Colorado College hockey coach Kris Mayotte announced the six newcomers who will join the Tiger hockey program for the 2026-27 season.

""We are thrilled to welcome these six outstanding individuals to our program and look forward to integrating them with our talented group of returners," Mayotte said. "This incoming class embodies our identity very well, highlighted by its overall speed, skill, and a relentless drive. We are confident their contributions will play a big role on our team this year. Tiger fans are going love what they bring to our program."
 
The incoming class consists of Carmelo Crandell (Arizona State – NCHC), Ty Halaburda (Kelowna Rockets – WHL), Blake Jones (Nanaimo Clippers  – BCHL), Zach Olsen (Saskatoon Blades – WHL), Michal Pradel (Tri-City Storm – USHL) and Sebastian Vitali (New Jersey Jr. Titans - NAHL).
 
The class consists of five incoming freshmen, including two NHL draft picks, and one transfer. The Tigers have 11 NHL draft picks on the 2026-27 roster, the most in program history.
 
Colorado College Hockey – 2026-27 Newcomers
 

Carmelo Crandell Sophomore Forward 6-0, 180 St. Albert, ALB Arizona State Sun Devils (NCHC)

Before Colorado College: Collected 12 points (7g,5a) in 34 games for Arizona State as a freshman last season … Scored his first NCAA career goal vs. Notre Dame (10-10) ... Scored against North Dakota (1-23) and St. Cloud State (2-7) ... Tied with Samuel Alfano for the most goals amongst all Sun Devil freshmen with seven … Played for the Tri-City Storm in the USHL for two seasons (2023-25) ... In 2023-24, he competed in 53 games and tallied 22 points (6g,16a) ... The next season, he nearly doubled his point production with 42 points (14g, 28a) in 58 games ... Notched a goal and an assist in the first two games of the '24-25 USHL playoffs.
 
Personal: Parents are Marcus and Mona Crandell … Has one brother, Darius, and one sister, Malia … His father played college football at East Carolina and played and coached in the Canadian Football League … Would like to continue his hockey career following his time at CC … Hobbies include golfing and playing video games … Favorite foods are steak and pasta … Favorite book is Percy Jackson … Favorite movie is Spiderman: Into the Spider Verse … Person in history he would most like to meet is Jesus Christ … Greatest moment in sports was playing for Team Canada in the World Junior 'A' Challenge … Favorite sport other than hockey is golf … Credits his parents with the biggest influence on his athletic career … Started playing hockey at age four … Favorite professional team is the Edmonton Oilers and favorite player is Nikita Kucherov.
 
Why CC: "I chose Colorado College because from all that I saw and heard, I was offered an unbelievable opportunity to play for a great team, with great coaches, staff, facilities and environment. The academic aspect was also appealing, as getting a degree from CC is a great accomplishment."

 

Ty Halaburda Freshman Forward 5-11, 190 Victoria, BC Kelowna Rockets (WHL)

Before Colorado College: Collected 220 points (96g,124a) in 283 games over four and half seasons with the Vancouver Giants of the WHL before getting traded to the Kelowna Rockets midway through last season … Team captain for the Giants in '25-26 after serving as an assistant captain the previous two seasons … No. 4 on Vancouver's career scoring list … Named Humanitarian of the Year twice with Vancouver … Helped the Giants to the WHL playoffs for three seasons from 2022-25 and Kelowna to the 2026 playoffs … Notched 25 points (9g,16a) in 32 games for Kelowna, including one goal and four assists in six playoff contests … Won a bronze medal with Canada at the 2023 IIHF U18 World Championship.
 
Personal: Parents are Todd and Tina Halaburda … Has one sister, Jacky … Would like to continue his hockey career following his time at CC … Hobbies include golfing and hiking … Favorite food is sushi … Favorite book is The Art of Winning … Favorite movie is Rocky III … Person in history he would most like to meet is Michael Jordan … Greatest moment in sports was winning the gold medal at the National U17 tournament for Team Canada … Favorite sport other than hockey is golf … Credits his parents with the biggest influence on his athletic career … Started playing hockey at age five … Favorite professional team is the Vancouver Canucks and favorite player is Alex Burrows.
 
Why CC: "I chose Colorado College because of the high level of development provided by their great coaching staff and amazing facilities. I believe CC is the best place to pursue my goal of reaching the NHL. I also like CC's small class sizes and the block plan that lets me focus on one class at a time while competing in the NCHC, the best conference in NCAA hockey."

 

Blake Jones Freshman Defenseman 5-9, 165 Winnipeg, MAN Nanaimo Clippers (BCHL)

Before Colorado College: Collected 23 points (1g,22a) in 24 games with the Nanaimo Clippers of the BCHL after a trade from the New Jersey Jr. Titans … Posted 12 points (3g,9a) in 21 playoff games, helping the Clippers to the Rogers Cup Finals … Notched 66 points (7g,59a) in 84 games over two seasons with the Titans … Team captain for new Jersey last season … Played two season for Avon Old Farms School, scoring five goals and adding 27 assists in 55 games.
 
Personal: Parents are Patrick and Nicole Jones … Has one brother, Graham … Would like to continue his hockey career following his time at CC … Hobbies include playing tennis and golf … Favorite food is steak … Favorite book is Into Thin Air … Favorite movie is Batman: The Dark Knight … Person in history he would most like to meet is LeBron James … Greatest moment in sports was winning the New England Championship in 2023 … Favorite sport other than hockey is tennis … Credits his parents with the biggest influence on his athletic career … Started playing hockey at age four … Favorite professional team is the Winnipeg Jets and favorite player is Roman Josi.
 
