The 23-year-old Bernasconi joins the Ice Flyers after spending the 2025–26 season in Switzerland, where he was part of the HC Ajoie organization in the National League. He also appeared in two games for HC Franches-Montagnes in the MyHL, posting a 2.02 goals-against average.

A native of Lugano, Switzerland, Bernasconi stands at 6-foot-2 and 163 pounds and catches left. He began his development with HC Lugano before progressing through Switzerland’s junior system and making his professional debut with HCB Ticino Rockets in the Swiss League during the 2020–21 season.

“We’re excited to bring Kilian Bernasconi to Pensacola,” said Head Coach Jeremy Gates. “He’s a young goaltender who has developed through the Swiss hockey system and has already gained experience at several levels of professional hockey. We really like his size, athleticism, and the way he competes in the crease, and we believe there is a lot of upside in his game. This is a great opportunity for Kilian to come over to North America, continue his development, and compete for our team, and we’re looking forward to seeing what he can do in Pensacola.”

Bernasconi continued his development with HC Ambrì-Piotta’s U20 program, where he recorded a 2.45 goals-against average across 26 regular-season appearances during the 2022–23 season. He then spent the 2023–24 season with EHC Arosa, appearing in 13 games and posting a 2.34 goals-against average.

The move to Pensacola marks Bernasconi’s first opportunity to continue his professional career in North America as he joins the Ice Flyers for the 2026–27 season.

“The Pensacola Ice Flyers are a good team, with lots of fans, and a big arena atmosphere,” said Bernasconi. “My goal this season is to stay concentrated, calm, and to be consistent in net.”

The 2026–27 season will mark Bernasconi’s first season with the Pensacola Ice Flyers and his first professional season in North America.

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Schachle brings more than 150 games of professional experience to Pensacola after spending the past four seasons competing in the ECHL. The 6-foot-4, 218-pound left winger has appeared in 163 career ECHL games, recording 43 points on 14 goals and 29 assists, while bringing a physical presence to the lineup.

“We’re really excited to add Tanner to our group.,” said Head Coach Jeremy Gates. “He’s a big, experienced forward who has spent several years playing in the ECHL, and he brings a combination of size, strength, and competitiveness that we value. Tanner understands what it takes to compete every night. We believe his experience and physical presence will be important for us, and we’re looking forward to seeing him bring that to Pensacola.”

A native of Wasilla, Alaska, Schachle began his junior career with the Kenai River Brown Bears before joining the Fairbanks Ice Dogs. Across his NAHL career, he recorded 82 points on 41 goals and 41 assists in 166 games, establishing himself as a physical and reliable forward.

Schachle continued his development at the collegiate level, spending time at the University of Alaska Anchorage and Long Island University. In 74 NCAA Division I games, he recorded 21 points on nine goals and 12 assists, while also accumulating 153 penalty minutes.

Since turning professional, Schachle has suited up for the Rapid City Rush, Norfolk Admirals, Orlando Solar Bears, Worcester Railers, and Bloomington Bison. He was also selected to participate in the 2023 ECHL All-Star Game after a strong start to his professional career.

Most recently, Schachle split the 2025–26 season between Worcester and Bloomington, appearing in 17 ECHL games and recording two assists. His experience across multiple professional organizations gives him a wealth of knowledge as he makes the move to Pensacola.

“I’m excited for the opportunity to join the Ice Flyers,” said Schachle. “I’m looking forward to getting to Pensacola, meeting my teammates, and getting to work alongside my bother, Porter.”

The 2026–27 season will mark Schachle’s first with the Ice Flyers as he brings his professional experience, size, and physical style to Pensacola’s forward group.

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Schachle returns to Pensacola after making an impact during the 2025–26 campaign, bringing size, physicality, and versatility to the Ice Flyers’ forward group. The 6-foot-4 forward established himself as a dependable presence in the lineup while using his size and compete level to contribute throughout the season.

“We’re excited to have Porter back in Pensacola,” said Head Coach Jeremy Gates. “He’s a big, versatile forward who brings a lot of size and competitiveness to our lineup. Porter has a strong understanding of what we expect here, and we like the way he competes and uses his size throughout the game. Having that familiarity with our organization is valuable, and we’re looking forward to seeing him continue to grow his game and make an impact for us this season.”

A native of Wasilla, Alaska, Schachle developed his game through the junior hockey ranks before continuing his career at the collegiate and professional levels. His combination of size, strength, and willingness to compete has made him a valuable addition to Pensacola’s forward group.

