The St. Lawrence University men's hockey program will welcome seven new players to the team for the 2023-24 season, as announced by Charles W. Appleton II Head Men's Hockey Coach Brent Brekke.

Mason Kucenski, Jake Lammens, Evan Mitchell, Jan Olenginski, Cameron Smith, and Gunnar Thoreson will join the Skating Saints as first-years in the fall, while goaltender Ben Kraws will join the Skating Saints as a graduate transfer from Arizona State. Goalie | Cranbury, N.J. | Arizona State University (NCAA) | Ht: 6'5" Wt: 195 Catches: Left

• Started his career at Miami University (Ohio) where he played 19 games for the RedHawks
• Transferred to Arizona State University where he played in 33 games over the course of two seasons. 
• Kraws had a 2.84 goals against average and a .911 save percentage with the Sun Devils and had a 15-11-1 record in net. 

Brekke on Kraws: "Ben is a big athletic goalie and that has a pro frame and style. Coming in as a transfer with four years of college experience under his belt is exciting and will put him in a position to battle for the staring job immediately."





Mason Kucenski (Pron. Koo-ZEN-skee)

Goalie | Gill, Mass. | Madison Capitals (USHL) | Ht: 6'3" Wt: 175 Catches: Left

• Started his junior hockey career with the Omaha Lancers of the USHL where he played in eight games. 
• Kucenski went to the Madison Capitals where he played 42 games in the last two seasons. 
• Kucenski provided a 14-22-2 record with the Capitals and had a 4.13 goals against and a .861 save percentage in his junior career. 

Brekke on Kucenski: "Mason is a good technical goalie and brings a very calm presence to the game. He will be competing for the net every night."

 







Jake Lammens 

Defense | Norwalk, Conn. | Salmon arm Silverbacks (BCHL) | Ht: 6'1" Wt: 185 Shot: Right

• Played two seasons for the Salmon Arm Silverbacks of the BCHL.
• Lammens compiled 77 games on the Silverbacks blueline scoring one goal and racking up 26 assists. 
• Son of former Skating Saints all-american captain Hank Lammens '88 and Hillary Lammens '87. Lammens is also the nephew of Mike Lappin '92, Peter Lappin '88, Timothy Lappin '88, and Chris Lappin '92.

Brekke on Lammens: "Jake is and athletic, mobile defenseman that uses his skating and hockey sense to impact the game and can contribute on both side of the puck."

 



 


Evan Mitchell 

Defense | Kanata, Ontario | Blackfalds Bulldogs (AJHL) | Ht: 5'11" Wt: 185 Shot: RIght

• Started his junior hockey career with the Shreveport Mudbugs of the NAHL where he played 57 games and tallied 14 assists. 
• Went to the Blackfalds Bulldogs of the AJHL last season where he had two goals and four assists in 15 games. 
• Mitchell also scored one goal and had four assists in 15 games during the AJHL playoffs. 

Brekke on Mitchell: "Evan is a heady, puck moving defenseman. He thinks well and can find seams at the offensive blue line."

 







Jan Olenginski (Pron. Yawn Oal-in-JIN-skee)

Defense | Lafayette, Pa. | Madison Capitals (USHL) | Ht: 5'9" Wt: 165 Shot: Right

• Played the 2021-22 season with the El Paso Rhinos of the NAHL playing 55 games, scoring four goals and tallied 21 assists. 
• This past season, Olenginski played 34 games for the Madison Capitals of the USHL scoring thrice and adding seven assists from the blueline. 

Brekke on Olenginski: "Jan is a slightly undersized defenseman but possesses outstanding agility, skating, and offensive instincts."






Cameron Smith 

Goalie | Eastchester, N.Y. | P.A.L Islanders (NCDC) | Ht: 6'2" Wt: 175 Catches: Left

• Split the 2021-22 season playing 26 games for the P.A.L Islanders of the NCDC before playing three games with the Green Bay Gamblers of the USHL. 
• This past season, Smith returned to the Islanders as a team captain. 
• In 2022-23, he started 42 games providing a 27-9-5 record with a 2.23 goals against average and a .940 save percentage. 
• Went 6-1-0 in the playoffs with a 1.75 goals against and a .956 save percentage to lead the Islanders to the Dineen Cup Championship. 

Brekke on Smith: "Cameron is coming off a very successful season and took a very good step in his development. We are excited to see his impact at the college level."




Gunnar Thoreson (Pron. Thor-ess-unn)

Forward | Andover, Minn. | Minnesota Wilderness (NAHL) | Ht: 5'10" Wt: 185 Shoots: Left

• Played three seasons for the Minnesota Wilderness of the NAHL where he served as team captain this past season
• Thoreson played in 165 games for the Wilderness where he scored 36 goals and tallied 74 assists for 110 points. 
• Scored five goals and had three assists in 21 NAHL playoff games. 

Brekke on Thoreson: "Gunnar is a versatile centerman that plays and aggressive style and makes things happen in the hard areas."