Army West Point Athletics
Hockey Announces Class of 2027
August 16, 2023 | Hockey
WEST POINT, NY - Army West Point hockey and head coach Brian Riley have announced the plebe class of 2027 joining the program ahead of the 2023-24 season.Â
The incoming class sees 11 new faces join the program, featuring seven forwards, four defensemen and a goaltender. Four different junior leagues are represented by the class, with the NAHL leading the way with six direct alumni. The USHL, BCHL and NCDC also feature. Ten different home states are also represented, with a pair of Minnesotans joining fellow-Gopher State products Ricky Lyle and Joey Dosan on the roster.Â
Jon Bell, Defenseman (St. Cloud, Minn. / Wisconsin Windingo (NAHL))
Prior to West Point: Split time across three seasons in the NAHL between the Bismarck Bobcats, Minnesota Magicians and Wisconsin Windingo…Amassed 39 points across his junior career while maintaining a positive plus-minus.
Mac Gadowsky, Defenseman (State College, Pa. / Fairbanks Ice Dogs (NAHL))
Prior to West Point: Featured in two seasons in the NAHL with the Springfield Blues and Fairbanks Ice Dogs...Posted 20 points in 2022-23 featuring 17 helpers.
Jacob Hewitt, Forward (Fitchburg, Mass. / Nanaimo Clippers (BCHL))
Prior to West Point: Spent the past two season with the Nanaimo Clippers in the BCHL…Posted 54 points and 26 goals across 51 contests in 2022-23…Scored ten goals to go along with 17 assists in 2021-22…Played in 22 games with the Danbury Hat Tricks of the NAHL in 2020-21.
Gus Holt, Goaltender (Bowling Green, Ohio / Victoria Grizzlies (BCHL))
Prior to West Point: Spent the past season with the Victoria Grizzlies of the BCHL…Posted a 2.97 GAA and .904 SV% with the Grizzlies…Spent the prior two seasons with the Maine Nordiques of the NAHL…Posted six wins including two shutouts with the Nordiques in 2021-22 while logging a .900 SV%.
Nik Hong, Forward (Minneapolis, Minn. / St. Cloud Norsemen (NAHL))
Prior to West Point: Spent the past three seasons with the St. Cloud Norsemen of the NAHL…Tabbed 22 points in 33 games this past season…Totaled 49 points with 17 goals while skating to a +21 rating in 2021-22…Posted 17 points in first juniors season in 2020-21…also a member of the tennis team at Shattuck St. Mary's.
Dayne Hoyord, Forward / Scandinavia, Wis. / Odessa Jackalopes (NAHL)
Prior to West Point: Spent the past three seasons with the Odessa Jackalopes in the NAHL…Posted 42 points in 57 contests while skating to a +14 rating this past season…Logged 34 points with 21 goals in 2021-22…Totaled 19 points in first season with Jackalopes…Tabbed 41 points in 48 games with the Northern Cyclones of the NCDC in 2019-20.
Brent Keefer, Forward (Colorado Springs, Colo. / Northeast Generals (NAHL))
Prior to West Point: Played three seasons in the NAHL with the Northeast Generals and Shreveport Mudbugs…Totaled 47 points with 19 goals in 2021-22 while skating to a +12 rating…Logged 25 points in 2020-21 splitting time with Generals and Mudbugs…Posted a +16 rating with 16 points in 2019-20 with the Mudbugs…Attended USMAPS in 2022-23.
Pierce Patterson, Defenseman (Austin, Texas / Amarillo Wranglers (NAHL))
Prior to West Point: Named NAHL Defenseman of the Year in 2022-23…Posted 57 points in 57 games for the Amarillo Wranglers…Skated to a +18 rating…Spent the 2021-22 season with the South Shore Kings of the NCDC…Posted 25 points in 35 games with South Shore.
Vincent Salice, Forward (Commerce Township, Mich. / Omaha Lancers (USHL))
Prior to West Point: Spent the past four seasons in the USHL with the Des Moines Buccaneers and Omaha Lancers…Posted 35 points across 104 games with Lancers the past two campaigns…Totaled 24 points with the Buccaneers throughout three seasons.
Barron Woodring (Downers Grove, Ill. / New Jersey Rockets (NCDC))
Prior to West Point: Spent the past three seasons with the New Jersey Rockets of the NCDC…Also logged time with the Sioux City Musketeers of the USHL in 2021-22 and 2022-23…30-goal season with 57 points in 2022-23…Posted 58 points with the Rockets in 2021-22.
Easton Zueger, Forward (Sioux Falls, S.D. / Sioux City Musketeers (USHL))
Prior to West Point: Played in 97 games in the USHL across the past two seasons with the Sioux City Musketeers and Sioux Falls Stampede…Logged nine points while skating to a +8 rating in 2022-23…Spent time with the St. Cloud Norsemen and Maine Nordiques of the NAHL in 2020-21…Also competed in golf and tennis at O'Gorman High…Received President's Award for Educational Excellence.
The Black Knights will open the season at home against Union on October 8th before heading west to compete in the annual Ice Breaker Tournament, with matchups set at North Dakota (Oct. 13) and Bemidji State (Oct. 14).
