2025-26 scouting report: The freshmen

Of Miami’s 28 players this season, 21 will be first-year RedHawks.

Twelve of those 21 will be freshmen, or 43 percent of the roster.

Eight of those 12 came from the USHL, three from the CHL and another played in the NAHL.

VFG takes a look at the newest RedHawks in two parts, starting with Miami’s 2025-26 freshmen, including a comment on each by head recruiting coordinator David Nies:

KOCHA DELIC

POSITION: Center.

HEIGHT: 5-11.

WEIGHT: 190.

SHOOTS: Left.

DOB: 3/11/2004.

HOMETOWN: Ottawa, Ontario.

2024-25 TEAM: Sudbury (OHL).

GP: 46. G: 22. A: 32. Pts. 54. : +/–: -3. PIM: 56.

HISTORY: History will note that Delic was the first-ever Miami commit from the CHL, where he posted excellent numbers in four juniors seasons in Sudbury. Prior to his OHL career, Delic tore up midget minor, going 31-45-76 in 59 games for the Toronto Titans. COVID canceled what would’ve been his first major junior season, but he recorded 17 goals and 29 assists for 46 points in 65 games his rookie season in 2021-22. and was second among forwards with a plus-19 rating. Delic reached the 50-point mark each of the last three seasons with the Wolves, peaking at 64 in 2023-24. Delic played for Canada’s U-18 World Juniors team, scoring twice in four games, and he earned bronze in the Youth Olympic Games for Team Canada in 2019-20. He finished his juniors career with 91 goals and 125 assists for 216 points in 214 games.

SCOUTING REPORT: Delic, whose name alone should be a coach’s dream, has been amazing consistent offensively, averaging 1.13, 1.12 and 1.17 points per game his last three seasons. More playmaker than pure goal scorer, Delic tied Sudbury’s 50-year-old all-time record for consecutive games with a goal, netting 15 in nine games, including a pair of hat tricks. Delic was also considered one of the better two-way forwards in the OHL and isn’t afraid to be vocal, calling out his team’s play after a poor performance last season. He impressed in the CHL playoffs, which is a big plus for the coaching staff.

WHERE HE FITS IN AT MIAMI: Delic is a huge addition for a Miami team that averaged just 1.85 goals last season, the second-worst clip in the NCAA. He has already represented Team Canada and has four seasons of CHL experience under his belt, so will almost certainly be a major contributor logging major ice time this season. And he’ll be considered a freshman, so hopefully his stay in Oxford will be a long one.

NIES COMMENT: Highly-competitive kid. Talented, detailed, works hard, good puck skills, he can shoot it. He’s one of those guys that takes care of himself too.

DAVID DEPUTY

POSITION: F.

HEIGHT: 5-9.

WEIGHT: 180.

SHOOTS: Right.

DOB: 6/25/2004.

HOMETOWN: Gurnee, Ill.

2024-25 TEAM: Omaha/Muskegon (USHL).

GP: 59. G: 21. A: 36. Pts. 57. : +/–: 22. PIM: 134.

HISTORY: A favorite of law enforcement everywhere, Deputy is coming off a monster final season of juniors with Muskegon, where he tied for 11th in points with 57 and netted a league-best 10 goals in 14 playoff games en route to a USHL Clark Cup championship along with teammate G Shika Gadzhiev. Deputy started the 2024-25 season with Omaha — the USHL’s version of the Buffalo Sabres in term of incompetence — before being traded to the Lumberjacks in early December. His offensive production picked up immediately, soaring from 0.76 points per game with the Lancers to 0.96 overall, as he notched 41 points in 38 games for Muskegon. His first season in the USHL he went 18-17-35 in 54 games for Omaha. And after that trade, he had to earn his way up the depth chart with Muskegon, which was an excellent team last season. Prior to the USHL, the Chicago-area native recorded 53 points in 60 games for NAHL Philadelphia after playing midget major locally in Illinois.

SCOUTING REPORT: Partly because of his stature, Deputy has never been considered a major pro prospect (he didn’t make it to the USHL until he was 19), but he has turned into quite the late bloomer, and Miami is hoping he continues his upward trajectory. Deputy played right wing for Muskegon but is versatile, both positionally and in terms of where he fits on the lineup card. His game reached another level in the playoffs, a testament to his fitness and endurance levels. He was clutch down the stretch, scoring four game-winning goals in the postseason.

