Jacob Mucitelli, a goalkeeper who last season had three shutouts in eight starts for Clarkson University in the ECAC Hockey League, is one of three hockey players switching to the University of Maine.
University of Alaska striker Didrik Henbrant, who had one goal and three assists in two games against UMaine last season, and Ferris State striker Justin Michaelian are the other two.
The three players will join a UMaine team in the midst of a rebuild as University of Maine’s first-year head coach Ben Barr retains 12 players from last season’s team and now has 10 new rookies.
UMaine finished 7-22-4 this season and finished last in Hockey East with a league record of 5-17-2. UMaine lost to Merrimack 6-2 in the first round of the playoffs.
UMaine, which has won two NCAA titles and been to 18 NCAA tournaments, has not qualified for the Hockey East semifinals or the NCAA tournament since the 2011-12 season.
The 6-foot-3, 188-pound Mucitelli, a sophomore from Deerfield, New York who supported Ethan Haider this season, compiled an 8-0-1 record, a 1.30 goal-versus-average and a 0.944 save percentage for the golden knights. He appeared in 10 matches.
He saw action in just one match his first year.
Henbrant, also a sophomore, was Alaska’s leading goal scorer last season with 11, and he finished second on the team in points with 20 as he had nine assists. The 5-10, 169-pound heavyweight Linkoping, Sweden, had two goals and four assists in 36 games his first year in 2019-20.
Alaska, an independent Division I, did not play in 2020-21 due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
Nanooks went 14-18-2 this season, including a split in UMaine.
Michaelian, a 6-foot, 191-pound senior from Wizom, Michigan, was Ferris State’s leading goal scorer with 23 points on eight goals and 15 assists in 35 games.
He played 99 career games for the Bulldogs and has 22 goals and 27 assists.
His twin brother Brendan is a defender for Ferris State, which plays in CCHA and went 11-24-1 last season.
Mucitelli will compete with Victor Ostman and Connor Androlewicz for the upcoming goalkeeping job next season.
Ostman, a sophomore, was 5-14-1 with 3.31 goals against the average and a 0.900 save percentage.
Androlewicz appeared in just three games and had a 3.41 GAA and a .880 save percentage.
Junior Matt Thiessen (1-8-3, 3.11 GAA, .888 save percentage) changes.
Mucitelli said it was UMaine’s hockey history and atmosphere that sold him at the transfer, and he also liked Barr and the opportunity to work with goalkeeping coach Alfie Michaud.
In addition, he gets the opportunity to compete for the starting job.
“I’m sure of myself. Nothing is guaranteed, but I’ll get in there with a chance to win the job. It’s someone’s to take,” Mucitelli said if the Golden Knights won 21-10-6.
Mucitelli is also aware of Barr’s desire to rebuild the program, and he said he wants to be a part of the rebuilding.
“Having a winning season would be good for everyone,” said Mucitelli, who has had friends play at UMaine and describe the lively spectators at the Alfond Arena.
Michaelian said he also wants to be a part of the reconstruction.
“I believe in what Coach Barr does and I want to help in any way I can,” Michaelian said.
He knows the program has had a tough time lately with head coach Red Gendron’s sudden death a year ago and its battles on the ice.
“My goal is to get in there and help the team get back to the heyday,” Michaelian said.
He said he has established a good relationship with Barr and likes that he will be among a lot of new players being brought in to help rebuild the culture.
He knows the program is well supported by the community and students and noted that “winning will draw even more support.”
Michaelian said he was “very pleased” with his season at Ferris State, “but I’m not happy. I know I can get even better and help Maine win.