BOSTON - The Boston University men's ice hockey team will add nine freshmen and a graduate transfer to its 2017-18 roster, head coach David Quinn announced today.

The group contains seven forwards and three defensemen, giving the Terriers a 27-man roster for the upcoming 2017-18 season.

This heralded group of freshmen includes five players who were selected in the 2017 NHL Entry Draft, four who were participants in the 2017 World Junior Summer Showcase, four who have won a gold medal with their country at the IIHF U18 World Championship and two sons of Terriers who were linemates on the 1990-91 team and each went on to play over 1,100 NHL games.

In addition to the nine members in the Class of 2021, Drew Melanson has joined the squad as a graduate transfer after spending the past three seasons at Rensselaer and is eligible to play immediately.

"One thing I really love about this class is the balance," said Quinn. "We've got maturity, we've got skill, we've got physicality, and to top it all off, I really love the character of all these guys. They have a great work ethic and they are definitely going to make BU better both on and off the ice." 

---

Ty Amonte 
F • 5-11 • 185 • Norwell, Mass. • Penticton Vees (BCHL)

Played for the Penticton Vees of the BCHL in 2016-17, tallying 37 points (10g, 27a) in the regular season before helping them claim the Fred Page Cup and qualify for the RBC Cup tournament ... Previously spent four seasons at Thayer Academy, capped by a senior year in which he put up 70 points (17g, 53a) in 30 games, leading the Tigers to the NEPSAC Large Schools Championship ... Recipient of the 2016 John Carlton Memorial Trophy, given annually to the top Eastern Mass. Player "who combines exceptional hockey skills with academic excellence." ... Played for the Cape Cod Whalers U18 and U16 squads in the Mass Selects league from 2013-16 ... Set up the game-winning goal in the 2015 Massachusetts Midget U18 championship game to send Cape Cod to nationals ... Son of former Terrier and five-time NHL All-Star Tony Amonte, who coached Ty at Thayer Academy.

Quinn on Amonte: "Ty has been a really good player for a long time. He has great quickness, competes and has good stick skills. His extra year in the BCHL helped him a lot and I think he's got a huge upside with his best hockey ahead of him."

Shane Bowers
F • 6-0 • 178 • Halifax, N.S. • Waterloo Black Hawks (USHL)

Spent the past two seasons with the Waterloo Black Hawks of the USHL, totaling 84 points (37g, 47a) in 116 games … Named to All-USHL Third Team last season after earning USHL All-Rookie Second Team honors the previous season ... Skated in the 2017 USHL/NHL Top Prospects Game ... Played for Team Canada at 2016 Ivan Hlinka Memorial Tournament ... Standout for Halifax MacDonald's in the Nova Scotia Major Midget League, earning 2014-15 MVP honors after leading the league in goals (23) and points (52) ... Added 33 points (15g, 18a) in 17 playoff games for Halifax ... Led Bubba Ray's Gulls to Bantam AAA Irving Oil Challenge Cup title in 2014 and was named tournament MVP ... Selected in the first round (28th overall) by the Ottawa Senators in the 2017 NHL Draft.

Quinn on Bowers: "Shane has been an elite player for quite some time and had a lot of success in the USHL at a young age, which is hard to do. He has great quickness, a quick mind, plays 200 feet and is just starting to grow into his body. We're looking for him to make big contributions right out of the gate."

Logan Cockerill
F • 5-9 • 164 • Brighton, Mich. • U.S. National Under-18 Team

Captured gold medal with Team USA at 2017 IIHF U18 World Championship ... Totaled 27 points (14g, 13a) in 52 games for the 2016-17 U.S. National Under-18 Team ... Played in the 2016 and 2017 U18 Five Nations Tournaments, helping the U.S. team win both years, as well as the 2015 World Under 17 Challenge ... Notched six goals and 15 assists in 47 games for the 2015-16 U.S. National Under-17 Team ... Spent the 2014-15 season with the Belle Tire midget minor program, tallying a 6-13--19 scoring line in the Tier I Elite Hockey League and netting 59 points (28g, 31a) in 64 games overall ... Helped the East Coast Kings win the '99 Division of the 2014 Junior Chowder Cup with four goals on the final day of the event to earn all-tournament honors ... Selected in the seventh round (201st overall) by the New York Islanders in the 2017 NHL Draft.

