Colorado College hockey coach
Mike Haviland announced the incoming class of eight freshmen who will join the Tiger hockey program for the 2019-20 season.
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The Class of 2023 consists of Patrick Cozzi, Connor Mayer, Sam Renlund, Chad Sasaki, Josiah Slavin, Brady Smith, Casey Staum and Matt Vernon.
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"We are very happy with this class," Haviland said. "(Assistant coaches)
R.J. Enga and
Leon Hayward did a great job of finding student-athletes who will successfully represent Colorado College on the ice, in the classroom and throughout the CC community."
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Colorado College Hockey – Class of 2023
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Patrick Cozzi
Forward
5-9, 175
Greenlawn, NY
Prince George Spruce Kings (BCHL)
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Before Colorado College: Collected 94 points (28g,66a) in 116 regular-season games the last two seasons with the Prince George Spruce Kings of the British Columbia Hockey League … Averaged one point per game in 2018-19, finishing third on the team with 58 points (14g,44a) ... Also was third on the team with six game-winning goals in helping the team to a 39-13-1 record in '18-19 … Led the Spruce Kings to their first-ever Fred Page Cup with 19 points (2g,17a) in 17 playoff games … Scored an empty-netter to secure the title-clinching victory … Paced team with six points (4g,2a) as Prince George also won the Doyle Cup in six games … Notched 13 goals and added five assists in 24 playoff games in 2017-18 as the Spruce Kings advanced to the finals of the Fred Page Cup … Finished the '17-18 campaign with 36 points (14g,22a) … Played three seasons with the North Jersey Avalanche.
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Coach Haviland on Cozzi: Patrick is a crafty player who has a great hockey IQ and plays hard with and without the puck. He will bring skill and depth to our forward lines.
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Connor Mayer
Defenseman
5-11, 175
Champlin, MN
Central Illinois Flying Aces (USHL)
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Before Colorado College: Split the 2018-19 season between the Fargo Force and the Central Illinois Flying Aces of the United States Hockey League … Recorded nine points (4g,5a) in 28 games for the Flying Aces after posting three goals and 11 assists in 32 games for Fargo as the Force's assistant captain … Played for Madison and Fargo in 2017-18 and Sioux City in '16-17 … Helped Sioux City to the 2017 Anderson Cup championship and Fargo to the 2018 Clark Cup title … Served as assistant captain and helped Team USA win the gold medal at the 2015 Five Nations Tournament in Switzerland … Played in the USA Select Festival from 2014-17 and the Minnesota CCM High Performance Program in '16-17.
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Coach Haviland on Mayer: Connor is an elite skater on the back end. His willingness to jump into the play gives us another "D" with offensive abilities. He will add smarts and competitiveness to our defensive lineup.
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Sam Renlund
Forward
5-11, 190
Verona, WI
Des Moines Buccaneers (USHL)
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Before Colorado College: Scored 29 points (11g,18a) in 48 games for the Des Moines Buccaneers of the United States Hockey League … Added four points (1g,3a) in five playoff games as Des Moines advanced to the Western Conference semifinals … Played the first six games of the 2017-18 campaign with the Muskegon Lumberjacks before moving to the USHL's Janesville Jets … Named to the North American Hockey League's All-Rookie First Team after posting 38 points (12g,26a) in 44 games for the Jets … Also notched 13 points (5g,8a) in eight playoffs games that season … Collected 79 points (27g,52a) in 46 games over two seasons with the Omaha Lancers U16 team … Played in the USA Select Festival from 2015-18 … Led the 2018 USA Select Festival in scoring with two goals and seven assists in five games.
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Coach Haviland on Renlund: Sam is a hard-nosed player who loves going into the hard areas. He is a smart and skilled player with very soft hands. He will play many different roles at CC.
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Chad Sasaki
Defenseman
5-7, 160
Cypress, CA
Wenatchee Wild (BCHL)
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Before Colorado College: All-time leading scorer among defensemen in Wenatchee Wild history … Finished third on the team and sixth among defensemen in the British Columbia Hockey League with 42 points (14g,28a) in 58 regular-season games in 2018-19 … Recorded eight points (1g,7a) in 18 playoff games … Scored the overtime game-winner to clinch the series vs. Cowichan Valley and advance to the third round of the Fred Page Cup … Notched 36 points (9g,27a) in the 2017-18 regular season and led the Wild to the 2018 Fred Page and Doyle Cup (Pacific Region) championships with 10 points in 20 playoff games … Helped the Wild to the 2016-17 BCHL regular-season title with 10 points in 46 games … Played in the USA Select Festival from 2014-16 … Teammate of current Tiger
Jack Gates with the Anaheim Jr. Ducks.
