Brown secures a nicely-rated center from Connecticut. This potent offensive force aims to ignite the Bears' struggling lineup..
The Brown Bears recently received an official commitment from Nico Ciardiello as they look to improve on this season.
Ciardiello, a 17-year-old from Guilford, Connecticut, is coming from playing with two different programs this season, where he chipped in 28 games and 32 points with powerhouse Avon Old Farms School while also contributing 31 games and 38 points with the Northern Connecticut Nor’Easters 18U AAA squadron.
“I am very humbled and proud to announce my commitment to play Division I hockey and further my education at Brown University,” he said on Instagram. “I want to thank my family, advisor, and coaches who helped me through the process.”
The right-handed center is projected to join the program come the 2027-2028 season.
For Brown, they’re coming off a season to forget, hoping this addition will eventually improve their offense. The Bears finished 5-24-2 overall with a 4-16-2 ECAC record on the side, last of twelve in a deep conference on the East Coast. The Bears were projected 10th/12 to begin the year.
The craziest part? Brown lost every away game, finishing 0-17-0 in all contests away from Meehan Auditorium.
Ciaridello is rated as a 3.5-star recruit from Neutral Zone, a huge addition to the program. The center was ranked #34 for his birth year in Neutral Zone’s 2026 New England Prep Rankings, where an array of talent sprouts from.