St. Louis - Maryville University Director of Hockey John Hogan has announced that 10 new student-athletes have joined the Saints ACHA Division II Hockey team for the 2021 season.   

One immediate difference is Arren Romeril will take over as the Saints head coach after playing last season for the Division I team. The Ontario native served as the program's first captain in history. Romeril will be assisted by Bryan Lowery this season. Along with Romeril and Lowery, some familiar faces that the new head coach had as teammates from last season have been assigned to the DII roster to bring more experience and skill.  

Those players whom played at the Division I level last season for the Saints are Tim Rye, Brandon Prewett, Jacob Blessing, and Ryan Gridley. 

The DII Saints also looked outside the program and brought in players from the Central States Developmental Hockey League (CSDHL) and the Mid-States Club Hockey Association (MSCHA) which serves as the governing body for St. Louis area high school hockey. 

Michael Lane starts out this year's class of freshman playing 30 games and scoring 11 goals for the Chesterfield Falcons U-18 CSDHL team last season. Devin Tockman and Josh Salmon also played for the Falcons last season and look to bring some instant chemistry to Maryville. 

Danny Walters played for the Fox Warriors of the MSCHA last season and scored 12 goals and 30 points in the regular season. He added 4 goals and 9 points in the Mid States Club Hockey Playoffs. Alex Chiodini from Kirkwood and Jakub Matus of Lafayette finish out the surge of local talent joining the DII team.

Maryville will open the 2021 season Friday, January 8, against Lindenwood University at the Maryville University Ice Hockey Center in Chesterfield, Mo. Game time is set for 7:30 p.m.