Northeastern’s 2024-25 Men’s Hockey roster will feature over a dozen new faces in the lineup, with fifteen players joining the Huskies for the first time. This group is comprised of six transfers coming from four different conferences, and nine freshmen. Earlier this week, the roster was formally unveiled on the website, and we learned the numbers for each newcomer. In addition, there are two returning players who changed their numbers for their sophomore seasons. Let’s take a look at each player and which number’s legacy they will be carrying on in their time on Huntington Avenue. We will have deeper scouting reports on each new player closer to the season as part of our annual New to Northeastern series.
Returning Players
- Andy Moore has changed his number from 18 as a freshman to 7 for his second season. Moore wore 7 in junior hockey for Cedar Rapids. Previous number 7s for Northeastern including the recently graduated Michael Outzen, John Picking, one of my personal favorite players in Michael McMurtry, and former NHLer Anthony Bitetto.
- Eli Sebastian elected to change from number 23 to number 11 after it was vacated with the graduation of Gunnarwolfe Fontaine. Sebastian wore 11 in the USHL for Green Bay. Recent players to wear 11 before Fontaine include Drew Blackmun, Jake Schechter, Justin Daniels (shoutout to the popular @JDanielsUnoUno Twitter account he had while in school), and Jimmy Russo.
Transfers
- Joaquim Lemay, #2– One of the best defensemen to enter the transfer portal this year, Lemay played two seasons at Nebraska-Omaha in the NCHC before transferring to Northeastern. He wore #2 at UNO as well. A fourth round draft pick by the Washington Capitals, he is a two-way defenseman who will be a huge offensive piece to the Northeastern attack from the blue line. I think fans will instantly take a liking to his game. Previous number 2 wearers at Northeastern include former captain and current Canadiens defenseman Jordan Harris and Beanpot game-winnging goal scorer Trevor Owens.
- Jake Boltmann, #4– Boltmann comes to Northeastern as a graduate student after playing four years at Notre Dame in the Big Ten. He wore #6 at Notre Dame, which we will see show up next. A defensive defenseman, Boltmann is a former third round draft pick of the Detroit Red Wings, and prides himself on being a hard-nosed, physical defender and shutting down play in his own end. Previous players to wear number 4 include Pito Walton last season, Jeremie Bucheler before him, and going further back, NHLer Jeremy Davies and Northeastern Hall of Famer Jim Averill.
- Jake Higgins, #6– Higgins comes to Northeastern as another graduate student, this time from Holy Cross in Atlantic Hockey. Higgins wore #4 at Holy Cross, so he and Boltmann traded numbers for grad school. Higgins was one of the best shutdown defensemen in Atlantic Hockey last season, so expect him to play a role similar to Boltmann. Higgins carries on the legacy of number 6, previously worn at Northeastern by NHLer Jamie Oleksiak, Beanpot Hall of Famer Dave Archambeault, current Sacred Heart head coach CJ Marrotolo, and most recently by Chase McInnis.
- Ryan McGuire, #9– the first of three forward transfers coming to Northeastern this year, McGuire played three years for Colgate in the ECAC, wearing number 19, before transferring to Northeastern to finish his collegiate career. Likely a fixture in the second line center spot, McGuire profiles as a two-way centerman who is great in the dot and is great on the forecheck and can score multiple ways. Number 9 has a rich history at Northeastern, including Tyler Madden, Dylan Sikura, Wayne Turner, Randy Bucyk, and most recently Matt Choupani for three years.
- Nick Rheaume, #25– The most recent addition to the team via the portal, Rheaume played two years at UMass Lowell in Hockey East before entering the portal. He wore 26 as a Riverhawk. A heavy forward who is tough to knock off the puck, Rheaume is someone we expect to do well in the Huskies’ middle six. 25 was worn last year by Matthew Staudacher, and previously by Aidan McDonough, Paddy Schule, and JF Aube.
- Cristophe Tellier, #29– Arguably the biggest addition in the portal this season, Tellier comes to Northeastern after three seasons at Quinnipiac in the ECAC, where he won a national championship. Considered one of the best playmakers in college hockey, Tellier will likely fit on the Huskies’ top line and top powerplay unit. 29 was his number as a Bobcat, and was worn most recently by Justin Hryckowian. Prior to Captain Ritzy, 29 was worn most recently by Craig Pantano and Garrett Cecere.
