WALTHAM, Mass. – The Bentley hockey program is pleased to announce its freshman class for the upcoming 2016-17 season. Of the nine incoming student-athletes, five won league championships with their junior teams last season.

The incoming class is comprised of five forwards, three defensemen and one goalie, and comes from five different junior hockey leagues spread across North America; the BCHL (three student-athletes), NAHL (two), USPHL (two), USHL (one) and MJHL (one).

The five forwards are Dean Balsamo (Sterling Heights, Mich./Aston-NAHL), Jonathan Desbiens (Montreal, Quebec/West Kelowna-BCHL), Ryner Gorowsky (Lino Lakes, Minn./Fairbanks-NAHL), Jake Kauppila (Gurnee, Ill./Trail-BCHL) and Matt Riggleman (Milford, Mich./Sioux Falls-USHL).

The three defensemen are Connor Brassard (Fitchburg, Mass./Jersey Hitmen-USPHL), Brett Orr (Elkhorn, Manitoba/Portage-MJHL), and Tanner Salsberry (Cypress, Texas/Jersey Hitmen-USPHL).

Aidan Pelino (Oakville, Ontario/Chilliwack-BCHL) is between the pipes.

Desbiens (BCHL), Gorowsky (NAHL), Orr (MJHL) and teammates Brassard and Salsberry (USPHL) all helped their teams to league championships last season. Desbiens' West Kelowna squad also won the Royal Bank Cup as the junior A champions of Canada.

• Dean Balsamo (F, Aston Rebels-NAHL): Was among the top-20 scorers in the NAHL regular season with 50 points (25g, 25a), before helping Aston to the league finals with 8 points in 8 playoff games.
• Connor Brassard (D, Jersey Hitmen-USPHL): Served as the Jersey Hitmen's captain last season. Led team to 2^nd straight USPHL Premier championship. Had 27 points (6g, 21a) in 36 regular season games, and had 34 points (5g, 29a) in 44 regular season games during the 2014-15 season.
• Jonathan Desbiens (F, West Kelowna Warriors-BCHL): Comes from the same West Kelowna program that produced current Falcon Max French and former captain Alex Grieve, among others. Was the 5^th leading scorer in the BCHL regular season with 83 points (44g, 39a) before leading the Warriors to both the league and Canadian titles in the postseason. Named a 2^nd team BCHL All-Star for 2015-16.
• Ryner Gorowsky (F, Fairbanks Ice Dogs-NAHL): Was the 2^nd leading scorer in the NAHL regular season with 83 points (28g, 55a). Named to the All-Midwest Division team. Helped Fairbanks to the league title, where they upended his future teammate Balsamo and the Aston Rebels for the Robertson Cup championship.
• Jake Kauppila (F, Trail Smoke Eaters-BCHL): Scored 16 goals and had 17 assists for 33 points in 52 games last season for the Trail Smoke Eaters. Is the first Bentley player to come from that program. Played in 60 games for the Green Bay Gamblers (USHL) during the 2014-15 season and recorded 19 points (9g, 10a).
• Brett Orr (D, Portage Terries-MJHL): Named the MJHL Top Defenseman for 2015-16. High scoring blueliner who had 13 goals and 29 assists for 42 points in 52 games for Portage in the MJHL regular season. Then had 10 assists during the postseason as he led Portage to its 2^nd straight league title. Was teammates with current Falcon defenseman Tanner Jago as Portage won the Manitoba league title in 2014-15.
• Aidan Pelino (G, Chilliwack Chiefs-BCHL): Two-year starter in goal for Chilliwack. In 2015-16, went 22-11-2 during the regular season, with the BCHL's 4^th best goals against average (2.54). Went 13-7 during the postseason as the Chiefs went to the BCHL finals.
• Matt Riggleman (F, Sioux Falls Stampede-USHL): Played in 54 games last season for Sioux Falls in the USHL, the top junior league in the United States. Recorded 13 points on 7 goals and 6 assists in his only season of junior hockey.
• Tanner Salsberry (D, Jersey Hitmen-USPHL): Played in 43 regular season games for the Jersey Hitmen last season and registered 28 points (4g, 24a). Notched 4 assists during the team's run to the USPHL title. Also played for Bismarck in the NAHL for the 2014-15 season. Had 32 points (12g, 20a) in 41 games that season.