Worcester Railers‘ big 6’7″ 6th year defenseman Adam Samuelsson(14) seems to be fitting in nicely with the style of his new team with 1 assist in 21 ECHL games and a +2 rating.
He started the season with Tahoe Knight Monsters, but played no games after returning from his 3rd year in Hockeyettan with Boras HC.
The former 7 game Boston College Eagles blue liner maybe didn’t gel at school after most of 2 years at USNTDP and returned to juniors.
USNTDP‘s 2nd year defenseman Carter Amico(15) is a Boston University Terriers‘ 2025/2026 commit.
He stands at 6’5″ 205 lbs. from Westbrook, ME.
In 4 USHL games this season, he has 2 assists.
He had 13 last year.
At 17-years old, he is eligible for the 2025 draft.
He is drafted by Philadelphia Flyers in the 2nd round of the 2025 draft (#38 overall) despite having a nagging knee injury last season.
After 18 games with no points and a -7 rating, he decides to head back to junior hockey for the rest of the season, joining Muskegon Lumberjacks, where he hopes to bring his game level back up, but may look for another school.
Dartmouth College Big Green senior defenseman Ian Pierce(58) has seemingly found his game nicely as a pro with 2 goals and 4 assists in 6 ECHL games with a +3 rating for Adirondack Thunder.
His best college season scoring was as a freshman, where he got 4 goals and 10 assists.
The 5’10” 190 lbs. from New York, NY did 2 USHL junior seasons before school.
He will need a new contract for 2025/2026, but that would seem to be a no brainer to sign the 24-year old.
Easily he is given a deal for 2025/2026 to return in a Thunder jersey to continue scoring.
He actually signs with Fort Wayne Komets, but is traded after 15 games with 3 assists to Rapid City Rush for the rest of 2025/2026.
Curry College Colonels‘ center Timmy Kent(10) is currently tied for tops in NCAA Division 3 hockey scoring with 10 goals and 16 assists in 11 games, which has already surpassed his previous helpers’ high, but he still has a ways to go to reach the 21 strikes he had as a junior.
Injury forced him to the sidelines for his entire last frame at school, but he got healthy to sign a 1st pro deal with Roanoke Rail Yard Dawgs that saw him score pretty effectively SPHL to get a loan up to Iowa Heartlanders with a 3 goal and 4 assists showing in 22 ECHL games.
For 2025/2026, he was set to return, but a trade sends him to rivals Fayettesville Marksmen, where we look for him to score well again and move up.
Well, he again scores well in the league, worth 3 goals and 8 assists in 14 games with a +7 rating, but once again is on the move and goes to Birmingham Bulls, who can use him.
He is scoring decently with his new club, but maybe wants something a little more, different and signs with EHC Konigsbrunn of Germany4.
In 2 games, he got an assist.
We did a Twitter interview with him that speaks for the rest:
Question 1: You’re from Parkland, FL, yet somehow decided to attend Lawrence Academy up here in Groton for high school. How did that happen and why?
TK: I decided to look at Prep Schools because the exposure playing in Florida wasn’t great at the time and for Florida players the options to continue playing competitively and be seen by colleges were either AAA or prep schools in New England. I decided education wise and for hockey that would be a good path to take. I decided on Lawrence because of the culture and reputation their program had at the time. I loved my time at Lawrence, we had some great teams and I made a lot of lifetime friends there.
Question 2: You stuck around MA to next play USPHL/NCDC junior hockey for Junior Bruins, but were maybe traded to Syracuse after the first month or so and played a little while with them before…heading to University Of New England Nor’easters. What was up with that? How did that come about? And talk about your experience with that team.
TK: At that time I felt ready to go to school and UNE had a good program and I had some friends there that liked the school and were really enjoying their time there and they kind of swayed me in that direction. My experience there was a good one and I met a lot of great people I still keep in touch with.
Question 3: You would decide to return to junior hockey for another session and signed maybe a slight level up in the NAHL with at least New England-based Maine Nordiques and shot assists out of a cannon for the team. Why did you leave school and what made you head to play in the NAHL. Did they somehow draft you, as you said you wanted to be eligible?
TK: I went back to Juniors because I felt like it was the right move get my confidence back. I enjoyed my time at UNE and met unbelievable people I’m still close with. But hockey wise it didn’t seem like I would get the opportunity there and I still had a year left of junior eligibility. I ended up in Maine because of Matt Pinchevsky who was the assistant Coach for the Nordiques at the time, now he’s the Head Coach. We had a close relationship that stemmed from our Florida roots and I told him the situation I was in and he opened up a spot for me, which I’ll be forever grateful for.
