Brock men’s hockey team bolsters roster with 13 signings for upcoming 2025-26 season

Head coach TJ Manastersky has infused the Brock Badgers men's hockey program with a plethora of talent.   

The Badgers announced the signings of Eric Barnard, Logan Belton, Ben Bonisteel, Stephen Calisti, Nick Domitrovic, Nathan Drapeau, Nathan Fox, Keefe Gruener, Ryan Johnstone, Sawyer Prokopetz, Patrick Raftery, Colby Saganiuk and Tai York Thursday, Sept. 11. 

"I'm very excited to add this group of players to our team," Manastersky said. "The recruiting class is a combination of first years, transfers and professional hockey experience coming from across Canada and the United States. I expect this group to add competitiveness to our line up and push our team to take a step forward this season." 

Barnard, a Kemble, Ont., native, is a five-foot-eleven forward who has spent the past three seasons in the Central Canada Hockey League (CCHL). 

In 57 career games with the Brockville Braves, Barnard scored seven goals and added 22 assists. Joining the Pembroke Lumber Kings early in the 2023-24 campaign, he played in 99 contests over two seasons, notching 47 goals and 86 assists for an impressive 133 total points. 

"I wanted to take Sport Management and there is no better place to do that than Brock," Barnard said. "The hockey is obviously exceptional, and everyone involved has been amazing to help with the transition."

Another addition to the attacking zone for the Badgers is Belton, a 6-0 forward from Winnipeg, Man., who spent three seasons with the Melfort Mustangs in the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League (SJHL). 

While with the Mustangs, the future Business major put in 62 goals and was a distributor, finishing with 69 assists for a total of 129 career points. 

"Everything that I've heard and seen seems like the character of the people on the team is outstanding, and it is a place I can see myself playing for the next 4 years."



Manastersky has fortified between the pipes with the addition of Bonisteel, a 6-3 netminder from Fenwick, Ont., who recently played in the National Collegiate Athletics Association (NCAA) Division I with the Canisius College Griffins.  

While with the Eagles, he posted a .893 save percentage and 3.10 goals-against average with a 3-6-0 record. Prior to that, Bonisteel played three seasons in the Ontario Junior Hockey League (OJHL), where he split time with the Brantford 99ers and Trenton Golden Hawks, earning 72 total victories in net. 

"I came to Brock because of the level of their athletics, academics and its proximity to my childhood home," Bonisteel said. "My family has strong roots as Brock alumni, and I know the strong history of goaltending here."



Calisti, a 6-0 defender, comes to the Badgers with experience both in the ECHL with the Toledo Walleye and Adirondack Thunder and in Ontario University Athletics (OUA) with the Ontario Tech Ridgebacks. 

The Etobicoke, Ont., product's best season with the Ridgebacks came in the 2023-24 campaign where he finished with 17 points off three goals and 14 assists. Over his OUA career, Calisti, who plans to study a Masters of Professional Kinesiology, scored nine goals and added 26 assists. 

"The University has an awesome hockey program that has a winning culture and great reputation," Calisti said. "I look forward to being with a team that can compete for a national championship."



A four-year player at Elmira College Soaring Eagles in NCAA Division III, Domitrovic brings a vast amount of experience to this Badgers squad. 

The 5-9 forward lit the lamp 38 times for the Soaring Eagles and also delivered 33 assists during his career there. Most recently, Domitrovic played for Les Ours de Villard-de-Lans, who competes in France2, where he recorded 31 total points (12 goals, 18 assists). 

"Brock has amazing academic and athletic facilities," Domitrovic said. "There is a great staff who is very helpful and passionate about winning and developing players." 

Domitrovic plans to study a Masters of Sport Management at the University.



Playing in two different Canadian Junior Hockey Leagues, Drapeau brings experience playing both in Quebec and British Columbia. 

Originally from Mont-Joli, Que., the 5-11 defender most recently played for the West Kelowna Warriors in the British Columbia Hockey League (BCHL), where he had two goals and 10 assists. In the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QJMHL), Drapeau played for both the Saint John Sea Dogs and Val-d'Or Foreurs to combine for a total of 26 goals and 53 assists in 253 games. 

