Merrimack College Warriors‘ Swedish-born, sophomore net minder Max Lundgren(47) picked up a 2nd big win of the 2024/2025 season, a 4-1 over University Of Connecticut Huskies to start the weekend and grabbed 1st player of the night honors.
The big 6’5″ 229 lbs. goalie did all of his youth hockey back home and even started 1 HockeyAllsvenskan game quite successfully before coming over for a single year of USHL junior hockey.
We expect the 22-year old to continue to push for the starter’s job.
2024 (COLLEGE) HOCKEY NEW YEAR EVERYBODY!
Junior right wing Zane Kindrachuk(4) only played 2 games in 2 years at Niagara University Purple Eagles with obviously little to show, so enters the transfer portal to arrive at Albertus Magnus College Falcons for 2023/2024.
The 5’10” 165 lbs. also gets to skate on a college team with his younger brother and has already put up a quite D3 impressive 2 goals and 2 assists in a 6-2 debut victory.
In 3+ years of AJHL junior hockey for the local Okotoks Oilers, he was always a productive point person, increasing goal scoring and strong at feeding the puck.
The 23-year old from Calgary, AB is in a much better place to complete his education and play some college hockey.
He and his brother Zeph also have their 1st names printed on the back of their jerseys in what we think is a 1st of a kind fun, team move.
Johnson & Wales University Wildcats still looking for their first win against 10 losses for 2022/2023 face-off against an even record, Rivier University Raiders in a non-conference D3 matchup.
The scored stayed tied after 2 periods at 1 apiece on 2nd frame tallies, but just before the midway point of the 3rd sophomore defenseman Kevin Bite(18) launched a high rising shot from the point that found that back of the net to put the home team up by 1, and then just about every two minutes later, they added one to finish with a 5-1 victory and one monkey shaken from their backs.
Reading Royals‘ rookie left wing Shane Sellar(16) is off to a good start with 3 goals and 2 assists in 10 ECHL games.
The 6’3″ 201 lbs. forward earned double majors, first in 4 years at Dartmouth College Big Green, then 2 at RPI Engineers, although he didn’t skate games from 2019-2021.
A Carlisle, PA native, the 25-year old is playing his pro hockey not too far from home.
Los Angeles Kings‘ 6th year center Andrew Crescenzi(21) is starting to assert his large frame into the power forward the team projected he could become when they signed him to a three year entry level deal after his third year of juniors, then re-upped him on extension for the last few seasons.
His size definitely plays into the style of his current club and a somewhat quick start on the score sheet (3 goals, 1 assist, 12 AHL games) in the new campaign has earned him a first NHL recall from affiliate Ontario Reign.
In a pair of games he skated an average of 14 shifts for under 10 minutes of total ice with 4 hits, 1 takeaway, 2 penalty minutes and went 50% on the face-off dot in unfortunately two losses.
If the 25-year old can keep up his scoring in the minors, he should be asked to stick around regardless of getting another chance in the big league this season but we fully expect him to get another look.
Undrafted 2nd year left wing Daniel Ciampini(17) scores his 2nd AHL contract signing for 2016/2017 with Ontario Reign.
It should heed better results for the forward than his rookie deal with Rockford Icehogs, which had him skating most of his time with affiliate Indy Fuel.
Through 7 recalls he was unable to fare as well with his contract club.
In 10 games he managed only one goal.
The 5’11” 185 lbs. player did well in the lower league scoring 14 goals and 24 assists for 38 points in 48 ECHL games.
These scoring stats were more in line with what he was able to accomplish in his four years at Union College.
As a senior he scored 26 goals and 24 assists and was voted a Hobey Baker Finalist.
He also won back-to-back 2012 & 2013 NCAA/ECAC titles as a freshman and sophomore before grabbing the ultimate prize, the 2014 NCAA Championship, a season in which he was a point-per game player with a +26 rating and earned the top star award.
After graduating, he would join Worcester Sharks on an ato and skated 15 games while continuing his scoring streak with 3 goals and 3 assists, but was somehow absent from the playoff roster. Possibly merely an allowed number of player issue.
The already 25-year old (almost 26) will need to work hard out of training camp to make his new squad but if he can put in the effort may just start hitting the stat sheet with decent frequency at the higher level of hockey.
San Jose Sharks‘ undrafted 3rd year right wing Ryan Carpenter(40) had a breakout season in 2015/2016.
He exploded for career highs in all scoring categories, pocketing 18 goals, 37 assists and 55 points with a +20 rating in 66 AHL games with affiliate San Jose Barracuda, then got another goal and assist in 4 Calder Cup Playoff contests.
The 6’1″ 195 lbs. forward always plays a tenacious, hard skating style game that keeps opposing players on their toes and opens himself up for scoring chances.
His efforts grabbed him a first NHL recall but unfortunately it only lasted a single outing for 13 shifts and 7:21 total ice with 1 hit in a 2-0 loss before being reassigned back to the farm team.
The Florida-born prospect has always shown the ability to affect the score sheet, initially through two years in the USHL with Sioux City Musketeers before joining Bowling Green University, where he spent three campaigns, serving as team captain as a sophomore and junior.
We expect the 25-year old to compete hard for a spot on the big league club out of the upcoming training camp.
Winnipeg Jets‘ 3rd round pick in the 2012 draft (#70 overall) 2nd year right wing Scott Kosmachuk(72) is getting the shot to prove his game at the highest level of hockey and he’s pretty much answering the bell.
In 7 games he has three assists with fairly limited ice time in the 12/13 minute range per night, but an interesting side note is the amount of shifts he skates, which is in the 19 or 20 range at times.
He also has a +1 rating.
His first NHL recall makes sense for the slumping parent club as he’s posting similar numbers as he did in his rookie campaign in less games with AHL affiliate Manitoba Moose and looks to have taken his game to the next level.
At 5’11” 185 lbs. he isn’t exactly the biggest power forward out there but he plays a bang ’em, shoot on the net style, which is obviously leading to scoring opportunities.
He was able to score big through 4 years of juniors with Guelph Storm and even won the 2014 OHL Championship before he left to turn pro.
The 24 year old still has one more season left to his 3-year entry level contract, so there’s no time like the present to step up your game.
New York Islanders‘ 3rd year, Finnish-born goalie Christopher Gibson(60) received his first NHL game recently coming in for relief, putting out the fire on a 5-2 drubbing.
He faced 17 shots making 16 saves in 29:03 of work and left with a .943 SV%.
It was the only appearance he made before being sent back to affiliate Bridgeport Sound Tigers, where he has been solid in net.
In 25 AHL games he has an 11-7 record with a 2.32 GAA and .932 SV% and 2 shutouts equaling his mark he posted in 45 contests last season for Toronto Marlies.
The 6’1″ 195 lbs. net minder was traded from Toronto Maple Leafs just before the start of 2015/2016 in what was mostly a minor league prospect transaction.
He is in the final year of his entry level deal he signed after four campaigns guarding the cage with Chicoutimi Sangueneens of the QMJHL.
On numerous occasions he was voted with top goaltender of the week honors and in 2009/2010 had the best SV% in the league.
Originally a Los Angeles Kings‘ 2nd round pick in the 2011 draft (#49 overall) he never inked with them.
The 23-year old is set to become a restricted free agent at the end of the season and it’s looking good for him to be given a qualifying offer to stick in the system.
