Eight incoming freshmen make up Yale's class of 2017. It's a group filled with size, talent and, according to coach Keith Allain, character. There are two goalies, one defenseman and five forwards.

"I think we have all the elements," Allain said. "We have size, skill, speed, grit. They were pretty good players coming in, but it's about what they're going to do from a work standpoint to make sure they're getting better throughout the year."

Forwards John Hayden and Frank DiChiara are listed on the NHL Central Scouting Bureau's final rankings. Alex Lyon was named top senior goalie in Minnesota before two successful seasons in the USHL. Defenseman Dan O'Keefe won a BCHL championship. Forwards Chris Izmirlian and Mike Doherty were high-scoring teammates for Middlesex of the EJHL. Tim Bonner is the career scoring leader at Osseo High in Minnesota.

Here is the official list, with bios.

Yale Men’s Hockey Class of 2017

Tim Bonner

F, 5-9, 175

Plymouth, Minn.

Before Yale: Played two years in the USHL for Tri-City Storm and had 39 goals and 72 points in 105 games as a center… Assistant captain… Tri-City’s Grinder Award… USHL Forward of the Week… Four-year hockey letterman at Osseo High School… Captain in 2010-11… School’s career scoring leader with 93 goals and 170 points in 104 games at center… Three-time all-conference and team MVP… 2011 all-state pick… Two-time honorable mention all-state… Three varsity golf letters… National Honor Society… Scholastic Achievement Award… AP Biology Student of Year… Distinguished achievement award in hockey and golf… NWSC Student-Athlete Council… High honors and academic letters all four years.

Personal: Timothy Bonner (bah-ner) is the son of Kelly and Hugh Bonner… Worked at Map Players as a student coach for two summers… Had a hole-in-one as a 13-year-old at Eagle Lake Golf Course.

Frankie DiChiara

F, 6-2, 218

Ronkonkoma, N.Y.

Before Yale: Scored 34 goals with 38 assists in 75 games at Dubuque (USHL) in 2012-13… USHL Clark Cup Champions… Skated with St. Louis (NAHL) in 201-12 and had 21 goals and 25 helpers over 68 games… NAHL Top Prospect All-Star and all-rookie team…  Notched 64 goals and 58 assists over 42 games for Long Island Junior Royals in 2010-11… 2010-11 MJHL MVP and leading scorer… Owns MJHL record for points in a season… Played four seasons for Connetquot High School (88 goals, 46 assists) and won 2011 State Championship... National Honor Society… National Foreign Language Honor Society… Two congressional merit awards for academics.

Personal: Frank Anthony DiChiara is the son of Ernest and Lori DiChiara… Father was Connecticut State ADFPA Powerlifting Champion… Mom was a high school swimmer and gymnast… Worked as instructor at Attack Hockey Skating… Former teammate of Rob O’Gara ’16.

Mike Doherty

F, 5-11, 170

Reading, Mass.

Before Yale: Scored 31 goals and had 76 points in 47 games for Islanders Hockey Club (EJHL) in 2012-13… Second in league in scoring … Played five seasons of hockey and four of lacrosse at Groton School… Notched 81 goals and school-record 161 points in hockey… Three-time All-Independent School League (ISL)… ISL MVP junior year… Two-time team MVP… Led New England players in points per game as junior…  2010-11 Boston Globe All-Scholastic… Two-time ISL Eberhart Champions… Played with Yale classmate Chris Izmirialian on Islanders… Lacrosse team MVP and All-ISL pick senior year… Graduated cum laude… Honor roll every year… Fincke Medal for character and sportsmanship… Summa cum laude on national latin exam.

Personal: Michael Joseph Doherty is the son of JoAnn and Michael Doherty…  Served as head coach of the Central Catholic High School JV Lacrosse Team in spring of 2013… Sister, Jillian, class of 2017, is playing lacrosse at Vanderbilt.

John Hayden

F, 6-3, 210

Greenwich, Conn.

