The 2023-24 Atlantic Hockey season is around the corner and the return to 11 programs and an 11-team postseason means more competition with a variety of new faces to watch all season long, right here on FloHockey.

Air Force

Fr. Owen Baumgartner, D

As one of two academies in Atlantic Hockey, the transfer portal is not an option for the Falcons, but the scope of college hockey and the historic program regularly recruit key pieces.

This year, that piece is Owen Baumgartner. The two-way defenseman finished tied for sixth in NAHL defensive scoring in 2022-23 and with 41 points in 44 games. His 10 goals were ninth at his position while finishing fifth with a plus-27 rating defensively.

Baumgartner will still need to earn his ice time, but he’s a bet to snag some big minutes for the Falcons and stabilize the blue line from both ends.

Army West Point

Fr. Jacob Hewitt, F

Just like the Falcons, Army head coach Brian Riley does not get the benefit of the transfer portal as an academy, but he has not struggled to find game-changing freshmen in the past.

Last year, freshman Max Itagaki won the AHA Rookie of the Year with four goals and 33 points in 37 games. The smooth skating playmaker helped bring consistency to the offense and now is joined by a familiar face.

Former teammate from the BCHL’s Nanaimo Clippers, Jacob Hewitt, where the two played together during the 2021-22 season is coming off a 54-point (26 G, 28 A) 51-game season. In 2021-22, Itagaki posted 27 goals and 61 points in 54 games.

Niagara

Gr. Jarrett Fiske, G

Fiske spent three years with limited time at AIC, earning parts of four contests before a 24-game workload as a senior. He rewarded the Yellow Jackets with a modest 10-8-6 record, 9.23 SV% and 2.38 GAA along with two shutouts in 2022-23.

Now Fiske is spending his graduate year with the Purple Eagles. Niagara finished with the 17th-highest team GAA in 2022-23 and allowed the fourth-most goals in the nation. The addition of Fiske will have an immediate impact, but team defense and shot suppression (Niagara finished with a m30th-place 29.6 shot against per-game).

Jarrett Fiske joins the Purple Eagles for the 2023-24 season after a four year career with AIC!

The Erie, Pa. native will be the eighth player in Niagara history to wear number 31!#Uncommon pic.twitter.com/fARaixvKMy

— Niagara University Men's Hockey (@NiagaraMHKY) August 15, 2023

Still the Eagles finished with their best overall record in a decade and coach Jason Lammers is ready to build on that performance.

RIT

Fr. Matthew Wilde, F

Matthew Wilde has finished fourth in OJHL scoring in each of the past two seasons, eclipsing 80 points in each and amassing 81 goals and 167 points in 104 OJHL games in that span.

Add in 28 points in 26 playoff games and Wilde has shown he’s ready to take the step into college hockey. With a large returning cast for the runaway Atlantic Hockey champs, the Tigers could see Wilde become unleashed with veteran line mates.

Falling just shy of the National Tournament likely left a chip on the Tigers’ shoulder and they’re back with one goal in mind in 2023-24. A quick transition to the NCAA could see Wilde play a large part in that goal.

Robert Morris

Gr. Chad Veltri, G

The Colonials have a big group to pick from as their “second-inaugural” season gets underway in 2023-24, but Chad Veltri takes the title here.

Chad Veltri brings 98 career games of @Atlantic_Hockey experience and 2⃣,2⃣5⃣7⃣ career saves to @RMUMHockey in 2023-24.#BobbyMo | #ReturningStars pic.twitter.com/GiLQxJ65ow

— Atlantic Hockey (@Atlantic_Hockey) August 29, 2023

Veltri holds a unique combination of stats, which includes earning the last win against Robert Morris and also registering the last loss to Robert Morris. A four-year veteran of Atlantic Hockey with Niagara, Veltri brings a wealth of experience for a rebuilt team eager to pick up form a third-place finish in 2020-21.

Veltri brings an NCAA career .910 SV%, 2.67 GAA, three shutouts, and a 34-38-8 record after four seasons with Niagara.

Sacred Heart

Fr. Billy Sheridan, F

In 2022-23, wherever Billy Sheridan went, offense followed; and he went a lot of places. Sheridan spent the year with the New Jersey Rockets 18U AAA squad, putting up 87 points (34 G, 53 A) in 74 games.

Add in the Rockets spouts with THF 18U and NEPACK 18U, where Sheridan combined for 6 goals and 19 points in 20 games (and another 32 points 16 G, 16 A in 20 high school games) and its evident Sheridan can score.

Sheridan could be the shiny new piece for the full-season groundbreaking of Martire Family Arena at Sacred Heart and has the tools to immediately upgrade the offense.

Have a question or a comment for Jacob Messing? You can find him on Twitter/X @Jacob_Messing.