WHERE HE FITS IN AT MIAMI: Like Delic, Deputy has a chance to impact the RedHawks’ offense immediately in a top-six role. Miami could really use help on the power play, and while Deputy only scored seven PPGs in the USHL, he netted three in the playoffs this spring. The RedHawks have lacked feistiness at times the past couple of years, and Deputy piled up 67 penalty minutes in a four-game stretch last February. He tends to score in bunches, evidenced by his run last season in Sudbury.

NIES COMMENT: Smaller-stature guy but strong, thick base, super quick, getting out of the corner and making cuts to the net. He’s dynamic — there were times when I watched him in the (USHL) playoffs and I thought every time he was on the ice he could score.

SHIKHABUTDIN GADZHIEV

POSITION: G.

HEIGHT: 6-2.

WEIGHT: 180.

CATCHES: Left.

DOB: 10/26/2004.

HOMETOWN: Dagestan, Russia.

2024-25 TEAM: Muskegon (USHL).

GP: 34. W-L: 19-13. GAA: 2.68. Sv %: .909. SHO: 3.

HISTORY: Born in Russia and holding Russian and Slovakian citizenship, Gadzhiev backstopped Muskegon to Clark Cup championship last season, going 8-1 (with that lone loss coming in overtime) with a 2.03 goals-against average a save percentage of .935, all league bests. He finished fourth in the USHL in save percentage (.909) during the regular season and posted a 2.68 GAA, going 19-13 in 34 games. It was his second season in North America, and his numbers were markedly better than the 3.18 and .901 he finished with in 2023-24 and went 2-0 with a .913 save percentage for Team Slovakia in the U-20 World Juniors. His save percentage was above .910 at every level of juniors in Europe. He’s also into mixed martial arts, proving once again that goalies are just different than the rest of us.

SCOUTING REPORT: It’s ‘Shika’ for short, so other than the header above, we’re going with that in future references. Gadzhiev is extremely athletic and flexible, and he rarely seems to get rattled. Pulled after allowing three goals on four shots in one postseason game, Gadzhiev responded by stopping 62 of 64 his next two contests. At 6-feet-2, he’s tall enough to defend top-shelf shots but he’s still quick enough to move side-to-side effectively.

WHERE HE FITS IN AT MIAMI: The net is wide open at Miami, and on paper, despite being a freshman, Gadzhiev appears to be the frontrunner for the starting job. There was concern about his visa and eligibility, since he has been in North America for just two years, but it appears at this point that Gadzhiev will be able to dress for the season opener. Coming off an epic playoff season, Gadzhiev could be one of the best goalies to dress for the RedHawks in some time.

NIES COMMENT: He can make some saves that not a lot of people can, but for us, he’s definitely a prospect and he’s got all of these physical capabilities.

ETHAN HAY

POSITION: Center.

HEIGHT: 6-2.

WEIGHT: 185.

SHOOTS: Left.

DOB: 1/15/2005.

HOMETOWN: Waterloo, Ontario.

2024-25 TEAM: Saginaw/Kingston (OHL).

GP: 62 G: 13. A: 18. Pts. 31. : +/–: -7. PIM: 96.

HISTORY: After leading his Under-15 Waterloo team in points in 2019-20, his final non-major juniors season was canceled due to COVID, but he was an instant starter at age 16 with Flint, and he logged 257 games between the Firebirds, Saginaw and Kingston. He racked up 103 points in four OHL seasons and played in 54 playoff games in that league, notching a pair of goals and 12 assists. He split 2024-25 between Saginaw and Kingston, combining for a 13-18-31 line in 62 games.

SCOUTING REPORT: Hay wasn’t a huge scorer in the OHL but improved his points total each season, and his 31 points in 2024-25 were a career best. His points per game was 0.41 his first 32 games with Saginaw but spiked to 0.60 in his final 30 after moving to Kingston. He’s very solid in the faceoff circle (Nies said in recent practice he won all 12 draws) and has a reputation for being difficult to play against. Like many of the newbies, Hay is also a leader, having worn the ‘C’ for Saginaw last season.

WHERE HE FITS IN AT MIAMI: Miami hasn’t been great on draws since the Miele-Camper-Cannone era and welcomes someone with a successful track record in the faceoff circle. On paper he projects as a physical, second or third line defensive forward and immediate on-ice leader. And he may end up a fan favorite for his grinding, all-out style.

NIES COMMENT: Ethan Hay is about as tough as they come. Takes care of himself off the ice, is a super-strong kid, mature kid, works extremely hard and is willing to do the things that a lot of guys don’t want to do a young age.

SHAUN McEWEN

POSITION: Defenseman.

HEIGHT: 6-0.

WEIGHT: 175.

SHOOTS: Left.

DOB: 1/21/2004.

