Mavericks Add Eight To Recruiting Class
Jul 8, 2015 | Hockey
OMAHA, Neb. – Omaha hockey head coach Dean Blais announced the signing of seven student-athletes to National Letters of Intent on Wednesday. An eighth player will walk on to the team. Five of the seven NLI signees and the walk on will join four other incoming freshmen on the Mavericks' roster for the 2015-16 season.
“We worked hard to strengthen our defensive depth with this newest round of signees,” said Blais. “We think we are bringing in four defensemen who can compete for playing time as freshmen. All of these players, the goaltenders and forward as well, will allow us build on last year's run to the Frozen Four and help us compete for National Collegiate Hockey Conference and NCAA championships.”
Of the eight total players committed to UNO, six players are American, one is Canadian and one hails from the Czech Republic. Four are defensemen, one is a forward and three are goaltenders. Four of the student-athletes played for teams in the United States Hockey League last season while one played in the North American Hockey League, two played in Canadian junior leagues and one played in prep school. They will join previously announced signees Ryan Galt, Mason Morelli, Fredrik Olofsson and Steven Spinner on the ice this fall.
The following is a list of the new incoming players sorted alphabetically by position:
Forward
Riley Alferd – Penticton (BCHL)
Height: 5-10; Weight: 170; Hometown: Vancouver, Wash.; DOB: March 26, 1995
Alferd tied for second in scoring for Penticton on the BCHL in 2014-15 with 18 goals and 28 assists for 46 points in 58 games. He also had 42 penalty minutes. He added six goals and an assist while earning eight penalty minutes in 21 playoff games as the Vees earned the league title. In 115 career games with Penticton, he had 25 goals and 45 assists for 70 points and 80 penalty minutes while also amassing 10 goals, four assists and 14 penalty minutes in 33 playoff games.
Defense
Lukas Buchta – Sioux Falls (USHL)
Height: 6-2; Weight: 180; Hometown: Frystak, Czech Rep.; DOB: Dec. 5, 1994
Buchta finished second in defenseman scoring for Sioux Falls of the USHL in 2014-15 with eight goals and 12 assists for 20 points in 59 games. He also had 38 penalty minutes. He scored three game-winning goals to tie for third on the team. In 12 playoff games, he had two assists and eight penalty minutes. His previous USHL stint included 19 games with Omaha where he had one assist and 10 penalty minutes.
Ryan Jones – Lincoln (USHL)
Height: 6-2; Weight: 184; Hometown: Crown Point, Ind.; DOB: May 26, 1996
Jones made his USHL debut in 2014-15, playing in 60 games for Lincoln. He scored four goals and added nine assist for 13 points while also earning 69 penalty minutes. Two of his goals and seven of his points came on the power play. He also had one game-winning goal.
Jordan Klehr – Shattuck St. Mary's (Prep)
Height: 5-11; Weight: 196; Hometown: Lino Lakes, Minn.; DOB: March 18, 1997
In 54 games for Shattuck St. Mary's Midget Prep team in 2014-15, Klehr scored five goals and had 43 assists for 48 points. He also had 18 penalty minutes. He ranked second on the team in assists and led all defensemen in points. In two career years at the midget level, he has totaled 11 goals and 62 assists for 73 points and 34 penalty minutes in 107 games.
Jalen Schulz – Tri-City (USHL)
Height: 6-0; Weight: 175; Hometown: Cambridge, Minn.; DOB: April 28, 1995
Schulz completed his second season for Tri-City of the USHL in 2014-15, earning two goals and six assists for eight points in 56 games. He also had 111 penalty minutes. In addition, he appeared in six playoff games, registering 10 penalty minutes. In 113 career games with the Storm, he had four goals and 13 assists for 17 points and 231 penalty minutes.
Goaltender
Alex Blankenburg – Keystone (NAHL)
Height: 5-9; Weight: 167; Hometown: Washington, Mich.; DOB: Sept. 5, 1994
Blankenburg played his third season in the North American Hockey League in 2014-15, his first with Keystone after two seasons with Port Huron. In 35 games with Keystone, he posted a record of 17-14 with three shootout losses. He had a 2.18 goals against average and a .932 save percentage while leading the team in games played. In 86 career appearances in the NAHL, he posted a 44-27-4-5 record with a 2.23 GAA and a .929 save percentage with three shutouts. Blankenburg will join the team as a walk on.
Kris Oldham – Omaha (USHL)
Height: 6-2; Weight: 203; Hometown: Anchorage, Alaska; DOB: June 25, 1997
Oldham led the Omaha Lancers in games played during the 2014-15 season, posting a 21-6-4 record in 33 games. He had a 2.49 goals-against average and a .908 save percentage while also posting one shutout in his first USHL season. He also was in net for all three Lancers' playoff games, going 0-3 with a 2.73 GAA and a .919 save percentage. Oldham was drafted by the Tampa Bay Lightning in the sixth round, 153rd overall, in the 2015 NHL Entry Draft. He has been invited to take part in USA Hockey's World Junior Evaluation Camp later this summer.
Evan Weninger – Kindersley (SJHL)
Height: 5-10; Weight: 170; Hometown: Saskatoon, Saskatchewan; DOB: Aug. 11, 1996
Weninger led Kindersley of the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League in 2014-15 with a record of 27-10-2 in 41 games. He posted a 2.06 goals-against average and a .942 save percentage, both career highs. He also had four shutouts. He led the SJHL in save percentage while also ranking second in the league in GAA and third in wins. In 10 playoff appearances, he had a record of 6-4 with a 2.00 GAA and a .935 save percentage. He played for the Canada West roster in the World Junior A Challenge. In 61 career games with Kindersley, he posted a record of 38-16-2 with a 2.10 GAA and .940 save percentage with six shutouts.
