MANKATO, Minn. – Minnesota State men's hockey head coach Luke Strand announced the signing of four additional recruits for the upcoming season. They include defenseman Cade Alami (Arizona State), defenseman Ralfs Bergmanis (Vermont), goaltender Matt Syverson (Lindenwood) and forward Jacob Bonkowski (Coquitlam Express).
 
The Maverick roster this season features nine additions including five transfers and four junior hockey players.
 
Cade Alami | 6-7 | Right shot Defenseman | Bedford, N.Y. | Arizona State (NCHC) | 2001 Birth Year
 
Alami transfers to Minnesota State and will be a senior after appearing in 14 games at Arizona State in 2023-24. He collected a pair of assists and blocked 12 shots (career high). A year prior, Alami skated in 29 games at Boston College and finished the season with three assists, nine blocked shots and 20 shots on goal. As a freshman at BC, he played in 10 games with one point, four shots and four blocks.
 
Prior to college, Alami spent the 2020-21 season with the Jersey Hitmen. In 16 games, he scored one goal and marked four assists. In 2019-20, he posted 13 points in 58 games with the BCHL's Surrey Eagles and racked up 67 penalty minutes. Alami also played two seasons at the Berkshire School and Mid Fairfield Rangers. He was a four-sport athlete, including hockey, lacrosse, football and tennis.
 
"Cade brings a physical presence with his size and length," Stand said. "He is in his last year of eligibility before becoming a Pro."
 
Ralfs Bergmanis | 5-11 | Left shot Defenseman | Liepaja, Latvia | Vermont (HEA) | 2002 Birth Year
 
Bermanis joins the Mavericks from Vermont, where he tallied two goals and 10 assists in 32 games for the Catamounts with 60 penalty minutes as a sophomore. In his first season, Bermanis posted six assists and 22 penalty minutes in 36 games. Playing for Latvia at the 2022 World Junior U-20 Championships, Bergmanis appeared in five games and had three goals, two assists and five points.
 
He began his career in the USHL in 2021-22, playing for the Sioux City Musketeers, where he scored four goals, 11 assists and 15 points. Then in the playoffs, Bergmanis scored one goals with three assists in 10 games to help win the league championship.
 
"Ralfs is a hard-nosed, two-way defenseman that moves pucks very well with a physical edge to his play," Strand said. "His experiences of winning a Clark Cup and playing for his country in World Junior will provide an excellent foundation for our team."
 
Matt Syverson | 6-4 | Goaltender | Apple Valley, Minnesota | Lindenwood | Lloydminster Bobcats (AJHL) | Academy of Holy Angels | 2003 Birth Year
 
Syverson tended goal in eight games for the Lions in his first collegiate season. He made 99 saves and allowed 17 goals for an .853 save percentage. In 2022-23, Syverson posted a 3.63 goals against average and .887 save percentage for the Lloydminster Bobcats (AJHL). In Minnesota high school hockey, he played 19 games for Academy of Holy Angels in 2020-21 and held a 2.99 goals against average and .901 save percentage for a 12-7-0 record.
 
"Matt is goaltender with size and experience," Strand said. "He brings an athletic style of goaltending with a very high ceiling. He has proven to be able to climb the ladder over time."
 
Jacob Bonkowski | 6-1 | Left shot Forward | Richmond, British Columbia | Coquitlam Express (BCHL) | Salmon Arm Silverbacks (BCHL) | Surrey Eagles (BCHL) | Powell River Kings (BCHL) | 2003 Birth Year
 
Joining his brother Rylan as a Maverick recruit, Jacob Bonkowski played 14 regular season games for the Coquitlam Express this season and notched three goals and three assists for six points. In the playoffs, he recorded another three points, including one goal in seven outings at forward. Bonkowski started the year with the Salmon Arm Silverbacks (BCHL) and had eight goals, seven assists and 15 points in 28 games.
 
He also spent two seasons with the Surrey Eagles (BCHL), where he totaled 85 points in 107 games, including 38 goals. He tallied three goals and four assists in 12 playoff games during the 2022-23 season.
 
Bonkowski began his BCHL career with the Powell River Kings in 2019-20. In 2020-21, he racked up three goals and 13 assists for 16 points in 20 games.
 
"Jacob has a very high ceiling," Strand said. "His season was cut short by injuries in 23-24 after being a more than point-a-game player in the BCHL. We look forward to Jacob getting back to his trending abilities as a player."

Minnesota State Men's Hockey Signings since Nov 28, 2023

Name	Ht/Wt	Position	Hometown/High School	College/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
Luke Ashton	6-6/231	Defenseman	North Vancouver, British Columbia	Langley Rivermen/Vernon Vipers
Fin Williams	6-1/185	Forward	North Vancouver, British Columbia	Waterloo Black Hawks/Chicago Steel/Notre Dame/Penticton Vees/Prince George Spruce Kings
Eli Pulver	6-1/165	Goaltender	Vancouver, British Columbia	Salmon Arm Silverbacks/Surrey Eagles/Powell River Kings
Luigi Benincasa	5-7/159	Forward	Edmonton, Alberta	Ferris State/Spruce Grove Saints
Easton Hewson	6-4/210	Defenseman	Edmonton, Alberta	Calgary Canucks/Sioux City Musketeers
Rylan Bonkowski	5-11/160	Defenseman	Richmond, British Columbia	Surrey Eagles/Tri-City Storm
Cade Alami	6-7/210	Defenseman	Bedford, N.Y.	Arizona State/Boston College
Ralfs Bergmanis	5-10/175	Defenseman	Liepaja, Latvia	Vermont/Sioux City
Matt Syverson	6-4/193	Goaltender	Apple Valley, Minn./Holy Angels	Lindenwood/Lloydminster
Jacob Bonkowski	6-1/170	Forward	Richmond, British Columbia	Coquitlam/Salmon Arm/Surrey/Powell