Six transfers and eight freshmen
MARQUETTE, Mich. — The Northern Michigan University men’s hockey team and head coach Dave Shyiak have announced the incoming class ahead of the 50th Anniversary 2026/27 season.
“We are excited to welcome our class of six transfers and eight freshmen student-athletes to Northern Michigan University,” adds head coach Shyiak, who will embark on his third season as head coach of the Wildcats. “As we continue to rebuild our program, we feel that this group of newcomers will enhance our overall depth, competitiveness, team speed, and skill level. They each bring unique attributes on and off the ice that will complement our core of returning Wildcats.”
The transfer class includes four forwards and two defensemen. Of the transfers, two will make the move from the NCHC, and one each from the CCHA, ECAC, AHA, and USports.
The freshman class includes five forwards and three defensemen. Of the freshmen, two join the collegiate ranks from the CHL (WHL and QMJHL), two from the USHL, a standout from the Finnish ranks, one from the BCHL, one from the NAHL, and one from the MJHL.
A breakdown of each incoming skater, along with related media, can be found below, starting with the transfers before moving to the freshmen.
The Wildcats open the 50th Anniversary Season at the Berry Events Center against the University of Miami (Ohio) on Friday, October 2, and Saturday, October 3, 2026. The ‘Cats hit the road to Michigan State the following week before coming back to Marquette to host Stonehill on October 16 and 17.
Incoming Transfers
#3 | Noah Houle | Junior | Left-Shot Defenseman | Clarkson University (NCAA, ECAC), Lindenwood (NCAA) | Montreal, Quebec
Houle brings NCAA experience to the Wildcat defense group, joining the ‘Cats from Clarkson and Lindenwood in the NCAA ranks. With Clarkson last season, Houle was listed at 6’1″, and 192 pounds, and has been described as being known for his strong two-way play and leadership on the ice.
Houle played in six games for the Golden Knights last season, including logging just over 20 minutes of ice time in the season opener against Canisius. In a full season with Lindenwood as a freshman, Houle notched four goals and 12 assists for 16 points and a +7 rating in 32 games, averaging 18 minutes of ice time, and playing in less than 15 minutes on just four occasions. Houle posted a run of 11 points in 15 games during the middle of his freshman season, a stretch where he logged 17+ minutes in all but two of those games.
Houle had a spectacular final season with the Flin Flon Bombers of the SJHL, where he was named Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League (SJHL) Defenseman of the Year and one of five CJHL Defenseman of the Year Finalists. During that dominant campaign, he led all league defensemen with 68 points, the most by a defenseman in the SJHL since the 2017-18 season, and a plus-minus rating of +38. Houle excelled in the postseason with the Bombers as well, recording 15 points in 14 games in his DOTY season.
Hear from Coach Shyiak: “Noah joins us after battling injuries in his last season at Clarkson University, and we are looking forward to adding Noah to our revamped defensive unit this season. On the ice, he possesses strong skating ability and offensive instincts, as evidenced by his stellar freshman season at Lindenwood where he led all LU defensemen in scoring in a tough independent NCAA schedule. Noah will add veteran experience to our locker room, and we’re excited to see what he can do in a Wildcat uniform.”
Photo credit: Clarkson Athletics
#7 | Branden Piku | Senior | Right-Shot Forward | Lake Superior State (NCAA, CCHA) | Harrison Township, Michigan
Piku brings a plethora of collegiate experience and familiarity with the CCHA conference, joining NMU after three seasons with Lake Superior State. On the Lakers last season, Piku was listed at 5’8″ and 172 pounds.
Piku played in all 34 games for the Lakers the last two seasons, including posting a career-best 17 points last season, finishing sixth on the team in scoring and third on the team in goals with eight. Piku earned good minutes with the Lakers, averaging 15:21 of ice time in 2024/25 and 14:29 of ice time in 2025/26. The Michigan native has played 93 games at the collegiate level, where he has amassed 24 goals and 20 assists for 44 points. Piku will join the Wildcats as the leader in goals, assists, points, and career collegiate games played ahead of next season.
