MANKATO, Minn. – Minnesota State men's hockey head coach Luke Strand has announced six student-athletes have signed a National Letter of Intent to join the Mavericks in 2024-25. They include Evan Sundar, Liam Hupka, Sam Rice, Reid Morich, Jack Kernan and Tate Pritchard.
 
"Our NLI signing group of players bring high character and compete along with a balance of situational awareness, size and playmaking," Strand said. "We feel the combination of these attributes will allow these players to immediately impact our program and we are excited to see the continued progress of their development before wearing our Maverick jersey."
 
All signings and transfers are contingent upon admission to MSU and compliance with NCAA rules, including certification by the NCAA Eligibility Center.
 
Evan Sundar | 5-9, 160 | Left-shot Forward | Spruce Grove, Alberta | Spruce Grove Saints | 2005 Birth Year
 
Sundar is in his third season with the Spruce Grove Saints (Alberta Junior Hockey League) in 2023-24. He currently has five goals, 15 assists and 20 points in 29 games for the Saints. Last season, Sundar scored 10 goals with 13 assists and added five more assists in 11 playoff games. In 2021-22, Sundar appeared in nine games, scoring one goal with three assists. He previously played for the St. Albert Raiders U18 AAA team.
 
He is the son of Clare and Dennis and intends to major in Sport Management at Minnesota State.
 
Coach Strand on Sundar: "Evan has a dynamic stick with offensive instincts that will bring electricity to our program.  His playmaking, skating and creativity will translate into college hockey well."
 
Liam Hupka | 6-3, 185 | Right-shot Defenseman | Minneapolis, Minn. | Minnetonka High School | Sioux City Musketeers | 2005 Birth Year
 
Hupka joins the Mavericks from the USHL Sioux City Musketeers, where he has played since 2022-23. Last season Hupka appeared in 14 games and tallied a pair of assists along with eight penalty minutes. So far this fall, Hupka has five assists for five points and 34 penalty minutes in 18 games.
 
At Minnetonka High School, he posted 4-15—19 in 31 games last season and was named All-Conference. As a sophomore, Hupka scored two goals with 16 assists and 18 points and as a freshman, he scored his first career goal with one assist and two points. Hupka intends to major in Business Administration at Minnesota State.
 
Coach Strand on Hupka: "Liam is full of character and compete as a complete defenseman. He is a pain to play against, with an effective edge all the while making transitional offensive plays."
 
Sam Rice | 5-8, 165 | Right-shot Forward | Prior Lake, Minn. | Prior Lake High School | Chippewa Steel/Madison Capitols | 2003 Birth Year
 
Rice has three goals, five assists and eight points in 19 games so far this season with the Madison Capitols (USHL). Last season he found success with the Chippewa Steel (NAHL), scoring 28 goals with 30 assists for 58 points. At Prior Lake High School, Rice posted 12 goals and 31 assists for 43 points in just 24 games in 2021-22. The previous year, he tallied 15 goals, 16 assists and 31 points. As a freshman, Rice had 11 goals, 16 assists and 27 points for the Lakers. He was named all-conference as a junior and senior and qualified for the State Tournament.
 
Rice is the son of Scott and Carrie (both graduated from Minnesota State) and intends to study Business.
 
Coach Strand on Rice: "Sam is a two-way forward with a competitive edge, awareness and skill set to play up and down the line up. His buzzing way of play will bring our group energy."
 
Reid Morich | 6-1, 195 | Right-shot Forward | Scottsdale, Ariz. | Pittsburgh Penguins Elite 18U | Waterloo Black Hawks | North Catholic High School | 2005 Birth Year
 
In 14 games this season, Morich has recorded one assist and 31 penalty minutes for the Waterloo Black Hawks (USHL). He spent last year playing 55 games for the Pittsburgh Penguins Elite 18U (18U AAA) team and racked up 28 goals, 30 assists and 58 points. In the same organization, he recorded four goals, five assists for nine points at the NEPACK 18U level in 12 games.
 
He was twice invited to attend the USA Hockey National player development camp as well as the USA Hockey National Championship and is an honor roll student at North Catholic High School (Cranberry, Pennsylvania). Morich intends to study Engineering and Athletic Training at Minnesota State.
 
Coach Strand on Morich: "Reid is a competitive, hard-skill forward with an offensive touch. His gritty style and size will give our program a sturdy presence and hard to play against makeup.
 
Jack Kernan | 6-2, 185 | Right-shot Center | Maple Grove, Minn. | Maple Grove High School | Des Moines Buccaneers | 2005 Birth Year
 
Kernan will come to the Mavericks after a 2023-24 campaign with the Des Moines Buccaneers (USHL), where he currently has 10 goals, one assist and 11 points in 19 games this fall. Kernan accumulated 20 goals, 40 assists and 60 points in 2022-23 for Maple Grove High School along with 30 penalty minutes. A year prior, Kernan tallied nine goals and 11 assists for 20 points for the Crimson.
 
His prep accolades include Northwest Suburban All-Conference (senior) and Northwest Suburban All-Conference honorable mention (junior). Kernan helped his team to the Minnesota State Tournament Championship game last year. He is the son of Mike and Kelly and intends to major in Business at Minnesota State.
 
Coach Strand on Kernan: "Jack is a competitive high-end skater with offensive attributes that will translate into college hockey. Jack's character and compete are stand-out performance additives."
 
Tate Pritchard | 6-2, 190 | Right-shot Forward | Savage, Minn. | Lakeville South High School | Austin Bruins | Sioux City Musketeers | 2004 Birth Year
 
Pritchard has 3-6—9 in 18 games so far for Sioux City (USHL) this season. Before skating for the Austin Bruins (NAHL) for six games in 2022-23, Pritchard scored 28 goals with 29 assists for 57 points at Lakeville South High School. A year prior, he notched 18 goals, 14 assists and 32 points for the Cougars. His high school accolades include All-Conference (senior), Team most valuable player (senior), and All-Conference honorable mention (junior). He helped his team to three section championships and was a member of the Class AA State runner-up squad as a sophomore.
 
Pritchard's parents are Jill and Stefan and he intends to major in Finance at Minnesota State.
 
Coach Strand on Pritchard: "Tate brings a great combination of hard skill, skating and compete. His work ethic and skill set will bring offense to our program with a balance of responsibility to our team. We are excited to add Tate's character to our program."
 

Name	Ht/Wt	Position	Hometown/High School	Junior Team/s
Evan Sundar	5-9/160	Forward	Spruce Grove, Alberta/Spruce Grove	St. Albert Raiders
Liam Hupka	6-3/185	Defenseman	Minneapolis, Minn./Minnetonka	Sioux City Musketeers
Sam Rice	5-8/165	Forward	Prior Lake, Minn./Prior Lake	Chippewa Steel/Madison Capitols
Reid Morich	6-1/195	Forward	Scottsdale, Ariz./North Catholic	Waterloo Black Hawks
Jack Kernan	6-2/185	Center	Maple Grove, Minn./Maple Grove	Des Moines Buccaneers
Tate Pritchard	6-2/190	Forward	Savage, Minn./Lakeville South	Sioux City Musketeers/Austin Bruins