ST. CLOUD, Minn. — The St. Cloud State men's hockey team has filled one of its two openings for a goalie.
Dominic Basse, who played the last two seasons for Colorado College, announced on Twitter on Monday morning that he plans to transfer to St. Cloud State.
Thank you CC hockey for the past 2 years and all the friendships made. I’m excited to announce I will be transferring to St. Cloud State University to continue my hockey and academic career. #GoHuskies pic.twitter.com/4A2qQclYOb
— Dominic Basse (@dominic_basse) April 11, 2022
Basse was 6-15-2 with a 3.23 goals-against average, .888 save percentage and had one shutout in 24 games this season for the Tigers. Colorado College was 6-17-1 in the NCHC and 9-24-3 this season under first-year head coach Kris Mayotte. In his two seasons at Colorado College, Basse was 10-26-3 with a 3.21 GAA and .891 save percentage in 41 games.
"I was in the (transfer) portal for a little bit and the opportunity arose and I just heard how great the coaching staff was," Basse said late Monday afternoon. "Coach (Brett) Larson gave me a call and I really liked what he was saying. He was promising me an opportunity to compete for the (starting) job, which is all you can really ask for. It just worked out."
There is a Colorado College connection at St. Cloud State. R.J. Enga has been the team's director of hockey operations/video coordinator since September. Enga was an assistant coach for Colorado College before joining the staff at St. Cloud State.
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"I definitely had a couple of calls with him and he was telling me how much he likes it there, how much he likes how the staff runs everything and how much he enjoys the environment and the guys," Basse said. "He only had positive things to say."
Deciding to transfer
Colorado College went 3-13 in its last 16 games with four of those losses to eventual national champion Denver, two to St. Cloud State and four to co-NCHC champion North Dakota. In those last 16 games, he played in eight with junior Matt Vernon playing in goal the other eight, including the Tigers' two playoff games (March 11-12) at North Dakota.
After the season, Basse decided to put his name in the transfer portal.
"I got a good amount of development in, played in a good amount of games," he said of his time at Colorado College. "I got a ton of ice time and made the most of that.
"I think it was a mutual decision between me and the staff," he said of his decision to leave the Tigers. "I was trying to find a little bit of a better fit. It wasn't working out as well. I just wanted to see if there was somewhere else that was as good, if not a little bit better, for me and my family."
Basse grew up in Alexandria, Va., (about 8 miles from Washington, D.C.) and most of his family still lives out there. He played for Gonzaga College High School, a prep school in Washington, D.C., for two seasons before transferring to South Kent School (Conn.) to play for its 18-and-under AAA team that won a national title in 2019.
"Prep school at South Kent was amazing," Basse said. "One of the best groups of guys, living with the guys, seeing them in the dorms and living away from home was awesome. We won a national championship, which was huge and it was just a great group."
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Basse, who is listed at 6-foot-6 and 183 pounds, was taken in the sixth round (167th overall) of the 2019 NHL Entry Draft by the Chicago Blackhawks.
In 2019-20, Basse played in 37 games in juniors for the Youngstown Phantoms of the United States Hockey League. He was 14-12-3 with a 3.48 GAA, .887 save percentage and one shutout.
Basse said that his family had season tickets to the Washington Capitals growing up and that sparked his interest in hockey. His grandfather, Mike Malovic, was a big Capitals fan.
"My grandfather loved to take me skating and we were season ticket holders and he just wanted to see (the Capitals) win the Stanley Cup," Basse said of his hometown team, which won the NHL's playoff title in 2018. "Right after they won, unfortunately, he passed away. He was one of the main people to introduce me to the sport and he encouraged me to keep it going."
A new start
The Huskies lost two goalies from their 2021-22 roster. David Hrenak, who started for the Huskies from 2017-22, finished his college eligibility and has signed a pro contract with the Los Angeles Kings. Joey Lamoreaux, who played in two games each of the last three seasons for the Huskies, has entered the transfer portal. That left Jaxon Castor, who will be playing in his fourth season with the Huskies in the fall, as the lone returning goalie on the roster.
Because Basse has not yet signed all of the transfer paperwork, Larson cannot comment on him. Basse said that his strengths as a goalie are his size and positioning.
"I think a couple of my strengths are getting to the puck, getting my feet set and not having to make too many crazy saves because I'm already there and waiting for it and using my size to my advantage," he said. "But being athletic when it's needed."
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Basse is a political science major and was named to the NCHC Academic All-Conference Team his sophomore year. To earn that status, a player compile a 3.0 cumulative grade-point average or better for that school year.
He said that he is glad to be getting an opportunity to continue to play in the NCHC.
"I do think it is the best league in college hockey," he said. "You look throughout the year and a good portion of the league is in the top 10 and top 20 (in the rankings)."
