Category: Juniors

15Feb

Zach Solow (73)

Posted in College Hockey Player, Free Agent Signing, Juniors, Minor League Deal | Leave a comment

Former Northeastern University Huskies‘ captain, undrafted center Zach Solow(73) signs an ato with Chicago Wolves for the remainder of 2021, but it’s said to be tied to a whisper that he’s actually Nashville Predators‘ property and news actually came through their COVID dormant affiliate Milwaukee Admirals that he signed for 2021/2022, but we still have yet to see the confirmed word of his definite big league deal.

He’s a pure digger and was a point-per-game player last season for a first time in his college career.

Little doubt the only 5’9″ 170 lbs. forward has to be on a few teams lists for a big, unrestricted free agent pick up but as we said, he may be spoken for.

The 22-year old Naples, FL native did three years of junior hockey, committing to college just before his breakout campaign, when he scored 18 goals and 51 assists for 69 points (both most in the league) in 52 USHL games for Dubuque Fighting Saints.and was selected Forward Of The Year.

His initial foray into pro hockey turned out decent, as he was also signed to Florida Everblades, where he became a point-per-game player in 4 playoff games.

He signed on an AHL deal with Milwaukee to stay in the system, was in and out of the lineup before he went back down towards the end of the session to rejoin the ‘Blades.

Here he struck playoff gold and won the 2022 Kelly Cup Championship. with 9 goals and 9 assists in 19 games.

For 2022/2023, he heads into a new direction, signing a 1-year deal with Toronto Marlies.

Reassigned to ECHL affiliate Newfoundland Growlers, he is a point-per-game scorer.

He returned for last season and his game improved to 11 goals and 15 assists in 66 games, then 2 assists in 3 through the playoffs.

For 2024/2025, he is back on another 1-year deal with the Marlies.

In 52 games, he scores 6 goals and 13 assists with a +6 rating, then adds 2 goals in 2 games in the playoffs.

He will take off and signs with Adler Mannheim for 2025/2026 and we think will continue to grow his game in DEL.

In 44 games, with 14 goals and 19 assists with a +10 rating earns him another year to stay in a Mannheim jersey through 2026/2027.

15Feb

Tyriq Outen (1)

Posted in College Hockey Player, D3, Juniors, Minor League Deal, Transfers | Leave a comment

Knoxville Ice Bears‘ rookie goaltender Tyriq Outen(1) got loaned up to and signs with Wichita Thunder, is 2-1-1 in 4 ECHL games, but looks to better 3.85 GAA and .875 SV%.

The big 6’4″ 192 lbs. net minder was 1-3 in 5 SPHL games before being sent to the higher league.

From Tampa, FL, he jumped around schools, originally going to Acadia University Axemen, but played no games, then transferred to Stevenson University Mustangs, going 19-6 with a 1.82 GAA, .943 SV% and 4 shutouts.

He took this performance to signing with Long Island University Sharks and he continued, recording a 7-5-1 record with 1.93 GAA and .920 SV%.

We think the 25-year old, one-time South Shore Kings, Maine Nordiques is just getting his footing started.

15Feb

James Hagens (10)

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Boston College Eagles‘ sophomore center James Hagens(10) has blown out 1st year goals with a new best 16 this season and his 16 assists is 10 off the mark from the previous year, but points may improve with his overall game and leadership qualities out there.

A Boston Bruins‘ 1st round draft pick in 2025 (#7 overall), he was uncertain to return, but gladly did for more.

The 5’11” 194 lbs. forward did 2 explosive USHL seasons with USNTDP before school.

From Hauppauge, NY, the 19-year old is just getting started really.

 

14Feb

Mick Messner (87)

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Merrimack College Crusaders‘ senior left wing Mick Messner(87) is having a breakout campaign in his 2nd year with the team since being a portal transfer from 2 seasons at University Of Wisconsin Badgers.

In just 7 NCAA Division 1 games, he has a goal and 4 assists with a +4 rating.