HOMETOWN: South Hadley, Mass.

2024-25 TEAM: Tri-City (USHL).

GP: 57. G: 7. A: 25. Pts. 32. : +/–: 12. PIM: 89.

HISTORY: McEwen was originally committed to UMass, where his grandfather coached, but days after Anthony Noreen accepted the head coaching job at Miami in April of 2024, McEwen decided to join the RedHawks. McEwen played for Noreen at Tri-City for his first three major juniors seasons, and his points totals under Noreen were 1, 10, 16. He doubled that total last season, going 7-25-32 as team captain. McEwen begins college with 191 games of USHL experience.

SCOUTING REPORT: Defensive by nature, McEwen has become more confident jumping into the play but skates well enough to retreat when in the off-chance he’s caught pinching. He’s fearless in terms of diving in front of shots. He’s yet another former captain on a team that has struggled with player leadership the past decade.

WHERE HE FITS IN AT MIAMI: McEwen got substantially better each season in juniors and hopes to continue that trend at Miami. The defenseman field is wide open, so he should have every chance to prove earn significant ice time. At 175 pounds, he’s definitely on the small side for an NCHC defenseman, so he might have to bulk up to maximize his effectiveness defensively. Definitely projects as a top-7 D-man right away with a high ceiling.

NIES COMMENT: Shaun’s a kid that wears his emotions on his sleeve and honestly, he plays like that too. He’s got a high compete level, he’s got a willingness and he’s not fearful of much, and I think you need that in a defenseman. He’ll dive in front of a shot to block it, he’ll do whatever it takes.

CHARLIE MICHAUD

POSITION: Defense.

HEIGHT: 6-0.

WEIGHT: 195.

SHOOTS: Left.

DOB: 8/12/2006.

HOMETOWN: Denver, Colo.

2024-25 TEAM: Madison (USHL).

GP: 61. G: 5. A: 27. Pts. 32. : +/–: 7. PIM: 22.

HISTORY: Michaud turned 19 last month, but he has already logged 122 USHL games over the past three seasons with Madison. An alternate captain at both of his midget minor stops (and again with Madison last season), Michaud doubled his points production in 2024-25, going 5-27-32 after rolling up four goals and 12 assists a season prior. He dominated his final season with Little Caesar’s U-16, scoring 17 times and dishing for 36 helpers to finish third on the team with 53 points (Miami commit Brecken Smith led that team with 71). That season earned him six games with Madison as a 16-year-old, where he earned his first two major juniors assists. Todd Harkins introduced Miami to Michaud, and Jason Deskins was his U-15 coach.

SCOUTING REPORT: Michaud will be the youngest defenseman on Miami in 2025-26. Both of his parents played Division III hockey, so he certainly has the pedigree. One of Michaud’s biggest strengths is his ability to move the puck. Ten of his assists came on the power play, and he scored two PPGs in 2024-25. Michaud played forward until a few seasons ago, so he’s extremely familiar with the offensive side of the game and could be a candidate to play wing if Miami suffers through multiple injuries.

WHERE HE FITS IN AT MIAMI: Miami needs a puck-moving defensemen, and Michaud has the potential to be a very good one. He’s young but USHL battle-tested, so hopefully he can transition to the NCHC smoothly, but it’s an enormous jump to the top league in Division I.

NIES COMMENT: Charlie is composed — he doesn’t ever seem to be in a hurry. For D’s, you’ve got to have poise, and he has quite a bit of confidence. He obviously can skate and get into the play as well. Charlie’s a really good defender too. It looks almost like chaos sometimes when he’s defending in a good way, but Charlie is…compact and uses his stick well, so he’s a big piece for us.

ILIA MOROZOV

POSITION: Forward.

HEIGHT: 6-3.

WEIGHT: 200.

SHOOTS: Left.

DOB: 8/3/2008.

HOMETOWN: Moscow, Russia.

2024-25 TEAM: Tri-City (USHL).

GP: 59. G: 11. A: 11. Pts. 22. : +/–: -12. PIM: 20.

HISTORY: No, that’s not a typo — Morozov was born in August, 2008, meaning he just turned 17. He has the most hype surrounding him of any Miami incoming freshmen in some time, with multiple publications projecting him as a 2026 NHL draft first-round pick. He absolutely destroyed his U-15 midget league in 2023-24, tallying 33 goals and 41 assists in 49 games and went straight to the USHL, where he played 59 games and went 11-11-22.

