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His first practice as the Ice Dogs head coach is still a long way off, but Josh Hauge is already optimistic for what the future holds for Fairbanks’ Junior A hockey squad.

The reason for his optimism — the long list of newcomers the Ice Dogs drafted and tendered to skate on the Big Dipper ice next season.

“This is my fourth year doing it with Fairbanks and I think this has the potential to be the best group we have,” said Hauge, who was an assistant for three years before being handed the reins after Rob Proffitt stepped aside following last season.

The Ice Dogs entered the offseason with plenty of questions along their back line after seeing five defenders head off to play NCAA Division I hockey, along with Cody Reichard, one of the best goaltenders to wear an Ice Dogs’ sweater.

But Hauge thinks his newcomers are more than ready to fill in.

Headlining the group is Joe Phillippi, who comes to Fairbanks off a high school career that saw him win the Frank Brimsek award, given to the top goaltender in the state of Minnesota — a hotbed for junior hockey talent.

“He’s a little smaller, but has a pretty aggressive style of play,” Hauge said. “He’s an unbelievable kid. I couldn’t be happier that we got him. He’s a proven winner and a proven leader. It’s a jump from high school hockey to junior hockey, but if any kid can do that, Joe’s the kid.”

Though it will be Phillippi’s first year in junior hockey, Hauge expects him to make an immediate impact.

“He was a starter in Minnesota for four years,” Hauge said. “He was on the Minnesota Select team that went to the Chicago Showcase, but you can never be 100 percent positive. He’s got all the tools to be a good goaltender.”

Protecting Phillippi will be a group of blue liners that Hauge says boast exactly what he was looking for — size and speed.

“There are 6-foot-4 guys that still can skate,” the coach said.

Topping the group is Randy Cure, who stands 6-4. He’s another Minnesota product out of the Academy of Holy Angels.

“The one that’s gong to come in right away most ready is Randy Cure. He’s committed to Mercyhurst; he’s a big kid,” Hauge said. “At our trial camp, (former Alaska Nanooks head coach and current scout for the National Hockey League’s Atlanta Thrashers) Tavis MacMillan was watching and he really, really liked him. He said he’s a guy who can get drafted into the NHL some day.”

Joining Cure on the blue line are:

• David Donnellan, Eau Claire (Wis.) Memorial — Donnellan hails from the same high school as current Ice Dogs Andrew McCabe and Isaiah Bennis. Hauge called Donnellan a “stay-at-home defenseman” that has the skills to develop into a high-end D-I prospect.

• Kyle Lenetto, Hermantown (Minn.) — Hauge called Lenetto a “smooth-skating defenseman” who will be expected to jump in the play offensively. Hauge said the adjustment for Lenetto to the junior game should be a smooth one.

• Kyle Reagan, Russell Stover (Minn.) — Though he’s from Minnesota, Reagan made himself with his midget team out of Kansas City. Hauge said that Reagan has a knack for defense and will be looked to jump in and contribute right from Day 1.

• Jon Schriner, St. Thomas Academy, St. Paul (Minn.) — Schriner comes to Fairbanks with a winning pedigree, helping St. Thomas to two Class A state titles. Schriner practiced with the Ice Dogs during the playoffs and Hauge said the defenseman “fit in well.”

• Dan Sova, Hill-Murray High School, Maplewood (Minn.) — At 6-3, 210 pounds, Sova brings a big frame to the blue line, and Hauge said he “has as much upside as any player that has ever put on an Ice Dog jersey.” Hauge said the biggest thing for Sova, who is listed on the NHL’s Scouting Watch List, will be adjusting to the speed of the game.

• Brad Tremi, Dubuque (Iowa) Thunderbirds — Tremi brings junior hockey experience to Fairbanks after playing in the Central States Hockey League Championships last season.

The Ice Dogs also hope to add Loren Barron, who registered 22 points in 46 games with the Valley Jr. Warriors of the Eastern Junior Hockey League, and Luke Johnson, who played for the Weyburn Red Wings of the Saskatchewan Junior Hockey League.

As the newcomers get adjusted to junior play, the Ice Dogs will look to their sole returning defender, Drew Darwitz, lead the squad.

Hauge said just having Darwitz back was a “great start” to building their defensive core.

“He can definitely make the jump from being behind the big group last year to being the No. 1 guy this year,” Hauge added.

Backup goaltenders R.J. Copeland and T.J. Fuller are both expected to return.

“We’ll see where they fit in,” Hauge said. “It’s a good solid group.”

While most of the effort was focused on the defensive end, the Ice Dogs did add some impact offensive players — most notably James Saintey, another St. Thomas Academy product, who tallied 60 points in his senior season.

“My favorite kid we signed is James Saintey, he’s just dynamic,” Hauge said. “He’s a little guy — you see him outside a locker room and you don’t think he’s going to be a hockey player. But he’s got great hockey sense.”

The Ice Dogs also added Jared Larson, who Hauge thinks can team with Saintey to bring the Ice Dogs the same type of offensive prowess that Kyle Schmidt and Joe Shean brought the team two years ago.

“Jared Larson is probably the other one that has a direct impact right away. He can skate, he can flat-out fly,” Hauge said. “Those two together, I can compare them a little to Schmidt and Shean. If they get on the same page together, they could be fun to watch for years to come.”

Rounding out the Minnesota prospects is Steve Sierke, from Benilde-St. Margaret’s High School, where he scored 24 goals and tallied 44 assists in just 31 games.

“He’s a very skilled goal scorer,” Hauge said. “He plays hard, plays with an edge. He’ll be fun to watch.

“This is probably the first year where I’ve been able to go into Minnesota and get the guys that I wanted. Before, I’d get three out of five. This year, I got everybody I wanted. I’m just thrilled about the group that’s coming in.”

Moving out of the Midwest, the Ice Dogs, who return eight forwards from last year’s team —Eric Kraft, Andrew McCabe, Jon Waggoner and Ryan Santana — also brought in a forward from California, Mark Pustin.

Pustin skated with the Southern California Titans, the same program Austin Block played for.

“Mark, he’s coming from the same program as Austin Block and he scored more points than Block,” Hauge said. “He should be able to step in right away.

“I think for me, I really want to bring a lot of guys that can skate, get up and down the ice, who are fun to watch.”

He won’t know for sure until he sees them take to the Big Dipper ice — as Proffitt said, “A strong recruiting class and 50 cents can get you a cup of coffee” — but Hauge thinks he did just that.