Michigan Hockey Adds 11 Freshmen, Three Transfers for 2025-26 Season
8/19/2025 12:00:00 PM | Ice Hockey
ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- The University of Michigan ice hockey staff, lead by the Graham Family Head Coach Brandon Naurato, announced Tuesday (Aug. 19) the 11 players who will make up the incoming freshman class along with three players selected from the transfer portal that join the Wolverines for the 2025-26 season.
Asher Barnett | D | 6-1 | 195 | Left | Wilmette, Ill. | USNTDP
• Member of the USNTDP the past two seasons
• Played in 58 games and had 22 points on eight goals and 14 assists with the U18 team
• Totaled 18 points on four goals and 14 assists with the U17 team in 2023-24
• Combined for 40 points in 112 games with the USNTP and added 12 points in USHL contests
• Played in the 2025 USA Hockey All-American Game
• Selected for the 2024 CHL-USA Prospects Challenge
• Previously played for the Chicago Mission
• Won the 2020 Illinois State Championship with the Mission
• Selected in the fifth round (131st overall) by the Edmonton Oilers in the 2025 NHL Draft
International
• 2025 U18 World Championships (team captain, bronze medal, six points in seven games)
• 2025 U18 Five Nations (bronze medal, four games)
• 2024 U18 Five Nations (bronze medal, two points in four games)
• 2024 U17 Five Nations (gold medal, one assist in four games)
• 2023 World U17 Hockey Challenge (silver medal, two assists in seven games)
Jack Ivankovic | G | 6-0 | 179 | Left | Mississauga, Ont. | Brampton (OHL)
• Played two seasons for the Brampton (formerly Mississauga) Steelheads
• In two seasons, posted a 39-17 record with a .907 save percentage and a 2.93 goals-against average
• Posted a 25-12-5 record in 43 regular-season games 2024-25 with 1,173 saves for a .903 save percentage and a 3.05 GAA, and had two 43-save performances
• Went 14-5-4 in his rookie campaign with a .915 save percentage and a 2.72 GAA
• Was in goal for nine playoff games in the last two seasons
• Awarded the 2024 F.W. "Dinty" Moore Trophy
• Selected for the 2024 CHL-USA Prospects Challenge and went 1-0 with 10 saves
• Was a 2024 OHL Second All-Rookie Teams selection
• Selected seventh overall in the 2023 OHL Draft to Mississauga, the first goalie taken
• Selected in the second round (58th overall) by the Nashville Predators in the 2025 NHL Draft
International
• 2025 U18 World Championship (gold medal, 6-0, .956 SV%, 0.99 GAA, Best Goaltender, All-Star Team)
• 2025 World Junior Championship (gold medal, 1 GP, .923 SV%, 1.85 GAA)
• 2024 U18 World Championship (gold medal, 0 GP)
• 2024 Hlinka Gretzy Cup (gold medal, 4-0, .967 SV%, 0.75 GA)
• 2023 World U17 Hockey Challenge (gold medal, 4-2, .923 SV%, 2.52 GAA, All-Star Team)
Matthew Mania | D | 6-1 | 190 | Right | Brandon, Fla.l. | Flint (OHL)
• Spent last season with Flint, after three seasons with Sudbury
• Totaled 45 points in 66 games with the Firebirds in 2024-25, leading all defensemen
• Played in 227 OHL games and had 23 goals and 96 assists for 119 points
• Previously played for Fargo Force in the USHL, North Jersey Avalanche and Belle Tire
• Selected 60th overall by Sudbury in the 2021 OHL Draft
• Drafted by Los Angeles in the fifth round of the 2023 NHL Draft
International
• 2021 U17 Five Nations (gold medal, four points in four games)
Cole McKinney | F | 6-0 | 199 | Right | Lake Forest, Ill. | USNTDP
• Spent the last two seasons with the USNTDP
• Appeared in 58 games with the U18 team last season, scoring 27 goals and 33 assists
• Played in 11 games with the U18 team and in 44 games with the U17 during the 2023-24 season
• Combined for 93 points in 115 games with the USNTP and added 37 points in USHL contests
• Played in the 2025 USA Hockey All-American Game and had an assist
• Selected for the 2024 CHL-USA Prospects Challenge, tallying two points in two games
