WORCESTER, Mass. - Holy Cross head men's ice hockey coach Bill Riga has announced the program's incoming class for the 2023-24 season. The slate of new Crusaders consists of six freshmen: Will Elias, Brody Gagno, Ty Gagno, Jack Stockfish, Will Troutwine, and Connor Welsh, and two transfers, Nic Petruolo and Michael Hodge.
 
"We are excited to welcome our new class to the Hill this summer. We have a diverse collection of players to add to our core to add ability and depth up and down the line-up," said Riga. "I know our veterans will do a great job integrating them into our culture and moving the program forward."

Take a closer look at the incoming group of four forwards and four defensemen.

Will Elias | D | 6'0" | 180 | Weston, Mass. | Cowichan Capitals (BCHL)

• Played one season for the Cowichan Capitals (BCHL) under head coach Mike Vandekamp.
• Tallied five goals and 24 assists for 29 points in 52 games played.
• Named the Cowichan Capitals Most Valuable Player, Rookie of the Year, and Top Defenseman.
• Named to the BCHL All-Star Team.
• Played four seasons of varsity hockey at St. Sebastian's School under head coach Sean McCann.
• Recorded nine goals and 33 assists for 42 points in 89 games played.
• Served as a team captain as a senior.
• Named to the ISL All-League Team in the 2020-21 and 2021-22 seasons.

Brody Gagno | D | 6'1" | 190 | Langley, British Columbia | Surrey Eagles (BCHL)

• Appeared in 32 games for the Surrey Eagles (BCHL), recording ten points on one goal and eight assists.
• Played three seasons of varsity hockey at Sardis Secondary under head coach Brian Maloney.
• Served as assistant captain as a senior.
• Recorded 25 points in 150 games played.
• Brother, Ty, also plays for Holy Cross men's ice hockey.
• Sister, Ella, plays soccer at Quinnipiac.

Ty Gagno | F | 6'2" | 185 | Langley, British Columbia | Prince George Spruce Kings (BCHL)

• Played two seasons for the Prince George Spruce Kings (BCHL) under head coach Alex Evin.
• Recorded 58 points in 95 games played.
• Served as an assistant captain in the 2022-23 season.
• Named Most Improved Player in the 2021-22 season and earned the Coaches Award in the 2022-23 season.
• Named BCHL High School Player of the Month.
• Played one season of varsity hockey at Burnaby Central Secondary School under head coach Mike Santorelli.
• Served as an assistant captain.
• Recorded 17 points.
• Brother, Brody, also plays for Holy Cross men's ice hockey.
• Sister, Ella, plays soccer at Quinnipiac.

Michael Hodge | F | 5'8" | 155 | Calgary, Alberta | Union College (ECAC)

• Played two seasons at Union (ECAC)
• Appeared in 36 games, recording 11 points on six goals and five assists.
• Named to the ECAC All-Academic Team as a freshman (2021-22).
• Played for the Fort McMurray Oil Barons (AJHL) in 2020-21.
• Recorded 29 points on ten goals and 19 assists in 16 games played in the 2020-21 season.
• Served as an assistant captain in 2020-21.
• Named Most Valuable Player in both the 2019-20 and 2020-21 seasons after leading team in scoring both years.
• Also played hockey and baseball at Springbank Community High School.
• Brother, David, played baseball at Queens University.

Nic Petruolo | D | 6'2" | 195 | Neshanic Station, N.J. | Union College (ECAC)

• Played two seasons at Union College (ECAC).
• Recorded one goal and 12 assists for 13 points, along with 66 blocked shots in 56 games played.
• Played for the Greenbay Gamblers of the USHL under head coach Pat Mickesh.
• Recorded one goal and eight assists in 45 games in 2019.
• Played four years of varsity hockey at Princeton Day School under head coach Scott Bertoli.
• Was an assistant captain his senior year.

Jack Stockfish | F | 6'4" | 215 | North Bay, Ontario | Prince George Spruce Kings (BCHL)

• Played one season for the Prince George Spruce Kings (BCHL) under head coach Alex Evin.
• Recorded 14 goals and 18 assists for 32 points in 47 games.
• Mother, Karen, played tennis and volleyball at Western University.
• Sister, Madie, played ice hockey at Brown.

Will Troutwine | D | 6'3" | 215 | Eveleth, Minn. | Janesville Jets (NAHL)

• Played three seasons for the Janesville Jets of the NAHL.
• Helped team to a Midwest Division Regular Season Championship title in the 2020-21 season.
• Recorded 62 points on 12 goals and 50 assists in 123 games played.
• Played three seasons of varsity hockey at Eveleth-Gilbert Senior High under head coach Jeff Torrel.
• Served as a team captain as a senior.
• Named to the Iron Range All-Conference Team in each of the three seasons.
• Recorded 92 points on 31 goals and 61 assists in 74 games played.
• Mother, Kristin, was a swimmer for the University of Wisconsin - Eau-Claire.

Connor Welsh | F | 5'11" | 175 | Greenwich, Conn. | Vernon Vipers (BCHL)

• Split time between the Salmon Arm Silverbacks and Vernon Vipers of the BCHL in the 2022-23 season.
• Tallied nine points on two goals and seven assists in 32 regular season games.
• Scored two goals and picked up an assist in nine playoff games with Vernon.
• Played two years of varsity hockey at the Brunswick School under head coach Mike Kennedy.
• Recorded 28 goals and 28 assists for 56 points in 47 games.
• Helped team to a Belmont Hill Tournament Championship in 2020.

 
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