2016-17)...Tallied 41-45--86 in 15 games at Mitchell High School (Fla.) in 2016-17.

2018-19 Minnesota State Men's Hockey Recruiting Class

Player	Pos	Ht	Wt	S/C	DOB	Hometown/Current Team (League)
Wyatt Aamodt	D	5-11	200	L	11.22.1997	Hermantown, Minn./Lincoln (USHL)
Andrew Carroll	D	5-10	170	L	02.17.1997	Northfield, Minn./Green Bay (USHL)
Dryden McKay	G	5-11	175	L	11.25.1997	Downers Grove, Ill./Madison (USHL)
Julian Napravnik	F	5-11	180	L	05.06.1997	Bad Nauheim, Germany/Des Moines (USHL)
Nathan Smith	F	6-0	180	L	10.18.1998	Hudson, Fla./Cedar Rapids (USHL)

All signings are contingent upon admission to Minnesota State and compliance with NCAA rules, including certification by the NCAA Clearinghouse.