Worcester Railers‘ rookie defenseman Christian Krygier(8) gets on the scoreboard in his opening ECHL game after scoring 4 total goals in 5 years of Michigan State University Spartans and only 2 in a pair of USHL seasons with Lincoln Stars.
He also added a 1st assist.
The 6’2″ 192 lbs. blue liner is a New York Islanders‘ 7th round pick in the 2018 draft (#196 overall) and signed a minor league deal for 2023/2024.
After finishing up school, he reported to affiliate Bridgeport Islanders for 2 AHL games, no points.
From Orlando, FL, the 23-year old will likely see his number loaned up to the higher league.
He would play the entire frame with the affiliate, scoring 2 goals and 9 assists in 31 games with a +3 rating on a non-playoff team and is wanted to return for another season to hopefully play more as a mini Islanders.
Worcester State University Lancers‘ only graduate skater is left wing Brendan Ronan(28), who maybe added a 5th season at school after losing 2020/2021 to COVID restrictions.
In 3 D3 games, the 6’2″ 185 lbs. forward has 2 assists, which is still a little ways from his college career high marks set as a senior last year, 12 goals and 16 assists in 26 games, but he has time to get there.
From Saugus, MA, the 24-year old did 2 years with Northern Cyclones of the USPHL Premier after graduating from his local high school.
He scores 11 goals and 12 assists in 26 games in his extra frame and will take it to a a 1st pro deal with Quad City Storm of his rookie year, 2024/2025.
3rd year center Jacob Hayhurst(14) is most definitely off to his quickest star, getting 4 goals and 3 assists in 5 ECHL games for a +6 rating for 9-0 Worcester Railers and already has been loaned up to Springfield Thunderbirds for a pair of AHL appearances.
The undrafted 5’10” 180 lbs. forward had a strong 2nd session, scoring easy bests 15 goals and 33 assists in his 1st season with current club.
He also scored very decently in college, especially as a sophomore and junior at RPI Engineers, when he got 23 points in both frames, but did it a 2nd time in 7 less outings.
For his senior year, he maybe looked to take his game up a bit and transferred to University Of Michigan Wolverines with a decent enough showing.
The 25-year old from Mississauga, ON must be smiling pretty big.
He scored the insurance goal last night to secure his team’s historic season start.
After 10 goals and 12 assists in 25 games last season, he gets a look for 2023/2024 from Coachella Valley Firebirds and we believe this is a player who has played himself up.
He is actually reassigned to affiliate Kansas City Mavericks and blows up regular season and playoff scoring to be a single step away from the league championship, but he will take his game elsewhere for the future, signing with Vasteras IK of HockeyAllsvenskan, where he should absolutely blow up on the stat sheet in Sweden’s tier 2.
Long Island University Sharks‘ extra large 6’3″ 220 lbs. graduate defenseman Peter Muzyka(2) played only 6 games at Cornell University Big Red through 3 years of attending the school.
The Toronto, ON native had strong junior play in the OJHL with North York Rangers before committing to school.
He also skated 7 NAHL games in 2020/2021, as his team was COVID dormant.
The 23-year old may not put up many points, but we think his on ice accountability should make up for it, playing the independent schedule the team does.
Notching his 1st points, 2 assists in 35 games with a +2 rating, he agrees to terms with Rapid City Rush and all bets are on his produces some points in the ECHL.
Through 12 games to finish up the regular season, he gets another 2 assists as a pro, but will now need a new contract moving forward.
Holy Cross College Crusaders‘ senior defenseman Jake Higgins(4) had a game-high 2 assists in the Atlantic Hockey semi-finals game 1 vs. American International College Yellowjackets 5-2 victory for the 1-0 series lead.
The 6’2″ 201 lbs. blue liner had a college best 5 goals and 4 assists with a 2nd straight +4 rating last season.
From Hingham, MA, the young 22-year old played no junior hockey before heading to school.
He decides to head into a year of eligibility, enters the transfer portal and will skate Hockey East for Northeastern University Huskies next.
Merrimack College Warriors‘ graduate left wing Mark Gallant(15) is working himself into his new team’s lineup pretty nicely with 1 goal in 9 games and a +1 rating, while eating plenty of minutes ice time.
The 5’11” 181 lbs. forward transferred after 4 years at Dartmouth University Big Green, where he averaged 20+ games with his best run as a junior, scoring 11 goals and 7 assists.
A Concord, MA native, the 23-year old did his junior hockey with Islander HC of USPHL/NCDC and even appeared in 2 games during the COVID lockout season.
He plays a college career best 33 games and had better on ice accountability than he had previously to sign an ato with Jacksonville Icemen, get things going as a pro and has 1 assist in 3 ECHL games.
Harvard University Crimson sophomore, Finnish-born goaltender Aku Koskenvuo(30) is a Vancouver Canucks‘ 5th round pick in the 2021 draft (#137 overall).
The giant 6’4″ 200 lbs. net minder started a college career best 16 games with a 5-5-4 record, 2.87 GAA and .914 SV%.
He was in net for the team’s single elimination ECAC 1st round playoff matchup to post a 38-save 1-0 shutout and advance.
All his youth and junior hockey was played at home before coming over for school.
The 2 teams tied their regular season matchup.
Stonehill College Skyhawks‘ 2023/2024 team averted a very bad outcome of being the worst team to play an NCAA Division 1 schedule by winning their final game, a 1-29 record, at home Bridgewater Ice Arena 4-2 over Lindenwood University Lions, who crushed them stunningly 10-1 the previous evening.
Freshman right wing, Jake LaRusso(48) netted 2, including the game-winner, his 3rd of the current frame.
This game was certainly a triumph and proved something this team knew all along: they could win.
Colby College Mules‘ freshman left wing Jayden Grier(12) has 1 assist in 2 games, since joining the team.
The big 6’3″ 220 lbs. forward plays a full-on power forward style.
From Needham, MA, he did one BCHL season with Salmon Arm Silverbacks.
He is the undrafted, 19-year old son of San Jose Sharks‘ general manager Mike Grier.
UMASS-Boston Beacons pulled almost the impossible out of their 2023/2024 bag of tricks to win 4-3 with 2:30 left in the 3rd period before Endicott College Gulls‘ forward Cassidy Bowes(90) unloaded a blast to the top of the net and a 4-4 tie that would last through an overtime session to cap off 1 of the more memorable non-conference matchups this season.
Freshman forward for the home team Jack Mortson(16) would tally his 5th of the season.
It was a pretty even 38-36 shot total with 5 power plays for each team, 40-49 in the face-off dot.
The visitors came in as the nationally 11th ranked D3 hockey club.