Piku spent his minor league career with the Maryland Blackbears of the NAHL, posting 40 points and 50 points in his final two seasons, including leading the NAHL postseason skaters in points (15) and assists (11) during his final season with the Blackbears. Piku found success before juniors as well, as he was a major offensive factor for the Belle Tire T1EHL 18U Championship team in 2019/20 and the Meijer AAA NAPHL 16U Championship team in 2018/19.
Hear from Coach Shyiak: “Branden is a player that our staff and team are very familiar with, having competed against him for the past three seasons at Lake Superior State University. It is difficult to find experienced players who are proven producers in the CCHA, and we are happy to have landed one in Branden. He is a hard-skill forward with great speed and agility who will help lead our offensive group this season. Branden knows what it takes to win and compete every night in the CCHA, and our team is excited that he is bringing that experience to Marquette this season.”
Photo credit: Lake Superior State Athletics
#11 | Brendan Lamb | Junior | Right-Shot Forward | Mercyhurst (NCAA, AHA) | Battle Creek, Michigan
Lamb joins the Wildcats after two seasons as a key piece of the Mercyhurst offense, and will continue his collegiate career in the Green and Gold after Mercyhurst University officially discontinued its NCAA Division I men’s hockey program in March of 2026, ending a 38-year varsity run. Lamb was listed at 5’10” and 180 pounds as a sophomore with the Lakers last season.
Lamb posted two goals and eight assists for 10 points as a freshman before taking a big jump in the goals category, scoring seven goals – which was only one shy of the team leaders at eight – and five assists for 12 points as a sophomore. Lamb was also trusted with more responsibilities in his sophomore season, where he averaged 21:21 of ice time in 25/26 after averaging 16:02 as a freshman.
Lamb played three seasons with the Madison Capitols of the USHL, where he played 179 games and scored 53 points. Lamb was named an alternate captain for the 2023/24 season, and was a teammate with current Wildcat Peter Cisar during the 2022/23 campaign. His 179 games played for the program are the second-most on the franchise’s all-time games played list behind Reid Pabich, his teammate during the 21/22 season. The Battle Creek, Michigan, native played his entire youth hockey in the Fox Motors system, including winning the T1EHL 16U Championship during the 20/21 season.
Hear from Coach Shyiak: “Brendan comes to Marquette highly recommended by his previous coaches at the junior and collegiate levels. A Michigan native, Brendan will continue to add experience, competitiveness, and pace to our group of forwards. He was a heavily relied-upon player at Mercyhurst the past two seasons, leading their team in time on ice during the 2025-26 campaign. We’re excited that Brendan will be joining us next season.”
Photo credit: Mercyhurst Athletics
#14 | Reilley Kotai | Sophomore | Right-Shot Forward | University of British Columbia (USports) | Abbotsford, British Columbia
Kotai brings his talents to the United States after a stellar freshman campaign at the University of British Columbia. Reilley, the younger brother of standout Augustana netminder Josh Kotai, was listed at 6’3″ and 196 pounds.
The Abbotsford, British Columbia native impressed in his first season of collegiate experience, averaging a point per game with 12 goals and 12 assists in 24 appearances, and earning himself a spot on the USports (West) All-Rookie Team. Along with his stellar point totals, Kotai maintained a +12 rating with two power-play tallies and three game-winning goals.
Kotai began his junior career with the Chilliwack Jets of the PIJHL, where he scored 16 goals and 44 assists for 60 points during the 2021/22 season, where he was ninth in the league and third on his team in scoring. After some stops through teams in the BCHL, Kotai ended his junior career with the Melfort Mustangs of the SJHL, where he led the Mustangs to an SJHL Championship and berth in the Centennial Cup after dominating the 2024/25 season. In that year, Kotai scored an impressive 39 goals and 38 assists, giving him 77 points to lead the league in scoring. Kotai also contributed seven goals and 10 assists for 17 points in the SJHL playoffs, and four points in four games during the Centennial Cup.
Hear from Coach Shyiak: “Reilley joins the Wildcats after a standout freshman season at the University of British Columbia. He will add a different element to our forwards this year, combining size, speed, and a powerful shot to create offense. Reilley’s willingness to physically wear down opponents and hunt pucks will be an asset for us moving forward. Our staff is eager to help Reilley’s continued progression moving forward in Marquette.”
