GUELPH, Ont. – The Guelph Gryphons men's hockey team welcomes in 9 fresh faces as part of the men's hockey program 2024-25 recruiting class. Four defenceman, four forwards and one goalie join the Gryphons who will enter the new season looking to help the team make a return to the playoffs.
Joining the Gryphons forward group is 5-foot-8 Rockwood native
Dylan Hudon. Hudon possesses leadership skills as he led Collingwood as team captain to Ontario Junior Hockey League (OJHL) and Canadian Junior Hockey League (CJHL) national championship and was tied for the lead in scoring at national championships. Windsor native Julian Gervais, who was tied for the scoring lead at national championships alongside Hudon joins the Gryphons men's hockey program. Gervais, the 6-foot-1 forward was named tournament MVP in the CJHL Championship and has won the Alberta Junior Hockey League (AJHL) Championship.
Ethan Casper joins his Calgary Canucks teammate and AJHL Champion Gervais in Guelph as Casper was an alternate captain on the Canucks.
Coming to the University of Guelph out of the Ontario Hockey League (OHL) is
Nolan Dann. Dann spent the last five years in the OHL, most recently with the Flint Firebirds where he had 64 points in 65 games last season.
Thomas Darcy brings a championship pedigree to the men's hockey program as part of the Quebec Ramparts of the Quebec Maritimes Junior Hockey League (QMJHL). The defenceman from Terrebonne, QC helped the Ramparts to a league title and a Memorial Cup in 2022-23. Defenceman Eric Bonesteel comes to the Gryphons from the Oakville Blades of the OJHL. Bonsteel, the management economics and finance major was an alternate captain on the Centennial Cup Blades last season and was a point-per-game player in the playoffs. Kitchener native
Jack Clancy is an addition to the blue line from the Elmira Sugar Kings of the Greater Ontario Junior Hockey League (GOJHL). Clancy has played out in the Maritime league and brings leadership to the team with his father being a former captain.
Julian Vander Voet is a forward who joins the men's hockey program from the Branford 99ers (GOJHL).
The lone goalie joining the Gryphons in 2024-25 is
Cal Schell. The Burlington native arrives to the U of G from Oswego State in Division 3 of the NCAA ranks where he was a two time all-star. Schell is a highly regarded goalie as he was a top goalie in the GOJHL and in the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League (SJHL) with the Flin Flon Bombers.
"In general, we tried to focus as a coaching staff on recruiting players who have had playoff success, won championships or were leaders on their team, and all of the players we have brought in with this year's recruiting class check off one of those boxes, if not more than one," said head coach,
Josh Dixon going into his second year in charge of the University of Guelph men's hockey program about the recruiting class.
The Gryphons will drop the puck on the a new OUA season on Thursday, when they host the Windsor Lancers at the Gryphon Centre Arena.
#4 Thomas Darcy
Position: Defence
Hometown: Terrebonne, QC
Previous Team: Quebec Ramparts (QMJHL)
Academic Program at U of G: Arts
#8 Dylan Hudon
Position: Forward
Hometown: Rockwood, ON
Previous Team: Collingwood Blues (OJHL)
Academic Program at U of G: Arts
#9 Nolan Dann
Position: Forward
Hometown: Cambridge, ON
Previous Team: Flint Firebirds (OHL)
Academic Program at U of G: Arts
#22 Julien Gervais
Position: Forward
Hometown: Windsor, ON
Previous Team: Calgary Canucks (AJHL)
Academic Program at U of G: Arts
#24 Eric Bonsteel
Position: Defence
Hometown: Mississauga, ON
Previous Team: Oakville Blades (OJHL)
Academic Program at U of G: Management Economics and Finance
#25 Jack Clancy
Position: Defence
Hometown: Kitchener, ON
Previous Team: Elmira Sugar Kings (GOJHL)
Academic Program at U of G: Arts
#33 Cal Schell
Position: Goalie
Hometown: Burlington, ON
Previous Team: Oswego State Lakers (NCAA Division III)
Academic Program at U of G: Management
#49 Ethan Casper
Position: Defence
Hometown: Calgary, AB
Previous Team: Calgary Canucks (AJHL)
Academic Program at U of G: Psychology
#93 Julian Vander Voet
Position: Forward
Hometown: Ancaster, ON
Previous Team: Brantford 99ers (GOJHL)
Academic Program at U of G: Arts