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Coach Haviland on Sasaki: Chad is a very smart and dependable player. His competitiveness will make our defensive corps stronger day in and day out.
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Josiah Slavin
Forward
6-3, 185
Erie, CO
Chicago Steel (USHL)
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Before Colorado College: Seventh-round draft pick of the Chicago Blackhawks (No. 193 overall) in the 2018 NHL Draft … Split time between the Lincoln Stars and Chicago Steel this past season … Recorded 20 points (14g,6a) in 27 games with the Steel after collecting 27 points (10g,17a) in 32 games while serving as team captain with Lincoln … Notched eight points (4g,4a) in 11 playoffs in leading the Steel to the Clark Cup finals … Finished second on the Stars with 42 points (23g,19a) in 60 games and third in the USHL with a +27 during the 2017-18 regular season … Played for the Tri-City Storm and the Colorado Thunderbirds.
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Coach Haviland on Slavin: Josiah is a big, strong forward with soft hands and great hockey sense. He goes to the hard areas and will bring a tremendous work ethic to every practice and game.Â
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Brady Smith
Defenseman
5-8, 175
Bloomington, IL
Madison Capitols (USHL)
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Before Colorado College: Split time between the Sioux City Musketeers and the Madison Capitols of the United States Hockey League in 2018-19 … Notched 11 points (2g,9a) in 39 games for Sioux City and two assists for Madison in 17 contests ... Played the entire '17-18 campaign with the Central Illinois Flying Aces, posting seven points (3g,4a) in 49 outings … Member of Team USA that won the gold medal at the 2016 Five Nations Tournament in the Czech Republic … Helped the Chicago Mission win the International Silver Stick Tournament and advance to the finals of the Toyota-USA Hockey National Championship in 2015 … Played in the USA Select Festival from 2015-17.
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Coach Haviland on Smith: Brady is a tough defenseman who can skate and has a tremendous work ethic. He will add another level to our defense when it comes to skating.
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Casey Staum
Defenseman
6-0, 180
St. Paul, MN
Chicago Steel (USHL)
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Before Colorado College: Fifth-round draft pick of the Montreal Canadiens (No. 124 overall) in the 2016 NHL Draft … Collected nine points (2g,7a) in 32 games with the Chicago Steel this past season … Played in 73 games the previous two seasons with the Dubuque Fighting Saints, collecting 19 assists … Played in the USA Select Festival, the Minnesota CCM High Performance Program, and the Upper Midwest HS Elite League from 2014-16 … Lettered four years and notched 23 points in 61 games for Hill-Murray School.
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Coach Haviland on Staum: Casey skates very well and has a strong hockey IQ. He is a defenseman who can make plays and will join the rush anytime. His skating ability will allow him to defend anyone in the NCHC.Â
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Matt Vernon
Goalie
5-11, 170
San Jose, CA
Aberdeen Wings (NAHL)
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Before Colorado College: Named the North American Hockey League's Goaltender of the Year after leading the league with 40 victories during the 2018-19 regular season … Posted a 40-9-2 record with a 1.94 goals-against average (third in the NAHL) and .934 saves percentage (second in the NAHL) … First NAHL goalie to collect at least 40 wins in a regular season since 2006-07 … Led the league with seven shutouts … Continued his excellent play in the NAHL playoffs, leading the Wings to their first-ever Robertson Cup … Named MVP of the Robertson Cup after posting a 1.96 GAA and .926 saves percentage in 12 playoff games … Stopped 57 of 58 shots in the last two games … Went 17-5-1 with a 2.01 GAA and .912 saves pct., with Aberdeen in 2017-18.
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Coach Haviland on Vernon: Matt is a tremendously athletic goalie who competes every second on the ice. He had one of the best seasons ever in the NAHL and is coming off a national championship, giving us another player with extensive postseason experience.
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