Quinn on Cockerill: "Probably as quick and as fast as any player that's coming into college hockey this season. Strong on his skates and competes hard. Probably has more skills than people give him credit for. I think he is going to contribute offensively and will be a great addition to our program."

Hank Crone
F • 5-9 • 161 • Cedar Hill, Texas • Fargo Force (USHL)

Spent three seasons in the USHL and finished tied for third in the 2016-17 league scoring race last season with 62 points on 24 goals and 38 assists for the Fargo Force ... Added 41 points (17g, 24a) during the 2015-16 season, playing for both the Force and the Omaha Lancers ... Put up 11 points in his first USHL season with Omaha as a 16-year-old ... Led 2013-14 Dallas Junior Stars U16s in scoring with a 17-23--40 line in 27 games ... Scoring leader for the Stars' '98s in 2012-13 with 32 points (18g 14a), earning a Player of the Year nomination ... Led all scorers at 2013 USA Hockey Select 15 Festival ... His father, Ray, is a major league baseball scout for the Detroit Tigers and his grandfather signed with the Boston Braves before going on to pitch for them when they moved to Milwaukee.

Quinn on Crone: "Highly skilled with high hockey intelligence. Slippery, illusive and makes people around him better. He has always been a scorer at every level and we expect him to be a scorer here."

Cameron Crotty
D • 6-2 • 188 • Greely, Ont. • Brockville Braves (CCHL)

Played two seasons with the Brockville Braves of the CCHL ... Put up 13 points (4g, 9a) last season despite missing the early portion of the year due to injury ... Spent three years in the Upper Canada Cyclones' bantam and midget programs ... Named to 2015-16 CCHL All-Rookie Team after scoring 18 points (3g, 15a) in 57 games and then going on to average over a point per game in the playoffs ... Played for the Canada East squad at the 2016 World Junior A Challenge ... Played in the 2016 Canada Cup Eastern Challenge with the CCHL/Robinson Division all-star team ... Attended the 2017 NHL Draft Combine before being selected in the third round (82nd overall) of the draft by the Arizona Coyotes.

Quinn on Crotty: "A very smart player with good size who skates well. His game transfers to our level and I think he's got good offensive upside as well. Makes a great first outlet pass. We're looking for him to contribute right away"

David Farrance
D • 5-11 • 195 • Victor, N.Y. • U.S. National Under-18 Team

Tallied 37 points (7g, 30a) in 64 games last season for the U.S. National Under-18 Team, good for second on the squad among defensemen ... Helped Team USA earn gold medal at 2017 IIHF Under-18 World Championship and first-place finishes at 2016 and 2017 Five Nations Tournaments ... Added an 8-15--23 scoring line for the 2015-16 U.S. National Under-17 Team ... Competed at the 2015 World Under 17 Challenge ... All-time leading scorer at Victor High School (55-26--81), where he led team to 2015 state title and 2014 Section 5 Class B championship game ... Two-time New York Division 1 All-State First Team honoree ... Also played for the Syracuse Jr. Stars U16 program, averaging nearly two points per game in 2014-15 ... Selected by the Nashville Predators in the third round (92nd overall) of the 2017 NHL Draft.

Quinn on Farrance: "A dynamic player who has the ability to beat the first forecheck and jump the play, and he's highly skilled. He is getting better defensively, is strong on his skates and is a fearless player."