Before Yale: Attended Pioneer High School in Ann Arbor, Mich., while skating for U.S. National Team Development Program… Served as one of the USA captains… Scored 11 goals and 20 points in 24 USHL games during 2012-13… Hit net against University of Michigan… Won the 4 Nations Tournament with Team USA in Ann Arbor… MVP of 2013 USHL/NHL Top Prospects Game… Game MVP at U17 World Challenge and at U18 World Championship… Team won silver medal at IIHF U-18 World Championships in Sochi, Russia… Collected 59 points over two years (freshman, sophomore) at Brunswick School… Scored 21 goals his sophomore season.

Personal:  John Hayden is the son of Diana and Mark Hayden… Interned for Pelican Breeze (apparel company)… Brother, Will, goes to Wake Forest University… Sister, Catherine, is in high school at Sacred Heart… Enjoys golf.

Chris Izmirlian

F, 5-10, 185

Highland Beach, Fla.

Before Yale:  Scored 23 goals with 61 points as a center for Middlesex Islanders of the EHF in 2012-13… Hit net 37 times with 63 points in 2011-12 for Mid Fairfield U-18 team… Captained Westminster (CT) School from 2011-12 and had 20 goals with 48 points… Westminster team MVP, scoring leader and Flood Marr All-Tournament Team… All-Founders League pick… 2011 Prep (large school) Champions…2010 Flood Marr Champions… 2011 U-18 National Runner-up… Graduated Summa Cum Laude… National Honor Society.

Personal: Christopher Izmirlian (iz-MERL-yen) is the son of Sonia and Charles Izmirlian… Born in Montreal but family moved to Florida before his first birthday… Family moved to Connecticut when he was 13 so he could attend prep school… Co-founder of “Spur The Fur,” a non-profit which raises funds and awareness for prostate cancer… Volunteer for the Connecticut Brian Tumor Alliance, which raises money for the Smilow Cancer Hospital at Yale… Interested in Medicine

Alex Lyon

G, 6-1, 200

Baudette, Minn.

Before Yale: Two-time team MVP for Omaha Lancers of USHL… 2011-12 USHL All-Rookie Team… Recorded a 2.65 GAA in 50 games with a .916 save pct in 2012-13… Earned 12 letters between three sports at Lake of the Woods High School… 2011 Frank Brimsek Award (Senior Goalie of Year in Minnesota)… First-team all-state… Two-time all-conference in football… Two-time all-section in baseball… High school “A” Honor Roll junior and senior years.

Personal: Alexander Augustus Lyon (lion) is the son of Tim and Deb Lyon… Dad graduated from Yale in 1982… Enjoys golf, fishing and cooking… Worked at a resort doing grounds maintenance… Interested in math major and becoming an actuary… Up to age six, he lived on an island and went to school in a one-room building with his sister.

Dan O’Keefe

D, 6-3, 205

North Wall, N.J.

Before Yale: Played defense for 2012-13 BCHL Champion Surrey Eagles… League regular-season, Mainland Division and Coastal Conference Champions… Western Canada Cup Champions… Skated for regular-season champions Team Comcast in 2011-12 Tier 1 Elite League and had 21 points… Two-time All-Shore Conference at Wall High School… Conference defensive player of year as a sophomore… Team defensive MVP as sophomore… Team rookie of year as freshman… Earned 2010 Junior B Bronze medal at nationals with NJ Junior Titans… High honor roll six times… Honor roll 10 times.

Personal: Daniel Robert O’Keefe is the son of Kelli and Robert O’Keefe… Interested in political science… Sister, Kerri, is class of 2014 at Quinnipiac… Has a younger brother, Jack.

Patrick Spano

G, 6-1, 188

Cote Saint-Luc, Que.

Before Yale: Notched a 3.15 GAA with a .900 SP for BCHL Cowichan Valley Capitals… 3-Star Award… Skated for Chateauguay Patriots (QC – MAAA) and had a .900 SP with a 3.00 GAA… Played three years at Westminster (CT) School… 2010 Flood Marr All-Tournament Team… Six shutouts junior year… 2011 Westminster MVP and All-Prep Team… 2010 Flood Marr Champions… 2011 Earl Martin Tournament Champions… 2011 Squibb Bowl (outstanding sophomore) at Westminster

Personal: Pasquale Patrick Spano is the son of Mary Pedicelli and Frank Spano… Server at Royal Montreal Golf Club… Interested