SCOUTING REPORT: Morozov is a fully-developed adult in a 17-year-old’s body. He has the frame of Evgeni Malkin and has already figured out how to use that strength on faceoffs. He has great hands in tight and should develop into a big-time points producer. His work ethic is off the charts — he actually had to be told to take days off because all he wanted to do in juniors was skate every day. All of that said, the adjustment from USHL to the NCHC is a huge one, and Morozov is still raw. It may take time for him to adjust to the speed of the game and the resulting quicker decision-making required to succeed. Despite his age he has thrived at center.

WHERE HE FITS IN AT MIAMI: That’s the big question, at least for this season. It was unclear this spring if he would come to Miami or spend another year in juniors, but with the Wild West mentality of college sports and players getting poached left and right, the decision to bring him to Oxford was the right one. Worst-case scenario is he plays a bottom-six role to start the season as he adjusts to the Division I game. Morozov has so much going for him, he’s undoubtedly going to be very good, it’s just a question of when. For a 17-year-old, he takes more pride in his defensive game at this point, which is one of the hardest things to teach someone who isn’t even eligible to vote and is a year away from being NHL draft-eligible.

NIES COMMENT: His physical stature and the way he’s come in and how in shape he is — he’s going to have to play a big role for us, but I think that’s something he can handle, because the way he goes about his business, there’s a quiet confidence about him.

BENJI MOTEW

POSITION: Goalie.

HEIGHT: 6-0.

WEIGHT: 185.

CATCHES: Left.

DOB: 11/24/2004.

HOMETOWN: Glencoe, Ill.

2024-25 TEAM: Maryland/Corpus Christi (NAHL).

GP: 37. W-L: 20-17. GAA: 2.75. Sv %: .905. SHO: 2.

HISTORY: After two successful seasons with the tragically famous Humboldt Broncos, where he went 44-20 with a 2.74 goals-against average, Motew headed to NAHL Maryland last season and posted solid numbers with the Black Bears, the team that developed Ludvig Persson into a Miami starting goalie. Corpus Christi acquired him mid-season, and he led the IceRays to the conference semifinals with a 1.64 GAA and .949 save percentage in eight playoff games. He committed to Miami in late May.

SCOUTING REPORT: At six feet even, Motew is on the smaller side for a Division I goalie, but he’s posted solid numbers wherever he’s gone, and his stock rose with his stellar postseason performance this spring. He was pretty consistent in 2024-25, only getting shelled a couple times and then rebounding well after the occasional off-game.

WHERE HE FITS IN AT MIAMI: On paper, Gadzhiev has the better resume, but the net will be an open competition, so Motew will have every opportunity to prove himself. Even if Motew starts the season as the No. 3 goalie, coach Anthony Noreen played third netminder Brett Miller over 300 minutes in 2024-25, so the goaltending pecking order can certainly change.

NIES COMMENT: Every time I looked, I thought he was getting goalie of the week every other week. His compete, he’s super athletic, and he’s a guy that’s been making some incredible saves in practice.

MICHAEL PHELAN

POSITION: Defense.

HEIGHT: 5-11.

WEIGHT: 177.

SHOOTS: Right.

DOB: 5/4/2006.

HOMETOWN: Hinsdale, Ill.

2024-25 TEAM: Waterloo (USHL).

GP: 52. G: 3. A: 9. Pts. 12. : +/–: 5. PIM: 27.

HISTORY: After developing in the Chicago area, Phelan joined Waterloo for two games in 2022-23 and has played the last two full seasons with the Black Hawks. Phelan has five goals and 16 assists in 108 USHL games, and improved from nine points his rookie season in that league to 12 in 2024-25, including three goals. Waterloo advanced to the Clark Cup final but was beaten by Deputy and Gadzhiev’s Muskegon team, and Phelan played all 15 postseason games with the Black Hawks, picking up a pair of helpers.

SCOUTING REPORT: Like Michaud, Phelan will be one of the youngest RedHawks this season but also has a ton of USHL experience, which would help facilitate the jump to D-1. Unlike Michaud, Phelan is a right-handed shot who plays much more of a shut down role. Under six feet tall and just 177 pounds, he’s on the small side for an NCHC defenseman, but he plays bigger than his size. Phelan was relied on to play a lot of clutch minutes for Waterloo during its Clark Cup finals run.

WHERE HE FITS IN AT MIAMI: Noreen likes to play seven defensemen and only Michael Quinn and Nick Donato are back from last season’s blue line, so the field is wide open. Only two of the newest RedHawks’ defensemen are right-handed shots too, and a shut-down D-man on the right side is something Miami desperately need.