• Previously played for the Chicago Mission, winning a national championship with U14 in 2022
• Drafted in the second round (53rd overall) by the San Jose Sharks in the 2025 NHL Draft
International
• 2025 U18 World Championships (bronze medal, five points in seven games)
• 2025 U18 Five Nations (bronze medal, seven points in four games)
• 2024 U18 Five Nations (bronze medal, six points in four games)
• 2024 U17 Five Nations (gold medal, nine points in four games)
• 2023 World U17 Hockey Challenge (silver medal, two assists in seven games)
Henry Mews | D | 6-1 | 183 | Right | Ottawa, Ont. | Sudbury (OHL)
• Played three seasons in the OHL with Ottawa and Sudbury
• Finished third in the OHL in defenseman scoring in 2024-25 with 82 points in 68 games
• Appeared in 188 total games and had 174 points on 41 goals and 133 assists
• Added 11 points in three OHL playoff seasons
• Previously played for the Toronto Jr. Canadians
• Selected seventh overall in the 2022 OHL Draft by Ottawa
• Selected in the third round (74th overall) by the Calgary Flames in the 2024 NHL Draft
International
• 2024 U18 World Championships (gold medal, seven points in seven games)
• 2024 Hlinka Gretzky Cup (gold medal, seven points in five games)
• 2023 World U17 Hockey Challenge (captain, gold medal, eight points in six games)
Julian Molinaro | G | 5-11 | 179 | Left | Mississauga, Ont. | Northern Michigan (NCAA)
• Spent the 2024-25 season at Northern Michigan, where he appeared in one game
• Played for the Calgary Canucks in the AJHL in 2023-24, posting a 27-16-2 record
• In 45 games, he recorded a .916 save percentage and a 2.60 goals-against average
• Previously played for Collingwood and Mississauga in the OJHL and St. Michael's College School
• Reached the semifinals of the Centennial Cup with Calgary in 2024, going 12-3 with a .908 save percentage and a 2.56 GAA
Ben Robertson | D | 5-11 | 192 | Left | Potomac Falls, Va. | Cornell (NCAA)
• Played two seasons at Cornell, winning back-to-back ECAC Hockey Championships
• Recorded seven goals and 31 assists in 71 games as a Big Red
• Appeared in all 36 games this past season and had 15 points, while ending Michigan State's season in the NCAA Tournament
• Named to the 2024 ECAC All-Rookie Team, third team All-ECAC and All-Ivy second team
• His 23 points as a freshman tied the Cornell record for most points by a rookie defenseman
• Played junior hockey in the USHL (Waterloo, Omaha) and the USNTDP U17
• Finished with the most assists (42) by a defenseman in the USHL in 2022-23
• Alternate captain of Waterloo in 2022-23, collecting 45 points (three goals, 42 assists) in 61 games
• In 118 USHL games, he had five goals and 57 assists for 62 points
• Played two games with the USNTDP and with the USNTDP U17 team during 2020-21 season
Aidan Park | F | 6-1 | 187 | Right | Playa Vista, Calif. | Green Bay (USHL)
• Played three seasons with Green Bay (USHL) and last year's postseason with Calgary (WHL)
• Named second-team USHL in 2024-25 and led the league in power-play goals with 16
• Finished second on the team in scoring with 66 points (33 goals, 33 assists) in 55 games and added three during playoffs
• Signed with the Calgary Hitmen for the WHL playoffs as an affiliate player
• Appeared in 61 USHL games, registering 57 points on 33 goals and 34 assists
• Totaled 93 points (30 G, 63 A) in 56 games at Shattuck St. Mary's
• Previously played for the Los Angeles Jr. Kings
• Drafted in the seventh round (233rd overall) by the Edmonton Oilers in the 2025 NHL Draft
International
• 2023 Hlinka Gretzky Cup (bronze medal, four points in five games)
Stephen Peck | G | 6-3 | 176 | Left | New York, N.Y. | Muskegon (USHL)
• Played for the USHL champion Muskegon Lumberjacks in 2024-25
• Posted a 19-6-5 record with a .889 save percentage and a 2.43 goals-against average
• Appeared in five Clark Cup playoff games, going 3-2