Freshmen
- Quentin Sigurdson, #1– Sigurdson arrives to Huntington Avenue by way of the Chicago Steel of the USHL and the Odessa Jackelopes of the NAHL. He was one of the NAHL’s best goalies this year before he moved to Chicago to help the Steel in their USHL Playoff push. He wore #1 with Odessa, #30 with Chicago. Sigurdson will be the primary backup to Cameron Whitehead in goal. He bears the number of many previous Huskies goaltenders including Devon Levi, Jake Theut, Derick Roy, Adam Geragosian, and Dan Eberly.
- Jack Henry, #5– One of my personal favorite defenseman prospects to arrive at Northeastern in a few seasons, Henry played for the Madison Capitols last season and was their top defenseman. Expect him to be featured in many roles for Northeastern this year and going forward. Number 5 has a rich tradition of excellence at Northeastern, including being worn by NHLers Ryan Shea and Matt Benning, the last two years by Hunter McDonald, and past Huskies like Hall of Famer Paul Filipe and fan favorite Tim Judy.
- Ethan Fredericks, #10– Fredericks arrives to Northeastern after playing for three USHL franchises over the last three seasons, most recently in Omaha. A freight train on the ice who can lay some thunderous hits, Fredericks wore #10 and #11 in junior hockey. Number 10 at Northeastern has previously been worn by Jakov Novak, Brandon Hawkins, Steve Quailer, Chad Costello, and some program greats like Harry Mews and Gerry Cowie.
- Joe Connor, #14– Arguably the top prospect in this year’s class, Connor comes to Northeastern after two years in Muskegon of the USHL, where he also wore #14. A skilled left winger who can score any way possible, I have big expectations for Connor right off the bat. #14 was most recently worn by Liam Walsh and before him, was adorned by Garret Cockerill, the beloved Braden Pimm, and one of the program’s best players of all time, Rod Isbister.
- Griffin Erdman, #17– Erdman is another highly regarded prospect, coming to Northeastern after two seasons with Waterloo in the USHL. Waterloo is not a program Northeastern pulls from often, with the last player to come from the Black Hawks being Liam Pecararo (Class of 2019), but two more future Huskies will play for them next year. Erdman wore 14 in juniors but will don 17 this year at Northeastern, a number previously worn by well-known contributors like Matt Filipe, Torin Snydeman, Todd Barclay and Dave Sherlock.
- James Fisher, #18– A 2022 draft pick of the Columbus Blue Jackets, Fisher comes to Northeastern from Penticton of the BCHL where he wore 74. The power forward from Burlington, MA will wear #18 which has a nice history among Northeastern players, including Tyler Spott, former captains John Stevens and Mike McLaughlin, and arguably the greatest NHLer produced by Northeastern, Chris Nilan.
- Marc Lund, #21– Lund, who has no relation to Cam Lund already on the roster, played three years in the NAHL ahead of landing at Northeastern. The big bodied forward carries the tradition of #21 on his back now, previously worn by Matt DeMelis, Nolan Stevens, and older well-known players like John Peterman and Charlie Huck.
- Ben Poitras, #23– Poitras comes to Northeastern after two successful seasons in the USHL with Sioux City and Green Bay, and he had a breakout year with the Gamblers last season. He wore #23 in Green Bay and will be a fixture in the Huskies’ lineup and on the scoresheet for years to come. Before Eli Sebastian last year, number 23 has been worn at Northeastern by NHLer Michael Kesselring, the beloved Colton Saucerman, and the great Sebastian Laplante.
- Seth Constance, #27– Another defenseman who takes pride in his defensive work first and foremost, Constance comes to Northeastern after two years at Tri-City in the USHL. Expect Constance to be a staple in the lineup for years to come. Before Alex Campbell wore #27 last year, previous Huskies to wear it include Neil Shea, Dalen Hedges, and Alex Tuckerman.
As stated earlier, we will have previews of each of these newcomers and what they bring to the team in terms of play style and expected contributions as the calendar turns to September as part of our annual New to Northeastern series. Summer is here and the heat is turned on, but we still have eyes turned firmly towards October waiting for puck drop.
As always, go Huskies!
Cover photo shot by Jim Pierce, Northeastern Athletics