Category: Juniors

06Oct

Noah Delmas (24)

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Kansas City Mavericks‘ rookie defenseman Noah Delmas(24) is having a season that maybe exists a little below the radar as he’s on a team that’s still in the hunt but currently at the bottom of their division and he has only tallied a goal and 3 assists through 26 ECHL games.

The 6′ 195 lbs. blue liner was named team captain for Niagara University Purple Eagles, but failed to connect as he did as a sophomore and junior, when he scored 25 assists in both frames and even potted 15 goals in his third year.

He was a 2018 invite to Toronto Maple Leafs‘ development camp.

Playing most of his junior hockey with close to home club Aurora Tigers of the OJHL, the Newmarket, ON native did come down for 17 USHL games with Bloomington Thunder after committing to college, it didn’t last and he headed back for a bit of a playoff push with his former team.

It’s likely the 25-year old will continue in the league he accepted but also wouldn’t be out of the question for him to get a few nods at AHL life.

He signed on for another tour with his 1st pro club and in 32 games, had new best marks of 2 goals and 7 assists with a +2 rating, but he decided to head off to the EIHL, signing for the remainder of 2021/2022 with Manchester Storm.

In 18 games over in England, he grabbed 2 goals and 2 assists, but was a bit of a lowly -8 rating.

He is welcome “home” though, signing a 1-year deal with Worcester Railers for 2022/2023 that will likely see him achieve his best results.

After a decent enough 3rd frame in central MA, scoring 2 goals and 16 assists, but with a horrible plus/minus signs for 2023/2024 with GKS Katowice of Polska Hokej Liga.

In 40 games, he scores 3 goals and 10 assists and will next take that to the EIHL and signs with Fife Flyers for 2024/2025.

He returns “home” after a couple seasons away to sign with the new league team Greensboro Gargoyles and we feel like that will settle his game nicely.

06Oct

Drew Callin (77)

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6th year center Drew Wallin(77) signs on for a 4th straight season with Springfield Thunderbirds, 2024/2025 mostly because he really seems to fit with team mentality well.

His 6’3″ 203 lbs. size definitely has some AHL bearing.

He had 2 20+ assist seasons at Bentley University Falcons.

In 2 junior NAHL sessions with Janesville Jets, he was a 30+ point scorer.

From Madison, WI, we think the 29-year old smiles as he goes.

He has been 3 years with the same team, scoring ok, but will return to Worcester Railers, where he played as a rookie and for a couple seasons and will be back for scoring in 2025/2026.

 

03Oct

Joshua Barnes (27)

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American International College Yellowjackets‘ junior center Joshua Barnes(27) is in the uneviable position of his college team taking a year off to switch divisions for 2026.

The 5’10” 185 lbs. forward takes with him a college best scoring 14 goals an 10 assists into the transfer portal to next skate with former Atlantic Hockey foes Sacred Heart University Pioneers, 2025/2026

From Cornwall, ON, the 23-year old always did well in junior hockey before school.

02Oct

Justin Mexico (11)

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American International College Yellowjackets‘ freshman left wing Justin Mexico(11) enters the transfer portal as his team takes a season off to switch to a different division, so he heads to Stonehill College Skyhawks for his sophomore frame in 2025/2026.

The 5’10” 180 lbs. forward had 3 goals and 12 assists in 32 games last year.

He spent 3 seasons in juniors mostly with North Iowa Bulls of the NAHL.

From Madison Heights, MI, the 21-year old will likely do well playing the independent schedule.

01Oct

Roman Kinal (41)

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University Of Connecticut Huskies‘ graduate captain defenseman Roman Kinal(41) signs an ato to start his pro career with San Jose Barracuda.

In 5 AHL games, he has no points.

The 6’2″ 198 lbs. blue liner has never really put up points, three times hitting 7 in a frame.

From Waterford, MI, the 24-year old may just need a little more time to grow into his pro game.

He signs for 2023/2024, but is dispelled to affiliate Wichita Thunder for a good deal of the session.

For 2024/2025, San Diego Gulls are in search of some assistance and agree with him for a look.

He is up for 36 games and reassigned to affiliate Tulsa Oilers for 17 and does well, help guiding both.

It’s an easy call for him to re-sign to stay a Gulls for 2025/2026.