The 5’11” 194 lbs. forward had mostly always connected for points through close to home high school in Madison, WI and 2 and a half USHL seasons for the Capitals.

At still just 22-years old looks poised to post Hockey East college career highs in 2021/2022, making him a nice unrestricted rookie pick up, if he decides to turn pro.

He spends a graduate season at the school and posts 5 goals and 4 assists in 35 games with a +6 rating on the way to a Hockey East Finals bout.

It takes him little time to agree to a pro deal, signing with Utah Grizzlies, where he has no points through 6 games with a +1 rating.

His efforts earn him an ECHL contract for 2023/2024 to wear that Grizzlies‘ jersey as a rookie.

He had a nice full frame, scoring 15 goals and 23 assists in a full slate of 72 games, gets him wanted back to continue wearing that Utah shirt.

As an assistant, he scores a new pro best 16 goals and 24 assists in another complete 72 game schedule and will return for his 3rd season as Grizzlies‘ team captain.

After 3 games, he has a change of attitude, sees an opportunity overseas to sign with HC Banska Bystrica for 2025/2026 in Slovak Extraliga and has an assist in his debut.

With 4 goals and 4 assists in 28 games, we don’t think it’s such a bad showing, but maybe he’s not as happy as he wants to be and shifts his game to sign with Glasgow Clan of the EIHL for the remainder of 2025/2026.

14Feb

Michael Bullion (50)

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4th year goaltender Michael Bullion(50) was a free agent heading into 2025/2026 after a decent season with Worcester Railers.

The 6′ 198 lbs. net minder signed with Jacksonville Icemen.

He has played 15 games with a winning record so far.

After 4 campaigns in the WHL, the Anchorage, AK native went to University Of Ontario Institute Of Technology years, then 1 at Ontario Tech University Ridgebacks before turning pro.

The 28-year old started in the SPHL and has been loaned up to the AHL, but we think he looks elsewhere next.

14Feb

Kevin Conley (20)

Posted in College Hockey Player, Europe, Juniors, Minor League Deal | Leave a comment

4th year center Kevin Conley(20) has played most of his time in the AHL under contract to teams in the league and this year signed with Manitoba Moose for a 2nd season, but after 2 goals in 5 games has been mostly reassigned to affiliate Norfolk Admirals.

The 6’1″ 205 lbs. has 9 goals and 8 assists in 28 games in the ECHL and maybe got a little bored, so is off to find some better hockey and signs with Graz99ers of the IceHL for what’s remaining of 2025/2026.

From Wassua, WI, he did 1 year with University Of Denver Pioneers, but was maybe a little unhappy as to how it turned out despite scoring ok and returned to the USHL for a year before signing up with University Of Nebraska-Omaha Mavericks for 4 seasons.

The 28-year old, twice captain of his college team should find some good hockey over there.

13Feb

Luke Pavicich (30)

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Rookie goaltender Luke Pavicich(30) has had a hard time settling with a team, but has played 8 games with 4th club, Cincinnati Cyclones, so could be settling.

The 6’3″ 194 lbs. net minder was a senior at Arizona State University Sun Devils and did good with a 13-9 record.

He was also at UMASS Minutemen 2 seasons doing pretty well before heading to UMASS-Lowell Riverhawks for his junior year.

From Clarence Center, NY, the 23-year did many years in the Buffalo Jr. Sabres youth hockey system.

13Feb

Keith Smilowitz (34)

Posted in College Hockey Player, D3, Juniors, Transfers | Leave a comment

Express Hockey Club 2nd year center Keith Smilowitz(34) takes an EHL best 7 goals and 18 assists to a 2024/2025 commit at Post University Eagles.

The 6′ 194 lbs. forward has definitely been able to score as he has come up.

From Sarver, PA, the 20-year old will definitely help this Northeast-10 club score more.

He gets very little playing time, only 3 games, which easily has him wanting more, so he enters the transfer portal to head to the new D3 program at Hiram College Terriers for 2025/2026.

In 18 games, he has 4 goals and 2 assists on a very young team.