POTSDAM, N.Y. -- With one of the best seasons in its 86-year history recently completed, Clarkson University Hockey will look to build toward the future, and the Golden Knights will count upon the Class of 2012 to play a key role in the tradition-rich program's continued success.

Head coach George Roll, who will begin his sixth year at the helm of the Green and Gold next season, along with associate coach Greg Drechsel and assistant coach Jean-Francois Houle, have proven to be among the best recruiters in college hockey, and this year's incoming class should provide another cornerstone in the Knights' foundation as an elite national program. Five talented and exciting forwards, one well-rounded defenseman, and a promising goaltender make up Clarkson's incoming group of recruits for the 2008-09 campaign.

Forwards Julien Cayer, Jake Morley, Louke Oakley, Corey Tamblyn, and Nick Tremblay, defenseman Mark Borowieki and goaltender Paul Karpowich are expected to provide a boost to a Clarkson squad, that will graduate six highly regarded seniors from this year's team.

The Knights lose four forwards in Mike Arciero, David Cayer, Nick Dodge and Steve Zalewski along with defenseman Grant Clitsome and goaltender David Leggio. The 2007-08 team posted a 22-13-4 overall record, a first-place 15-4-3 ECAC Hockey mark and Clarkson's first NCAA Tournament victory since 1996.

"We are extremely pleased with the guys that we have committed," stated Roll. "They have a good mixture of speed and skill along with some grit. We have guys that can really get up and down the ice and play a physical game. It is a class, I think when they are all said and done here, will rival the accomplishments of this year's graduating seniors."

 "The forwards we have coming in really have speed and skill to help replace what we lost in our senior class and give us some added depth up front," Roll added. "We have very good speed with Tremblay, Oakley and Tamblyn. Cayer and Morley are both very skilled, physical guys who can play at both ends of the ice.  On defense we suffer a big loss with Grant, but we feel Mark Borowieki can step in and be an impact player for us. On the backend, Paul Karpowich will compete with Timmy Potter for the number one job."

The younger brother of David Cayer, Julien (7/6/89) is a 6-3, 185-pound left wing who played the past two seasons at Northwood Prep. A native of Longueuil, QUE, he scored 24 goals and 32 assists for 56 points in 43 games this past season. "Julien is following in his brother's footsteps," remarked Roll. "Once he grows into his body, I think he will be an extremely exciting college player. He has very good hands and shoots the puck like a pro. Julien has very good skills, but also competes at a very high level. We are excited to have another Cayer on the team now that David is leaving."

Playing alongside Cayer at Northwood Prep last season, Morley (6/22/88) saw continued improvement in his play as a 6-2, 190-pound center, and recorded 49 points, including 26 goals. "Jake is a local product from Ogdensburg. He is a big, strong, skilled forward whose skating has improved. He can play either style of game, but we are looking for Jake to step in and play a physical game for us. Jake is a guy who has really progressed and we expect him to step in and make an immediate impact."

In 42 games with the St. Michael's Buzzers in the Ontario Provincial Junior Hockey League (OPJHL), Oakley (4/7/89) recorded 61 points on 22 goals and 39 assists. He is a 5-9, 175-pound right wing from Whitby, ONT. "Louke is a guy with very good speed who sees the ice very well and competes at a high level. He is well rounded and understands both ends of the ice. Louke had a very good year at St. Mike's, and is a guy we will rely upon in all situations. He has the ability to move back to the point on the power play. He gives us some diversity."

Tamblyn (1/24/89) was a leading scorer as a 5-10, 180-pound forward for the Markham Waxers in the OPJHL. The Mississauga, ONT, native scored 21 goals and 33 assists for 54 points through 44 games.  "Corey is an elite skater who is one of the fastest players I have seen out there this year. He can really get up and down the ice and will provide us with some added quickness up front. He has had a great playoff run with Markham in the provincial finals."

A top offensive force for the Smiths Falls Bears, Tremblay (4/5/88), a 5-10, 175-pound center, dominated in the Central Ontario Junior Hockey League (COJHL) tallying 110 points on 51 goals and 59 assists through 57 games. He is a native of Candiac, QUE.  "Nick gives us an offensive element that we have not seen in some time at Clarkson. He was the MVP and leading goal and point scorer in the Central Junior League. He had a phenomenal year with Smiths Falls. He has a great eye around the net and skates extremely well. He is a great offensive player and should be awfully good on our power play. With his continued improvement on the defensive end, he should develop into a standout player here at Clarkson."

A 5-11, 180-pound rearguard, Borowieki (7/12/89) was a teammate of Tremlay's and a standout for Smiths Falls. The Kanata, ONT, native recorded 26 points, including 24 assists, and 80 penalty minutes in 46 games, and was voted the CJHL's Top Defenseman this past season. "Mark is an extremely well-rounded defenseman. He likes to play the physical game and moves the puck smartly out of his own zone. He is very reliable in all situations. We expect him to step in and fill the roll left by Grant."

As the starting goaltender for the Wellington Dukes in the OPJHL, Karpowich (10/25/88) posted a 15-3-2 record, including three shutouts, on a 2.15 GAA and .922 save percentage in 22 games during the regular season. The 6-2, 185-pound native of Thunder Bay, ONT, put up a 9-4 record in postseason play.  "Paul had a very good year for the Wellington Dukes. He is a big, strong goaltender who handles the puck extremely well and knows how to play his angles. He has a tremendous upside. It will take him some time to make the transition to the college game, but he is a guy we feel can step in and compete with Timmy (Potter) for the number one job."