Michigan Announces Nine-Member Incoming Class for 2020-21 Season
7/28/2020 10:10:00 AM | Ice Hockey
ANN ARBOR, Mich. -- The University of Michigan ice hockey program on Tuesday (July 28) announced the addition of nine student-athletes for the 2020-21 season. One of the highest ranked recruiting classes in the nation includes five forwards, three defensemen and one goaltender.
The class includes forwardsThomas Bordeleau, Brendan Brisson, Josh Groll, Kent Johnson and Philippe Lapointe; defensemen Steve Holtz, Owen Power and Jacob Truscott; and goaltender Erik Portillo
Thomas Bordeleau
F | 5-9/179 | Left | Houston, Texas | USNTDP
• Spent two seasons with the U.S. National Team Development Program
• Played in 47 games this past season, scoring 16 goals and 30 assists
• Led the team in scoring in 2018-19 with 16 goals and 23 assists in 56 games
• Won both a gold and silver medal at Four Nations Tournament
• Represented U.S. at the U17 World Hockey Championship
• Named a Biosteel All-American
• A 2018 graduate of Collège Esther-Blondin Phénix (Quebec)
• Ranked No. 23 by EliteProspects.com and No. 29 by NHL Central Scouting (North American Skaters)
Brendan Brisson
F | 6-0/185 | Left | Manhattan Beach, Calif. | Chicago Steel (USHL)
• USHL Rookie of the Year
• First team All-USHL and USHL All-Rookie Team
• Played in 59 games this past season, scoring 24 goals and 35 assists with 18 multiple-point games
• Won Anderson Cup and Frost Cup with Chicago
• Member of Team USA at the World Junior A Challenge, winning a bronze medal and earning All-Tournament team honors
• Named a Biosteel All-American
• A 2019 graduate of Shattuck St. Mary's
• Led Shattuck St. Mary's in scoring with 101 points in 55 games
• Ranked No. 16 by EliteProspects.com and No. 20 by NHL Central Scouting (North American Skaters)
Josh Groll
F | 5-10/180 | Left | San Diego, Calif. | Lincoln Stars (USHL)
• Played last year with Lincoln Stars in the USHL
• Tallied 17 goals and 25 assists in 41 games this past season with Lincoln
• Played for Chicago Steel in 2018-19 and had 18 points in 53 games
• Won a Western Division Championship with Chicago
• Made USHL debut in 2017-18 with Omaha
• Played four games with the US National U-18 Team
• Played internationally at the 2017 Five Nations Tournament, the 2018 Hlinka Gretzky Cup, 2019 Four Nations Tournament and the 2020 World Junior Challenge
• A 2019 graduate of Westview High School
• Won two CIF Championships with high school hockey team
Kent Johnson
F | 6-1/165 | Left | Port Moody, B.C. | Trail Smoke Eaters (BCHL)
• Led the BCHL in scoring this past year with 101 points in 52 games
• First-Team All-BCHL
• Named Canadian Junior Hockey League Top Forward of the Year
• Had a 46-point season as a rookie in 2018-19
• BCHL All-Rookie and Interior Division Rookie of the Year
• Member of Canada West at the World Junior A Challenge
• A 2020 graduate of Burnaby Central
Philippe Lapointe
F | 5-11/185 | Right | Novi, Mich. | Trail Smoke Eaters (BCHL)
• Captain of the Trail Smoke Eaters
• Totaled 55 points in 36 games this past season
• BCHL second team All-Star
• Selected to Canada West team in the World Junior A Challenge
• Played in the USHL with Lincoln and Central Illinois in 2018-19
• Alternate captain for Lincoln in 2018-19
• In 119 regular-season USHL games, he had 18 goals and 47 assists
• Played with U.S. National U18 Team at the 2017 Hlinka Gretzy Cup
• A 2018 graduate of Hinsdale Central
Steve Holtz
D | 6-4/190 | Right | White Lake, Mich. | Penticton Vees (BCHL)
• Played last year with Penticton Vees, leading all defensemen in scoring with 27 points
• Spent previous two seasons with Youngstown Phantoms (USHL)
• Helped Youngstown to the Eastern Division championship as runner-up for the Clarke Cup
• A 2017 graduate of Walled Lake Northern
Owen Power
D | 6-5/215 | Left | Mississauga, Ont. | Chicago Steel (USHL)
• USHL Defenseman of the Year
• Led the league's defensemen with 40 points
• USHL first team All-Star
• USHL All-Rookie Team in 2018-19 with 28 points in 58 games
• Helped Chicago to Anderson Cup and runners-up to Clark Cup
• A member of Canada White at the World Hockey Challenge U17
• A 2020 graduate of St. Joseph's Catholic
Jacob Truscott
D | 6-1/178 | Left | Port Huron, Mich. | USNTDP
• Spent two seasons with the U.S. National Team Development Program
• Had 21 points in 47 games with the USA U18 this past season
• Collected five goals and 12 assists in 55 games with the USA U17 team
