UMass hockey: Minutemen announced 3 incoming recruits including Longmeadow’s Coleson Hanrahan

The first batch of UMass hockey recruits were announced this past week as three names are confirmed to be joining the Minutemen for the 2025-26 season.

All three players come from the United States Hockey League – the top junior hockey league in the U.S. – and two of them are from the Bay State.

Jack Galanek was the first recruit announced early last week. The Hopkinton native won a Clark Cup championship with the Muskegon Lumberjacks last season as part of its leadership corps. The 19-year-old center slotted 50 points in 60 games with the Lumberjacks last regular season, before netting a point a game during their title-winning playoff run.

“Jack is a very smart and skilled forward from Massachusetts who plays the game the right way and can play in all situations,” UMass head coach Greg Carvel said in a statement released by UMass athletics. “He has had a successful two years in the USHL where he has proven to be a top forward along with being a great leader. He will be a great addition to our identity and culture.”

Coleson Hanrahan, a Longmeadow product, was revealed to be the next recruit joining the Minutemen. Hanrahan is a right-shot defenseman who put up 26 points in 60 games with the Youngstown Phantoms.

Hanrahan played a couple of seasons with the Springfield Jr. Pics organization before eventually becoming captain of the Phantoms this past year.

“Coleson is a Western Mass. kid who grew up down the road from our campus,” Carvel said. “He is a rugged hard-nosed defenseman who puts his body on the line every night for his teammates. He is a proven leader and will have a tremendous impact on our team on and off the ice. He has had success in the USHL on the ice and as a captain and we look forward to him bringing that experience back home to UMass.”

Lastly, Justin Kerr, Hanrahan’s teammate in Youngstown, was the third player set to be suiting up in Amherst next season.

Kerr is a 6-foot-5, 205-pound forward who posted 15 points in 38 games with the Phantoms.

“Justin is a big forward that plays both center and wing,” Carvel said. "”He plays the game the right way. He will bring maturity and hard skill to our forward group.”

The three incoming freshmen will unite with a trio of transfer additions UMass announced earlier this offseason in forwards Mikey DeAngelo, Owen Mehlenbacher and Matthew Wilde.