NIES COMMENT: He’s got a lot of ability, he can skate, he can move pucks — I think by the time he’s done here he’ll develop more of the offensive games because he gets in a lot of scoring areas. I think he’s got a pretty high ceiling and his best hockey is yet to come.

JUSTIN STUPKA

POSITION: Forward.

HEIGHT: 6-2.

WEIGHT: 205.

SHOOTS: Right.

DOB: 3/15/2005.

HOMETOWN: New Cumberland, Pa.

2024-25 TEAM: Sioux City (USHL).

GP: 60. G: 15. A: 11. Pts. 26. : +/–: 6. PIM: 50.

HISTORY: Stupka has spent parts of the last four seasons in the USHL, and he took his biggest step forward in 2024-25. The wide body scored 15 goals last season, and he’s consistently found the net at every level. He also notched three points in five playoff games.

SCOUTING REPORT: Stupka has played 177 USHL games, bringing tons of high-level experience to Miami. He went from four goals as a USHL rookie to 10 to 15 last season, tied for fourth on a high-scoring Musketeers team. He’s a big dude who is hard to move out of the slot, and he has a nose for the net.

WHERE HE FITS IN AT MIAMI: Like a lot of Miami freshmen, Stupka has a lot of high-level USHL experience — a good problem to have — so hopefully his offensive numbers will translate to college. On paper he looks like a top nine starter who can play all three forward positions, and the coaches like him at center.

NIES COMMENT: He had a solid year last year, and talk about physical attributes, big body, he can skate, when he uses his body he’s quite the threat — he’s a good athlete. He’s got good puck skills, he can shoot a puck, I’ve been super impressed with him early on.

RYDER THOMPSON

POSITION: Defenseman.

HEIGHT: 5-11.

WEIGHT: 185.

SHOOTS: Left.

DOB: 6/18/2004.

HOMETOWN: Russell, Manitoba.

2024-25 TEAM: Portland (WHL).

GP: 67. G: 9. A: 14. Pts. 23. : +/–: -9. PIM: 33.

HISTORY: Thompson has played the past four-plus seasons in the WHL, and his points line since 2021-22 is 18, 19, 22, 23. After scoring five goals his first three full seasons, he netted nine in his overage campaign. He is also playoff experienced, as his Riverhawks teams advanced to the conference semifinal round or better each of his seasons in Portland, including a WHL finals berth in 2023-24.

SCOUTING REPORT: Miami has brought numerous captains and assistants at previous levels, but Thompson has the potential to wear a letter at some point. He’s a master communicator on the ice — a skill too often lacking in defensemen — and his work ethic is exceptional.

WHERE HE FITS IN AT MIAMI: At 5-11, 185, Thompson is on the small side for an NCHC defenseman, but he could end up being a left-handed version of Taylor Richart, with huge hockey IQ and knowledge of the game that compensate for a smaller stature.

NIES COMMENT: He’s got a workmanlike attitude — he’s here late at night, rolling out, and that’s what his (previous) coaches said too. He’s the ultimate leader. Ryder’s going to be a huge asset for us.

BRADLEY WALKER

POSITION: Forward.

HEIGHT: 6-1.

WEIGHT: 200.

SHOOTS: Right.

DOB: 12/13/2004.

HOMETOWN: Orono, Minn.

2024-25 TEAM: Waterloo (USHL).

GP: 55. G: 7. A: 6. Pts. 13. : +/–: 3. PIM: 106.

HISTORY: A three-sport athlete who also played football and baseball, Walker is from the same hometown as senior alternate captain Blake Mesenburg. Following his senior season at Orono, during which he went 20-30-50, Walker joined NAHL El Paso where he put up 27 points and 132 penalty minutes in 59 games.

SCOUTING REPORT: Coaches that recruit Minnesota high school alums never have to worry about how those players will handle the spotlight, as they often play in front of crowds much larger than their average D-1 venue. Walker, who also exceled at football and baseball and had to fight his way onto the Waterloo roster and tried to play with a high-ankle sprain, has 238 penalty minutes his past two seasons, so he can more than handle himself physically.

WHERE HE FITS IN AT MIAMI: His numbers aren’t retina-bursting, so Walker may start out in the same role as his fellow Orono teammate — a bottom-six high-enery grinder. And that’s meant as a compliment.

NIES COMMENT: When you meet the kid, and you try to understand what his goals are and what he brings to a locker room, it’s a pretty easy decision (to bring him in). Playing in the USHL and playing every night and playing a role, he got better and better and better every single game, and he’s a kid that’s going to continue to do that because he’s an athlete. We expect big things out of ‘Walks’. He’s a bruiser too — he can really hit.

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