UMass hockey head coach Greg Carvel has assembled his roster for the upcoming 2025-26 season following the announcement of its final two recruits, this past week.

Forward Elias Zimmerman and defenseman Landon Nycz round out the Minutemen’s Class of 2029, which is comprised of six forwards and two defensemen.

Zimmerman stands 6-foot-6 and heads to Amherst from the Fargo Force of the United States Hockey League. The Swedish center pocketed 18 points in 57 games for the Force last season.

“Elias is a Swedish power forward who spent last season in the USHL,” Carvel said in a statement released by UMass athletics. “Standing at 6-6, he is a big man and can use his size to win puck battles and create offense from down low and around the net. He is a very good faceoff center who wins a high percentage of his draws when playing down the middle. His size and skill set combined will be something our fans will enjoy watching over the years.”

Zimmerman joins incoming forward recruits Jack Galanek, Justin Kerr, Lukas Klecka, AJ Lacroix and Vaclav Nestrasil.

Nycz will be one of the youngest players in all of college hockey next season as the Detroit native will turn 18 next October. Nycz manned the blue line for the USHL’s Sioux City Musketeers and Waterloo Black Hawks last season and registered eight goals and 27 points in 56 games between the two squads.

“Landon is a big left shot defenseman that possesses elite skating ability and a great first pass,” Carvel said. “He has spent the last two seasons in the USHL and will come to UMass as a 17-year-old. Landon is eligible and expected to be drafted in the 2026 NHL Draft.”

Nycz and Coleson Hanrahan make up UMass’ two defensemen recruits.

The eight incoming freshmen will join the trio of transfer additions in Matthew Wilde, Mikey DeAngelo and Owen Mehlenbacher, making it 11 new faces set to suit up for the Minutemen next year.