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In the weeks leading up to the start of the 2024-25 season, we will go team-by-team to profile new players entering the league, as well as offseason acquisitions through trades. We speak with the coach/GM of each team to get their thoughts on the new crop of players.
Next up is the Blackfalds Bulldogs.
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The Blackfalds Bulldogs finished third in the Alberta Division in 2023-24 and were beaten by the Sherwood Park Crusaders in their semifinal series.
Turning the page to 2024-25, we chat with Blackfalds head coach Doug Quinn about the new group of players wearing the Bulldogs uniform this fall.
New recruits
Ryan Castle (2006, D)
Hometown: Mississauga, Ont.- Previous team: St. Andrew’s College (U18 AAA)
Castle was St. Andrew’s leading scorer on the blueline last season, piling up 50 points in 68 games across all competition.
Quinn’s scouting report:
“He’s actually the first player that we’ve recruited from St. Andrew’s, which is a pretty big deal for us. Ryan has size, puck skills and a high hockey IQ. He’s definitely going to make a big impact next year. He’s a good all-around defenceman. We expect him to come in and contribute right away.”
Mikkel Christensen (2006, G)
Hometown: Toronto, Ont.- Previous team: Oakville Blades (OJHL)
A dual Norwegian-Canadian citizen, Christensen played 16 games for Oakville in the Ontario Junior Hockey League last year and finished with a .931 save percentage, 2.23 goals-against average and three shutouts.
Quinn’s scouting report:
“We were watching him a lot last year. He’s very athletic in net. He tracks the puck really well. He has the potential to be a top player in our league.”
Santeen Golja (2005, F)
Hometown: Ljubljana, Slovakia- Previous team: Lugano (U20-Elit)
Golja played the majority of his youth hockey with Lugano in Switzerland. Last year, with the under-20 team, he finished with 37 points in 44 games, putting him third in team scoring.
Quinn’s scouting report:
“He’s a highly skilled player. He has the ability to be a game-changer. He played in Europe last year, so he’s a bit of an unknown, but he looked great judging by everything we’ve seen and heard. He’s got strong skating ability and elite puck skills.”
Shane Purves (2006, F)
Hometown: North Vancouver, B.C.- Previous team: North Shore Warriors Prep (CSSHL U18)
Purves led the CSSHL in goals with 31 last year and also tied for the overall lead in points, closing out his campaign with 64 in 30 games.
Quinn’s scouting report:
“He’s obviously coming off a great season last year at the under-18 level. He has lots of upside. He put up lots of points. We’re expecting him to be a real scorer for us down the road.”
Lucas McDonald (2007, F)
Hometown: New Westminster, B.C.- Previous team: Vancouver Northeast Chiefs (BCEHL U18)
McDonald was his team’s top scorer and also finished third overall in his league with 58 points in 34 games, just three back of top spot.
Quinn’s scouting report:
“He put up great numbers in the B.C. under-18 league. He’s very skilled and has great scoring ability with a really good work ethic.”
Brayden Gourley (2007, F)
Hometown: Calgary, Alta.- Previous team: Calgary Buffaloes AAA (AEHL U18)
Gourley was over a point per game in 2023-24, totaling 39 points in 35 contests. He is the younger brother of Connor Gourley, who played for the Okotoks Oilers and is starting his freshman year at Robert Morris University this fall, and Jarrod Gourley, who played for the Brooks Bandits and Spruce Grove Saints and is currently playing professionally in Europe.
Quinn’s scouting report
“He comes from the Buffaloes program, which I know well. He’s one of the top 2007-born forwards coming out of Alberta. He’s a highly skilled player with a good hockey IQ and a really strong compete level. We coached against his brother in Okotoks, so we know he comes from a strong hockey family.”
Liam O’Keeffe (2006, D)
Hometown: Boston, Mass.- Previous team: Dexter Southfield School (USHS-Prep)
- College commitment: College of the Holy Cross
O’Keeffe wrapped up his fourth and final year at Dexter Southfield last season and also spent time with the Boston Jr. Eagles program for the past two years.
Quinn’s scouting report:
“Liam is somebody who we brought in to be one of our Black Aces at the end of last year. He’s a really strong skater and defender. He makes a great first pass and has a high compete level. We’re excited to have him.”
Aidan Castle (2004, F)
Hometown: Toronto, Ont.- Previous team: Saginaw Spirit (OHL)
Castle was part of the Memorial Cup winning Saginaw team out of the Ontario Hockey League (OHL). He played the past three season in the OHL, but will join his younger brother Ryan in Blackfalds in 2024-25.
Quinn’s scouting report:
“He probably got pushed down the lineup a little bit because Saginaw had so much talent last year. This is a great opportunity for the two brothers to play together. We’re excited to have him.”
Wolf Giles (2005, F)
Hometown: Toronto, Ont.- Previous team: Niagara Falls Canucks (OJHL)
Giles was Niagara Falls’ leading scorer in 2023-24 with 60 points in 55 games, while his 33 goals were tied for 12th most in all of the OJHL.
Quinn’s scouting report:
“We almost signed him as a Black Ace last year. He came and skated with us after his season was over. He put up a lot of points in the OJHL. He’s a big guy with great puck skills.”
Joey Melo (2005, F)
Hometown: Georgetown, Ont.- Previous team: Whitecourt Wolverines (AJHL)
- College commitment: University of Alaska-Anchorage
Melo was named the Alberta Junior Hockey League Rookie of the Year in 2023-24 after scoring 22 goals and adding 21 assists for 43 points in 56 games for Whitecourt.
