By Joshua Boyd / USPHLPremier.com 

Season Opener: Sept. 20 at Bellingham Blazers

The Totems have one of the longest histories of any USPHL team, going back 25 years, but they are not resting on their past but rather looking to build upon a strong 2023-24 season that saw a Northwest Division finals appearance and are eyeing a National Championship in 2024-25. 

Head Coach Mike Butters is returning, and his resume is highly decorated including time with the NHL’s Tampa Bay Lightning in a variety of coaching and management duties. Mike Murphy returns for his 25th season as GM, and the Totems also brought back their full coaching staff of Cannon Rogers, Jason Waram and Michael Savidge. 

“As always, expectations are high. We had a team skilled enough to compete for a Nationals berth last year, but lacked the deep character needed to go deep,” said Murphy. 

“Mike Murphy brought in the type of players any coach would be proud to work with. At this level, character plays a huge part in how your team will succeed,” Butters added. 

The Totems are returning six players from last season, including returning Northwest All-Star forward Roman Wolynec, fellow forwards Ethan Maisonneuve and K.J. Edwards, goaltender Daniel Cleofe, defensemen Daniel Radkevich and Drew Heiser. 

“Despite a couple Tier 2 offers, Roman decided he wanted to return to lead this team,” said Murphy. “Cleofe is back for his third season. His numbers have improved each season. Radkevich and Heiser both have good size [6-4 and 6-6, respectively] will anchor what I believe will one of the biggest and most physical blue lines I’ve coached in recent memory. Edwards was acquired in a trade in January and provided the Totems with a physical and offensive presence around the net. I’ve tracked him since Peewee hockey in Tacoma and he is a player who should produce in new surroundings this year. Maisonneuve was also acquired in a trade, and was the major turning point in our group last year. He plays forward and defense and is deadly in the faceoff circle.” 

The Totems also signed several strong players from other junior teams. Owen Sutherland also joins with USPHL Premier experience and goalie Cole Fennema joins from the EHL. 

“Sutherland is a Swiss Army knife who does a lot of things well, and Fennema has a proven record that he can stop the puck,” Butters said. 

The Totems’ global reach will be shown from the 14 players signed from around the world. This includes Swedes Wilhelm Folkesson, Theo Granlund, Edvin Hedberg, Arvid Wigforss; Ukraine’s Oleksandr Kurzenkov and Yaroslav Diky; Hungary’s Félix Palla and Xaver Palla; as well as Latvia’s Matiass Grinbergs, Czechia’s Josef Haas, Japan’s Hikaru Nakamura and Finland’s Aatu Suontakanen. 

On the North American side, the Totems have added Will Hellerman and Gabe Malcuit (CDA Academy), Owen Tilley (Maine Jr. Mariners 18U), Braeden Derouen (Northwest Stars 16U) and Mason Rizik (Colorado Rampage 16U). 

Butters expects a tight race in the newly expanded Northwest Division. 

“The Northwest division has undergone several changes in the off-season and many of these changes I feel will drastically improve the division as a whole,” Butters added.