WATERTOWN, S.D. — The Watertown Shamrocks have ignited a busy North American Hockey League offseason, announcing a flurry of roster movements over the past month, including key veteran trades, critical tender signings, and five player commitments to the collegiate ranks.
The roster restructuring is highlighted by the acquisition of forward Jordan Brothers from the Philadelphia Rebels in exchange for future assets. Brothers was a rare bright spot for a struggling Rebels offense last season, leading Philadelphia in goals (18), points (39), and power-play points (15) during his second full NAHL campaign.
Watertown also welcomed back a familiar face, reacquiring forward Vincent Curasi from the Kenai River Brown Bears for future assets. Curasi, a native of Waukesha, Wisconsin, was traded to Kenai River on Feb. 5. He returns to South Dakota after finishing his first junior hockey season with 12 points in 44 combined games, having previously notched four goals and seven points in 26 games during his initial stint with the Shamrocks.
NCAA and ACHA Commitments
The offseason activity coincides with a wave of college commitments for both current players and alumni:
- Zach Boren (UNLV, ACHA D1): The veteran forward and team captain formally announced his commitment to the University of Nevada-Las Vegas. An inaugural member of the franchise, the North Dakota native enjoyed a breakout age-out season, scoring a team-high 29 goals and 57 points to become the first full-season, point-per-game player in Shamrocks history.
- Joe Rice (Gustavus Adolphus College, NCAA D3): The Shamrocks alumnus capped a remarkable two-year developmental arc by committing to the Minnesota-based program. After recording just four points in his first 24 games of the 2024-25 season, Rice exploded over the next year and a half. In 2025-26, he averaged over a point per game after Jan. 1, finishing the year second on the team with 53 points and a team-leading 39 assists.
- Payton Struck (Saint John’s University, NCAA D3): Struck committed to the Johnnies after serving as an ironman for Watertown. Acquired from the Minnesota Wilderness during training camp, he appeared in all 59 regular season games and all three postseason contests, setting career highs with nine goals and 18 assists.
- Noah Sergott (Marian University, NCAA D3): A foundational piece of the blueline, Sergott committed to Marian after spending his entire two-year NAHL career in Watertown. He leaves the Shamrocks ranking second all-time among franchise defensemen in games played (85) and penalty minutes (119), while contributing 12 career points.
- Brandt Dubey (Colgate University, NCAA D1): The former Shamrocks defenseman committed to the Division I level. Acquired from Minnesota in November 2024, the Orchard Park, New York, native was crucial to Watertown’s inaugural second-half surge, posting 13 points in 39 games.
New Faces Signed
Looking ahead to the 2026-27 season, the Shamrocks secured two highly touted prospects via tender agreements.
Forward Lucas Franz signs with Watertown after dominating the Wisconsin high school and AAA circuits. Franz led Waukesha High School with 16 goals and 16 assists in 24 games, while simultaneously finishing second on Team Wisconsin 16U AAA in goals (12) and points (19) across 23 games.
On defense, the Shamrocks added veteran presence in Gabe Simpson. The Lafayette, Colorado, native brings two years of junior experience to the backline, having split the 2025-26 season in the British Columbia Hockey League (BCHL) between the Okotoks Oilers and Prince George Spruce Kings. Simpson previously played the 2024-25 season with the New Jersey Rockets in the NCDC.
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