When the Waterloo Warriors men's hockey team takes the ice for the first time in nearly 21 months, they'll have plenty of new faces donning the black and gold for the first time.

In addition to a five-player recruiting class ahead of the cancelled 2020-21 season, the Warriors will welcome five additional members to the program this fall.

"It's been great," said head coach Brian Bourque of the new blood in the lineup. "We have ten guys who have never played in this league before, and everyone is buying in. It's been a really enjoyable process."

In the offseason of 2020, the Warriors added five new faces to the program – defencemen Nick King (Waterloo, ON) and Matt Benson (Surrey, BC), as well as forwards Jack Phibbs (Hagersville, ON/), Dan Walker (Sudbury, ON), and Nolan Lee (Vancouver, BC).

Meet the 2020 recruiting class

Royal homecoming: King commits to Warriors
Walker commits to Warriors
Jack of all trades: Warriors welcome Phibbs to hockey program
Come from away: Warriors add a pair of BC natives
 
The 2021 recruiting season carried with it a lot of unknowns. Most junior hockey leagues held seasons that was either extremely abbreviated or cancelled altogether, making it challenging for USports coaches to properly evaluate potential players. But, Bourque and his staff added another quintet of players that will have a lasting impact on the Waterloo hockey program.
  Alex Gritz (Cranberry Township, PA)
Gritz is a 6'0" forward from the suburbs of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania – but he's certainly no stranger to the Waterloo Region. At the age of 15, Gritz moved to Elmira and joined the Waterloo Wolves Minor midget AAA team in order to get some more game time in front of OHL scouts. And the move paid off – Gritz compiled 25 goals and 32 assists for 57 points in 162 OHL games with Sault Ste. Marie and Erie, while adding 45 games with Rouyn-Noranda of the QMJHL.

"Alex plays hard and honest," said Bourque. "We know he can play a 200-foot game, and he has some offensive upside."

Gritz is one of the only recruits to have played a full season last year – he served as captain of the Johnstown Tomahawks of the NAHL, while putting up 24 points in 46 games.


Gavin Wood (Waterloo, ON)
Gritz isn't the only new Warrior experiencing a homecoming this fall, as the 6'3" defenseman and Waterloo native joins the team after a fantastic Jr. A career with the Kemptville 73's of the CCHL. And while he's been away from home for a couple years, he'll be extremely familiar with his new surroundings at the Columbia Icefield Arena.

"Gavin came through our minor hockey camps, which is really neat for us," said Bourque. "He has a great hockey IQ, a great skillset, and just someone we really wanted to be part of our program, both on and off the ice."

A two-way blueliner with a rocket point shot, Wood concluded his junior career with 20 goals and 38 assists for 58 points in 118 games.


Tate Popple (Brandon, MB)
The recruiting reach certainly wasn't limited to players with Waterloo connections, but Tate Popple (Brandon, MB) is already used to being a Warrior – the native of Brandon, Manitoba comes to Waterloo after playing parts of five seasons with the Moose Jaw Warriors of the WHL.

"Tate's reputation from WHL coaches is fantastic," said Bourque. "He's very capable defensively, but we know he can contribute offensively, too. He's great in the faceoff circle, he's a leader, and his transition to our program has been awesome."

Popple was able to play an abbreviated season in 20-21, putting up an impressive 16 points in just 24 games – a pace that would have seen him flirt with the 50-point plateau over a full season. In 198 career WHL games, Popple registered 34 goals and 37 assists for 71 points.


Adamo Santia (Richmond Hill, ON)
Santia is another new Warrior that migrated east for his academic career, as the Richmond Hill, Ontario native joins the program after splitting the past two seasons with the Surrey Eagles and Powell River Kings of the BCHL. And, while Santia might have ended his junior career a year earlier than most, his addition will be welcomed immediately in the Waterloo dressing room.

"He's very academically-motivated, so he decided to forego his overage year of junior. He was keen to get started in school and with us on the ice," said Bourque. "He has a high work ethic, good hands, and good hockey sense. He's a big body that likes to play the game hard."

In addition to his time out west, Santia also played with Aurora and Newmarket of the OJHL. Over 134 career Jr. A games, Santia scored 30 goals and added 42 assists for 72 points. In an abbreviated 20-21 season, Santia played at nearly a point-a-game pace, with 11 goals and 17 assists for 18 points in 20 games.


Dan Murphy (Waterford, ON)
The Warriors rounded out their recruiting class by rounding out their goal crease, as Murphy brings a workhorse reputation to the Warriors. The 6'1" native of Waterford played three seasons with the Erie Otters of the OHL, playing starter minutes in each of his two last seasons.

"Everyone we talked to about Dan said he was responsible, committed, and just a first-class person," said Bourque. "His work ethic is great; we know he can play a lot of minutes and give us stability in net. Plus, he's in the engineering program and really fits into the academic model of our program."

Murphy was traded to the Niagara Ice Dogs last year, but never played for Niagara after the 20-21 OHL season was cancelled. In parts of three seasons with Erie, Murphy registered 42 wins, while compiling a 3.62 goals against average and .884 save percentage.

The new Warriors will be ready when the puck drops on the 2021-22 season, as the Warriors host the Windsor Lancers on Thursday, November 4 at the Columbia Icefield Arena.