KALAMAZOO, Mich. – The Western Michigan hockey program and head coach Pat Ferschweiler have announced the signing of 16 players for the 2024-25 season. The Broncos added 10 freshmen and six transfers.
The Brown and Gold will open the season on Oct. 5 against the USNTDP at Lawson Arena. The regular season will begin on Oct. 11 at home against Ferris State.
MEET THE FRESHMAN#2 | Grady Gallatin | Defenseman | White Bear Lake, Minn. | Janesville Jets, NAHL
Gallatin spent the 2023-24 season with the Janesville Jets in the NAHL, where he was able to produce 20 points on three goals and 17 assists in 51 games. He added a +22 plus/minus, which was a top-20 mark in the league. Prior to his time in the NAHL, he played four seasons at White Bear Lake High School, totaling 48 points on 11 goals and 37 assists.
#8 | Zach Nehring | Forward | Minot, N.D. | Sioux Falls Stampede, USHL
Nehring is a third-round pick of the Winnipeg Jets from the 2023 NHL Entry Draft and is one of the highest rated players entering the NCHC this season. He spent last season with the Sioux Falls Stampede of the USHL, where he was able to post 14 points on nine goals and five assists. He had two hat tricks during the regular season and collected two points in three playoff games.
#9 | Zach Bade | Forward | Inver Grove Heights, Minn. | Tri-City Storm, USHL
Bade spent two seasons in the USHL, splitting time between the Tri-City Storm and Waterloo Black Hawks. In 2023-24 with the Storm, he was able to total nine points on seven goals and two assists in 39 games. With the Black Hawks in 2022-23, Bade had a balanced 18 points on nine goals and nine assists.
#10 | Zack Sharp | Defenseman | Naperville, Ill. | Cedar Rapids RoughRiders, USHL
Sharp played the last two seasons in the USHL between the Cedar Rapids RoughRiders and the Sioux Falls Stampede. In total, he played in 117 games, collecting 37 points on 13 goals and 24 assists. Additionally, he skated on the 2022 U.S. Under 18 Men's Select Team at the Hlinka Gretzky Cup. He had two points in four games with Team USA.
#12 | Connor Brown | Forward | Estero, Fla. | Waterloo Black Hawks, USHL
Brown has been a productive player for the Waterloo Black Hawks over the last three seasons. In 168 games, he was able to tally 63 points on 21 goals and 42 assists. In 2022, he was named to the U.S. Under 18 Men's Select Team, which played in the Hlinka Gretzky Cup. He played in four games for Team USA during the international competition.
#17 | Ty Henricks | Forward | Mission Viejo, Calif. | Muskegon Lumberjacks, USHL
Henricks is a sixth-round pick of the New York Rangers from the 2023 NHL Entry Draft. He's played the last two seasons in the USHL with the Muskegon Lumberjacks and Fargo Force. In 2023-24 with Muskegon, he had an exceptional 32 points on 17 goals and 15 assists. In 2022-23, he was able to collect 19 points on nine goals and 10 assists.
#21 | Ryan Kusler | Forward | Battle Creek, Mich. | Omaha Lancers, USHL
Kusler played the last two seasons with the Omaha Lancers of the USHL, seeing action in 116 games. In that time, he was able to produce 41 points on 11 goals and 30 assists. He was an alternate captain for the team in 2023-24. Prior to his time in the USHL, Kusler was an alternate captain for the Odessa Jackalopes of the NAHL in 2021-22. In that season, he posted 20 points on six goals and 14 assists.
#22 | Iiro Hakkarainen | Forward | Espoo, Finland | Fargo Force, USHL
Hakkarainen made the move to North America this past season, playing the 2023-24 campaign with the USHL's Fargo Force. He helped the team win the Clark Cup producing 38 points on 16 goals and 22 assists in 60 regular-season games. He had two points in the playoffs as well. He also played for Finland's U20 Team in 2022-23 and 2023-24, tallying seven points between the two seasons.