Kasper Kotkansalo
D • 6-2 • 190 • Espoo, Finland • Sioux Falls Stampede (USHL)

Spent the 2016-17 season with the Sioux Falls Stampede in the USHL, recording a goal and 11 assists in 47 games ... Played for Finland at last year's World Junior tournament ... Member of the gold-medal winning team at the 2016 IIHF World U18 Championships, tallying four assists and a plus-5 rating in six games ... Played four seasons with Espoo Blues organization in Finland, putting together a 4-15--19 scoring line in 48 games for the 2015-16 U20 team ... Played in 2016 Ivan Hlinka Memorial Tournament ... Selected by the Detroit Red Wings in the third round (82nd overall) of the 2017 NHL Draft.

Quinn on Kotkansalo: "A man physically. Very strong, strong stick, very good defensively, heavy shot. He is a guy that we think will be able to excel in all situations."

Drew Melanson
F • 5-11 • 170 • Paramus, N.J. • Rensselaer (ECAC)

Played at Rensselaer for the past three seasons, tallying 43 points on 17 goals and 26 assists ... Named to 2014-15 ECAC Hockey All-Rookie Team after leading the Engineers in scoring with 20 points (9g, 11a) ... Played two seasons in the USHL, putting up a 22-33--55 scoring line for the Waterloo Blackhawks in 2013-14 to help them claim the Anderson Cup (regular-season title) and reach the Clark Cup finals ... Member of the Omaha Lancers in 2012-13, recording 29 points on 14 goals and 15 assists ... Played in 2013 USHL/NHL Top Prospects Game ... Member of 2012 USA U-18 Ivan Hlinka Team ... Earned all-state honors at Delbarton School, helping them claim three state championships ... Received a bachelor's degree in business & management from RPI in 2017.

Quinn on Melanson: "High-end speed and a guy who has always had the ability to score. He had a good career at RPI and he's going to give us some maturity and some leadership. He will absolutely increase our team speed."

Brady Tkachuk
F • 6-2 • 194 • St. Louis, Mo. • U.S. National Under-18 Team

Spent past two seasons with the U.S. National Team Development Program … Captured gold medal with Team USA at 2017 IIHF U18 World Championship, scoring seven points (1g, 6a) in the tournament and serving as a captain ... Finished fourth in scoring on the U.S. National Under-18 Team last season with 54 points (25g, 29a) after recording 25 points (9g, 16a) in 2015-16 with the U.S. National Under-17 Team ... Helped U.S. squad win the title at the 2016 and 2017 U17 Five Nations Tournaments ... Scored five points (2g, 3a) in six games at the 2015 World Under 17 Challenge ... Scored a team-best 43 points (15g, 28a) during the 2014-15 season for the Jr. Blues 16U team in the Tier 1 Elite league ... Projected to be a first-round pick in the 2018 NHL Draft ... Son of former Terrier and five-time NHL All-Star Keith Tkachuk.

Quinn on Tkachuk: "A reckless, fearless player with good skills. He is going to give us a physical presence as he continues to grow into his body. He has gotten better every step of the way and he is going to make a huge impact for us."

Jake Witkowski
F • 5-8 • 173 • Melrose, Mass. • Alberni Valley Bulldogs (BCHL)

Spent last season with the Alberni Valley Bulldogs of the BCHL, finishing second on the team in scoring with 40 points (23g, 17a) in 58 games ... Named BCHL Player of the Week on Jan. 30 ... Teammate of current Terrier Patrick Harper at Avon Old Farms in 2015-16, putting up a 13-27--40 scoring line ... Also played four years at Malden Catholic, capped by a senior year in which he scored 23 points on 10 goals and 13 assists ... Won three straight Super 8 titles (2012, 2013, 2014) with Malden Catholic ... Averaged over a point per game for the 2014-15 Boch Blazers U18 team in the Mass Selects league.

Quinn on Witkowski: "Jake has great speed and is coming off a good year in the BCHL. He is tough, mature and will give us good depth up front."