In today’s NCAA D-II/III notebook, Wisc.-Eau Claire added a 3.25-star goaltender while SUNY-Plattsburgh committed a 3.25-star defenseman for their back end.
’01 (F) Brendan Dicker (NR) to Arcadia for 2022
Dicker is a Michigan native who measures 6-foot-3. Last season he played for the Pueblo Bulls in the USPHL Premier and totaled 51 points (19g-32a) in 45 games. Over the course of two seasons in the USPHL (he spent another year with the Charleston Colonials), Dicker totaled 89 points (32g-57a) in 79 games.
NZ Scouts: “Brendan is a big, strong player who is very hard to knock the puck off as he uses his strength and long reach to protect the puck. He will skate the puck up the ice on the power play as he uses his vision and patience to make the play. He set up his teammate in the high slot on the entry for a goal. He is effective on the cycle as he moves his feet and the puck and will drive to the net to create scoring opportunities.”
’02 (G) Owen Hains (★★¾) to Norwich for 2022
Hains played three seasons at Millbrook School before one season of junior hockey last year in the NAHL and EHL. Primarily, Hains played for the New Jersey 87’s in the EHL last season where he posted a 2.75 GAA and .911 save percentage.
During the 2020 season Hains played for the Springfield Rifles 18U team in the fall and then started 23 games for Millbrook, posting a 2.75 GAA and .897 save percentage.
NZ Scouts: “As a netminder under 6’ tall, he is great at taking away the low half of the net. You notice as the shooter approaches he will double down on his strength and get into a crouch to anticipate low shots ahead of time. He also is a champion of the RVH when he sees shooters move behind the net. It took a quality shot in order to beat him: he gave his team the chance to win, which is the ultimate compliment for any goalie. He makes adjustments quickly in order to tweak his positioning to stay square.”
’01 (F) Maksis Brimanis (★★★) to Wisc.-Stout for 2022
Brimanis has been well-traveled as a player. Originally from Ohio, he played 14U hockey in Anchorage and then moved to Culver Military Academy in 2017. After three seasons with Culver he played one season for the Philadelphia Hockey Club in the NCDC and last season he split between three teams in the NAHL (Aberdeen, El Paso, and Fairbanks) where he totaled 13 points (5g-8a) in 45 games.
NZ Scouts: “He plays a man’s game at 6’2 200+ pounds. He was great at gaining inside ice and leaning on the opposition in order to take the puck away. He was strong on his stick and many of the smaller prep players here didn’t have an answer for his physicality. He was able to stretch out those long and strong strides and put pressure on the opposing defense on the forecheck. His long stick and ability to close gaps was a problem because he shortened the time defenders had with the puck.”
’01 (D) Spencer Bellina (★★★¼) to SUNY-Plattsburgh for 2022
Bellina is a 6-foot-1 defender from Ohio who played with the Cleveland Barons during his youth career and up through 18U. He debuted in the NAHL during the 2019-20 season with the Northeast Generals and then spent a season with the Connecticut Jr. Rangers (NCDC) in 2020-21 before he played a full NAHL season last year.
In 54 combined games for Maine, El Paso, and Chippewa, Bellina totaled 19 points (3g-16a) from the back end. Bellina was ranked No. 170 among 2001-born players in the NAHL in our 2001 rankings.
NZ Scouts: “Plays hard at both ends of the ice. Showed some poise at the offensive blue-line by pausing, opening up his hips and getting pucks through to the net. Picked his spots on when to pinch and when not too. Showed his ability by being a good 2-way defender. Was responsible in his own end, but also showed flashes of being an offensive threat.”
’01 (G) Max Gutjahr (★★★¼) to Wisc.-Eau Claire for 2022
Originally from Appleton, Wisc., which is about three hours across state from Eau Claire, Gutjahr was ranked No. 259 nationally in our Top-300 2001 National Rankings and he was ranked No. 94 in the NAHL, where he spent last season with the Amarillo Wranglers.
In 39 games for the Wranglers last season, Gutjahr posted a 2.69 GAA and .911 save percentage. He played three seasons in the NAHL, all for Amarillo.
NZ Scouts (NAHL Goalie Report): “His attributes that stood out for his success were the ability to play aggressively by challenging shooters combined with quick lateral movement. Gutjahr shows that he is playing with a lot of confidence this season and it will be interesting to see if he can keep up the stellar play to continue raising his stock as an elite goaltender.”