#27 | Joona Väisänen| Defenseman | Kirkkonummi, Finland | Dubuque Fighting Saints, USHL
A sixth-round pick of the Pittsburgh Penguins in the 2024 NHL Entry Draft, Väisänen played his first season in North Americawith the Dubuque Fighting Saints in 2023-24. He silenced any critics, going on to become a First Team All-USHL selection. He finished the year with 40 points on nine goals and 31 assists to go along with a +31 plus/minus. His 40 points were fourth highest among defensem*n and his plus/minus was the fifth highest mark in the league.
#30 | Hampton Slukynsky | Goalie | Warroad, Minn. | Fargo Force, USHL
Slukynsky is a fourth-round pick of the Los Angeles Kings from the 2023 NHL Entry Draft and one of the top-rated goaltenders entering college hockey this season. He racked up the awards in his lone season in the USHL this past season, winning the league's Goaltender of the Year Award while also being named First Team All-USHL. He was also awarded USA Hockey's David Peterson Goaltender of the Year Award. He finished the 2023-24 USHL season with a 28-3-0 record, 1.86 goals against average and .923 save percentage. He also helped Fargo win the Clark Cup by posting a 9-3-0 record, 1.96 GAA and .931 save percentage in the playoffs. He led the league in wins, GAA, save percentage and shutouts.
#4 | Robby Drazner | Defenseman | Buffalo Grove, Ill. | Miami, NCHC
Drazner comes to Western Michigan after spending the last four seasons at Miami. With the Red Hawks, he saw action in 115 games, totaling 14 points on six goals and eight assists. He also blocked 102 shots over four seasons. Along with that, he was a two-time winner of the team's Unsung Hero Award and is a four-time NCHC Academic All-Conference selection.
#6 | Jack Mesic | Defenseman | Plymouth, Mich. | Ferris State, CCHA
Mesic enters the program after spending the 2023-24 season with the Ferris State Bulldogs. He played in 36 games, totaling 10 points on two goals and eight assists. He was second on the team in points, among defensem*n. Prior to playing in college, Mesic captained the North Iowa Bulls in 2022-23. He had 36 points on seven goals and 29 assists that season.
#13 | Grant Slukynsky | Forward | Warroad, Minn. | Northern Michigan, CCHA
Slukynsky was one of the top freshmen on Northern Michigan's team last season, appearing in 34 games for the Wildcats. In those games, he was able to produce nine points on six goals and three assists. Along with his strong point total, he led NMU freshmen in faceoff wins during the season. He also scored four goals in five games from 2/2/24 to 3/1/24.
#14 | Brian Kramer | Defenseman | Wexford, Pa. | AIC, AHA
Kramer began his career at Robert Morris before playing the last three years at AIC. He was very productive in the AHA, earning the league's Defenseman of the Year award in 2023-24. He was also a First Team All-Conference selection. In 2022-23, he was a Second Team All-Conference performer and earned All-Rookie Team recognition in 2020-21. Over his four-year career, he has totaled 68 points on 19 goals and 49 assists. He is a four-time Academic All-Conference honoree.
#23 | Liam Valente | Forward | Märstä, Sweden | Providence, Hockey East
Valente enters the mix after playing the last two seasons at Providence College. In his time with the Friars, he had a productive career, tallying 20 points on seven goals and 13 assists in 59 total games. He had two multi-point games with Providence. Prior to his college playing days, he played the 2021-22 season with Linkoping HC U20. In 44 games, he produced 45 points on 19 goals and 26 assists.
#29 | Tristan Lemyre | Forward | Mirabel, Quebec | Denver, NCHC
Lemyre spent the last two seasons with Denver, winning the 2024 NCAA National Championship with the Pioneers. In his time with the program, he played in 41 games, collecting 13 points on six goals and seven assists. He is a two-time NCHC Academic All-Conference selection and was the recipient of DU's 2022-23 Most Improved Player Award.
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