Men’s Hockey Select Prospect Camp identifies talented players who fit Flames’ culture

Select Prospect Camp participants showcase their talents on a transition through the neutral zone on the LaHaye Ice Center ice on April 24. (Photos by Ted Allen)

Men’s Hockey Select Prospect Camp identifies talented players who fit Flames’ culture

5/18/2026 2:00:00 PM | Men's D1 Hockey, Men's D2 Hockey, Men's D3 Hockey

Several potential recruits on hand at last month’s three-day event, held over College For A Weekend, made positive first impressions on Liberty’s coaches.

Men's Hockey Select Camp Prospects — Prospective players compete for a loose puck in the crease in front of Austin Caley, one of two DI goalie recruits signed at the Select Camp.

More than 50 participants in the April 22-24 Men's Hockey Select Prospect Camp at the LaHaye Ice Center showcased skills and engaged in discussions with members of Liberty University's Division I, II, and III coaching staffs. That led to a few commitments on site and put many other players on the radar for future recruiting classes.

"We wanted to get a really good fair look at the younger guys, who have more time of growth and development," Club Sports Recruitment Coordinator Brett Berthiaume said. "Each of our teams is filled with guys who can play hockey and are great culture fits for our program. We want the total package. The goal is we want all our teams to flourish with players that thrive at each level, and that their coaches and teammates can develop as men."

Flames Division I Head Coach Kirk Handy received commitments from two goalies at this year's camp — Joe Kuchaslo, an incoming junior transfer from Drury (Mo.) University, and Austin Caley from Texas, who impressed coaches at the camp.

"Prospect Camp is very beneficial for all the teams, especially the Division II and III teams, that will pick up quite a few players," he said. "There were a lot of great '06 and '07 players there that we want to keep an eye on as they go back to play Junior hockey, and guys for years to come who I think we've established a great pipeline for the future."

Flames DII men's hockey Head Coach Christian Garland said the Prospect Camp is helpful in assessing players from a holistic standpoint.

"We want people who want to be here at Liberty, not because their identity is who they are as a hockey player," he said.

Garland is not facing the same urgency to recruit players as he did after taking the helm from DI Assistant Coach Ben Hughes last summer and adding 15 freshmen to the roster.

"Turnover next year is very small," he said, noting the team graduated five forwards and one or two defensemen. "All of our goalies should return this year, barring transfers. We have a handful of guys committed and still have a lot of irons in the fire with people who were not able to make it to camp. It will be very interesting, come August once the preseason camp rolls around, to see how it all works out."

Men's Hockey Select Camp breakout — A player crosses the blue line with the puck during a final scrimmage on April 24.

Garland is still looking to complement his returning roster with a few high-level recruits.

"I am excited for the fall," he said. "This year was an exciting year for me and (Assistant Coach) Josh Graham to learn our chemistry. We feel we have a solid foundation for the next three years, with some really good building blocks."

DIII Head Coach Josh Wagner, who guided his team to its first AAU D3 National Championship in Jacksonville, Fla., on March 15, said several prospects at this year's camp could eventually help the team work toward its first AAU D2 title in the near future.

"We had a bunch of good players come out, and it was good to see all the potential talent … to just plan for the future," he said. "It was great. They got to skate with our guys, and we were able to talk to them and give little information to them about where they might fit in."

By Ted Allen/Staff Writer; Video by Noah Richter/Club Sports Student Media Assistant