The St. Lawrence University men's hockey team and Charles W. Appleton II Head Men's Hockey Coach Brent Brekke have announced the addition of three assistant captains for the 2026-27 season.

Senior Gunnar Thoreson, junior Gabe Westling, and sophomore Cooper Pierson will wear the "A" for the Skating Saints. The three join Jan Olenginski, who is serving his second year as the team's captain.

"As we kick off ECAC play next weekend, we are proud to announce our assistant captains," said Brekke. "Joining our returning captain Jan Olenginski will be this season's assistant captains, Gunnar Thoreson, Gabe Westling, and Cooper Pierson. Each has earned the honor and our confidence to help lead this team. Congratulations, gentlemen! Here We Go, Saints!"

A senior from Andover, Minnesota, Thoreson joins a long line of Saints from the North Star State to wear a letter for the Scarlet and Brown. The forward has a goal and two assists in three games this season and is closing in on 100 career games played, with 96 appearances, 12 goals, and 12 assists for 24 points.

Westling, a junior from Mora, Sweden, is the first player from a Nordic country to wear a letter since Finnish forward Aleksi Peltonen '23 served as team captain during his senior season. The hulking center has one assist through three games this season and has totaled three goals and 18 assists for 21 points in 67 career games.

Pierson, a sophomore forward from Zionsville, Indiana, has made a significant impact in just over a season with the Saints. He is the first sophomore to wear a letter for St. Lawrence since Dylan Woolf '21 served as a captain in 2018-19. Pierson posted the second-most points among returning players after recording five goals and 15 assists for 20 points during his first-year campaign. He leads the team this season with four points on a goal and three assists in three games.

Thoreson, Westling, and Pierson will take the ice on Appleton Arena with their letters for the first time next weekend as the Saints host RPI on Friday night and Union on Saturday to open ECAC play.