Mankato, Minn. — Men’s hockey coach Mike Hastings has announced that five student-athletes have signed NCAA Letters of Intent to attend Minnesota State University.
Committing to MSU during the early signing period are forwards Max Coatta (Minnetonka, Minn./Waterloo (USHL)), Steen Cooper (Duncan, B.C./Penticton (BCHL)) and Ryan Schwalbe (Anchorage, Alaska/Sioux Falls (USHL)). The two blueliners are Clint Lewis (Burnsville, Minn./Sioux Falls (USHL)) and Alec Vanko (Oregon, Wis./Madison (USHL)). Biographies of the quintet are listed below.
“We’re very pleased with this class of recruits,” said Hastings, who is in his third season as head coach of the Mavericks. “It’s a group we believe fit the profile of players we want in the program – they’ll be leaders on the ice as well as off the ice. All five are either captains or alternate captains and with how we project next year’s roster, we expect them to come in an contribute right away.”
Max Coatta, F, 5-10, 174, Minnetonka, Minn./Waterloo (USHL)
Spending 2014-15 season with Waterloo (USHL) where he has a goal and two assists in nine games while serving as an alternate captain for the Black Hawks…Played with Penticton (BCHL) in 2013-14 where he had 15-17–32 in 50 games with the Vees…Had 89 goals and 101 assists for 190 points in four years of high school hockey at Minnetonka (Minn.)…Grandson of former Minnesota State football coach John Coatta (1970-75).
Steen Cooper, F, 5-9, 170, Duncan, B.C./Penticton (BCHL)
Four-year veteran of British Columbia Hockey League currently serving as alternate captain for Penticton (BCHL) where he has 2-5–7 in 17 games in 2014-15…Had 9-32–41 in 57 games in 2013-14 split between Cowichan Valley and Penticton…Played for Team Canada West at 20013-14 World Junior A Challenge where he had 1-0–1 in four games.
Clint Lewis, F, 6-2, 201, Burnsville, Minn./Sioux Falls (USHL)
Shattuck-St. Mary’s product has 1-1–2 with Sioux Falls (USHL) where his is serving as an alternate captain in 2014-15…Started college career at Cornell where he had 1-1–2 in 32 games in 2013-14…Spent two seasons (2012-13 and 2011-12) with U.S. National Team Development Program …Helped USNTDP win Four Nations Tournament in each of his two seasons in Ann Arbor, Mich. (one goal and 13 assists in 111 GP with NTDP).
Ryan Schwalbe, F, 5-11, 185, Anchorage, Alaska/Sioux Falls (USHL)
Two-year USHL vet is in second season with Sioux Falls where he has 1-1–2 in 12 games and is serving as captain with the Stampede…Spent 2012-13 with Salmon Arm (BCHL) and had 8-13–21 in 53 games with SilverBacks…Helped lead Shattuck-St. Mary’s to 50-5-2 record and national midget AAA title in 2011-12 (24-33–57 in 57 GP).
Alec Vanko, D, 6-1, 174, Oregon, Wis./Madison (USHL)
Team captain for Madison (USHL) in 2014-15…Has 0-3–3 and is +2 in 11 games with Capitols…Had 9-20–29 in 50 games with Chicago (USHL) in 2013-14 where he was a mid-season Second Team Eastern Conference All-Star and was twice named USHL’s CCM Defenseman of the Week…Also played for Janesville (NAHL) in 2012-13 and had 21-17–38 for Oregon (Wis.) High School in 2011-12.
2015-16 Minnesota State Men’s Hockey Recruiting Class
| Player | Pos | Ht | Wt | S/C | DOB | Hometown/Current Team (League) |
| Max Coatta | F | 5-10 | 174 | R | 04.22.1994 | Minnetonka, Minn./Waterloo (USHL) |
| Steen Cooper | F | 5-9 | 179 | L | 11.25.1995 | Duncan, B.C./Penticton (USHL) |
| Clint Lewis | D | 6-2 | 201 | L | 01.12.1995 | Burnsville, Minn./Sioux Falls (USHL) |
| Ryan Schwalbe | F | 5-11 | 185 | R | 06.27.1994 | Anchorage, Alaska/Sioux Falls (USHL) |
| Alec Vanko | D | 6-1 | 174 | R | 05.31.1994 | Oregon, Wis./Madison (USHL) |
All signings are contingent upon admission to Minnesota State and compliance with NCAA rules, including certification by the NCAA Clearinghouse.
