MANKATO, Minn. – Minnesota State men's hockey head coach Luke Strand announced the addition of 24 student-athlete recruits this week.
 
"Our incoming players bring a balance of size, speed, and skill," Strand said. "Whether it be player type or experience, they will fit into our puzzle. We are excited to get these great young men onto campus soon."
 
Minnesota State men's hockey enters next season as defending CCHA regular season and postseason champions. Coach Strand is in his third year at the helm. The Mavericks finished 27-9-3 overall in 2024-25 and open the fall schedule Oct. 10-11 at Omaha. Current season players arrive in Mankato for the start of summer training this week.
 
*-indicates member of 2025-26 roster
 
*Max Beckford | 6-2 | Goaltender | London, Ontario | Bentley Falcons | 2003 Birth Year
Played for Bentley University (AHA) in his first collegiate season and made four appearances, including three starts…With 195:47 time on ice, posted a 1.84 goals against average and .902 save percentage with a 2-1 record and 55 total saves… Played two seasons with the Wisconsin Windigo (NAHL), was named a finalist for 2024 NAHL Goalie of the Year… Voted to the 2024 All-Midwest Division Team with an 18-4-2 record, .940 save percentage and 1.83 goals against average.
 
*Rylan Bonkowski | 5-10 | Defenseman | Richmond, British Columbia | Tri-City Storm | 2006 Birth Year
Skated in 54 regular season games for Tri-City (USHL) with seven goals, 19 assists and 26 points…Played three seasons for the Surrey Eagles and helped the Eagles win the 2024 BCHL Fred Page Cup… In 54 games, scored four goals with 18 assists and 22 points… In the playoffs, played 23 games and scored one goal with 11 assists… Brother Jacob is a forward for the Mavericks who completed his freshman season in 2024-25… Studying Business Management at Minnesota State.
 
Bjorn Bronas | 6-2 | Goaltender | Chicago, Illinois | Sioux City Musketeers | 2007 Birth Year
Appeared in 25 games in 2024-25 for the Musketeers (USHL) with a 3.12 goals against average and .894 save percentage… Recorded one shutout and held a 9-7-7 record in his first season in Sioux City… Played three games for Sioux City in 2023-24 with a 2-1 record and 1.55 goals against average… Studying Business at Minnesota State.
 
Cash Carter | 5-11 | Forward | Drayton Valley, Alberta | Trail Smoke Eaters | 2006 Birth Year
Played 42 games for Trail (BCHL) in 2024-25 and posted seven goals, 14 assists and 21 points with 18 penalty minutes… Also appeared in six playoff games… Skated in one game for Trail and two games for Spruce Grove (AJHL) in 2023-24… Studying Fisheries Management at Minnesota State.
 
Jack Christ | 5-9 | Forward | Chaska, Minnesota | Muskegon Lumberjacks | 2005 Birth Year
Skated in 49 regular season games for Muskegon (USHL) with nine goals, eight assists and 17 points… Posted nine points, including five goals in 2024-25 USHL playoffs and posted hat trick in USHL Championship game to help Muskegon win the title… Played 23 games for the St. Cloud Norsemen (NAHL) in 2023-24 with 14 points, including four goals… Played high school hockey at Chanhassen High School… Undecided major at Minnesota State.
 
*Jacob Conrad | 5-11 | Defenseman | Green Bay, Wisconsin | Lake Superior State Lakers | 2002 Birth Year
In first collegiate season, played 28 games for Lake Superior State with six goals, four assists and 40 shots on goal… Previously captained Notre Dame Tritons under head coach Cory McCracken… Notched 30 points, with 21 assists on the power play and helped his team to a 21-2 overall record… Competed for Fairbanks Ice Dogs (NAHL), improving his production in each of three junior hockey seasons… Posted career best 38 points with four goals and 34 assists in final season as an Ice Dog… Studying Business Management at Minnesota State.
 
