ST. CLOUD — Think of the odds of making it to the NCAA Division I level as an athlete.
Now think of the odds of three players from the same high school playing on the same Division I team.
That’s what the St. Cloud State men’s hockey team has this season in freshmen
and
All three players are White Bear Lake High School graduates.
Each has different roles for the Huskies, but they understand this is not a normal situation.
“It’s very unique,” said Welch, who is the oldest of the three at 21. “It’s not often you have two of your high school friends on the same college (team). It’s been great.”
Welch and Roed both play center for the Huskies. Belisle is a defenseman.
“They’re two of my best friends,” Belisle said. “At every level (in youth hockey), I played with at least one of them. Coming into college, it’s super special. It’s made the transition 10 times easier with those two right next to me in the dorms. I love having them around and it’s just awesome.”
head coach Brett Larson, in his 20th season as a coach, has never had three high school teammates one one of his college teams.
“It’s just really cool because you can tell how much they love being together,” Larson said. “But they’re also a part of the bigger group and fit in with everybody here. They’ve just brought a really fun attitude to our group.”
From left, St. Cloud State freshmen Joe Belisle, Nolan Roed and Aiden Welch on Tuesday, Jan. 6, 2026, at the Herb Brooks National Hockey Center in St. Cloud.
Mick Hatten / St. Cloud LIVE
Roed was the first of the former Bears to commit to the Huskies in the fall of 2022.
“I told them about it, how much I loved my visit here and why I came here,” Roed said. “Welchy was the next one to commit here and I was so pumped to have another guy to come in with. JB maybe a year later commits. It was one of the greatest days in the last couple years. It’s just been amazing and unbelievable. I’ve loved every minute of it.”
Larson said their character sticks out as much as their skills.
“They’re all great kids,” he said. “They’re just hockey players, love hockey and they’re low maintenance. They come to work every day and we’re really glad they’re here.”
Here is a look at how their freshmen seasons are going:
St. Cloud State defenseman Max Smolinski (21) celebrates forward Nolan Roed’s (22) goal against Bemidji State in the first period Saturday, Oct. 11, 2025, at Herb Brooks National Hockey Center in St. Cloud, MN.
Jason Wachter / For St. Cloud LIVE
Roed, who is listed at 5-foot-11 and 190 pounds, has the most fanfare. He was selected by the Colorado Avalanche in the seventh round (214th overall) of the 2025 NHL Entry Draft.
He has two goals, 10 points, is winning 56.2% of his faceoffs and has played in all 20 games for the Huskies. He had eight points in his first eight games, but has two in his last 12.
Nolan Roed
ST. CLOUD STATE UNIVERSITY ATHLETICS
“He’s been really good,” Larson said. “He’s played in every situation for us, power play, penalty kill, top six minutes. He’s just really efficient with how he plays the game. Sometimes you don’t notice him, but he’s making little plays all over the rink. He’s always in the right spots. Even though the numbers haven’t been coming as much as he had hoped, he’s creating a lot of chances on offense.”
Roed admits that he has been grinding a bit.
“Personally, I’ve been going through some adversity the last 10 games with not producing like I want to,” he said. “But I’m playing well and playing a big role on this team. I’m just looking forward to keep doing that and, hopefully, produce.”
Welch said Roed brings an intensity on the ice.
“He’s really tenacious and always hungry for the puck,” Welch said. “He’s very smart, a high IQ player. He’s a playmaker and finisher. He works his (butt) off and always wants the puck.”
Off the ice, Belisle said that Roed’s personality comes out the more you get to know him.
“Nolan, when you first meet him, he’s more laid back and chill,” Belisle said. “Once you get to know him, he’s hilarious. You just love being around him and you want to be around him all the time. He’s cracking jokes.”
Roed scored his first college goal on Oct. 11 against Bemidji State.
Minnesota Duluth forward Max Plante (10) skates with the puck against St. Cloud State defenseman Joe Belisle (3) on Saturday, Nov. 8, 2025, at Amsoil Arena in Duluth.
Clint Austin / Duluth Media Group
Belisle is listed at 6-foot and 180 pounds. But Roed said Belisle has taken some big steps since he last played with him in 2023.
“He had a huge offseason,” Roed said. “He’s so much faster and stronger. He’s always been a fast kid, but he’s added on some weight. He’s strong. He’s just a smooth player and smooth skater. That helps every aspect of his game. He’s so strong on the puck. It’s pretty incredible how much he’s grown in the last few years.”
Joe Belisle
ST. CLOUD STATE UNIVERSITY ATHLETICS
Larson said the coaching staff has been pleasantly surprised by Belisle.
“He’s a little farther along than we thought he’d be at this point, which is a good thing,” Larson said.
So what does Belisle do well?
“Joe’s skating ability is what separates him from a lot of guys,” Larson said. “Just like any freshman, he’s going to make some mistakes. He can make up for it with his feet. He can get back into position, track a guy down. It almost allows him to play a little bit fearless. He knows that he can do that. His skating makes up for his mistakes.”
