The MRU Cougars men's hockey team is excited to welcome the 2023-24 recruiting class. MRU has continued to build one of the highest-level university programs in Canada. The incoming recruiting class features eight skaters from various Canadian junior hockey teams. 

Key departures left a tall task for head coach Bert Gilling to fill. Despite the roster losses, the Cougars' bench boss remains confident and energized with their new additions.

"With the amount of departures that we had, I expect all the new additions to contribute something to our team," said Gilling. "I expect them to contribute to our culture and follow in line with the leadership we have with our returning players."

Kurtis Smythe, the lone defenceman in the 2023-24 recruiting class, joins Mount Royal having most recently played for the Medicine Hat Tigers in the Western Hockey League (WHL). The Cloverdale, BC local also played parts of four seasons with the Portland Winterhawks.

A pair of forwards from Calgary are coming home to join the Cougars this season. Daniel Kernaghan most recently captained the Drayton Valley Thunder of the Alberta Junior Hockey League (AJHL) and put up 75 points in 57 games. Also from the AJHL, Ethan Rowland comes to MRU after spending last season with the Okotoks Oilers.

Three more Albertans slide into the forward group for the Cougars. Hailing from Big Valley, Kasey Hiemstra split last season between Olds and Blackfalds in the AJHL. Dawson Milliken, from Canmore, is expected to bring depth following a season where he captained the Steinbach Pistons to a Manitoba Junior Hockey League (MJHL) championship in 2022-23. Joining Hiemstra and Miliken is Airdrie's Tristan Zandee. The forward played the last two seasons with the Lethbridge Hurricanes and previously spent time with the Calgary Hitmen.

Rounding out the recruits are a pair of forwards from Saskatchewan. From Candiac, Drew Englot joins the Cougars after a lengthy WHL career. He spent last season with the Kamloops Blazers before being traded to the Swift Current Broncos. MRU also welcomes Warman local Jaxon Martens who most recently played for the Melville Millionaires in the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League (SJHL).

"Our emphasis in the recruiting process was to become a tougher team to play against. We're looking for guys that can play with the identity we want to play," commented Bert Gilling.  "The one unique thing about this incoming group is that they all reached out to us because they want to be here."

The new-look Cougars open their season with a pair of games against the University of Regina on September 29th and 30th at their home rink, Flames Community Arena. Fans can purchase tickets to the games online starting September 20 or watch games live on Canada West TV.