"I wanted to complete a degree in Sport Management and join a young team," Drapeau said. "They have a great staff here and a group that is moving in the right direction that is driven to win a championship."



Fox, a 5-11 forward from Okotoks, B.C., is coming over from the RMC Paladins in the OUA where he spent two seasons. 

Knowing the rigours of league competition, Fox has scored 15 career goals and added 13 assists. Prior to joining the Paladins, he notched 32 points (11 goals, 21 assists) in the 2022-23 season with the Melville Millionaires of the SJHL. 

"I chose Brock University because it offers a blend of an excellent Sport Management program and a state-of-the-art hockey program," Fox said.  "This will allow me to pursue my goals of playing professional hockey."

Another SJHL product joining Manastersky and the Badgers is Gruener, a 5-11 forward from Winnipeg. 

His most successful statistical junior season came in his final year in 2024-25 with the Flin Flon Bombers as he scored 39 goals and earned 32 assists in just 59 games. Along with playing for the Bombers, the incoming Social Sciences student also played for the Fort McMurray Oil Barons of the AJHL, delivering 19 goals and 28 assists in 105 games. 

"The facilities here at Brock are top notch," Gruener said. "Once I got recruited here, this place looked pretty awesome."



Another forward joining the Badgers locker room is Johnstone, a 6-0 Pickering. Ont., native, who has spent time in three junior leagues in the BCHL, AJHL and OJHL. 

With the Pickering Panthers and Spruce Grove Saints, he has played in 169 junior games, finishing with 46 goals and 58 assists for a total of 104 points. 

"There's an excellent combination of academics and athletics here at Brock," Johnstone said. "There's a winning tradition, great culture and a fantastic coaching staff."

Prokopetz, a 6-5 defender, is another BCHL product who is hoping to bring that experience into U SPORTS competition. 

The native of Wainfleet, Ont., was recently on the Salmon Arm Silverbacks after playing for the Merritt Centennials. During his BCHL tenure, he scored six goals and delivered 16 assists. 

 "Brock was the best option to be closer to home and further my development as a hockey player and human," Prokopetz said. "I'm really excited to have the ability to play with former teammates and have friends and family able to watch every night."

The first of two American-born players in this year's recruiting class is Raftery, a Centennial, Colo. native, who played with Prokopetz on the Salmon Arm Silverbacks. 

With the Silverbacks, the 5-11 forward found the back of the net 19 times and dished out 33 assists. Before his two-year tenure in the BCHL, Raftery also competed in the United States Hockey League (USHL) with both the Lincoln Stars and Muskegon Lumberjacks, finishing his career with 13 goals and 26 assists in 155 games. 

"I felt Brock gave me the best chance to grow as a player and win a championship, and I heard a lot of great things about the school and the group," Raftery said. "I'm looking forward to meeting all the guys and going for a championship." 



Another U SPORTS transfer joining the Badgers is Saganiuk, who played for the St. Francis Xavier X-Men in the recent 2024-25 season. 

The second American joining the team, Saganiuk is from Pittsburgh, Pa., and has experience in the Ontario Hockey League (OHL) playing two seasons with the Erie Otters. The 5-8 forward scored 21 goals and was a playmaker, notching 48 total assists. 

"I know Brock has great academic programs along with high class treatment of their athletes," Saganiuk said. "I can't wait to play in front of the Badgers community."

Rounding out the 2025-26 recruiting class is York, who is the tenth forward joining the Badgers and another player who has multiple years of experience in the OHL. 

The Niagara-on-the-Lake, product is staying close to home after suiting up for the Barrie Colts from 2021-22 to 2024-25, where he played in 198 games and scored 42 goals and recorded 55 assists. 

"The training facility is top notch, and I feel like TJ (Manastersky) is putting all the pieces together for a strong team and successful season," York said. "I'm really excited to be back playing in my hometown and being able to have family and friends come to every game." 

York is set to pursue a Bachelor of Arts in General Humanities at the University. 

These 13 players are set to join a program who is coming off a national championship appearance as recently as two years ago. 

All eyes will be set on the team as they compete in the annual Steel Blade Classic taking place this year on Friday, Sept. 19 at 7 p.m. Tickets can be purchased through TIcketmaster.