Photo credit: UBC Thunderbirds
#19 | Ian Engel | Sophomore | Left-Shot Defenseman | University of North Dakota (NCAA, NCHC) | Hortonville, Wisconsin
Engel makes a move to Northern Michigan after spending the 2025/26 season behind a stacked blue line with the University of North Dakota, where he was a member of the NCHC Regular Season Champion squad a season ago. Engel, a Wisconsin native, was listed at 5’11” and 185 pounds on the Fighting Hawks roster last season.
Prior to making the jump to college hockey, Engel spent his entire junior career with the Bismarck Bobcats of the NAHL, playing in 161 regular-season games with the Bobcats, a number that ranks sixth all-time in program history. Engel was named team captain in 2024/25, during which he led the Bobcats to a Robertson Cup Championship thanks to a career-best 37 points and a +20 rating in 54 regular-season games, good for third-most points on the team and most by a Bobcat defenseman. Engel logged nine goals and 54 assists for 63 points during his time at Bismarck, the fifth-most points and third-most assists in franchise history by a Bobcat defenseman.
Engel spent his youth career in Wisconsin, capped off with an impressive 19 goals and 31 assists for 50 points in 23 games with Neenah/Hortonville/Menasha in high school. Engel was also a member of the Team Wisconsin 18U AAA squad, and the Green Bay Jr. Gamblers organization.
Hear from Coach Shyiak: “Ian is another player who comes to Northern Michigan with enthusiastic endorsements from his former coaches. Ian spent last season developing in a loaded defensive corps at the University of North Dakota, and he is looking forward to a new opportunity in Marquette. On the ice, Ian is a steady, two-way defender with good skating, IQ, and poise with the puck on his stick. He is someone we are looking forward to helping grow and evolve as a player in a Wildcat jersey.”
Photo credit: University of North Dakota Athletics
#26 | Merril Steenari | Sophomore | Right-Shot Forward | Colorado College (NCAA, NCHC) | Aliso Viejo, California
Steenari joins the Wildcats after a season with Colorado College, where he skated in 16 games and averaged just over seven minutes of ice time behind a deep right side on the CC forward group. As a freshman last season, Steenari was listed at 5’10” and 180 pounds.
Prior to Colorado College, Steenari collected 54 points (36g,18a) in 104 games with the Fargo Force of the USHL the last two seasons, where he was a finalist for the USHL Johnny Gaudreau Award in 2025, an award that recognizes the player who best embodies the traits and attributes of Matthew & Johnny: excellence on the ice, spirit of the game, care and responsibility. During the 2024-25 season, where he was teammates with current Wildcat Peter Cisar, Steenari paced the Force in points (41) and goals (29), where his goal totals were fifth-best across the USHL. Steenari also helped the Force win the 2024 Clark Cup title with three points in 12 playoff games.
Before the Force, he had 37 points (20g,17a) in 42 games with the Janesville Jets of the NAHL in 2022-23 and 1023-24, and played 78 games with the Sioux Falls Stampede of the USHL, producing 10 points (8g,2a). Steenari served as team captain as a senior in high school for the Capistrano United Coyotes, represented Team USA at the 2021 Hlinka Gretzky Cup where he was an alternate captain, and played AAA youth hockey locally for the Anaheim Jr. Ducks program.
Hear from Coach Shyiak: “Merril arrives in Marquette after one season at Colorado College. Prior to Colorado College, Merril played over 200 games in the USHL and NAHL, leading Fargo in scoring during the 2024-25 campaign. Although he hails from California, Merril is another player with some strong ties to Finland and will be a great member of our community at Northern Michigan and Marquette. On the ice, Merril has an elite motor and a nose for scoring areas; his skating and ability to score in different ways will be an asset to our program moving forward, and we are ecstatic he is joining our program.”
