Mankato, Minn. ---   Head coach Mike Hastings has announced that seven student-athletes have signed NCAA Letters of Intent to attend Minnesota State University and play hockey for the Mavericks.

Committing to Minnesota State during the early signing period are defensemen Jakob Stender (Alexandria, Minn./Fargo (USHL)) and Mason Wheeler (Inver Grove Heights, Minn./Tri-City (USHL)), along with forwards Adam Eisele (Lake Elmo, Minn./Penticton (BCHL)), Christian Fitzgerald (Coquitlam, B.C./Tri-City (USHL)), Graham Gamache (Edmonton, Alta./Tri-City (USHL)), Simon Tassy (Montreal, P.Q./Salmon Arm (BCHL)) and Luc Wilson (Duncan, B.C./Penticton (BCHL).

"We welcome this group of young men to our Maverick family," said Hastings, who is in his tenth season as head coach of the Mavericks. "Our entire staff is excited about what their contributions can be to the future of our program, as well as our university."

Biographies of the seven student-athletes are listed below.

Adam Eisele (F, Lake Elmo, Minn./Penticton (BCHL))
Currently with Pentiction (BCHL) after spending last season with Youngstown of the United States Hockey League...Spent the 2019-20 season with Fairbanks of the North American Hockey League where he served as an alternate captain and had 18 goals and 25 assists for 43 points in 51 games...Stillwater (Minn.) High School product...Had 21-19--20 in 25 GP as an alternate captain with the Ponies in 2018-19.
 
Christian Fitzgerald (F, Coquitlam, B.C./Tri-City (USHL))
Currently playing for Tri-City of the USHL...Had 13-20--33 in 19 games with Surrey to lead British Columbia Hockey League in scoring in 2020-21...2020-21 BCHL Coquitlam Pod MVP... 20 assists tied him for the most in the BCHL, while his 13 goals put him in a tie for sixth most in the league...Delta (B.C.) Hockey Academy product.

Graham Gamache (F, Edmonton, Alta./Tri-City (USHL))
Currently playing for Tri-City of the USHL where he has 3-2--5 in nine games played...Including 9-10--19 in 21 games in 2020-21, he had 29-43--72 in 84 games played in three seasons with Spruce Grove of the Alberta Junior Hockey League...Served as captain and was named Top Forward and MVP for the Saints in 2020-21...Had 17-33--50 in 53 games with Spruce Grove in 2019-20 and was named to AJHL (North) All-Rookie Team.

Jakob Stender (D, Alexandria, Minn./Fargo (USHL))
Currently has 1-3--4 in nine games as a member of Fargo of the USHL...Had 4-18--22 in 53 games with Aberdeen of the North American Hockey League in 2020-21...Product of Northstar Christian Academy 18U AAA program where he had 14-30--44 in 51 GP in 2019-20...Selected for NAPHL 18U All-Star Game in 2019-20.

Simon Tassy (F, Montreal, P.Q./Salmon Arm (BCHL))
Currently in third season with Salmon Arm of the BCHL where he's serving as an alternate captain in 2021-22 and has 11-6--17 in 10 games...Has 39-22--61 in 81 career games with the Silverbacks...Led entire BCHL in goals with 18 in 20 games in 2020-21 and his 27 points ranked seventh league-wide... 2020-21 BCHL Vernon Pod MVP.

Mason Wheeler (D, Inver Grove Heights, Minn./Tri-City (USHL))
In second season with Tri-City of USHL where he has seen action in four games this year...Registered 1-6--7 in 39 games with the Storm in 2020-21...Rosemount (Minn.) High School product served as team captain and had 1-11-12 in 25 games in 2019-20.

Luc Wilson (F, Duncan, B.C./Penticton (BCHL))
In second season with Penticton (BCHL) where he has 6-4--10 in eight games played...2020-21 BCHL Penticton Pod leading scorer with 14-15--29 in 20 games played...CJHL Prospects Event Team West in 2020...Had 19-34--53 in 55 GP with Cowichan (BCHL) in 2019-20 and led the Caps in points and finished second in goals...Over the course of his three seasons in Cowichan he had 75 points in 110 GP.


        



 

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

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