Boston Jr. Bruins‘ Slovakian-born left wing Simon Mateas(7) elevated his game to USPHL/NCDC level from scoring a bit outrageously playing for the USPHL Premier club.
The 5’11” 170 lbs. forward has selected Elmira College Soaring Eagles as his commitment for 2026/2027.
He has 17 goals and 24 assists scoring in 48 games this session.
The 19-year old is going to be a nice addition to UCHC play.
Adirondack Thunder rookie center Chase McLane(12) has a nice 4 goals and 10 assists with a +7 rating on a good ECHL team.
The 6’2″ 201 lbs. forward did a graduate frame at Colorado College Tigers before turning pro.
From Trenton, MI, he did 3 frames of USHL juniors with Tri-City Storm prior to heading to college.
His first school, Penn State University Nittany Lions didn’t see him score quite as well as he had been able to through juniors.
The 25-year old, former 7th round Nashville Predators‘ 2020 pick (#209 overall) should continue to do well as he settles.
Worcester Jr. Railers‘ 1st year center Travis Rugg(16) takes some impressive USPHL/NCDC scoring with 18 goals and 25 assists in 47 games to his 2026/2027 commit at Babson College Beavers.
The plays big 6’2″ 190 lbs. power forward did 3 years at the local high before heading to USHS-Prep for his senior run.
From Hingham, MA, the 20-year old should score well in Little East hockey.
Northern Cyclones‘ 2nd year center captain Riley Casey(15) takes some junior scoring highs with 14 goals and 15 assists in the current frame that he will take to a 2026/2027 commmit at Elmira College Soaring Eagles.
The big 6’4″ 190 lbs. forward plays the power forward style all the way.
From Burlington, VT, the 20-year old should produce well in the UCHC.
Washington Capitals‘ 6th year center Nic Dowd(26) posted a career high 8 goals and tying 22 points in 64 NHL games to earn a nice 3-year deal at a very conservative $750,000 AAV, but decent enough for the deep draft pick who just played his 200th game.
He started that ascension just after posting 48 points in his second AHL season to earn a spot on the opening night roster heading into 2016/2017 and despite a trade to Vancouver Canucks before being signed on the opening day of unrestricted free agent to move to the nation’s capital, he’s not looked back.
In 6 appearances so far this season the former senior captain, scoring machine at St. Cloud State University Husies has 2 goals and an assist so the 29-year old may just put up some new bests right away.
Just 1 year removed, he put up career bests 14 goals and 13 assists in a full slate of 82 games with a +7 rating.
He has 7 seasons of 10+ assists, but gets traded to Vegas Golden Knights for the 2nd run of the 2025/2026 season.
After a four-year career at Quinnipiac University, finishing with a 2020/2021 season NCAA Division 1 best 39 assists, center Odeen Tufto(26) signs a 1-year entry level deal as an unrestricted free agent with Tampa Bay Lightning and will report to affiliate Syracuse Crunch to see if he can add to that helpers stat.
The small 5’7″ 175 lbs. forward has always connected with the scoresheet in college play, 3 times with 30+ assists and 40+ points.
A Minnesota-native he spent a year in the BCHL before heading back “home” to join the USHL and skated with three different club s in a campaign before heading off to school.
He’s small but we have a feeling he will find his space to grab numbers.
Mostly shipped as a rookie to ECHL affiliate Orlando Solar Bears, where he was close to point-per-game player.
In 2022/2023, he was signed by Tuscon Roadrunners, but played 13 games with Atlanta Gladiators before heading to DEL2, signing with Krefeld Pinguin, getting 15 points in 12 games, then 11 in 12 through the playoffs.
He’ll return in 2023/2024, agreeing to terms with Iowa Heartlanders.
Through 29 games, he managed 3 goals and 19 assists, but isn’t great with his plus/minus and maybe gets a little bored, looking elsewhere and signs with EHC Olten of the tier 2 Swiss League, SL.
He will return for 2024/2025 after a successful little run through Switzerland’s hockey and signs with Fort Wayne Komets.