During his first season with the Ice Flyers, Schachle gained valuable experience in the SPHL while becoming familiar with the organization and its style of play. His physical presence and ability to contribute in multiple areas of the game made him an important piece of Pensacola’s lineup.

“I’m excited to be back in Pensacola,” said Schachle. “I really enjoyed my time with the Ice Flyers last season, and I’m looking forward to getting back to work. We have a great group coming back, and I’m ready to do whatever I can to help this team compete for a championship.”

With another season of professional experience under his belt, Schachle will look to take another step forward during the 2026–27 campaign and continue to provide a strong physical presence for the Ice Flyers.

The 2026–27 season will mark Schachle’s second season with the Ice Flyers.

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Ramanau joins the Ice Flyers after beginning his professional career in North America during the 2025–26 season. The 6-foot-1, 174-pound left-shot defenseman spent time with the Twin City Thunderbirds and Biloxi Breakers, gaining his first experience at the professional level.

A native of Minsk, Belarus, Ramanau’s hockey development began at home under the guidance of his father, Oleg Ramanau, who played for the Belarus national team. Oleg coached Yahor during his early years in the sport, helping establish the foundation that would eventually lead him to pursue hockey in North America.

“Yahor is a young defenseman who has continued to develop his game and has gained valuable professional experience over the last couple of seasons.” said Head Coach Jeremy Gates. “We like his mobility, his ability to move the puck, and the way he competes. We believe there’s still a lot of upside in his game. Yahor is hungry for an opportunity to take the next step, and we’re looking forward to working with him and helping him continue to develop here in Pensacola.”

Ramanau made his way to North America as a teenager, joining the Esmark Stars program in Pennsylvania. He spent four seasons within the program, progressing from the U15 level through U18 AAA. During his 2020–21 U18 season, Ramanau recorded 41 points on 12 goals and 29 assists in 54 games, including six power-play goals and a shorthanded goal.

His development with Esmark earned him an opportunity at the junior level, and he signed an NAHL tender with the Wichita Falls Warriors in 2021. The Esmark program described Ramanau as a highly skilled defenseman capable of blending Eastern European and North American styles of play.

After continuing his development through junior hockey, Ramanau began his professional career during the 2025–26 season. He recorded his first professional points with the Twin City Thunderbirds, finishing his time with the club with two assists in 13 appearances.

Now, Ramanau will bring his international background, North American experience, and continued development to Pensacola as he looks to establish himself in the SPHL.

“The Ice Flyers are a winning team and live in one of the best towns in the SPHL,” said Ramanau. “My goal this year is to win the presidents cup and to grow as a player as much as a person.”

The 2026–27 season will mark Ramanau’s first season with the Ice Flyers as he looks to take the next step in his professional career and make an impact on Pensacola’s blue line.

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DiMatteo returns to Pensacola after making his professional debut with the Ice Flyers during the 2025–26 season. The 6-foot-3 goaltender appeared in 16 games for Pensacola, posting a 10-4-0 record with a 2.84 goals-against average and a .915 save percentage. His strong start to the season earned him recognition as the SPHL Player of the Week following the opening weekend, when he stopped 33 shots in regulation and overtime before turning aside all six shooters in a shootout victory over Macon.

“We’re thrilled to have Rico back in Pensacola,” said Head Coach Jeremy Gates. “Rico is a very talented goalie who has valuable experience and is the type of person looking continue to grow his game. We’ve seen his ability firsthand last season. He brings competitiveness, and is an important part of our team as a goalie and person. I look forward to hearing his name announced at The Hangar in front of our great fans.”

Following his strong start in Pensacola, DiMatteo earned an opportunity at the next level when he was loaned to the ECHL’s Rapid City Rush on December 26, 2025. He went on to make 12 appearances with Rapid City, finishing his ECHL campaign with a 3.96 goals-against average and a .907 save percentage.

The Brasher Falls, New York, native also gained valuable experience during his time in the ECHL, including a standout professional debut in which he stopped 55 of 57 shots for the Rush. DiMatteo’s performance marked the highest save total by an ECHL goaltender in his first game that season and helped establish him as a reliable option in Rapid City’s crease.

Before turning professional, DiMatteo played NCAA Division I hockey at Northern Michigan University, Long Island University, and the University of New Hampshire. During his senior season at New Hampshire, he appeared in eight games, posting a 2.53 goals-against average and a .911 save percentage. He also earned two Hockey East Goaltender of the Week honors.

