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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.
First up is the Brooks Bandits.
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The Brooks Bandits finished atop the Alberta Division last year and, after two hard-fought series against the Okotoks Oilers and the Sherwood Park Crusaders, were crowned Alberta Cup champions. They followed that up by defeating the B.C. champion Surrey Eagles in the Rocky Mountain Challenge.
With their sights now set on 2024-25, we speak with head coach and general manager Ryan Papaioannou about his team’s new recruits for the upcoming season.
New recruits
Jack Good (2006, F)
- Hometown: Ajax, Ont.
- Previous team: St. Andrew’s College (U18 AAA)
- College commitment: Merrimack College
Good was St. Andrew’s second-leading scorer last year with 145 points 70 games, only behind first-round NHL pick Dean Letourneau. His 44 goals also ranked second on the team. He also affiliated with Brooks last season, scoring one goal in four games.
Papaioannou’s scouting report:
“His ability to make plays really stands out. He was one of the best players on one of the best teams in North American prep hockey. Going through the process to get him, it was probably a solid year-and-a-half and mostly based on the relationship we were able to build. He should be an exciting player for us who should be able to contribute offence. We hope he can end up playing in our top-six.”
Nate Yellowaga (2008, D)
Hometown: Calgary, Alta.- Previous team: Southern Alberta Hockey Academy Prep (CSSHL U18)
Yellowaga was a point per game player at SAHA last season, leading all defencemen on his team with 25 points in 25 games. He also has plenty of experience in the BCHL already, suiting up for six games as an affiliate in the regular season and another seven in the playoffs. He scored his first goal in the league in a Mar. 22 win over the Sherwood Park Crusaders.
Papaioannou’s scouting report:
“Nate’s dad is our skills coach, so he’s been around our team since he was a very little boy. I watched this kid grow up as a person and a hockey player. He’s just ultra-talented with the puck, but also good without it. He did such a great job with us last year as a 15-year-old affiliate. He played every game in our series against Okotoks and did not look out of place. We’ve known him forever. We’re excited about him. I think he should eventually be an NHL Draft guy.”
Jack Sullivan (2006, D)
Hometown: Buffalo, N.Y.- Previous team: Nichols School (USHS-Prep)
- College commitment: University of Vermont
Sullivan led his prep school team in scoring last year as a defenceman, piling up 77 points in 65 games, including a team-best 55 assists. His 22 goals were second most among his Nichols School teammates.
Papaioannou’s scouting report:
“He’s ultra-talented. His skills are off the charts. We’re going to help him round out his entire game, but just in terms of pure talent, he may be one of the most exciting defencemen we’ve brought in in a long time. Hopefully, we’re able to help him translate those skills, but his talent is off the charts.”
Jace Letourneau (2004, F)
Hometown: Arnprior, Ont.- Previous team: Renfrew Wolves (CCHL)
- College commitment: Clarkson University
The younger brother of 2024 Boston Bruins first-round pick Dean Letourneau, Jace made a name for himself in the Central Canada Hockey League (CCHL) the past three years, finishing 2023-24 as the league’s leading scorer with 85 points in 55 games, while also scoring the most goals in the CCHL with 40.
Papaioannou’s scouting report:
“He’s big and skilled. We feel like, with the puck on his stick, there might not be a better player we’ve seen in terms of actual goal-scoring. We’re happy to add his size and offensive ability. Hopefully, we’re able to help him round out his game before college.”
Travis Verbeek (2004, F)
Hometown: Flesherton, Ont.- Previous team: Whitecourt Wolverines (AJHL)
- College commitment: University of Alaska-Anchorage
Verbeek started his junior career with the Bandits in the fall of 2022-23, but was traded away early in the season. Since then, he has blossomed into a high-scoring forward, finishing second in team scoring with Whitecourt last year, putting up 60 points in 55 games.
Papaioannou’s scouting report:
“We recruited him to play as an 18-year-old, but at the time we just didn’t have the ice he needed to develop. He’s been away for two years working on his craft, but we’re excited to bring him back as a 20-year-old and have him help lead our group. He’s skilled and he plays the right way. With the familiarity we have with each other, it should be a really good fit.”
Michal Liscinsky (2006, F)
Hometown: Kosice, Slovakia- Previous team: HC Kosice (Slovakia U20)
Liscinsky scored 10 goals in 13 games for his club team in his hometown of Kosice, adding four assists for 17 points. He also represented Slovakia internationally at multiple under-18 competitions, including at the Hlinka-Gretzky Cup.
Papaioannou’s scouting report:
“He’s undersized, but extremely hard on pucks. He’s a fast player who we think is going to make us better in terms of our work ethic and our hard skill. He’s played in the highest level of international competition, so we’re excited to have him come over.”
Evan Malkhassian (2007, F)
Hometown: Toronto, Ont.- Previous team: Toronto Jr. Canadiens (OJHL)
- College commitment: Harvard University
Malkhassian put up 14 goals, 24 assists and 38 points playing with his older brother Luc as part of the Toronto Jr. Canadiens program last season.
Papaioannou’s scouting report:
“He’s a skilled 2007-born forward. He’s somebody who we think is young and talented and will get the opportunity to play with good players. He’s going to score points and provide offence for us.
Dante Siciliano (2005, D)
Hometown: Whitby, Ont.- Previous team: Bonnyville Pontiacs (AJHL)
- College commitment: University of Maine
Siciliano contributed 10 goals and 15 assists from the back end last year in 49 regular-season games.
Papaioannou’s scouting report:
“We played against him a couple times last year in Bonnyville. He’s a big kid that moves well and has good stick skills. We feel like he’s a guy that should step right into our top four. He’s an experienced junior player. With his ability to bring leadership, size and intangibles to our team, he checks a lot of boxes for us.”
Jack Rosensteel (2006, F)
Hometown: Greensburg, Pa.- Previous team: Pittsburgh Penguins Elite (18U AAA)
Rosensteel was the Penguins top scorer in 2023-24, finishing his campaign with 46 points in 51 games and a team-high 22 goals.
Papaioannou’s scouting report:
“He plays the right way and does a lot of hard-skill things. We saw him halfway through last year and had a chance to bring him in and see him live in our program. We feel like he’s an intangible guy that’s going to make us better night in and night out.”
Photo credits: Dan Hickling (Good, Sullivan, Rosensteel), CSSHL (Yellowaga)