A point-per-game player again during regular season, he returns for 2025/2026 and scores 3 goals and 2 assists in 5 games, but decides to head back to DEL2 and signs with Ravensburg Towerstars.
With 8 goals and 17 assists in 25 games, including a nice +12 rating, he is asked to return for 2026/2027 as a Towerstars.
Assumption University Greyhounds‘ senior defenseman John Woernle(7) had a best 3 goals and 2nd 16 assists in his final frame that he took to a 1st pro deal with Evansville Thunderbolts for his rookie season, 2025/2026.
In 13 games, the 6’1″ 185 lbs. blue liner has 3 assists with a -2 rating.
He scored 22 assists as a junior.
From Wellesley, MA, the 25-year old did 2 productive EHL years with New England Wolves that he worked up from EHLP.
With 4 assists in 32 SPHL games, he gets traded to Fayettesville Marksmen, who look to use his size maybe a little more effectively.
Castleton University Spartans‘ senior defenseman Logan Dapprich(7) looks to set college high scoring this season with 1 goal and 8 assists puts him on 1 tally away from tying previous bests.
The 6’2″ 181 lbs. blue liner did 2 years juniors before committing to Rivier University Raiders as a freshman.
From Amherst, MA, the 24-year old should continue to do well.
He scores 6 goals and 13 assists in 26 games last season, all college bests and signs a 1st pro contract, a pto with Birmingham Bulls of the SPHL.
Undrafted, junior left wing Neil Shea(27) has played most of his hockey relatively close to home (Marshfield, MA), but after two underperforming seasons at Northeastern University Huskies, he’s branching out to leave for well, Connecticut, joining Sacred Heart University Pioneers in 2021/2022.
He was a prolific scorer when he committed to college in his 1st year at Lawrence Academy, then took it up a notch in his senior season with 24 goals and 34 assists in 32 USHS-Prep games before taking up with draft club, Cedar Rapids RoughRiders for 11 USHL games (1 goal, 2 assists).
The 6’1″ 205 lbs. forward was once again selected and skated his only full season of juniors for Chicago Steel, scoring 15 goals and 28 assists.
It’s possible the switch to Atlantic Hockey style play will connect with the 22-year old’s ability to amass points.
The Massachusetts’ native has scored big with his switch of schools, amassing decent scoring with 4 goals and 10 assists, blowing away his previous college marks, in 20 NCAA Division 1 games.
He finishes up a 2nd season at his new school with a new college best 14 goals and signs a 1st contract, an ato with Chicago Wolves to test the waters.
No doubt, he will have to step up his game to score in the AHL.
He gets a 1st goal in the league and adds 1 assist in 6 games with a +3 rating as a newly turned pro.
For 2023/2024, Toronto Marlies are liking what they see and sign him to a 1-year minor league deal as an official rookie.
He actually skates 64 ECHL games for affiliate Newfoundland Growlers, scoring 18 goals and 19 assists, but is moving on and signs with Colorado Eagles for 2024/2025.
In 8 contests, he scores 1 goal and 2 assists, but on reassignment to affiliate Utah Grizzlies popped 19 goals and 20 assists in 36 games to earn another year to wear an Eagles‘ jersey more often than not.
We are a little unsure of the detail of him leaving to sign with Greenville Swamp Rabbits, but that is where he shows up under a new contract and should help them on the scoresheet.
SUNY Canton Roos‘ sophomore center Evan Pringle(17) holds the team lead for points with 20, 7 goals and a new college career best 13 assists in the current season.
He scored 8 goals and 8 assists last year.
The 6’4″ 210 lbs. forward had a very impressive last session in the OJHL with Oakville Blades before heading to school.
From San Jose, CA, the 23-year old is very much only likely to get better and stronger as a scorer.
In his senior year, he scores a college highs with 10 goals and 11 assists in 26 games with a +1 rating that he takes to a 1st pro deal with Fayettesville Marksmen.
We look for the big forward to do well in the SPHL.
