University Of Vermont Catamounts‘ freshman center Joel Määttä(9) has no points in 15 NCAA Division 1 games, but when was called to play for home team Finland in the World Juniors, potted 2 assists in 2 wins before the whole tournament got trashed.
The 6’2″ 201 lbs. forward definitely plays like he is on the verge of scoring after a pair of decent successful USHL runs with Sioux City Musketeers.
This is still only a 19-year old, adjusting, waiting to catch on.
He would score 3 goals and 3 assists in 32 NCAA Division 1 games last season and Edmonton Oilers like what they see, so pick him in the 2022 NHL draft, 7th round, #222 overall.
Robert Morris University Colonials‘ senior Nick Lalonde(10) had no team to play for last season at school and decides to turn pro for 2022/2023, signing with Neuilly-sur-Marne Les Bisons of France3.
The 5’9″ 175 lbs. Brooklin, ON native played 4 seasons of junior hockey close to home in the CCHL winning the 2018 Championship with Ottawa Jr. Senators.
At 24-years old, he had limited scoring through school, but we think in this league his numbers will tick up nicely.
Undrafted left wing Steven Ipri(23) takes a 4-year college career at Mercyhurst University Lakers to a 1st pro contract with Wichita Thunder.
The 5’11” 155 lbs. forward was a solid scorer through 2 NAHL seasons, getting 17 goals and 27 assists in his 2nd frame.
In 3 ECHL games, he already has an assist.
The 24-year old from Broadview Heights, OH should find success in this league, if he sticks around.
In an almost odd move, he signs for 2022/2023 in Germany3 with HC Landsberg and will likely post some career high stats.
American International College Yellowjackets‘ graduate, left wing Elijiah Barriga(19) signs a 1st pro deal with Dundee Stars of the EIHL for 2022/2023 after putting up a college career best 15 assists and 24 points last season.
The West Covina, CA native did one season at University Of Nevada-Las Vegas Rebels lighting it up big before arriving east.
He did 2 seasons up in the BCHL with Salmon Arm Silverbacks and was a point-per-game guy in his 2nd year.
We expect the ice to open up where he’s going for the 5’11” 194 lbs. forward to put up some points.
Undrafted, 4th year left wing Mike Szmatula(9) leaves after his 4th ECHL season and first away from Adirondack Thunder, who didn’t play last season, but had they, he would have returned yet again.
The former Northeastern University Huskies and ultimately after a portal transfer University Of Minnesota Golden Gophers skated for Jacksonville Icemen in 2020/2021, scoring a third 20+ goal campaign.
He left once briefly to play in Poland, but that lasted all of 4 games before his return.
The 5’9″ 181 lbs. forward will head to Denmark’s Metal Ligaen, signing with SoderjyskE for 2021/2022.
There’s little doubt the 28-year old will achieving new scoring heights if he stays in this league, but nothing is certain and he could come back to the team he’s played 122 games for.
The Commerce Township, MI native returns home to sign with the last team he left, Jacksonville Iceman and should be able to connect for even more scoring than he did previously.
Yale University Bulldogs‘ senior right wing Kyle Johnson(15) graduates and decides to look elsewhere to turn pro and selects France2‘s Neuilly-sur-Marne Les Bisons for a 1st 2022/2023 contract.
The 6′ 190 lbs. forward scored a modest new best 2 goals and an assist in 30 NCAA Division 1 games last season.
He was very decent in three campaigns for Prince George Spruce Kings of the BCHL before heading to school.
The 24-year old from Port Moody, BC should excel in this tier 2 league and could even score some Ligue Magnus looks.
5th year defenseman Simon Denis(9) tracks back and signs for a 3rd time with Toledo Walleye for 2022/2023 after spending the last four seasons in the Asia League and being voted MVP and league’s best d-man for Tohoku Free Blades.
The 5’10” 187 lbs. blue liner did 5 years at Ferris State University Bulldogs, averaging 10 assists in 4 sessions.
He has been recalled once to Hartford Wolf Pack and in 7 AHL games came away with 4 assists.
The part Japanese/Canadian 30-year old will likely put up some great stats for a team he’s super comfortable with and likely ready to win another title.
3rd year net minder Stefanos Lekkas(40) takes some pretty impressive regular season ECHL stats to a new outlook, signing for 2022/2023 with Odense Bulldogs of Metal Ligaen.
He tended cage for 4 different clubs over 2021/2022, but seems to find his footing, when he arrived in a late trade to Maine Mariners, posting a 7-4 record with 2 shutouts, a 2.55 GAA and .920 SV%.
A University Of Vermont Catamounts‘ graduate, he looked to survive 4 years, keeping the puck out of the net as much as possible, leaving with a 2.62 and .918 marks.
The 26-year old should do very well on a good team in Denmark’s top hockey league.
Undrafted rookie left wing Jonathan Desbiens(21) signs once again with Maine Mariners for 2021/2022, just as he did in 2020, but the team had to opt out of the season due to COVID restrictions.
He was a fairly prolific scorer in 4 years at Bentley University Falcons, averaging 12 goals and 13 assists and twice hit the 30 point mark.
The Rosemere, QC native did come to play his first junior campaign for Lincoln Stars, getting 6 goals and 4 assists in 48 USHL games, but left fairly quickly agreeing to head to the other side of Canada, signing with West Kelowna Warriors and he had much better success, scoring 27 goals and 27 assists in 54 BCHL games.
This is where he was spotted and agreed to his college, then really blew up the scoring bubble with 44 goals and 39 assists.
We do believe the only 5’9″ 181 lbs., 25-year forward is going to become a scorer in the ECHL.
He ended up leaving his team midway through his rookie season for Ligue Magnus, agreeing to terms with Scorpions de Mulhouse, scoring 10 goals and 14 assists in 22 games, but for his encore signs 2022/2023 with rivals Gothiques d’Amiens.
5th year center Marcus Power(9) leaves for a 2nd time after skating his 3rd season with the only local to home North American team he’s ever signed with, Newfoundland Growlers, who he also won the 2019 Kelly Cup Championship.
His other time overseas, for EV Landshut, he scored new career highs 29 goals and 40 assists in 47 DEL2 games.
The 6′ 185 lbs. forward heads to IceHL for 2022/2023, agreeing with Vienna Capitals.
We do think the 28-year old from St. John’s, NL, who skated three seasons for Rouyn-Noranda Huskies of the QMJHL, then headed to 4 years at University Of Prince Edward Island Panthers will definitely make an impression in Austria’s top hockey.