Photo credit: Colorado College Athletics
Incoming Freshmen
#6 | Jason Davenport | Right-Shot Defenseman | Des Moines Buccaneers (USHL) | Shelby Township, Michigan
Davenport joins the Wildcats after finishing his junior career with the Des Moines Buccaneers of the USHL. The Shelby Township native is listed at 6’2″ and 190 pounds on his Elite Prospects profile, where he is described as “everything you could want in a defenseman: big, mobile, smart – the list goes on and on. Davenport doesn’t pop off the stat sheet, but he’s exceptional in his own zone and consistently gets controlled exits. He’s a smooth skater, especially with the puck, and looks to get involved offensively without possession.”
Davenport was a regular for the Buccaneers last season, in which he skated in 59 games and posted two goals, 12 assists, a +5 rating, and 105 penalty minutes. Davenport logged 53 games in the BCHL, where he scored five goals and eight assists, and a career-best 16 points off four goals and 12 assists with the Leamington Flyers of the OJHL in 2023/24.
Hear from Coach Shyiak: “We’re ecstatic to welcome Jason to Northern Michigan this season. Jason joins our team following a number of stops in junior hockey, most recently with the Des Moines Buccaneers, where he was named the defensive player of the year and the most improved player for the Bucs in his final season of junior hockey. He is a high-upside player whose best hockey is still in front of him; he has great length and skating in addition to strong defending skills and an underrated offensive game. We are thrilled Jason has chosen to continue his hockey journey in Marquette.”
Photo credit: Des Moines Buccaneers
#9 | Coster Dunn | Right-Shot Center | Seattle Thunderbirds (WHL) | Edmonton, Alberta
The Wildcats add another student-athlete from the CHL, as the 6’1″, 190-pound Edmonton, Alberta native committed to Northern Michigan after a successful junior career with the Seattle Thunderbirds of the WHL.
“Coster has been an exemplary Thunderbird and will take his championship pedigree to the Northern Michigan program,” said Thunderbirds General Manager Bil LaForge in a press release from the Thunderbirds announcing Dunn’s commitment. “We are proud of Coster and look forward to continuing to watch him as he furthers his hockey career.”
The T-Birds drafted Dunn in the seventh round of the 2020 WHL Prospects Draft. Through 223 games as a Thunderbird, he has accumulated 130 points on sixty goals and seventy assists. In 2023, he was part of the Thunderbirds WHL championship squad, and attended the training camp of the NHL’s Utah Mammoth this past fall as a free agent.
Dunn put up back-to-back career-best performances with the Thunderbirds in his final two seasons, posting 55 points in both the 2024/25 and 2025/26 campaigns. A key player for his team, Dunn paced the Thunderbirds in points last season, and his 55 in the season prior was good enough for third.
Hear from Coach Shyiak: “Our staff is excited to welcome Coster to Marquette for the 2026-27 season. Coster joins us after a standout 235-game career in the Western Hockey League, all with the Seattle Thunderbirds. He also brings championship pedigree to our roster, having won the 2023 WHL Championship. On the ice, Coster is a cerebral center who combines elite skill with excellent skating and scoring ability. Our staff is looking forward to helping Coster adjust to college hockey and help our program reach our future goals”.
Photo credit: Brian Liesse/Seattle Thunderbirds#20 | Niklas Gudmundson | Left-Shot Forward | Winkler Flyers (MJHL) | Carnation, Washington
A native of Carnation, Washington, Gudmundson joins the Wildcats after a stellar season with the Winkler Flyers of the MJHL. Gudmundson is listed at 5’10” and 187 pounds on his Elite Prospects profile.
Gudmundson had a stellar season last year with the Flyers in the MJHL, where he was named MJHL MVP, CJHL MVP Finalist, and MJHL First Team All-Star after he produced 29 goals and 45 assists for 74 points. Gudmundson played in all situations for the Flyers, possessing a high motor and an elite shot with a quick release. In two seasons with the Flyers, Gudmundson scored 48 goals and 71 assists for 119 points in 84 games.
Hear from Coach Shyiak: “Nik is a player who very much fits our desired culture and team identity at NMU. He arrives in Marquette on the heels of a prolific scoring campaign in the Manitoba Junior Hockey League that saw him finish 4th in the league in scoring. As a player, Nik plays with pace, hard skill, and a blue-collar mentality. We are excited to watch his transition to college hockey and look forward to him helping us achieve our goals for the coming season and beyond.”