After gaining experience at both the SPHL and ECHL levels during his first professional season, DiMatteo returns to Pensacola with another year of development under his belt and an opportunity to build on his strong rookie campaign.

“I’m calm, patient, and athletic,” said DiMatteo. “My goal this season is to be the top goaltender in the SPHL.”

The 2026–27 season will mark DiMatteo’s second professional season and his second campaign with the Ice Flyers.

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Koran joins the Ice Flyers after completing a four-year collegiate career at Ontario Tech University, where he appeared in 99 games and recorded 14 goals and 19 assists for 33 points. During the 2025–26 season, the 6-foot, 201-pound forward registered seven goals and seven assists for 14 points in 30 games, providing a consistent presence in the Ridgebacks’ lineup.

“Braiden is an exciting young player who bringing a heaviness to his game,” said Head Coach Jeremy Gates. “He developed in college starting as a role player to being more relied on in his later seasons. We really like his compete level, his attitude, and his willingness to learn. We believe Pensacola will be a great place for him to start his professional career, and we’re excited to help develop his game.”

A native of Kimberley, British Columbia, Koran joined Ontario Tech after developing through the junior ranks with the Humboldt Broncos of the SJHL. He spent four seasons with the Ridgebacks, establishing himself as a dependable forward while gaining valuable experience in both the regular season and postseason.

Koran also proved to be a productive postseason performer during his collegiate career, recording nine goals and 14 assists for 23 points in 44 career playoff appearances. His combination of size, left-handed shooting, and experience in high-pressure games adds another dimension to Pensacola’s forward group heading into the 2026–27 campaign.

“Pensacola is a beautiful place to play,” said Koran. “The Ice Flyers have a very passionate fan base and I want to help bring a Presidents Cup back to Pensacola anyway that I can.”

The 2026–27 season will mark Koran’s first professional campaign as he makes the transition from Ontario Tech University to the Southern Professional Hockey League.

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Carpenter joins the Ice Flyers after spending the 2025–26 season with the Mont-Blanc Yetis in France’s Division 1, where he recorded five points on one goal and four assists in 10 regular-season games. He also appeared in two French Cup contests, recording a goal and an assist.

“Tyler is a player who brings perseverance and can really shoot the puck. He competes hard and has a knack for being around the net,” said Head Coach Jeremy Gates. “He understands the level of compete and can play a role to create opportunities to shoot. We’re excited to add that type of player to our group and look forward to getting him down to Pensacola.”

Prior to beginning his professional career overseas, Carpenter spent four seasons at the University of Notre Dame, appearing in 107 games and recording 19 points on 10 goals and nine assists. During his senior season, Carpenter served as an alternate captain and played in all 38 games for the Fighting Irish.

The Palatine, Illinois, native was also recognized for his leadership and character during his collegiate career, earning the 2025 Big Ten Sportsmanship Award. As a senior, Carpenter was one of Notre Dame’s regular centers and finished the season without taking a penalty in 38 games.

Before joining Notre Dame, Carpenter spent four seasons in the USHL with the Omaha Lancers and Chicago Steel. Across 223 USHL games, he totaled 86 points on 39 goals and 47 assists, giving him extensive junior hockey experience before making the jump to the NCAA.

“My goal this season is to be a reliable player that can be put into every situation,” said Carpenter. “I’m excited for this opportunity, the Ice Flyers are always a team that is near the top of the league and the players love to play here.”

The 2026–27 season will mark Carpenter’s second professional season and his first in the SPHL as he brings his collegiate leadership, two-way ability, and experience overseas to the Ice Flyers’ forward group.

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Ross returns to Pensacola after spending the 2025–26 season with Nantes in France’s Division 1, where he served as an alternate captain and recorded nine goals and 11 assists for 20 points in 27 regular-season games. The center also added a memorable postseason performance, scoring a hat trick—including the overtime game-winning goal—to help Nantes secure its place in Division 1 for the 2026–27 season.

“Sean had a short stint with the Ice Flyers a couple years ago,” said Head Coach Jeremy Gates. “He competes hard, plays a responsible game at both ends of the ice, and brings a professional approach every day. He’s another player who strengthens the culture we’re building and gives our lineup valuable depth.”

A native of Bracebridge, Ontario, Ross previously played for the Ice Flyers before making the move overseas. He joined Nantes ahead of the 2024–25 season after spending time in the ECHL with the South Carolina Stingrays and in the SPHL with Pensacola. During his two seasons in Nantes, Ross recorded 25 goals and 24 assists for 49 points in 61 games, establishing himself as a consistent offensive contributor and leader for the Corsaires.

