Merrimack College Warriors‘ graduate captain right wing Mark Hillier(19) scored 6 goals and 4 assists in 37 games with a +4 rating last season.
The 6’1″ 180 lbs. forward signs a 1st pro contract for his rookie season, 2026/2027 with Kalamazoo Wings.
From Labrador City, NL, the 24-year old should find footing in the ECHL.
Princeton University Tigers‘ senior defenseman Tyler Rubin(8) had a college hockey best 13 assists, 16 points in 30 games with a +15 rating last season.
The 5’10” 174 lbs. blue liner did only 1 BCHL year before school.
From Wayland, MA, the 23-year signs a 1st pro deal with Bloomington Bison for his rookie frame in 2026/2027.
Nichols College Bison senior center Aaron Hamel(12) scored for a 4th straight frame 5 goals and for a 2nd time hit 10 assists last season.
The 5’10” 168 lbs. forward came over after his sophomore campaign at Arcadia University Knights to sign a 1st pro deal for his 2026/2027 rookie year with Fayetteville Marksmen.
He returned to USPHL Premier and scored well before school.
From Okemos, MI, the 25-year should connect in the SPHL for points.
Sacred Heart University Pioneers‘ junior center Stephane Huard(71) leaves a year on the table and signs a 1st pro contract for his 2026/2027 rookie season with Trois Rivieres Lions.
The 5’8″ 179 lbs. forward did 4 seasons of QMJHL before attending 2 sessions at McGill University Redbirds before entering the transfer portal.
From Blainville, QC, the 24-year old will likely connect ok in the ECHL.
At the start of his 2nd season as assistant captain with Lac-St. Louis Lions of the QMAAA, defenseman Dylan Finlay(26) would commit to University Of Vermont for 2021/2022 after scoring a previous session tying 26 assists,
The 6’1″ 170 lbs. blue liner was definitely showing off his abilities to head man the puck for scoring chances.
He would next leave for the BCHL to join Powell River Kings, where he wouldn’t get a goal, but was good for 18 helpers.
The Quebec native decided to head to America for 2020/2021 amid a pandemic that was going to make the campaign tough anyway you put it, but the 19-year old was able to play himself a decent run for Maryland Black Bears, getting a pair of goals and 9 assists with a +1 in 33 NAHL games.
He was even better in the playoffs striking for 2 goals and 2 assists in 8 contests and should be ready for some Hockey East play.
Switching things up, he’s heads to University Of Alaska-Anchorage Seawolves, which last him the last 3 seasons.
For 2025/2026, his senior year, he will head to Northeastern University Huskies, where he will finally face some Hockey East action.
In 34 games, he records a college hockey best 9 assists that he takes to a 1st pro deal with Bloomington Bison for his rookie frame in 2026/2027.
Merrimack College Warriors‘ Latvian-born freshman goaltender Linards Feldbergs(88) came in after winning the 2026 Clark Cup Championship with Sioux Falls Stampede of the USHL.
The 6’1″ 201 lbs. net minder came in after a 41 game QMJHL winning season with Sherbrooke Phoenix.
We look for him to get pretty good once he gets settled with Hockey East.
University Of New Hampshire Wildcats‘ sophomore goaltender Michael Simpson(31) will look to take full charge of net duties in 2026/2027 for his new club.
The 6’1″ 198 lbs. net minder transferred from only 2 games use last season at Providence College Friars, but that occurred after leaving Savannah Ghost Pirates, where he spent 10 ECHL games.
He actually turned pro in 2024/2025 under contract to Belleville Senators and loaned to affiliate Orlando Solar Bears.
From London, ON, he did 4 years juniors and won the 2024 OHL Championship with London Knights, a team he did youth hockey with.
The 23-year old will likely step back into Hockey East play pretty well, as he gets settled.
After his 4th season of junior hockey, defenseman Caleb Price(19) commits to Lindenwood University to start his college hockey and further education.
The team will compete in DII hockey for one more season, but elevates to D1, 2022/2023.
He played most of his youth hockey close to home, Hocksett, NH with Northern Cyclones 16U/18U AAA and one year in the USPHL/NCDC program with the team before being drafted for the NAHL.
The 5’10” 165 lbs. blue liner spent 50 games with Jamestown Rebels, grabbing a best 16 assists and 20 points with a +21 rating and also went up the chain to play 6 USHL contests.
He would spend the next frame up in the higher junior league, skating for Lincoln Stars, who selected him at #26, but was traded to Youngstown Phantoms to finish out the session.
His next stop was supposed to send him to Arizona State University, but decided on another year of juniors with New Jersey Jr. Titans, where he fit in nicely, getting 6 goals and 13 assists in 46 games, a +10 and found his new school.
The 21-year old will likely find space to play with the independent schedule and grow his game.
He finishes up a 3rd year at his 1st school, but enters the transfer portal and will play for Mercyhurt University Lakers as a senior, 2024/2025.
After 29 games as a graduate student, scoring 4 assists, he looks to turn pro and signs with Norfolk Admirals of the ECHL.
10 games in, he is waived with 1 goal and 4 assists, but quickly scooped and signed by Greensboro Gargoyles.
He is liked here and signs to stay a Gargoyles for 2026/2027.
UMass Minutemen undrafted freshman defenseman Aaron Bohlinger(25) has 15 assists in the 2020/2021 frame but no goals.
Well, not until the NCAA Championship Final vs. St. Cloud University Huskies, where he nets the opening tally and that might be enough to close the door on the title and also be a game-winner.
The small 5’9″ 165 lbs. blue liner early in his tenure with Waterloo Blackhawks of the USHL but was probably put on the radar after playing a year north in the BCHL for Alberni Valley Bulldogs, where he made a 7 goal and 27 assists in 55 games impression.
The 20-year old may be small but motors and can head man the puck with ease, so might garner some looks as he continues at school.
He becomes captain as a senior, but decides to add a year of eligibility and enters the transfer portal to skate for Quinnipiac University Bobcats, as a graduate.
ECAC was a nice switch up, as he scores a new best 3 goals and 11 assists with a +11 rating in 32 games.
He is set to turn pro and signs a 1st ECHL contract with Cincinnati Cyclones for 2025/2026.
As the new year approaches, Indy Fuel trade to bring him into town for 2026/2027.
Pittsburgh Penguins‘ 9th year, Boston, MA native, played his college hockey at Boston University Terriers and for draft team (3rd round, 2012, #85 overall), Boston Bruins‘ 8 year defenseman, Matt Grzelcyk(48) is playing his hockey away from home for the 1st time since heading to USNTDP for juniors.
The 5’11” 174 lbs. blue liner even did his high school hockey at Belmont Hill.
He just hit 30-years old and 4 times has had 20+ assist seasons, so we think he will blend in well with his new club.
In a full slate of 82 NHL games, he scores 1 goal and a new high 39 assists, 40 points and signs a pto to find space on Chicago Blackhawks‘ blue line for 2025/2026, which we think he will be successful in his pitch.
He scores 12 assists in 69 games, but the now 32-year old is an unrestricted free agent and Buffalo Sabres offer him a 1-year deal.