Photo credit: Winkler Flyers
#22 | Darik Olson | Left-Shot Defenseman | Sioux City Musketeers / Chilliwack Chiefs (USHL / BCHL) | Duluth, Minnesota
Olson, a 6’2″ 198-pound left-shot defenseman, joins the Wildcat blueline ahead of the 2026/27 season.
Olson split time between the Chilliwack Chiefs of the BCHL and the Sioux City Musketeers of the USHL in the 2025/26 season. Olson played the front half of the season in the BCHL, where he posted six goals and seven assists for 13 points in 22 games. He was then moved to the Musketeers midway through the campaign, where he scored eight goals and five assists for another 13 points in 32 games.
Prior to juniors, he led defensemen and was third on his team in points with 51 in 52 games with the Northstar Christian Academy 18UAAA.
Hear from Coach Shyiak: “Darik is a late bloomer who really took off in his last year of junior hockey split between two great organizations in the Chilliwack Chiefs and Sioux City Musketeers. A Duluth native, Darik is from a hockey hotbed and continues to get better every season. He is a physical specimen that hits with impact, possesses a booming shot, and has strong skating ability in all four directions. He was a key cog in Sioux City’s top four core during the 2nd half of the 2025-26 season and we’re anticipating him adjusting well to the rigors of college hockey.”
#23 | Aapo Katavisto | Right-Shot Forward | Kiekko-Espoo U20 (U20 SM-sarja) | Espoo, Finland
Katavisto, a 6’0″, 183-pound right-shot forward, joins the Wildcats after spending his entire hockey career in the Finnish ranks of youth and junior hockey. On his Elite Prospects player profile page, Katavisto is described as an energy forward, offensively minded, and a power play specialist.
Katavisto is coming off an elite season in U20 SM-sarja, where he guided his team to a postseason championship, and was named playoff MVP after leading the U20 SM-sarja in playoff goals with nine goals and 14 points in 16 games. Katavisto had an elite regular season as well, as the alternate captain scored a career-best 16 goals and 34 points in 36 games. In three seasons with the U20s, Katavisto has scored 32 goals and 35 assists for 67 points in 98 career games, including 19 points in 34 playoff contests. Katavisto was also a member of Kiekko-Espoo’s silver-medal team in 2024/25, where he scored 26 points in 40 games.
Katavisto has represented Finland on multiple occasions in international tournaments, including the Hilinka Gretzky Cup and U18 WJC. In four seasons playing with Finland’s international junior ranks, Katavisto has 15 goals and nine assists for 24 points in 51 games.
Katavisto was ranked #99 by NHL Central Scouting ahead of the 2025 NHL Entry Draft.
Hear from Coach Shyiak: “Aapo is a natural fit in Marquette, arriving at Northern Michigan by way of Espoo, Finland. He should feel right at home with the proud Finnish heritage in the Upper Peninsula, and we think he has the potential to be an impact player for our program. The youngest player in the class of 2030, Aapo brings valuable experience in the Finnish U20 league, Liiga, and international play that will help ease his transition to college hockey. We’re excited to add his hockey sense, skating, skill, and compete level to our team this season.”
Photo credit: Aapo Katavisto
#24 | Evan Dépatie | Right-Shot Defenseman | Moncton Wildcats (QMJHL) | Granby, Quebec
Dépatie is a 5’9″ 176-pound defenseman who joins the Wildcats from the Moncton Wildcats of the QMJHL, becoming the third skater from the CHL to join the Wildcat ranks.
Dépatie was selected #41 in the 2022 QMJHL Entry Draft by the Val-d’Or Foreurs, where he played 126 games over three seasons, posting 48 points in that frame. Dépatie then began the 2025/26 campaign with Rimouski Oceanic, where he scored nine goals and 21 points in 30 games before a trade to the Moncton Wildcats, where he finished the year with five goals and 23 points in 32 games, combining for a career-best 44 points in 62 games during the 25/26 campaign, including a deep playoff run with Moncton where he scored eight points in 21 games. During his QMJHL career, Dépatie scored 92 points in 188 games over four seasons.