*Felikss Gavars | 5-11|Forward | Riga, Latvia | St. Lawrence Saints | 2002 Birth Year
Totaled 109 games played over three seasons with St. Lawrence (ECAC) with 22 goals, 30 assists and 52 points… Scored six goals with nine assists as a junior with 25 penalty minutes and 82 shots on goal… Posted 13 goals and 12 assists for 25 points as a sophomore with 109 shots on goal and one game-winning goal… Spent one season with Fargo Force (USHL) and played 52 games with 12 goals, 11 assists and 23 points… Played in IIHF World Junior Championships for home country of Latvia.
 
Graham Greeder | 6-0 | Defenseman | Columbus, Minnesota | Hill Murray High School Pioneers | 2006 Birth Year
Appeared in 26 games for Hill Murray with 14 goals, 29 assists and 43 points with six penalty minutes in 2024-25… MHCA Reed Larson Award Finalist, recognizing the top high school defenseman in Minnesota high school hockey… Skated in 25 games with six goals, 15 assists and 21 points in 2023-24… Played 30 games with four goals, 12 assists and 16 points in first season at Hill Murray… Played in Upper Midwest High School Elite League and tallied 17 goals, 14 assists and 31 points in 36 games.
 
*Easton Hewson | 6-4 | Defenseman | Edmonton, Alberta | Waterloo Black Hawks | 2005 Birth Year
Played 19 regular season games for Waterloo (USHL) in 2024-25 with one goal, two assists and 12 penalty minutes… Appeared in 15 playoff games with two goals, three assists and five points… Began 2024-25 season with Sioux City Musketeers (USHL) and played 29 games with three goals, four assists and seven points… Won AJHL Championship in 2023-24 with Calgary Canucks after posting 29 points in 54 regular season games… Scored two goals with nine assists over 15 playoff games… Spent 2022-23 season with Calgary Canucks and totaled five assists in 41 regular season contests… Father Russ played hockey at University of Alberta…Studying Business at Minnesota State.
 
*Liam Hupka | 6-3 | Defenseman | Minneapolis, Minnesota | Sioux City Musketeers | 2005 Birth Year
Spent past three seasons with Sioux City (USHL)… Played 55 regular season games in 2024-25 with four goals, 15 assists and 59 penalty minutes… Totaled 59 games in 2023-24 with 14 assists and 73 penalty minutes… Skated in 14 regular season games in 2022-23 with two assists for the Musketeers… Studying Business Management at Minnesota State.
 
Sam Kappell | 6-1 | Center | Appleton, Wisconsin | Madison Capitols | 2007 Birth Year
Selected first overall in 2023 USHL Phase I Draft by the Capitols… Recorded 10 points in 34 games in his first USHL season in 2023-24, including a goal in his first game… Posted 32 points (15 goals, 17 assists) for Madison in 61 regular season games in 2024-25… Added three playoff goals in six games… Joins former Madison head coach Luke Strand at Minnesota State.
 
*Mason LeBel | 6-3 | Forward | South Bend, Indiana | St. Cloud Norsemen | 2004 Birth Year
Spent time with St. Cloud Norsemen (NAHL) and Minnesota Mallards (NAHL) in 2024-25 season… Totaled 42 games, 26 goals and 21 assists for 47 points in St. Cloud… Posted 12 points in 18 games with Mallards… Previously played for El Paso Rhinos (NAHL, 2023-24), Anchorage Wolverines (NAHL, 2022-24) and Janesville Jets (NAHL, 2021-22) and totaled 60 games with 30 goals, 29 assists and 59 points… Father Layne played Division I hockey at Michigan Tech… Undecided major at Minnesota State.
 
Caden Lee | 6-0 | Forward | Chaska, Minnesota | Omaha Lancers | 2005 Birth Year
Scored 12 goals and seven assists for Omaha Lancers (USHL) in 2024-25 season… Appeared in three regular season games and two playoff games for Langley Rivermen (BCHL) in 2023-24… Accumulated 26 goals, 24 assists in 30 games for Chanhassen High School in 2023-24… Notched six points for Cedar Rapids RoughRiders (USHL) in 13 games in 2023-24… Scored 25 goals and added 18 assists for 43 points in 2022-23 for Chanhassen… Managed 13 goals and 13 assists in 26 games for Chanhassen in 2021-22… Scored seven goals in 17 games in first season at Chanhassen (2020-21)… Studying Business Administration at Minnesota State.
 
