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St. Cloud State Men’s Hockey Adds Trio of Transfers
4/24/2025 10:54:00 AM | Men's Hockey
Berzins joins goaltender group, Loftus and Smolinski added to blue liners
ST. CLOUD, Minn. – St. Cloud State Men's Hockey added a trio of transfers on Thursday with head coach Brett Larson announcing the signings of goaltender Patriks Berzins, defenseman Finn Loftus and defenseman Max Smolinski. Berzins and Loftus join the Huskies after one season at Maine and Massachusetts, respectively, while Smolinski comes to SCSU after three seasons at R.P.I.
"We are very excited to add Patriks, Finn and Max to our roster for the upcoming season," said Larson. "All three student-athletes fit the mold of the player we are looking for on and off the ice and will fit right in with our program. We look forward to getting them to St. Cloud and continue preparing for the upcoming season."
Berzins, who hails from Talsi, Latvia, played his freshman campaign at Maine from Hockey East where he played in two games, winning his lone start of the season with a 14-save performance against Stonehill on Dec. 8. Prior to his time at Maine, Berzins played two seasons of junior hockey, splitting the 2022-23 season between the Danbury Hat Tricks (NAHL) and Tri-City Strom (USHL) before spending the 2023-24 season with the Madison Capitols (USHL). With the Capitols, Berzins posted a 16-12-2 record with a 3.12 goals-against-average and .901 save percentage while ranking in the USHL's top-10 in both categories and earning USHL Goaltender of the Week honors once. During that season, Berzins was a teammate of current Husky Austin Burnevik. Berzins played for his home country Latvia in the 2022 and 2023 IIHF World Junior Championships and posted a 2.47 GAA and .914 S% in the 2023 tournament.
Loftus, a Blaine native, appeared in 33 games in his freshman campaign at Massachusetts where he posted an assist and nine blocks with a +3 mark on the ice. Prior to this time out east, Loftus played in 125 regular games for the Sioux City Musketeers of the USHL where he recorded 12 goals and 45 assists for 57 points. He served as an assistant captain in 2023-24 and helped Sioux City reach the Western Conference Finals. In prep, Loftus played for seasons at Blaine High School where he appeared in 90 games and scored 85 points (18g/67a).
Smolinski will join the Huskies for his senior seasons after three season at RPI where he produced 10 goals and 32 assists for 42 points with three power play goals in 108 games. He played in every game for the Engineers over three seasons and produced a career-best five goals and 15 points in his 2024-25 junior campaign. In the classroom, Smolinski has been named to the ECAC All-Academic Team and a AHCA Krampade Scholar All-American. Prior to his time with RPI, Smolinski played for the Tri-City Storm (USHL, 2019-20 & 2020-21), the Johnstown Tomahawks (NAHL, 2020-21) and the Fargo Force (USHL, 2021-22). With the Force, Smolinski produced four goals and 17 assists for 21 points in 62 games and was a teammate of current Husky Tyson Gross. Max is the son of Bryan Smolinski, who played four collegiate seasons and was a captain at Michigan State before a 15-season NHL career where he played for eight teams.
For all the latest on St. Cloud State Men's Hockey, stay tuned to SCSUHuskies.com and follow the team on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook. To contact the ticket office, visit www.scsutickets.com or call 1-877-SCSUTIX / 320-308-2137.
"We are very excited to add Patriks, Finn and Max to our roster for the upcoming season," said Larson. "All three student-athletes fit the mold of the player we are looking for on and off the ice and will fit right in with our program. We look forward to getting them to St. Cloud and continue preparing for the upcoming season."
Berzins, who hails from Talsi, Latvia, played his freshman campaign at Maine from Hockey East where he played in two games, winning his lone start of the season with a 14-save performance against Stonehill on Dec. 8. Prior to his time at Maine, Berzins played two seasons of junior hockey, splitting the 2022-23 season between the Danbury Hat Tricks (NAHL) and Tri-City Strom (USHL) before spending the 2023-24 season with the Madison Capitols (USHL). With the Capitols, Berzins posted a 16-12-2 record with a 3.12 goals-against-average and .901 save percentage while ranking in the USHL's top-10 in both categories and earning USHL Goaltender of the Week honors once. During that season, Berzins was a teammate of current Husky Austin Burnevik. Berzins played for his home country Latvia in the 2022 and 2023 IIHF World Junior Championships and posted a 2.47 GAA and .914 S% in the 2023 tournament.
Loftus, a Blaine native, appeared in 33 games in his freshman campaign at Massachusetts where he posted an assist and nine blocks with a +3 mark on the ice. Prior to this time out east, Loftus played in 125 regular games for the Sioux City Musketeers of the USHL where he recorded 12 goals and 45 assists for 57 points. He served as an assistant captain in 2023-24 and helped Sioux City reach the Western Conference Finals. In prep, Loftus played for seasons at Blaine High School where he appeared in 90 games and scored 85 points (18g/67a).
Smolinski will join the Huskies for his senior seasons after three season at RPI where he produced 10 goals and 32 assists for 42 points with three power play goals in 108 games. He played in every game for the Engineers over three seasons and produced a career-best five goals and 15 points in his 2024-25 junior campaign. In the classroom, Smolinski has been named to the ECAC All-Academic Team and a AHCA Krampade Scholar All-American. Prior to his time with RPI, Smolinski played for the Tri-City Storm (USHL, 2019-20 & 2020-21), the Johnstown Tomahawks (NAHL, 2020-21) and the Fargo Force (USHL, 2021-22). With the Force, Smolinski produced four goals and 17 assists for 21 points in 62 games and was a teammate of current Husky Tyson Gross. Max is the son of Bryan Smolinski, who played four collegiate seasons and was a captain at Michigan State before a 15-season NHL career where he played for eight teams.
For all the latest on St. Cloud State Men's Hockey, stay tuned to SCSUHuskies.com and follow the team on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook. To contact the ticket office, visit www.scsutickets.com or call 1-877-SCSUTIX / 320-308-2137.
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