• Played in three Five Nations Tournaments winning gold, silver and bronze medals
• Claimed a silver medal at the Four Nations Tournament in 2018
• Played in the World U17 Hockey Challenge in 2018-19
• Named a Biosteel All-American
• A 2020 graduate of Northville High school
• Ranked No. 89 by EliteProspects.com and No. 68 by NHL Central Scouting (North American Skaters)
Erik Portillo
G | 6-6/225 | Left | Gothenburg, Sweden | Dubuque Fighting Saints (USHL)
• 2019 Buffalo Sabres draft pick as the 67th overall selection
• 2019-20 USHL Goalie of the Year
• First team All-USHL in 2019-20
• Led the league in goals-against average (2.11) and third in save percentage (.915)
• Posted a season record of 19-5-1
• Member of the Swedish Hockey organization since 2015
• Member of the 2020 World Junior Championship team that won bronze
• A 2019 graduate of Katrinelundsgymnasiet
Quote Sheet
Associate head coach Bill Muckalt and assistant head coach Kris Mayotte on the incoming class
Muckalt on Bordeleau ... "Thomas has great vision and has a knack for making seam passes. He is dangerous off of the rush while also being strong when playing tight around the net. Thomas makes his linemates better, and we are excited to have him at Michigan."
Mayotte on Brisson ... "Brendan is a very talented offensive threat who has great offensive creativity and a knack for scoring. He joins Michigan after being named the USHL Rookie of the Year and he was second in the league in points. Brendan is a consistent threat that makes the players around him better. His game has taken off over the past couple of years, and we are excited to have him continue his development as a Wolverine."
Muckalt on Groll ... "Josh took a big step in his development this past season with Lincoln in the USHL. He averaged more than one point per game and was named to the Team USA roster at the World Junior A Challenge. Josh has shown versatility on both the power play and the penalty kill, and is at his best when playing with an edge."
Muckalt on Johnson ... "Kent is a very special talent. He possesses elite offensive vision and uses poised deception to create time and space for himself and his teammates. He was the decisive leading scorer in the BCHL as a 17-year-old and received the Canadian Junior Hockey League player of the year. Has a knack for scoring highlight-reel goals, and we expect Kent to have an immediate impact offensively at Michigan."
Muckalt on LaPointe ... "Phil is a consummate team player. He was a leader in points per game in the BCHL, second overall, and a first team BCHL all-star. Phil has taken big strides in improving his conditioning and that has translated into him being a dependable 200-foot power winger. He's responsible and efficient in all three zones and has a nice combination of grit and strength."
Muckalt on Holtz ... "Steve has matured his game this past season, gaining confidence and increasing his point totals. He has good mobility and a long, active stick while defending and a good shot from the offensive blue line. Steve played an effective role in all situations this past season and will bring good depth to our back end."
Mayotte on Power ... "Owen is an imposing defenseman who was named the USHL Defenseman of the Year after leading the league's defenseman in scoring as a 17-year-old. Owen possesses the tools to play in every situation. He is a great skater and at 6-5 he has the ability to be a shutdown defender, but also has great vision and skills offensively. Owen has continued to take big steps every year and we are excited for him to take the next step with us at Michigan."
Mayotte on Truscott ... "We are excited for Jacob to join us from the NTDP. He is a long defender with great feet, who quickly takes time and space away from opponents. He is difficult to play against and consistently separates opponents from the puck. Jacob is efficient in his breakouts and has the ability to make plays to all parts of the ice. As the second-leading scorer on D for the NTDP, we expect Jacob to be a threat offensively due to his powerful and accurate shot."
Mayotte on Portillo ... "Erik is a very intelligent goalie with great size. He is very rarely caught out of position, and when he does, he has the athleticism to recover. The USHL Goalie of the Year, Erik comes to Ann Arbor with great experience under his belt, including playing for Sweden in last year's World Junior Championship. We believe adding Erik gives us even greater depth in goaltending."
