Icepack Welcomes 16 New Players To NC State Hockey

The Icepack is welcoming in their largest new player class in recent memory with 16 fresh faces joining the Pack for the 2025-2026 season. The new class features players with experience in NCAA Division I, the National Collegiate Development Conference (NCDC), Eastern Hockey League (EHL), North American 3 Hockey League (NA3HL), United States Premier Hockey League (USPHL), New England Prep (NEPSAC), and Mass Division 1. The class features nine players from North Carolina, five from Massachusetts, and one each from Virginia and Ontario.

The nine players from North Carolina have youth hockey roots with the Carolina Junior Hurricanes and Carolina Golden Bears before going off to junior hockey.   

According to Head Coach Tim Healy, “this new player group, combined with our returning players, gives us the depth and skill needed to compete in ACHA Division 1. Last year, with injuries, our depth was tested, and we wanted to build a team that protects against the injury bug so we can compete every night.” 

To Meet The Team Read More Below

Forwards
Jack Ammons (First Year - Raleigh, NC) - Comes home to Raleigh after lacing up for the Mercer Chiefs and Worcester Jr. Railers NCDC teams.  
Healy on Ammons:  “Jack is going to be a dynamic player for us, he knows the game well and has great chemistry with some of the returners already.”

Ian Buckley (First Year - Raleigh, NC) -  Played for the Norwich Sea Captains last year in the NA3HL after spending his youth career with the NC Golden Bears.
Healy on Buckley: “Ian has a deep love of the game and a passion to get better every day. He is going to be a player we can play up and down the lineup.”

Gian Khani (First Year - Raleigh, NC) - Starred for the USPHL Junior Canes the past two seasons after playing for the Junior Hurricanes during his youth career.
Healy on Khani: “Gian is a dynamic forward who has put in a tremendous amount of work in the off-season to make himself into an impact player.”

Ben Paterson (First Year - Franklin, MA) - Spent a Post-Graduate year at Deerfield Academy after graduating from Franklin High School with fellow rookie, Vinnie Pasquarosa.
Healy on Paterson: “Ben is a natural goal-scorer with a quick release. Ben is going to find the back of the net for us.”

Alex Phillips (First Year - Raleigh, NC) - A Spring Connect student who played shuttled between the NCDC, USPHL Premier, and 18 AAA for the Wilkes-Barre Scranton Knights last season.
Healy on Phillips: “Alex is just the type of player we need to jump into ACHA 1.  He is a big-bodied forward with skill that can impact the zone in all zones.”

Brandon Raleigh (First Year - Raleigh, NC) - Another local product and impact player from the USPHL Junior Canes the past two seasons after a youth career with the Junior Hurricanes.
Healy on Raleigh: “Brandon is going to play a pivotal role for us this year and in particular on the penalty kill.”

Michael Ranaldi (First Year - Newburyport, MA) - After a stellar career at Governor’s Academy, he started last season with the New Hampshire Avalanche in the EHL before moving up to the NCDC with the Seacoast Spartans.  He has an excellent hockey pedigree, with his father having played for Air Force and his uncle at Providence College.
Healy on Rinaldi: “Michael has proven to be an impact player at every level he’s played. He’s a smart player who can play with power.”

Aidan Ready (First Year - Hillsborough, NC) - Coming off labrum surgery after starring for the Norwich Sea Captains in the NA3HL after playing for the NC Golden Bears.
Healy on Ready: “Aidan, much like Phillips, is going to add size and skill to the lineup and is going to impact games on the scoresheet and in the d-zone.”

Defense
Paddy Maxwell (First Year - Wellesley, MA) - Captained Wellesley High School under coach Paul Donato.  Comes from a strong hockey lineage with his uncle and cousin both having played in the NHL, plus a cousin playing at the University of New Hampshire.
Healy on Maxwell: “Paddy is a smart defender with a great stick who can break up plays up and down the ice.”

Vinnie Pasquarosa (First Year - Franklin, MA) - Teamed with Ben Paterson at Franklin High School before going to prep school at Northfield Mt. Herman.
Healy on Pasquarosa: “Vinnie is a solid puck-moving defenseman who can jump-start the rush and turn defense into offense.”

Mason Payne (First Year - Colfax, NC) - Played with the Norwich Sea Captains in the NA3HL after a youth career with the NC Golden Bears and Junior Hurricanes.
Healy on Payne: “Mason is strong beyond his years and is exciting on the rush. Mason is going to be an impact defenseman.”

Jack Ray (First Year - Fayetteville, NC) - A Spring Connect student who will join the Icepack in the Spring semester after playing for the USPHL Junior Canes.  Played his youth career with the Junior Canes and Dallas Stars Elite.
Healy on Ray: “Jack is a smart, smooth-skating defenseman who is going to add skill to our blueline come second semester.”

Cam Smith (First Year - Abington, MA) - Played prep hockey at Brooks School before transferring to Dexter-Southfield. Smith was teammates with Jake Lipani at Brooks School.  Also teamed the Neoponset Valley River Rats for U19 AAA.
Healy on Smith: “Smith is a classic stay-at-home defender. He shuts down his side of the ice and makes great decisions with the puck.”

Kyler Sun (First Year - Aldie, VA) - Joins the Icepack from Providence H.C. in the EHL for the last two years after a youth career with the Washington Little Caps.
Healy on Sun: “Kyler moved to defense last year and made the EHL All-Star team. Plays fearlessly with a great mix of skill and physicality.”

Goalie
Pieter Bartesle (Third Year - Kitchener, ON) - Comes to the Icepack after spending last season as a NAHL practice goalie with the Rochester Junior Americans, with Raleigh native Alyssa Gagliardi as a coach.  Previously, he played in the USPHL with the Charlotte Rush.
Healy on Pieter: “Pieter is an athletic goalie with great technique and puck fight. Pieter is going to add great depth to our goaltending corps.”

Ethan Roberts (Fourth Year - Cary, NC) - Previously placed NCAA hockey at Division I St. Thomas and Division III Eau Claire and Utica.  Took Utica University to the Frozen Four and helped lead Eau Claire to the NCAA tournament with two playoff wins a year ago.
Healy on Roberts: “Ethan can be a top goalie in the ACHA. He was one of the top goalies in the DIII [during] his sophomore year with a 1.57 .gaa and a .941 .spct before injuries hampered his junior season.”