Why CC: "I chose Colorado College because of its outstanding reputation, elite hockey program, dedicated coaching staff, and exceptional facilities. Beyond athletics, Colorado College's strong academic environment will provide me with a solid foundation for my future. I am excited for the opportunity to continue pursuing my long-term goals while growing both as a student and as an athlete." 


 

Zach Olsen Freshman Forward 6-1, 210 Calgary, ALB Saskatoon Blades (WHL)

Before Colorado College: Selected by the Toronto Maple Leafs in the third round (pick 73) of the 2026 NHL Draft … Collected 57 points (29g,28a) in 117 games with the Saskatoon Blades of the WHL the last two seasons, including 34 points (18g,16a) in 34 contests last year … Helped the Blades to the WHL playoffs each season … Scored two goals in five games for Team Canada at the 2026 IIHF World U18 Championship …Played two seasons for the Edge School in Calgary, notching 65 points (27g,38a) in 59 games and helping the team to the U18 CSSHL Championship.
 
Personal: Parents are Brad and Jill Olsen … Has one sister, Brooklyn, and one brother, Wyatt … His father played collegiate hockey at Mercyhurst and for the Rockford IceHogs of the United Hockey League … Would like to continue his hockey career following his time at CC … Hobbies include golfing, fishing and camping … Favorite food is steak … Favorite book is No Days Off … Favorite movie is Good Will Hunting … Person in history he would most like to meet is Donald Trump … Favorite sport other than hockey is football … Credits his father with the biggest influence on his athletic career … Started playing hockey at age five … Favorite professional team is the Calgary Flames and favorite player is Matthew Tkachuk.
 
Why CC: "I chose Colorado College because it offers me a great opportunity to develop as a hockey player and get pushed to be better each and every day."

 

Michal Pradel Freshman Goalie 6-5, 198 Dolny Kubin, Slovakia Tri-City Storm (USHL)

Before Colorado College: Selected by the Detroit Red Wings in the third round (pick 75) of the 2025 NHL Draft … Played for Tri-City of the USHL the past two seasons … Posted a 16-16-4 record with a 2.75 goals-against average and .911 save percentage in 38 games last season … Joined Tri-City in February of 2025, saw action in 14 games while amassing a 9-4-0 record, 2.41 goals-against average and .899 save percentage in '24-25 … Stopped 34 of 36 shots in lone playoff appearance that season ... Represented Team Slovakia at the 2026 IIHF World Junior Championship, making four starts ... Slovakia fell in quarterfinal round to Canada … Appeared 25 times with Team Slovakia 18U, seven contests in the 2025 IIHF World U18 Championship and a member of Team Slovakia at the 2025 World Junior Championship, but did not appear in any games ... Competed in three contests with Team Slovakia at the 2024 Hlinka Gretzky Cup, posting a 1-1-0 record, 3.77 goals-against average and .897 save percentage, helping Slovakia to fifth place at the tournament.
 
Personal: Parents are Michal Pradel and Zuzana Pradelova … Also played   and floorball … Would like to continue his hockey career following his time at CC … Hobbies include tennis and cycling … Favorite food is pasta … Favorite book is React to Nothing … Favorite movie is Rocky Balboa… Person in history he would most like to meet is Alexander the Great … Greatest moment in sports was being drafted by the NHL … Favorite sports other than hockey are tennis and soccer … Credits his parents with the biggest influence on his athletic career … Started playing hockey at age seven … Favorite professional team is the Detroit Red Wings and favorite player is Sydney Crosby.
 
Why CC: "I chose Colorado College because of the great hockey program. I see this as a great opportunity to grow both as a goalie and as a person. I also like Coach Mayotte's vision and philosophy, as well as the philosophy of the entire team. Last but not least, I find the school and its block plan very interesting and the campus and surrounding environment really impressed me."

 

Sebastian Vitali Freshman Forward 6-1, 195 Brooklyn, NY New Jersey Jr. Titans (NAHL)

Before Colorado College: Collected five points (4g,1a) in 27 games with the New Jersey Jr. Titans of the NAHL after appearing in three games with the Surrey Eagles of the BCHL last season … Posted three points (1g,2a) in 29 games with the Janesville Jets of the NAHL in 2024-25 … Played for the North Jersey Avalanche and New Jersey Rockets AAA teams in '23-24.
 
Personal: Parents are Gino and Linda Vitali … Has one sister, Ava … Would like to work in real estate or finance following his time at CC … Hobbies include golfing and watching movies … Favorite food is pasta … Favorite book is The Hunger Games … Favorite movies are Braveheart and The Godfather … Person in history he would most like to meet is Jesus Christ … Favorite sports other than hockey are football and golf … Credits his parents with the biggest influence on his athletic career … Started playing hockey at age seven … Favorite professional team is the New York Rangers and favorite player is Ryan Callahan.
 
Why CC: "There were two main factors that went into my decision to attend Colorado College. First, the top-tier education will allow me to grow outside of hockey and help set me up for life after hockey. Second, the unbelievable staff, particularly Coach Mayotte, made me feel wanted and welcomed, showing how they all genuinely care for my development as a person and player. For me, coming to CC was a no-brainer."