CollegeHockeyPlayers

Undrafted 3rd year, former Boston University Terriers senior captain defenseman, Brandon Hickey(44) signs for 2021/2022 with Florida Everblades after spending the first three years of his pro career in the AHL.

The 6’2″ 200 lbs. blue liner signed a 2-year entry level deal with Buffalo Sabres upon completing college and spent two campaigns with affiliate Rochester Americans, but was left unqualified when it expired.

He agreed to terms with Chicago Wolves last season, although skated only 15 games in an almost completely blown 2020/2021.

The Leduc, AB native stayed close for all his youth hockey before joining Spruce Grove Saints, taking it up a notch in his 2nd frame with 4 goals and 19 assists, then another 5 helpers in 13 playoff contests on the way to the 2014 AJHL Championship.

He has great on-ice accountability with a +18 rating as a pro and +21 through college.

We think the 25-year old will continue find better success in the lower league.

He actually spent all of last season loaned up to Henderson Silver Knights, then Abbotsford Canucks, but will try to return to the sunny state for 2022/2023.

With the Everblades for 22 regular season matchups, good for 3 goals and 4 assists with a +9 rating, then added 3 assists in 22 playoff games on the way to a 2023 Kelly Cup Championship.

He was also back up in Nevada, getting 1 goal and 1 assist with a +3 rating through 17 games.

His efforts pay off and he gets a 1-year deal to play up.

For 2023/2024, he gets a new deal in a Silver Knights‘ sweater to continue.

In 35 games, he raises his point total slightly and is invited to work further and likely increase his load for another contract to stay in Henderson.

He still seems to be playing a bit of a reduced role with the team, but they seem to like having him around, so he is signed up for a 5th season in a Silver Knights‘ jersey.

In a new high 37 games, he scores 1 goal and 5 assists with a +5 rating and is definitely want to stick around as a Knights for 2026/2027.

Quinnipiac University Bobcats‘ graduating senior, captain center Wyatt Bongiovanni(5) had a college career year scoring next bests 16 goals and 18 assists for 34 assists with a +27 rating in 42 NCAA Division 1 games and takes that to his next adventure: a 2-year NHL entry level deal with Winnipeg Jets.

He twice had 10+ goals (14, 15), as a freshman and sophomore and 9 and 10 assists.

The 6′ 184 lbs. forward was twice a 30+ point scorer in USHL juniors.

At a still young 22-years old, he may spend some time in the minors working on his game, but should surely get the recall.

He is traded mid-season to Ottawa Senators, who see some usefulness in his game for their future.

After career high numbers, goal 22 and assists 11 with a +3 rating, Bonjo is an easy invite for another 1-year deal with the Senators for 2025/2026.

He comes away with a career best 13 assists, but gets a late trade that sends him to Hershey Bears.

For 2026/2027, he signs with Providence Bruins, should be a great landing spot.

Boston University Terriers‘ defacto leader, Swedish-born center Wilmer Skoog(32) signs a 2-year AHL with Charlotte Checkers that fully has parent club, Florida Panthers playing puppet master.

The 6’2″ 196 lbs. forward scored a college best 16 goals and 31 points last season with a +13 rating that saw him ride the wave to the Final Four.

He did his 1st year of college hockey coming out of a scoring spree in his 2nd NAHL frame for Maryland Black Bears, potting 16 goals and 18 assists in 24 games, committing and getting 5 goals and 2 assists in 17 games for his new college team with a +1 rating.

The Stockholm-born pivot played 10 games in tier 3 Hockeyettan for VIK Vasteras HK with no points.

At 23-years old, he has to be pretty happy with his arrangement moving forward.

In his rookie season with affiliate he scores 22 goals and 9 assists in 49 games with a +3 rating, heading into the playoffs to net himself a 1-year 2-way NHL deal for 2024/2025.

He continues decent play in his 2nd frame, but comes alive even more in the playoffs for 7 points (4 goals, 3 assists) in 18 games with a +5 rating.

His good play keeps him in the fold for another season in a Panthers‘ jersey 2025/2026.

He plays a new high 61 games, scoring bests 18 goals and 19 assists to earn himself a 1st recall and in 3 games, all wins has 2 NHL assists and is a +3 rating.

An unrestricted free agent, he signs with Detroit Red Wings for 2026/2027.

Undrafted 4th year center Ryan Schmelzer(26) signs a new 1-year AHL deal with Utica Comets for 2021/2022 after spending the last three seasons skating for Binghamton Devils.

In 133 games he wracked up 23 goals and 32 assists.

The former four-year Canisius College Golden Griffiths standout got 40 goals and 66 assists in 143 NCAA Atlantic Hockey games with a quite massive +43.

Almost oddly, the Buffalo, NY native skated all his junior hockey at home for Buffalo Jr. Sabres in the Canadian OJHL and was a point per game player.

The 6’2″ 187 lbs. forward should be right at home playing his style for a new club, seeing as his team from New York went belly up after 2020/2021.

In 2021/2022, he becomes team captain and posts a new career best 18 goals and 32 points with a +6 rating, then comes away with another 2 points in 5 playoff games gets him a new deal to stay and keep grabbing points.

The word determination is definitely in his vocabulary, as he records a career high 29 assists and 35 points in his 2nd frame with the team and then goes on last season to score another 18 goals, adds new best 34 assists and 52 points with a +14 rating to earn himself a 2-year NHL deal with parent club, New Jersey Devils.

Considering he has been their captain for the last 5 years, they play on adding a 6th to his Comets‘ portfolio.