Orono’s season came to an end with a 7-3 loss to Delano in the Section 2A Semifinal, falling behind early and never quite closing the gap. Now Orono faces a significant offseason challenge, graduating its top two scorers and starting goaltender. Replacing a 68-point superstar and a senior goaltender in the same offseason is no small task, but a deep group of returning forwards gives the program real pieces to build around.
Players Lost to Graduation
Orono graduates nine seniors, and the losses include the engine of last season’s offense.
Jackson Knight (F) was the headline of this entire roster, posting a massive 40 goals and 28 assists for 68 points in 27 games, adding 10 power-play goals, 9 power-play assists, 3 short-handed goals, a short-handed assist and 3 game-winners. Replacing that level of production in a single offseason is no easy task.
Rory Kvern (F) was nearly as productive, finishing with 12 goals and 30 assists for 42 points, with 4 power-play goals, 10 power-play assists, a power-play goal off a faceoff and 2 short-handed assists. Knight and Kvern combined for 110 points — an enormous amount to replace.
Blake Tichy (F) adds 6 goals and 9 assists for 15 points, with 3 power-play goals and 2 power-play assists.
Cruz Tousignant (F) and Nick Nugent (D) both finished with 5-point seasons. Tousignant scored 1 goal and added 4 assists, while Nugent posted 2 goals and 3 assists.
Winfield Stephens (F) and Boston Foster (F) each contribute 4-point seasons. Stephens added 2 power-play assists, while Foster posted 2 goals and 2 assists with a power-play assist and a game-winner.
Connor Mallak (D) rounds out the departing skaters with 4 assists.
In net, Max Lewin (G) graduates after carrying the primary workload, posting a 7-10-4 record with a 4.34 GAA and a .875 save percentage in 23 appearances.
Returning Players for 2026-27
With Knight and Kvern both departing, Orono’s offense will look to a talented group of underclassmen who already contributed real production last season.
Top Returning Scorers
Max Sutcliffe (F), a sophomore next season, returns as Orono’s leading returning scorer, posting 11 goals and 17 assists for 28 points in 27 games as a true freshman, with 3 power-play goals and 5 power-play assists — an excellent debut season.
Ryan De Lange (F), a junior next season, adds 17 goals and 7 assists for 24 points, with 3 power-play goals and a power-play assist.
Jake Thalhuber (D), a senior next season, returns after a strong season from the blue line, posting 3 goals and 17 assists for 20 points, with 2 power-play goals and 10 power-play assists.
Rocco Pasqua (F), a sophomore next season, adds 9 goals and 7 assists for 16 points as a true freshman, with a power-play assist and 3 game-winners.
Jake Bradstock (D), a senior next season, posted 2 goals and 8 assists for 10 points, with 2 power-play assists and a game-winner.
Among other returning contributors, Drew Nokleby (D), a senior next season, added 6 assists with 2 short-handed assists, and Ford Regan (F), a junior next season, posted 2 goals and 3 assists for 5 points with a power-play goal, a power-play assist and a game-winner.
Returning Defense Core
With Connor Mallak and Nick Nugent both graduating, the blue line shifts to Jake Thalhuber, who returns as one of the most productive returning defensemen in the section after a 20-point season, including 10 power-play assists. Jake Bradstock and Drew Nokleby add further depth, giving Orono a solid foundation on the back end even after the graduation losses.
Goaltending Situation
With Max Lewin graduating, Augustus Foster (G), a senior next season, is positioned to take over as the full-time starter. Foster was efficient in a complementary role last season, posting a 3-3 record with a 3.44 GAA and a .881 save percentage in 11 appearances — numbers that compare favorably to Lewin’s. Steven Anderson (G), a sophomore next season, also returns after a brief appearance as a true freshman. Foster’s track record gives Orono real reason for confidence in net heading into next season.
Players to Watch
Max Sutcliffe and Rocco Pasqua give Orono a pair of dynamic freshmen-turned-sophomores to build around, while Ryan De Lange’s 24-point season provides proven scoring punch. Jake Thalhuber’s 20-point season from the blue line makes him one of the more underrated returning defensemen in Section 2A. Augustus Foster’s strong underlying numbers suggest the goaltending transition should be smoother than replacing a senior starter might typically suggest.
Key Players to Replace
Orono’s offseason priorities center on:
- Jackson Knight’s 68-point season — among the most productive in the entire section
- Rory Kvern’s 42-point season and elite playmaking
- Blake Tichy’s secondary scoring and power-play contributions
- Max Lewin’s full-season workload in net
2026-27 Outlook
Orono faces a real challenge replacing a 110-point scoring duo in Jackson Knight and Rory Kvern, along with a senior goaltender who carried the bulk of last season’s workload. The path forward runs through a talented young core: Max Sutcliffe and Rocco Pasqua both posted strong freshman seasons, Ryan De Lange gives the team a proven scoring threat, and Jake Thalhuber anchors a defense that returns largely intact. With Augustus Foster’s encouraging numbers in a backup role, Orono has more pieces in place than a typical rebuild after losing this much star power. Still, replacing Knight’s individual brilliance will be the defining storyline of Orono’s season.
Statistics reflect the 2025-26 regular season and Section 2A Semifinal as provided. Got something for us? Our email is always open ftphockey@gmail.com
