GUELPH, Ont. - A total of nine new faces will be featured in the 2023-24 edition of the Guelph Gryphons men's hockey team as part of the U of G men's hockey program's 2023-24 recruiting class. Seven forwards and two defencemen join a Gryphon team who will enter the new season in pursuit of the 8th OUA title in program history.
Joining the Gryphon forward group is 5-foot-11 Cambridge native Nolan Forester, who comes to the team after playing a pair of seasons with the Acadie-Bathurst Titans of the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL). "Nolan is a player that by all accounts was certainly good enough to be playing at 20-years-old, which says a lot about the quality of player he is," says Gryphon head coach, Josh Dixon. "We are very fortunate to be able to recruit him."
Jonah De Simone also joins the Gryphons after spending four seasons in the CHL with the Niagara IceDogs and Gatineau Olympiques. De Simone also tallied 17 points in 33 games during the 2022-23 season with the Markham Royals in the OJHL. "We are fortunate to have two new recruits who both can shoot the puck and play the right side," adds Dixon. "We had a predominantly left-handed lineup out front, so we will look for contributions from both Jonah and Nolan on the power-play and at five-on-five as right-shot skating forwards who can display their strong skill sets."
Zev Podolski also joins the Gryphons as a left-shot forward after playing Trenton Golden Hawks last season where he scored 21 points (7 G, 14 A) in 22 games. "Zev is a player who had a very good season in Junior A last year with the Golden Hawks and really came on in the second half of the season," says Dixon. "He was a big playoff performer and will be another student-athlete that with his speed and skill can be a contributor and impact player for us."
Finally,
Hunter Brazier comes to Guelph after having previously been committed to play Division-I hockey prior to the pandemic. "We're getting a player that could clearly be playing Division-I hockey and can really skate, defend well, check, and create offence at the same time, which fits well within our team speed. We have some very fast forwards up front in our returning group and the players we've added really compliment that group. This gives us an opportunity to be an aggressive team and hunt the puck but also create offence when we have it."
Leading the way for the incoming class of defenceman is 6-foot Chatham native,
Ian Ferguson, who joins the Gryphons after playing four season with the Tri-City Americans of the Western Hockey League (WHL). Ferguson suited in 127 games for the Americans over the course of four seasons, registering 15 points (4 G, 11 A). "Ferguson is a mobile, intelligent defenceman that you know is looking to grow his game," says Gryphons associate coach Dave Leger, who is overseeing the U of G defence in 2023-24. "We're excited to have him jump into the lineup, play and make contributions this season. I think for him, the adaptation from junior to U SPORTS hockey will be key to his growth, it is a significant jump and he will need to make those adjustments."
The Gryphons add another blueliner in
Isaac Enright, who will make the short trip from playing with the Guelph Storm of the Ontario Hockey League (OHL) to the Gryphon Centre. Enright, a 6-foot-1 defenceman, dressed in 36 games for the Storm, scoring a goal and two assists. The Cobden, ON native was a first round pick in the OHL and also brings international experience after playing with the U17 Canadian team in 2019-20. "We're excited for Isaac as he is a recent addition to our team," says Leger. "It's going to be good for him to be able to get back on the ice in games and similarly to Ian, the challenge is to adjust and adapt. We are confident that both Isaac and Ian are well equipped to make the adjustment."
#4 Isaac Enright
Position: Defence
Height: 6-1
Shoots: Right
Program: Food & Agricultural Business
Hometown: Cobden, ON
Last Team: Guelph Storm (OHL)
#6 Ian Ferguson
Position: Defence
Height: 6-0
Shoots: Left
Program: Management Economics & Finance
Hometown: Chatham, ON
Last Team: Tri-City Americans (WHL)
#23 Zev Podolski
Position: Forward
Height: 6-1
Shoots: Left
Program: Arts
Hometown: Toronto, ON
Last Team: Trenton Golden Hawks (OJHL)
#25 Alex Mourani
Position: Forward
Height: 6-2
Shoots: Left
Program: Marketing Management
Hometown: Mississauga, ON
Last Team: Woodstock Lakers (WOSHL)
#26 Jonah De Simone
Position: Forward
Height: 5-10
Shoots: Right
Program: Management
Hometown: Richmond Hill, ON
Last Team: Markham Royals (OJHL) | Gatineau Olympiques (QMJHL)
#49 William Bourre
Position: Forward
Height: 6-0
Shoots: Left
Program: Marketing Management
Hometown: North Bay, ON
Last Team: French River Rapids (NOJHL)
#71 Hunter Brazier
Position: Forward
Height: 5-11
Shoots: Right
Program: Arts
Hometown: Val Caron, ON
Last Team: Kemptville 73s (CCHL)
#77 Nolan Forster
Position: Forward
Height: 5-11
Shoots: Right
Program: Sport & Event Management
Hometown: Cambridge
Last Team: Acadie-Bathurst Titan (QMJHL)
#93 Julian Vander Voet
Position: Forward
Height: 6-0
Shoots: Right
Program: Arts
Hometown: Ancaster, ON
Last Team: Söderhamn/Ljusne HC (Hockeytvåan Division 2)