Ross brings professional experience on both sides of the Atlantic, along with a proven ability to contribute in important moments. His performance in Nantes’ decisive relegation game was a perfect example, as he scored three times—including the overtime winner—to complete a 5–4 comeback victory and secure the club’s Division 1 status.

After gaining valuable experience in European hockey, Ross returns to Pensacola with a familiar organization and an opportunity to once again make an impact in the SPHL.

“I played for Pensacola at the end of my U Sports career, so I’ve experienced how passionate the fans are and how much they enjoy watching hockey. The city is wonderful and has lots to offer outside of hockey,” said Ross. “The one goal I have for this season is just to remain in the moment.”

The 2026–27 season will mark Ross’ return to the Ice Flyers after spending the previous two seasons competing in France’s Division 1 with Nantes.

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Kurapov returns to Pensacola after making an impact during the 2025–26 campaign, recording four points on three goals and one assist in six regular-season games with the Ice Flyers. The right-shot forward also added two points on one goal and one assist in three postseason appearances, providing an offensive spark after joining the team late in the season.

“Andrew is a player who brings a lot of versatility to our lineup,” said Head Coach Jeremy Gates. “He has the ability to contribute at both ends of the ice and understands the importance of playing within a team structure. He is an offensive threat with is shot and vision on the ice. He sees the game well and competes hard every night. We’re excited to have him back in Pensacola and believe he’ll be a valuable part of our group as we work toward our goal of winning a championship.”

A native of Corvallis, Oregon, Kurapov joined the Ice Flyers after beginning the 2025–26 season with the Knoxville Ice Bears. He recorded 14 points on seven goals and seven assists in 27 games with Knoxville before being acquired by Pensacola at the SPHL trade deadline. Kurapov also spent time with the ECHL’s Reading Royals during the season.

Kurapov began his professional career following a standout four-year collegiate career at Endicott College, where he totaled 118 points on 51 goals and 67 assists in 113 games. He was named the CCC Player of the Year in 2022–23 and earned First Team All-Conference honors that season. Kurapov also produced at least a point-per-game in each of his final three collegiate seasons.

With a full season in Pensacola ahead of him, Kurapov will look to build on his strong finish to the 2025–26 campaign and provide another offensive weapon for the Ice Flyers’ forward group.

“Pensacola is a beautiful place to play with an amazing community,” said Kurapov. “I really enjoyed my time with the Ice Flyers last season, and I’m ready to do whatever I can to help this team compete for a championship.”

The 2026–27 season will mark Kurapov’s first full season with the Ice Flyers after joining the club late in the 2025–26 campaign.

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Zarudny begins his professional career after a standout four-year collegiate career at SUNY Geneseo, where he developed into one of the program’s most dependable two-way defensemen. During the 2025–26 season, the Orangeville, Ontario native recorded five goals and 15 assists for 20 points in 27 games while playing in every contest for the Knights. He also earned Third Team All-UCHC and Second Team Empire 8 All-Conference honors for his play on the blue line.

“Dakota earned this opportunity through the way he competed at Geneseo.” said Head Coach Jeremy Gates. “He’s a smart, reliable player with a high hockey IQ and a willingness to do the little things that help teams win. We believe he has the character and work ethic to make a smooth transition to the professional game, and we’re looking forward to helping him continue his development.”

The 5-foot-11 left-shot defenseman finished his collegiate career as a reliable presence on Geneseo’s blue line, contributing offensively while taking on key defensive responsibilities. His ability to transition the puck, quarterback the power play, and play in all situations helped the Knights earn a berth in the UCHC Championship Game and a national top-10 ranking during the 2025–26 season.

Prior to attending SUNY Geneseo, Zarudny honed his game with the Jersey Hitmen of the NCDC, where he established himself as a smart, mobile defenseman before making the jump to the collegiate ranks. At Geneseo, he became teammates with fellow Ice Flyers newcomers Alexander Dameski, giving the pair an established chemistry as they begin their professional careers together.

“The Ice Flyers are 4-time SPHL Champions with a great fan base,” said Zarudny. “

I’m excited to begin my professional career here and I’m ready to help the team however I’m needed.”

The 2026–27 season will mark Zarudny’s first professional campaign as he brings his strong two-way game, puck-moving ability, and collegiate experience to the Ice Flyers’ defensive corps.

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