Prior to his time in the QMJHL, Dépatie was named to the QM18AAA First All-Star Team after the 2023/23 season with the Magog Cantonniers. In his time with Magog, Dépatie scored 49 points in 75 games, was the league champion in 2021/22, and earned a Telus Cup Silver Medal.
Hear from Coach Shyiak: “We are thrilled that Evan has chosen to become a Wildcat after almost 200 games of experience in the QMJHL. A standout offensive defenseman, Evan finished 2nd in the QMJHL in goal scoring by defensemen and was a key driver for a strong Moncton team. His deceptiveness, release, and offensive swagger will help us produce more offense from our defensive unit this season, and we are looking forward to seeing him in a Wildcat uniform this season.”
#28 | Owen Pitters | Right-Shot Forward | Aberdeen Wings (NAHL) | Chesterfield, Michigan
A Michigan native, Pitters joins the Wildcats after a successful final season as captain of the Aberdeen Wings of the NAHL. On his Elite Prospects page, Pitters is listed at 6’1″ and 198 pounds.
Pitters, who was named the 16th captain in franchise history ahead of 2025/26, posted a breakout season in his final campaign with the Wings, where he scored 24 goals and 54 points in 55 games, including a dominant nine points in 10 Robertson Cup postseason games. In two seasons with the Wings, Pitters scored 76 points in 89 regular-season games.
Pitters was awarded the NAHL Leadership Award in 2026, which is bestowed to one player each season who exemplifies outstanding leadership qualities both on and off the ice during the regular season. The league looks for a combination of exceptional team captaincy, standard-setting athletic work ethic, academic focus, and a strong commitment to local community service. Pitters became the 11th player to earn the prestigious honor since its inception in 2015/16, including former Wildcat goalie John Roberts, who won the award after the 2018/19 campaign.
Pitters played in two spots during the 2023/24 season, starting with 19 points in 23 games with the LaSalle Vipers of the GOJHL before a move to the Idaho Falls Spud Kings of the NCHC, scoring 18 points in 20 contests. Prior to that, Pitters was drafted #72 overall by the Flint Firebirds in the OHL, where he played 71 regular-season and playoff games.Pitters spent his youth hockey in Michigan, playing for the Little Caesars and Compuware organizations, including playing with current Wildcat Michael Burchill for 15U Compuware in 2020/21.
Hear from Coach Shyiak: “Owen comes to the Upper Peninsula with a wealth of junior hockey experience, most recently with Aberdeen in the NAHL. In Aberdeen, Owen was entrusted with a number of responsibilities at both even strength and special situations, while serving as the Wings captain this past season. As a player, Owen is a 200-foot player with good size and speed; he plays a direct brand of hockey that will help our team in all situations. We’re excited to see Owen in Marquette this season and beyond.”
Photo credit: Laurie Stroh @Deenboys Pics
#29 | Adam Csabi | Left-Shot Forward | Cranbrook Bucks (BCHL) | Karvina, Czechia
Csabi is a 5’11”, 163-pound forward from Czechia, joining the Wildcats after multiple seasons in the BCHL.
Csabi enjoyed a breakout campaign in 2025/26, where he scored a career-best 22 goals and 27 assists for 49 points in 53 regular-season games before recording a dominant postseason, scoring 11 goals and four assists for 15 points in 17 games. Csabi led the Bucks in regular-season goals and points and postseason goals and points, and was named to the BCHL All-Star Game to represent “Team World” at the 2026 BCHL All-Star Weekend. In his time at the BCHL, he scored 89 points in 110 games.
Csabi has represented Czechia multiple times on the international stage, including the U18 World Junior Championships and Hlinka Gretzky Cup. Csabi’s previous coach, Colton Sparrow with the Vernon Vipers, described him as “having a knack for the net and wants to score”.
Hear from Coach Shyiak: “The final member of our freshman class, Adam, joins us from the Cranbrook Bucks in the BCHL. Over his time in junior hockey, Adam has proven himself to be a slick, high-skill forward who can make plays and score from distance. He finished his junior career with an extremely productive playoff run in which he led the Bucks in goals and points while playing through a significant injury. Our staff is excited to add Adam to the incoming class of Wildcats.”