*Tristan Lemyre | 5-10  | Forward | Mirabel, Quebec | Western Michigan Broncos | 2001 Birth Year
Played in all 42 games in 2024-25 at Western Michigan and won 2025 NCAA National Championship… Scored 14 points on six goals and eight assists… Scored two goals in a series sweep at Omaha (Nov. 8-9)… First career hat trick in win over St. Cloud State on Feb. 7… Assist in Penrose Cup clinching victory over North Dakota (Feb. 28)… Played two seasons at Denver and won 2024 NCAA National Championship with 41 games played, six goals and seven assists… Played in USHL for Dubuque Fighting Saints (2020-22), totaling 87 points on 42 goals and 45 assists in 107 games… SJHL Rookie of the Year in 2019-20 with Flin Flon Bombers.
 
*Charlie Lurie |6-0 | Forward | Minnetonka, Minnesota | Omaha Mavericks | 2003 Birth Year
Skated two seasons at Omaha… Played four games with one assist in first collegiate season (2023-24)… Appeared in 20 games in 2024-25 and scored four goals with six assists and 20 points for the Mavericks… Tied for third-most power play goals on the team with three… Recorded pair of three point games and was NCHC Forward of the Week for Dec. 9-15… Recorded 68 points (30 goals, 38 assists) in 122 games between Fargo, Youngstown, Omaha and Cedar Rapids of the USHL… Spent one season with Shattuck St. Mary's 18U Prep where he totaled 46 points in 36 games… Father, Adam played hockey at Wisconsin… Coached under Maverick alum Des Christopher… Studying Business at Minnesota State.
 
*Reid Morich | 6-2 | Forward | Scottsdale, Arizona | Waterloo Black Hawks | 2005 Birth Year
Played two seasons with Waterloo (USHL) and was team captain… Scored 16 goals with 17 assists for 33 points over 58 games in 2024-25 regular season… Posted seven goals and eight assists in 15 playoff games with a plus-11 rating… In first USHL season, played 54 games with eight goals, 11 assists and 19 points with 100 penalty minutes… Studying Business at Minnesota State.
 
*Jordan Ronn | 5-10 | Forward | Champlin Park, Minnesota | Fargo Force | 2005 Birth Year
Appeared in 57 regular season games and two playoff games for Fargo Force (USHL) in 2024-25 with 15 goals, eight assists and 23 points… Totaled seven games played, one goal and four assists for Sioux City Musketeers (USHL) in 2023-24… Added 10 points in eight games for Aberdeen Wings in 2022-23… Captain at Champlin Park High School with 67 points (23 goals, 44 assists) in 27 games in final season… Played 27 games at Champlin Park in 2021-22 with 18 goals, 25 assists and 43 points… Studying Finance at Minnesota State.
 
*Sawyer Scholl | 6-2 | Forward | Medford, Wisconsin | Wisconsin Badgers | 2002 Birth Year
Left-handed shot appeared in 34 games for Wisconsin as a sophomore with three goals and six assists for nine points… Recorded three-point game Nov. 15 at Penn State… Set up game-winning goal in 4-0 win against No. 1 Michigan State on Dec. 6… Appeared in 33 games as a freshman and tallied six goals and two assists for eight points… Finished 2022-23 with NAHL's Minnesota Wilderness, scoring 12 goals and 21 points in 21 games during the regular season… Added two goals and nine points in nine playoff games… Played first 35 games in 2022-23 with Sioux City Musketeers (USHL), tallying six goals and seven points in 35 games… Skated for Green Bay Gamblers (USHL) in 2021-22 and added seven goals and 22 points in 58 games…Also played for Team Wisconsin and Notre Dame Academy, under head coach Cory McCracken… 2019-20 Wisconsin High School Coaches Association All-State First Team… Studying Finance at Minnesota State.
 
