Schenectady, NY – Union men's hockey coach Nate Leaman has announced the incoming freshman class for the 2006-07 season. A list of 10 players will join the roster next season with five forwards, four defenders and one goalie. Up front the Dutchmen welcome Jeff Christiansen (Elm Grove, WI), Andrew Estey (Fredericton, New Brunswick), Jason Shaffer (Arvada, CO), Mario Valery-Trabucco (Montreal, QUE) and Jason Walters (Renfrew, ONT). The blueliners include: Dustin DeGagne (Winnipeg, Manitoba), Jon Lareau (Plainville, MA), Mike Schreiber (Sherwood Park, Alberta) and Mike Wakita (Kitimat, British Columbia). Shaun Williams (Erie, PA) will compete for a starting role in net.

 

"I am very happy with the results of our hard work in recruiting," stated Leaman. "Much of the credit must go to assistant coaches Bill Riga and Rick Bennett. We feel we have some players that will step in and contribute immediately to help our program obtain an ECAC Hockey Championship."

 

Christiansen comes from the Billings Bulls of the North American Hockey League where he put up five goals and five assists in 19 games. He will be the second Christiansen to wear a Union jersey following brother, Doug, who played for the Dutchmen from 1998-2002.

 

Estey was second in scoring on the Alberni Valley Bulldogs roster of the BCJHL. He had 27 goals and 37 assists for 64 points in 59 games. He led the team with 13 power play goals. His play earned him league All-Star honors.

 

Shaffer was the leading goal scorer for the Trail Smoke Eaters of the British Columbia Junior Hockey League with 24. He was second in points with 63.

 

Valery-Trabucco led his Northwood Prep team in scoring in 2004-05 with 28 goals and 29 assists in 47 games. The 5'11", 185-pound center has good speed and provides a lot of energy on the ice.

 

Walters rounds out the offensive newcomers. A two-year captain for the Pembroke Lumber Kings of the Central Ontario Junior Hockey League, he had 43 goals and 73 assists in 57 games last season. He was second in the league in scoring and earned first team All-Star honors. In 2005 he was named MVP and was the CJHL scoring champ.

 

Defensively DeGagne provides size for Union at 5'11", 195-pounds. He was third in scoring among defensemen on the Salmon Arm Silverbacks roster of the British Columbia Junior Hockey League.

The team captain had 41 points on seven goals and 34 assists and collected 82 minutes in penalties in 59 games.

 

Lareau had 15 points for the Boston Junior Bruins on two goals and 13 assists. He stands at 6'0", 175-pounds.

 

Schreiber comes from the Fort McMurray Oil Barons of the Alberta Junior Hockey League. He was second on the team with 40 assists and added eight goals for 48 points in 60 games. He logged 79 penalty minutes. Schreiber was a first team all-league selection and helped his team capture the 2006 Viking Cup Championship.

 

Wakita will also add a presence on the blue line at 6'2", 215 pounds. He led the Powell River Kings of the BCJHL with 180 penalty minutes, and put up 28 points on eight goals and 20 assists. Wakita was the team captain and a 2006 All-Star.