After two years with Quinnipiac University Bobcats, Swedish native, center William Fällström(90) decides to head back home to pursue pro hockey initially signing with Tingsryds AIF but ultimately finishing up 2020/2021 HockeyAllvenskan season skating 26 games for HC Vita Hasten scoring 5 goals and 4 assists.
After playing most of his youth hockey back home, he came over to play for Omaha Lancers, then started the next frame with Bloomington Thunder, but after 4 appearances returned to Djurgardens IF J20.
The 5’11” 187 lbs. forward showed up a 2nd time for his best junior outing with Fargo Force, getting new bests 14 goals, 31 assists for 45 points and a +15 rating.
He would take these totals to a 2018 USHL Clark Cup Championship, grabbing another 9 points (2-7) in 14 playoff games on the way to the title.
It would be early during this time in America that he would commit to college.
The 23-year old will likely continue to press and hopefully score with more frequency to earn space up in the highest league, SHL.
Jack Drury(13) basically had the best hockey experience he probably never even imagined, as his college team of two seasons, Harvard University Crimson had their playoff picture scrapped at the end of 2019/2020, then was going to shudder for 2020/2021 due to COVID complications.
The 6′ 175 lbs. forward took a few months to consider options and what came up was seemingly the best one to pursue, sign with Vaxjo Lakers to start his pro hockey career.
He played 41 games in 2020/2021 scoring 10 goals and 20 assists with a +10 rating, then struck for another 5 goals and 6 assists in 14 playoff appearances with a +5 en route to the 2021 SHL Championship.
The ball is now in Carolina Hurricanes‘ court, who picked him in the 2nd round of the 2018 draft (#42 overall), to sign him to an entry level deal to keep the 21-year old around.
Finland-native defenseman Veli-Matti Tiuraniemi(20) heads back home for 2021/2022 to Karpat of Liiga after four years at University Of Maine.
Never the biggest scorer through college, his best outing was as a junior, when he connected for 2 goals and 8 assists but you can hardly count the COVID interrupted 2020/2021, where he was only able to skate 14 NCAA Hockey East games for 3 points, all assists.
The 6′ 193 lbs. d-man came to the US for a single season of juniors with Dubuque Fighting Saints of the USHL and did produce 19 assists, but has to be seen as more of a stay-at-home style blue liner.
He did produce a decent amount of helpers through U18 and U20 play, so has the ability to contribute scoring.
We’ll see how the 23-year old readjusts to his home country’s play after most of 5 years away.
RPI Finnish-born junior forward Ottoville Leppanen(11) heads back home 0n a late loan to tier 3 league Suomi-sarja‘s S-Kiekko and has put up some stellar numbers banging home 7 goals and 5 assists in just 6 games, then moved onto the playoffs and produced similarly.
It’s thought that the 5’10” 175 lbs. pivot will return to school when there’s a full 2021/2022 schedule and better in-school academics to be had.
He played all of his youth and junior hockey back home with Blues, doing quite well to earn an invite from his current college.
The 22-year old will definitely be a player to continue to watch as is very possible he starting popping points with even more frequency.
Former Merrimack College captain, Finnish-born Sami Tavernier(79) played one AHL game for Syracuse Crunch on an ato after graduating last season but decided to move on for his official rookie campaign to his other homeland, France’s Ligue Magnus joining Chamonix, where he struck for a quick 4 goals and 7 assists in 11 games.
He was scooped by Kalpa to come home there and join the fight for the 2020/2021 season.
The 6’1″ 190 lbs. forward pocketed 2 goals and 3 assists in 22 Liiga games with a +4 rating.
He came from scoring decently in college but has yet to really connect with the scoresheet, although that could come, especially if he re-signs, where he’s at.
Edmonton Oilers‘ 7th round pick in the 2017 draft (#208 overall), sizable, sturdy 6’3″ 203 lbs. defensemen Philip Kemp(5) leaves Yale University after 3 seasons and a COVID-stifled 2020/2021 season to turn up in Sweden’s tier 2 league Allsvenskan on loan to Vasby IK.
In 32 games he’s got 3 goals and 7 assists with a woeful -15 rating but is now in the playoffs with a pair of tallies and a +2 through 5 outings.
A consistent presence on the blue line, he was only a marginal point producer through college and two years of USNTDP but will be looked to for his built to guard the zone, when his 3-year entry level deal kicks in next season.
Former 4-year Robert Morris University captain, center Daniel Mantenuto(9) chose to branch out after school and agreed to join Italy’s Asiago of AlpsHL for 2020/2021.
In 140 NCAA Division 1 games the 5’9″ 170 lbs. pivot recorded 22 goals and 44 assists.
The Thornhill, ON but also listed as Italian residence, has picked a solid landing spot for his rookie campaign as he’s produced 13 goals and 19 assists in 34 games with a +11 rating and also played games in the Italian league with the club picking up another goal and 5 assists in 5 contests.
He keeps it up, he’ll definitely be getting some looks from a higher league across the way, if he’s looking.
Union College left wing Parker Foo(28) leaves a year on the table as his team is shelved for 2020/2021, so he’s decided to leave and sign a two-year deal to join brother Spencer with HC Kunlun Red Star.
His NHL playing rights until summer 2021 get retained by Chicago Blackhawks, who drafted him in the 5th round of 2017 (#144 overall).
They may get interested if he responds to Russian pro style.
In 34 KHL games he has a pair of goals and an assist.
We shall see.
Detroit Red Wings‘ 3rd round pick in the 2017 draft (#71 overall) Finnish-born defenseman Kasper Kotkansalo(26) had to make a difficult decision as his senior year approached at Boston University.
With the blessing of his NHL club, he made his way back home, eventually signing with Assat for 2020/2021 and in 50 Liiga games has 3 goals and 8 assists with a bit of a troubling -9 rating.
The fairly big 6’3″ 198 lbs. forward is still on track to sign next year and explore pro hockey in America, when we’re ready.
American International College right wing Martin Mellberg(10) headed home to Sweden after 4 years of college to start his pro career with Almtuna IS.
In 51 Allsvenskan games he had 5 goals and 20 assists for the season..
He left college hockey scoring a career high 19 assists and 28 points with 9 goals that tied his best effort from junior season.
It wouldn’t be tough to see the 25-year old play his way up the ladder to reach the SHL.
