Category: Juniors

Stonehill College Skyhawks‘ sophomore big 6’4″ 205 lbs. defenseman Greg Japchen(2) commits to his 3rd college through the transfer portal and changes it to next lace up for Robert Morris University Colonials as a junior 2024/2025.

He played in a college high 30 games last season, scoring 3 goals and 11 assists.

From Doylestown, PA, he played his youth hockey with Philadelphia Jr. Flyers before eventually doing well in 2 NAHL frames before first heading to Union College.

We’ll see how the 22-year old responds to the new schedule.

He plays a college best 32 games, scoring 1 goal and 1 assist, which he takes to a 1st contract with Kalamazoo Wings.

Long Island University Sharks‘ Finnish-born junior defenseman Valtteri Piironen(5) enters the transfer portal of his senior year at Ferris State University Bulldogs, 2025/2026.

The 6’4″ 207 lbs. blue liner scored a college best 11 assists and tied his 12 points from his sophomore frame.

He came over initially for 3 frames of USHL junior hockey with Sioux Falls Stampede before college.

The 24-year old has skated 10 games and recorded 1 assist.

In 29 games, the big d-man scores 1 goal and 6 assists that he takes to a 1st pro contract with Norfolk Admirals.

After only 13 games as a freshman at Nichols College Bison, center Ike Frankel(3) enters the transfer portal to a team that can definitely use him, despite only getting 1 goal in the last frame, Franklin Pierce University Ravens.

The 6’1″ 175 lbs. forward from San Diego, CA was a big scorer in 3 seasons of USPHL Premier with Minnesota Moose, grabbing 40+ points twice and 50 once.

He played all his youth hockey close to home and we think he’s going to find the net in NE10 play.

For his senior year, he scores a new high 5 goals and 7 points that he takes to a 1st pro contract with Monroe Mocassins.

He has 1 assist in 4 FPHL games.

University Of New Hampshire‘s 2022/2023 season commit, center Cy LeClerc(17) chose the nearby college after blowing up the score sheet in 2nd and final go of Seacoast Spartans 16U AAA with 55 goals and 57 assists in 60 games.

Having spent all of his youth hockey up north he signed with the just south Islanders Hockey Club a couple of seasons ago and finished up a completely COVID busted 2020/2021 with 11 goals and 20 assists in just 28 tilts

He produced just above point-per-game numbers in his debut campaign with the team and won 2019/2020 NCDC Rookie Of The Year honors.

The Brentwood, NH native left for a final, up a level of junior hockey with Janesville Jets, and he’s on fire with 13 goals and 11 assists in 19 NAHL games with a +8 rating.

The still super-young 5’8″ 150 lbs., 19 year old will turn 20 before school year, is going to be a nice addition to the Wildcats‘ team and Hockey East competition.

As a senior, assistant captain, he scored 4 goals and 11 assists in 34 games, which he takes to a 1st contract with Utah Grizzlies.

We look for him to connect in the ECHL for points.

After four solid seasons at Union College, scoring a collegiate career best 20 assists and 29 points in a COVID stopped 2019/2020, undrafted right wing Anthony Rinaldi(21) signed his first pro career with Kansas City Mavericks but after just 5 ECHL games with no points found the mix just didn’t fit and was traded to Greenville Swamp Rabbits.

The 6′ 188 lbs. forward has found his nitch with the new club, scoring 6 goals and 5 assists in 30 games with a +2 as a rookie.

We think the 25-year old native of Pierrefonds, QC can put up numbers like he did in two years of juniors, first in the BCHL (22-16-38), then the OJHL (38-35-72) for Kingston Voyageurs as assistant captain.

Coming off a rookie campaign scoring 7 goals and 6 assists in 43 games with a +1 rating looks like numbers that can be increased thinks Greenville Swamp Rabbits, who re-ups him for a 2nd, full 2021/2022.

After a 2nd solid frame in the league, he decided to leave for an opportunity to sign for 1-year with Les Jokers De Cergy Pontoise of Ligue Magnus for 2022/2023 and recorded 10 goals and 10 assists in 33 games, then added 7 points in 8 playoff matchups.

He’s moving over for 2023/2024 to the EIHL and agrees to terms with Dundee Stars, which should see him produce well.

After a first good season overseas, scoring a tidy 16 goals and 21 assists, he will take his game next to Germany3, where he signs with Tilburg Trappers for 2024/2025.

He had returned for most of 2025/2026, signing with the new Greensboro Gargoyles, but gets himself a late season trade to maybe help South Carolina Stingrays‘ playoff push.

SUNY-Canton Roos‘ senior defenseman Scott Cremen(43) had a college best 16 assists and tied his 18 points  from his junior frame that he takes to a 1st pro contract, a pto with Birmingham Bulls.

The 6’2″ 201 lbs. blue liner bounced around some in juniors, but seemed to settle pretty well when he got to Team Maryland and scored 1 goal and 7 assists in 19 games before committing.

In 4 SPHL games, he has 1 assist.

From Arnold, MD, the 23-year old should play well here.

Union College Dutchmen senior right wing Caden Villegas(36) had a college best 22 assists in his final season.

The 5’8″ 174 lbs. forward from Plano, TX moved through the ranks of youth hockey before heading to juniors, where he moved up before college.

He signed a 1st pro deal with Adirondack Thunder and in 12 ECHL games, recorded 1 goal and 2 assists.

For his rookie run, he will need a contract.

He finally does come around to sign a 1-year deal to remain a Thunder for 2025/2026, but actually changes things up to become a free agent and signs for a 1st year with Maine Mariners instead.

Through 21 games with 1 goal and 5 assists, he leaves for Swindon Wildcats of the NIHL, maybe to prove something for his  game going for the next step forward.

Scoring does blow up for 15 goals and 23 assists in 20 games to re-sign and stay a Wildcats for 2026/2027.

Franklin Pierce University Ravens‘ Australian-born, sophomore defenseman Declan Bronte(27) came over from just 2 games use at Salem State University Vikings, as a freshman.

He played only 11 games in 2023/2024, scoring 1 assist.

The 5’10” 160 lbs. blue liner did 2 EHL years with Connecticut Chiefs, and even left to head back home to play some pro hockey in the AIHL with CBR Brave, scoring quite nicely.

He looks to be doing that each season now, which is a great idea.

The 22-year old from Melbourne is a good hockey story.

He actually finished up with 2 years at Fitchburg State University Falcons, scoring best as a senior with 3 goals and 5 assists in a high 26 games and turns pro as tournament play wraps up, signing with Danbury Hat Tricks.