Quinn’s scouting report:
“Joey had a great first year in Alberta last season and was recognized as the Rookie of the Year. He will bring a lot of skill to our lineup.”
Raivis Strazdins (2005, F)
Hometown: Riga, Latvia- Previous team: Fehérvár Hockey Academy 19 (Austria U20i)
Strazdins was the leading scorer for his team in Hungary last year. He put up 42 points in 22 games in Austrian league competition on 21 goals and 21 assists.
Quinn’s scouting report:
“He’s a big guy, around 6-foot-4. He’s got great puck skills. He’s a bit of an unknown, but he played a number of games in a European pro league and he actually looked better playing against the pros than he did against his own age group. He has a lot of upside.”
Jamie Darlison (2005, F)
Hometown: Whitby, Ont.- Previous team: Trenton Golden Hawks (OJHL)
Darlison produced at over a point-per-game clip splitting his 2023-24 campaign with Trenton and the Pickering Panthers in the OJHL last year. He finished with 48 points in 43 regular-season games, then had 11 points in 16 postseason contests with the Golden Hawks.
Quinn’s scouting report:
“He brings us a lot of junior experience. He’s a strong skater who does a good job using his size and skill.”
Charles Béland (2006, F)
Hometown: Trois-Rivières, Que.- Previous team: North Iowa Bulls (NAHL)
Béland scored seven goals and added 10 assists for 17 points in 45 North American Hockey League games last year.
Quinn’s scouting report:
“He’s a bigger body, but he skates really well. He’s put up points in the past. He plays a two-way physical game. He has a great work ethic. We’re excited to have him as part of our group moving forward.”
Porter Byrd-Leitner (2006, F)
Hometown: Moorestown, N.J.- Previous team: The Lawrenceville School (USHS-Prep)
- College commitment: Colgate University
Byrd-Leitner put up a lot of points last year, splitting his season between Lawrenceville and the New Jersey Rockets program. He led his prep school in scoring with 40 points in 25 games, while also piling up 57 points in 62 games with the Rockets across all competition.
Quinn’s scouting report:
“He has a really strong all-around game. He’s a good skater and plays a 200-foot game. He’s really defensively responsible.”
Nayan Pai (2005, F)
Hometown: Seattle, Wash.- Previous team: Colorado Rampage (18U AAA)
Pai suited up for the Rampage program in three of the past four seasons. In 2023-24, playing for the 18U club, he was their leading scorer with 82 points in 67 games across all competition.
Quinn’s scouting report:
“He came to us right at the end of last year. He’s a strong player with lots of speed. He’s really good offensively as well. He brings a ton of work ethic. We’re excited to see him in our lineup.”
Jack McAra (2005, F)
Hometown: Burlington, Ont.- Previous team: Bonnyville Pontiacs (AJHL)
In his rookie year in junior hockey with Bonnyville, McAra put up 10 goals, 25 assists and 35 points in 51 games.
Quinn’s scouting report:
“We played against him last year, so we are already familiar with him. He’s a good all-around player with junior experience. He’s put up a lot of points in the past. He’s somebody that can give us a lot of extra depth.”
Sam Osei (2006, D)
Hometown: Jericho, N.Y.- Previous team: Shattuck St. Mary’s 18U (USHS-Prep)
Osei contributed 23 points in 51 games at Shattuck St. Mary’s last season.
Quinn’s scouting report:
“Sam came and skated with us two or three times last year. He’s also the first player we’ve ever recruited out of the Shattuck St. Mary’s program. He’s a strong defender, a great skater and possesses puck skills and a high hockey IQ.”
Luc Warner (2006, F)
Hometown: Milton, Ont.- Previous team: St. Andrew’s College
Warner put up 17 points for St. Andrew’s last year across all competition.
Quinn’s scouting report:
“He’s a really strong, physical player with a great work ethic. He’s also really good on the forecheck and plays a physical all-around game.”
Ben Rakowski (2006, F)
Hometown: Greenwood Village, Colo.- Previous team: Bishop Kearney Selects (18U AAA)
Rakowski averaged exactly a point per game last season with 58 in 58 contests, just one back of the team lead. He scored 29 goals and added 29 assists.
Quinn’s scouting report:
“He was a Black Ace for us last year. He’s a physical player with strong skill and plays a solid all-around game.”
Joseph Gasperko (2006, F)
Hometown: Glen Ellyn, Ill.- Previous team: Bishop Kearney Selects (18U AAA)
Gasperko finished two back of the team lead in goals last year with 28 and ended his 2023-24 campaign with 49 points in 58 games.
Quinn’s scouting report:
“He’s a really good skater with strong puck skills. He plays with a lot of energy. He’s a good all-around defender as a centreman. We’re excited to see him in action.”
Nathan Schaefer (2006, D)
Hometown: Detroit, Mich.- Previous team: Victory Honda (18U AAA)
Schaefer was Victory Honda’s highest point producer on the back end last season, totaling 72 points in 83 games across all competition.
Quinn’s scouting report:
“He’s a skilled defenceman who plays with an edge. He is just a solid all-around defender.”
Photo credits: Dan Hickling (Ryan Castle, O’Keeffe, Byrd-Leitner, Osei, Warner, Schaefer), CSSHL (Purves)
