MSU hockey announces new recruits for 2020-21 season

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Credit: MSU Athletic Communications

Kyle Hatty, Men's Hockey Beat Reporter
May 14, 2020

 

Michigan State announced its six new recruits today who will join them for the 2020-21 season. They will join goalie Pierce Charleson, defensemen Calvin Dybicz, defensemen Aiden Gallacher, and forward Kristof Papp as the newest influx of talent for the 2020-21 season Here is a closer look at each of the six new recruits:

 

  1. (F), Charlie Combs, 5-6, 194-pounds

Combs transferred to Michigan State from Bemidji State, where he played for three seasons. Combs played wing on both sides from 2017-20, where he scored 60 points in 108 games. Combs is a unique case in this class —he was born in 1996— and he is much older than the rest of this class who are at least three years younger. Combs will bring much-needed Division I experience to a team that lost a lot of seniors.

 

  1. (D), Powell Connor, 6-3, 188-pounds

Connor is a lengthy defenseman with a skilled set of playmaking abilities; He could come in and see special teams action based on his defensive zone skill. He spent the last four seasons in the British Columbia Hockey League (BCHL). Connor had a career season last year, as he tallied 27 points in the BCHL last season.  Connor also competed in the World Junior A Challenge under Team Canada West.

 

  1. (F), Kyle Haskins, 5-10, 191-pounds

Haskins is a versatile forward who is very good at getting shots on net. Last season was his second season in the United States Hockey League (USHL), where he spent time at center and wing. Haskins tallied 18 points in his 48 games last year.

 

  1. (F), A.J. Hodges, 5-11, 174-pounds

The youngest signee out of the class is Hodges, who was born in August 2001. Hodges is a two-way player who tallied 30 points in 49 games despite being traded halfway through the year. He also won USHL Forward of the Week this past season after putting up six points in two games.

 

  1. (G), Jon Mor, 6-2, 194-pounds

Mor is a decent-sized goalie who also spent time in the BCHL, where he earned a .889 save percentage and 3.56 GAA. Mor also spent time with the United States National Team Development Program (USNTDP) before the BCHL.

 

  1. (D), Nash Nienhuis, 5-9, 178-pounds

After playing three seasons in the USHL, Nienhuis was voted to the All-USHL Second Team in 2020 after he led all USHL defensemen in assists with 30. While he is undersized for a defenseman, he makes up for it with defensive zone awareness and intelligence, however, he is much more of a threat in the offensive zone.