• Spent the 2023-24 season with Bismarck (NAHL), posting a 22-7-1 mark
• Recorded a .917 save percentage and a 2.25 GAA with the Bobcats
• Previously played for Avon Old Farms, Yale Jr. Bulldogs and North Jersey Avalanche
Jayden Perron | F | 5-9 | 175 | Right | Winnipeg, Man. | North Dakota (NCAA)
• Spent his freshman and sophomore years at North Dakota
• Appeared in 31 games in 2024-25 and had 10 goals and nine assists
• Skated in 70 career college games, with 21 goals and 16 assists for 37 points
• Played two seasons with Chicago Steel (USHL) in 2021-22 and 2022-23
• Totaled 117 points on 41 goals and 76 assists in 121 games with the Steel
• Drafted in the third round (94th overall) by the Carolina Hurricanes in the 2023 NHL Draft
Drew Schock | D | 6-0 | 175 | Left | Green Bay, Wis. | USNTDP
• Member of the USTNDP for two seasons
• Appeared in 66 games with the U18 team in 2024-25, totaling 37 points (9 goals, 18 assists) in 66 games
• Tallied three goals and 15 assists for 18 points in 54 games with the U17 team in 2023-24
• Played in the 2025 USA Hockey All-American Game and had an assist
• Selected for the 2024 CHL-USA Prospects Challenge, tallying two points in two games
• Previously played for Notre Dame Academy, Team Wisconsin and Green Bay Jr. Gamblers
• Drafted in the fourth round (101st overall) by the Anaheim Ducks in the 2025 NHL Draft by Anaheim
International
• 2025 U18 World Championships (alternate captain, bronze medal, seven points in seven games)
• 2025 U18 Five Nations (bronze medal, four games)
• 2024 U18 Five Nations (bronze medal, one goal in four games)
• 2024 U17 Five Nations (gold medal, one assist in four games)
• 2023 World U17 Hockey Challenge (silver medal, four assists in seven games)
Malcolm Spence | F | 6-2 | 201 | Left | Mississauga, Ont. | Erie (OHL)
• Played three years with Erie and was alternate captain the last two seasons
• Top three on the team in scoring all three years with 177 points (67 goals, 110 assists) in 195 games
• Averaged 1.12 points per game in 2024-25 with 32 goals and 41 assists (73 points) in 65 games
• Added nine points in nine playoff games for the Otters
• Selected for the 2024 CHL-USA Prospects Challenge, tallying three points in two games
• Previously played for the Mississauga Senators
• Named the 2021-22 Greater Toronto Hockey League Player of the Year
• Drafted second overall in the 2022 OHL Draft to Erie
• Drafted in the second round (43rd overall) by the New York Rangers in the 2025 NHL Draft
International
• 2024 U18 World Championships (gold medal, seven points in seven games)
• 2024 Hlinka Gretzky Cup (gold medal, five points in five games)
Teddy Spitznagel | F | 6-3 | 187 | Left | Bloomfield Hills, Mich. | Muskegon (USHL)
• Spent more than two seasons with Muskegon, winning the USHL Championship in 2024-25
• Appeared in 50 games for the Lumberjacks and had 18 points on 10 goals and eight assists
• Added another five points during the run to the Clark Cup
• Played in every single game during the 2023-24 season
• Totaled 30 points (15 goals, 15 assists) in 136 USHL games
• Previously played for Honeybaked
Adam Valentini | F | 5-11 | 185 | Left | Toronto, Ont. | Steel (USHL)
• Played one season with the Chicago Steel in 2024-25
• Led the Steel in scoring with 39 points on 17 goals and 22 assists in 58 games
• Finished fifth in the USHL in rookie scoring
• Named the 2023-24 Greater Toronto Hockey League Player of the Year
• Previously played for the Toronto Marlboros and Mississauga Senators
• Drafted 13th overall to Brampton in the 2024 OHL Draft
• 2026 NHL Draft eligible
International
• 2025 Hlinka Gretzky Cup (bronze medal, five points in five games)
• 2024 World U17 Hockey Challenge (gold medal, leading scorer, nine points in five games)
• 2024 Winter Youth Olympics (gold medal, one goal in four games)