30Sep

Anthony Stolarz (41)

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10th year net minder Anthony Stolarz(41) gets a 1-year NHL deal with Florida Panthers worth $1.1M AAV after spending the last 4 in Anaheim Ducks‘ system.

Originally a Philadelphia Flyers‘ 2nd round pick in the 2013 draft (#45 overall), he spent the 1st 5 years of his pro career with them.

The huge 6’6″ 243 lbs. goalie played 8 games at University Of Nebraska-Omaha Mavericks before leaving to join London Knights for 2 seasons, winning the 2013 OHL Championship in his 1st after coming from college.

At 29-years old, he will likely see more action in the show, but also will help train the youngsters in the system.

In 27 games for his new team as primary backup, he comes away with some pretty outstanding numbers to help the team win the 2024 Stanley Cup.

An unrestricted free agent, Toronto Maple Leafs are interested and agree to terms on 2 years for $2.5M AAV.

He posts a pretty outstanding frame, despite going through some knee problems to earn himself a new 4-year deal that starts 2026/2027 for $3.75M AAV to stay in the Leafs‘ net long-term.

29Sep

Todd Skirving (17)

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Newfoundland Growlers‘ 3rd year fan favorite, hard-nosed center Todd Skirving(17) re-ups after taking last season off, as did the team, and heading up north, where he’s from for a coaching opportunity that took up a good chunk of his time away from playing.

Well, he’s back, serving as the club’s assistant captain and already has a first goal and 4 assists in 10 ECHL games.

It wouldn’t be surprising to see the 6’2″ 190 lbs. forward from Thunder Bay, ON earn a first loan up to the AHL in 2022.

The former 4-year RIT Tigers‘ has only managed 2 real breakout scoring sessions, both in his time with Sioux Falls Stampede, where he struck for a combined 40 goals and 30 assists in 114 USHL games.

Could be the 29-year old is arriving a bit late.

In 2021/2022, he blew away his career high totals with 21 goals and 20 assists in 60 games and a +10 rating to be offered a 4th straight contract to return.

More new career bests continue to follow the bearded one for new highs with 31 goals and 27 assists, 58 points and he is easily going to be wearing that Growlers‘ jersey for a 5th frame.

His longtime Canadian team goes belly-up for the final part of the current frame and he is forced to find a new team or close down the season a bit early.

We knew the 31-year old wouldn’t be on the blocks long, as Florida Everblades move in to offer him some ice time and he returns the favor with 1 assist and a +1 rating in his debut.

He would only play 4 games in the regular frame with 2 assists, but then in 22 playoff matchups had 2 goals and 2 assists, helping them to a 2nd straight Kelly Cup Championship.

For his 7th season, he will lace them up for Reading Royals in 2024/2025.

He would become team captain with his new club and takes another good season of play to another deal with Kalamazoo Wings for 2025/2026.

29Sep

Eelis Laaksonen (18)

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Curry College Colonels‘ Finnish-born, sophomore left wing Eelis Laaksonen(18) had a pair of tallies and an assist to help his team to a 5-1 semi-finals win to advance to the NCAA Division 3 CCC Finals.

The 6′ 185 lbs. forward has a college career tying 9 goals and best 15 assists for 24 points in 25 games this season.

At 22-years old, he should just continue to excel where he is playing hockey.

He finished up his senior year with a college best 14 goals and +19 rating, which he takes to possibly a slightly conservative deal with Evansville Thunderbirds, where he should score well in the FPHL to move up.

28Sep

Spencer Kersten (41)

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Bowling Green State University Falcons‘ graduate right wing Spencer Kersten(41) signs with Orlando Solar Bears upon finishing up and scores 2 goals and 4 assists in 10 ECHL games with a +5 rating, then another 6, 3 in 11 with a +4 in the playoffs to easily get him wanted to return for his rookie frame in 2024/2025.

The 5’10” 185 lbs. forward came over from 4 years of always playing 31 games as senior captain for Princeton University Tigers and scoring decently.

From Waterloo, ON, the 24-year old looks to have found more space to connect for points as a pro.

He explodes scoring with 24 goals and 28 assists in 53 games with a +20 rating to get himself a loan up to Belleville Senators, where we feel he will do well, once he starts to gel.

Also, loaned to Syracuse Crunch, where he scores a 1st AHL goal, he is signed for 2025/2026.