Welch said Belisle doesn’t get too complex on the ice.
“He’s also a very smart player,” Welch said. “He keeps the game very simple. He doesn’t try to over-complicate it. He’s a very strong kid. He’s smaller, but he’s a very strong kid for his size. He uses it to his advantage.”
Belisle scored his first college goal on Friday, Jan. 2, against Yale.
Roed was excited to see that out of his friend of so many years.
“I could walk to his house in one minute,” Roed said of how close he lives to his family. “We’ve been friends since we were mites. We were on the same mite team, same squirt team, peewees, bantams and high school. Welchy was a little older, but we played high school together and got really close. It’s been a great ride.”
St. Cloud State center Aiden Welch (18) makes a pass against Alaska Anchorage in the first period Saturday, Oct. 25, 2025, at the Herb Brooks National Hockey Center in St. Cloud.
Jason Wachter / For St. Cloud LIVE
At 6-2 and 215 pounds, Welch is the biggest player of the three. He battled a leg contusion that kept him out of the lineup for a few games and has not played since scoring his first college goal on Oct. 25 against Alaska-Anchorage.
“We really like Aiden in practice and we liked him when he was in the lineup,” Larson said. “Unfortunately, he got hurt and missed a couple weekends. Since then, our centers — (Ryan) Rosborough, (Verner) Miettinen, Roed and (Tyson) Gross — that’s a tough four to break into. There’s a possibility to try him at the wing at some point. He’s a guy we think can be a contributor to this team. He’s just caught in a little bit of a numbers game.”
Aiden Welch
ST. CLOUD STATE UNIVERSITY ATHLETICS
Welch said it has not been ideal situation, but he is making the most of it.
“Obviously, it’s not what you hope for, being in and out,” he said. “You just have to keep a good mindset and stay positive. We’ve got a great group of guys, so it’s a lot of fun coming in here every day and putting in the work.”
Welch’s personality is not as intimidating as his physical stature.
“Welchy is like a big teddy bear,” Roed said. “He’s a big kid, but he’s a softy. We kind of give him a lot of crap for a lot of different stuff. He could probably beat us all up if he wanted to.”
Welch and Belisle worked together all summer at the White Bear Lake Sports Center. They helped kids with dry-land training, skating on a treadmill and coached them on the ice.
“It doesn’t feel like work,” Belisle said. “It’s teaching kids how to play hockey and it’s super fun.”
He also has a fun memory with Welch from youth hockey.
“Back in squirts, we were at a hotel, playing knee hockey,” Belisle said. “We were on a team and had a tournament and we won it. I was playing goalie the whole time. That was fun.
“In high school, my senior year, I played forward a couple games with Welchy and Roedy. That was super fun having them on a line. I would just give them the puck and have them do their own thing. I would go back to where they could hit me (with passes).”
Oh, by the way, there’s another SCSU connection that didn’t hurt in them ending up with the Huskies.
“Our high school coach, Chris Anderson, played here,” Belisle said of Anderson, who played defense for SCSU from 2004-08. “When Roedy committed in high school, the St. Cloud guys were at the games a lot. I’m sure they saw us play there. When Welchy committed, I was like, ‘Wow, St. Cloud is such a close spot and it’s a great program, great history.’
“When they finally reached out, it was a dream. It was a no-brainer with the coaching staff, the facilities here and the history and with those two — two of my best friends — it was one of the easiest decisions I’ve made.”
The St. Cloud State men’s hockey team celebrates winning the Cactus Cup after beating UMass-Lowell 3-2 on Saturday, Jan. 3, 2026, at Acrisure Arena, Palm Springs, Calif.
SCSU ATHLETICS
The Huskies won both games last weekend to take home the Cactus Cup, beating Yale and UMass-Lowell.
“We played really well,” Larson said. “I was really impressed with our speed and our execution for coming out of a break. I thought we moved the puck really well. I thought we played with an intensity and an urgency that we need in the second half.”
SCSU (3-7 NCHC, 10-10 overall) has won three straight going into this weekend’s series at Nebraska-Omaha (3-7, 7-13). The teams play at 7 p.m. on Friday, Jan. 9, and Saturday, Jan. 10, at Baxter Arena (NCHC.tv).
The Cactus Cup trophy that the St. Cloud State men’s hockey team won after beating UMass-Lowell, 3-2, on Jan. 3, 2026, at Acrisure Arena in Palm Springs, Calif.
Mick Hatten / St. Cloud LIVE
Perhaps the best news of late for the Huskies is freshman defenseman Tanner Henricks got back on the ice for the first time
since suffering a foot injury in a game on Oct. 31 against Western Michigan.
He skated on his own this week under the supervision of associate athletic trainer Sarah Miller.
Henricks had a goal and four points in six games before suffering the injury. There is no set timeline for the return of the Columbus Blue Jackets fourth-round draft pick.
St. Cloud State freshman defenseman Tanner Henricks skates on his own on Tuesday, Jan. 6, 2026, at the Herb Brooks National Hockey Center in St. Cloud.
Mick Hatten / St. Cloud LIVE