PITTSBURGH -- The
Robert Morris University men's hockey team is proud to announce the addition to two more skaters to the upcoming 2019-20 freshman class.
Forward Santeri Hartikainen and defenseman Bradley Stonnell have signed National Letters of Intent (NLIs) with RMU and will enroll in the fall.
Both players competed at the junior 'A' level in 2018-19 in preparation for the beginnings of their college hockey careers, with Hartikainen playing with the Corpus Christi (Texas) IceRays of the North American Hockey League, while Stonnell suited up for the Drumheller Dragons of the Alberta Junior Hockey League.
A 20-year-old native of Finland, Hartikainen (HART-uh-KAI-nun) will become just the second Colonial to be born and trained in Europe, joining current RMU freshman forward
Justin Addamo, who hails from France. Hartikainen put up 53 points (24g, 29a) in 59 regular-season games for the IceRays.
The right-handed shooter, Hartikainen ranked 25th on the NAHL scoring list, with the Robertson Cup playoffs still to come. After learning the game with the HIFK club in his hometown of Helsinki, he played three years on the U.S. prep circuit, the first two with Groton School in Massachusetts and another with Northwood School in upstate New York.
"Santeri is a 200-foot player," RMU assistant coach
Michael Gershon said. "His skating ability for a 6-foot-3 forward, along with his puck skills and his scoring, will mesh nicely with our returning and incoming forward group. We look forward to his continued point production as a Colonial."
Hartikainen is the second RMU recruit in the past few months to come from Corpus Christi, where former Colonials scoring star Ryan Cruthers serves as head coach. (Pittsburgh-born IceRays defenseman Brian Kramer is scheduled to come to Moon Township in the fall of 2020.)
"I am very excited for Santeri," Cruthers said recently. "He has worked extremely hard for this opportunity. He competes every day and is a true student of the game. To see him go to RMU, where I had an amazing experience, is truly special. Santeri will thrive under coach (Derek) Schooley and his staff."
Stonnell, 20, joins the Colonial Hockey family after three full seasons of junior experience, the past two predominantly with Drumheller of the AJHL. The 5-foot-11 right-handed shooter contributed 25 points (8g, 17a) in 27 games this season. In 127 career AJHL games for the Dragons -- regular season and playoffs -- Stonnell piled up an impressive 87 points (25g, 62a) from the blue line.
"Brad is an excellent offensive puck-moving defenseman," RMU associate head coach
Kody Van Rentergem said. "He's good at joining the rush offensively, and is excellent at getting pucks through to the net from the point. Brad isn't the biggest defenseman, but his compete level allows him to end plays in the 'D' zone so he can use his offensive abilities more often. He's an excellent person and we're excited to have him."
In addition to his experience in the Canadian junior ranks, Stonnell also played in 16 games for the Cedar Rapids (Iowa) RoughRiders of the United States Hockey League in 2017-18, scoring two points (1g, 1a) in that stint with America's top junior circuit.
Stonnell will join fellow AJHL alumnus and junior-to-be
Nick Prkusic on the 2019-20 squad. Also, forward Garrett Clegg of the AJHL's Sherwood Park Crusaders is scheduled to enroll at RMU this fall.
The Colonials are coming off their 15th season of Division I NCAA hockey, in which they tied a league record by qualifying for their sixth straight Atlantic Hockey final four. For more information on the team, visit RMUColonials.com.