Blais also announced that goaltender Brock Crossthwaite, forward Jono Davis and defensemen Matt Youso and Brian Rideout have left the team.
“We worked hard to strengthen our defensive depth with this newest round of signees,” said Blais. “We think we are bringing in four defensemen who can compete for playing time as freshmen. All of these players, the goaltenders and forward as well, will allow us build on last year's run to the Frozen Four and help us compete for National Collegiate Hockey Conference and NCAA championships.”
Of the eight total players committed to UNO, six players are American, one is Canadian and one hails from the Czech Republic. Four are defensemen, one is a forward and three are goaltenders. Four of the student-athletes played for teams in the United States Hockey League last season while one played in the North American Hockey League, two played in Canadian junior leagues and one played in prep school. They will join previously announced signees Ryan Galt, Mason Morelli, Fredrik Olofsson and Steven Spinner on the ice this fall.
The following is a list of the new incoming players sorted alphabetically by position:
Forward
Riley Alferd – Penticton (BCHL)
Height: 5-10; Weight: 170; Hometown: Vancouver, Wash.; DOB: March 26, 1995
Alferd tied for second in scoring for Penticton on the BCHL in 2014-15 with 18 goals and 28 assists for 46 points in 58 games. He also had 42 penalty minutes. He added six goals and an assist while earning eight penalty minutes in 21 playoff games as the Vees earned the league title. In 115 career games with Penticton, he had 25 goals and 45 assists for 70 points and 80 penalty minutes while also amassing 10 goals, four assists and 14 penalty minutes in 33 playoff games.
Defense
Lukas Buchta – Sioux Falls (USHL)
Height: 6-2; Weight: 180; Hometown: Frystak, Czech Rep.; DOB: Dec. 5, 1994
Buchta finished second in defenseman scoring for Sioux Falls of the USHL in 2014-15 with eight goals and 12 assists for 20 points in 59 games. He also had 38 penalty minutes. He scored three game-winning goals to tie for third on the team. In 12 playoff games, he had two assists and eight penalty minutes. His previous USHL stint included 19 games with Omaha where he had one assist and 10 penalty minutes.
Ryan Jones – Lincoln (USHL)
Height: 6-2; Weight: 184; Hometown: Crown Point, Ind.; DOB: May 26, 1996
Jones made his USHL debut in 2014-15, playing in 60 games for Lincoln. He scored four goals and added nine assist for 13 points while also earning 69 penalty minutes. Two of his goals and seven of his points came on the power play. He also had one game-winning goal.
Jordan Klehr – Shattuck St. Mary's (Prep)
Height: 5-11; Weight: 196; Hometown: Lino Lakes, Minn.; DOB: March 18, 1997
In 54 games for Shattuck St. Mary's Midget Prep team in 2014-15, Klehr scored five goals and had 43 assists for 48 points. He also had 18 penalty minutes. He ranked second on the team in assists and led all defensemen in points. In two career years at the midget level, he has totaled 11 goals and 62 assists for 73 points and 34 penalty minutes in 107 games.
Jalen Schulz – Tri-City (USHL)
Height: 6-0; Weight: 175; Hometown: Cambridge, Minn.; DOB: April 28, 1995
Schulz completed his second season for Tri-City of the USHL in 2014-15, earning two goals and six assists for eight points in 56 games. He also had 111 penalty minutes. In addition, he appeared in six playoff games, registering 10 penalty minutes. In 113 career games with the Storm, he had four goals and 13 assists for 17 points and 231 penalty minutes.
Goaltender
Alex Blankenburg – Keystone (NAHL)
Height: 5-9; Weight: 167; Hometown: Washington, Mich.; DOB: Sept. 5, 1994
Blankenburg played his third season in the North American Hockey League in 2014-15, his first with Keystone after two seasons with Port Huron. In 35 games with Keystone, he posted a record of 17-14 with three shootout losses. He had a 2.18 goals against average and a .932 save percentage while leading the team in games played. In 86 career appearances in the NAHL, he posted a 44-27-4-5 record with a 2.23 GAA and a .929 save percentage with three shutouts. Blankenburg will join the team as a walk on.
Kris Oldham – Omaha (USHL)
Height: 6-2; Weight: 203; Hometown: Anchorage, Alaska; DOB: June 25, 1997
Oldham led the Omaha Lancers in games played during the 2014-15 season, posting a 21-6-4 record in 33 games. He had a 2.49 goals-against average and a .908 save percentage while also posting one shutout in his first USHL season. He also was in net for all three Lancers' playoff games, going 0-3 with a 2.73 GAA and a .919 save percentage. Oldham was drafted by the Tampa Bay Lightning in the sixth round, 153rd overall, in the 2015 NHL Entry Draft. He has been invited to take part in USA Hockey's World Junior Evaluation Camp later this summer.
Evan Weninger – Kindersley (SJHL)
Height: 5-10; Weight: 170; Hometown: Saskatoon, Saskatchewan; DOB: Aug. 11, 1996
Weninger led Kindersley of the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League in 2014-15 with a record of 27-10-2 in 41 games. He posted a 2.06 goals-against average and a .942 save percentage, both career highs. He also had four shutouts. He led the SJHL in save percentage while also ranking second in the league in GAA and third in wins. In 10 playoff appearances, he had a record of 6-4 with a 2.00 GAA and a .935 save percentage. He played for the Canada West roster in the World Junior A Challenge. In 61 career games with Kindersley, he posted a record of 38-16-2 with a 2.10 GAA and .940 save percentage with six shutouts.
Blais also announced that goaltender Brock Crossthwaite, forward Jono Davis and defensemen Matt Youso and Brian Rideout have left the team.
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