*Jack Smith | 6-0 | Forward | St. Cloud, Minnesota | Minnesota Duluth Bulldogs | 2002 Birth Year
Selected by Montreal Canadiens (Round 4, Pick 102) in 2020 NHL Entry Draft… Totaled 92 games played over three seasons at Minnesota Duluth with seven goals, 19 assists and 26 points… Scored four goals with five assists in 33 games for the Bulldogs in 2024-25, including two game-winning goals… Played 34 games as a sophomore with 12 points (three goals)… Skated in 25 games as a freshman and recorded five assists… Spent two seasons with Sioux Falls Stampede (USHL) and three seasons for St. Cloud Cathedral, where he was an alternate captain and scored 53 points in 25 games in 2018-19… Studying Open Studies at Minnesota State.
 
*Ean Somoza | 6-3 | Forward | Simi Valley, California | Western Michigan Broncos | 2003 Birth Year
Spent previous two seasons at Western Michigan, where he won the 2025 NCAA Championship… Saw action in two games, including against UMass in the NCAA Tournament… Saw action in 10 games as a freshman before suffering a season-ending injury… Totaled 11 shots and two blocked shots… Played for Wenatchee Wild of the BCHL and Sioux Falls Stampede of the USHL between 2020-23… Totaled 127 points on 37 goals and 90 assists in 103 games for the Wild… Played in 17 playoff games, collecting 21 points on three goals and 18 assists… Appeared in 50 games for the Stampede and scored 13 points on two goals and 11 assists… Older brother Ethan played five years for Bemidji State and currently plays in the ECHL… Studying Business Marketing at Minnesota State.
 
*Bryce Strand | 5-9 | Defenseman | Green Bay, Wisconsin | Philadelphia Rebels | 2004 Birth Year
Played 54 games for Philadelphia Rebels (NAHL) in 2024-25 with one goal, 19 assists and 20 points… Totaled 37 penalty minutes and held a plus-3 rating… Skated in 60 games for Rebels in 2023-24 with three goals, six assists and nine points, including a plus-10 rating… Appeared in 36 games in 2022-23 for Rebels with one goal, three assists and four points… Played for Bay Port High from 2019-22… Son of head coach Luke Strand… Majoring in Sport Management at Minnesota State.
 
Gus Thorp | 6-2 | Defenseman | Chippewa Falls, Wisconsin | Des Moines Buccaneers | 2007 Birth Year
Notched three assists in 56 games for Des Moines Buccaneers (USHL) in 2024-25 …Tallied 32 points (10 goals, 22 assists) in 24 games as a sophomore at Chippewa Falls High…  Totaled 28 points with eight goals in 24 games for Chippewa Falls in 2022-23… Father Bob coaches at University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire, a member of NCAA Division III for the past 18 years… Studying Business at Minnesota State.
 
*Liam Watkins | 6-1 | Forward | Okotoks, Alberta | Omaha Mavericks | 2004 Birth Year
Appeared in 15 games at Omaha in 2024-25 and posted two goals and two assists for the Mavericks… Scored 43 points (23 goals, 20 assists) with Des Moines Buccaneers (USHL) in 2023-24 with eight penalty minutes… Mounted 67 points in 54 games with Spruce Grove Saints (AJHL), including 26 goals in 2022-23… Scored 39 points (16 goals) for Saints in 2021-22… Posted 10 points in first season with Saints (2020-21)… Majoring in Sport Management at Minnesota State.
 
*Alex Zetterberg | 5-8 | Forward | Sundsvall, Sweden | Boston University Terriers | 2006 Birth Year
Played in 24 contests in first season at Boston University… Tallied eight points on three goals and five assists… Scored a goal in each of the Terriers' first two games of the season, including the game-winner against Union on Oct. 12… Played two seasons for Örebro HK in Sweden … Totaled 58 points on 21 goals and 37 assists in 45 games in 2023-24… Notched 34 points (11 goals, 23 assists) during the 2022-23 campaign… Tallied five points (two goals, three assists) in four games for Sweden to help team win bronze at the 2024 IIHF World Under-18 Championships… Undecided major at Minnesota State.