Question 4: After another 3rd frame in juniors, you were ready to head back to school? Why Curry?
TK: I chose Curry because they are a Boston based school who is in the CCC conference which is one of the better leagues in the country at the D3 level. I knew they always had really good teams here and the team culture and cohesiveness was outstanding when I came to visit. Coach Pinchevsky who I spoke about was a Curry graduate and we thought that it was the best fit.
Question 5: You’re currently tied for the scoring lead in D3 hockey. Congratulations on the hard work done paying off. You have a new career high in assists with 15, but do you think you’ll match those 21 goals set last season where you’re at now? I’m thinking it’s possible.
TK: I’m not sure if I’ll match that total but my production is a testament to my line mates and how there good they’ve been this year. My main focus is just helping Curry win however I can. We have a great team this year and a real shot at winning a CCC championship and more so we’re all excited about that challenge and looking for the second half.
Question 6 and our final one: You’re listed as 4 years in college, yet are only considered a sophomore. Can you explain that?
TK: Haha I think I’m listed as a junior, but because I was at UNE for a half a semester credit wise I’m still a Junior. I think eligibility wise I am as well.
Thank you to Timmy Kent for answering our questions. We hope you enjoyed reading our feature.
Chicago Blackhawks‘ 2nd round pick in the 2020 draft (#46 overall) goalie Drew Commesso(33) finished up his junior session at Boston University Terriers with a 24-8 record with a 2.46 GAA and .913 SV%, 2 shutouts in 34 appearances, including a trip to the Frozen Four.
The 6’2″ 181 lbs. net minder decides to forego his senior year to sign a 3-year NHL entry level contract.
He spent 2 seasons with the USNTDP team, starting just a crapload of games.
The 20-year old from Norwell, MA signed an ato with affiliate Rockford Icehogs, but is mostly just practice with them, as they are fairly set in the crease for their playoff run.
He is pulled up for a couple of starts in his rookie run, but comes away on the losing end.
Given another opening, as he is doing well in the AHL to get in some more games, he loses his 1st 5-1, but gets the nod for the next outing and turns in a 1st NHL win, a 3-o shutout.
Curry College Colonels‘ freshman left wing Jett Otwell(28) already has a tidy 4 goals and 5 assists in 11 games with a +7 rating that is basically outpacing how he scored in junior hockey.
The 6′ 172 lbs. forward from Frisco, TX did time in Dallas Stars‘ youth system.
We look for the 21-year old to become a team leader out there.
UMass Minutemen senior, captain Bobby Trivigno(41) had himself a career year, scoring all new bests 17 goals, 26 assists for 43 points with a +20 rating, as his team pushes towards Hockey East playoffs.
The 5’8″ 162 lbs. undrafted fleet foot forward has to be on many a team’s list to have a look at as 2022 unrestricted free agency opens up.
He had solid runs through USHS-Prep, then one season of USHL for Waterloo Blackhawks before committing.
The 23-year old possesses a lot of those skills you can easily see on display and plenty of intangibles that comes from being a team player.
He has a decent pair of AHL frames with Hartford Wolf Pack, while signed to a 2-year NHL entry level deal with New York Rangers, but spies an opportunity in the SHL and signs another 2-year contract with Brynas IF for 2024/2025.
Doing pretty well scoring, he is definitely going well with this club, as they give him a 3-year extension to continue with Brynas IF.
2nd year Merrimack College Warriors‘ graduate center Max Newton(10) looks to be on his way to blowing out any scoring he was able to managed at University Of Alaska-Fairbanks Nanooks having already pocketed 7 goals and 8 assists in 14 games with a +3 rating to start the 2021/2022 session.
He was a good scorer through his first two years at the BCHL, but really popped on a shift to a new team, Cowichan Valley Capitals with 25 goals and 34 assists in 58 games.
The 5’10” 184 lbs. 25-year old will be an interesting watch to see what might materialize for this skater that plays with full-on compete next.
When his team pushed Hockey East playoffs as far as they would go, he quickly turned his attention to signing an spc with Worcester Railers to finish off the 2021/2022 season.
In his debut, he records an assist, then follows it up with his 1st ECHL goal in the next game to match his Merrimack pal he signed contracts with.
After scoring 3 goals and 5 assists in 13 games and getting a 2 game loan up to Providence Bruins, notching an assist, he signs for his official rookie session with rival Reading Royals, where scoring will continue to come for one of the hardest workers out there.
He exploded scoring in the league last season to the tune of 34 goals and 38 assists in 67 games, then added another 10 points in 10 playoff games.
For 2023/2024, the Vancouver, BC will take it up a notch, signing with HK Dukla Michalovce of Slovak Extraliga.
After scoring decently, he leaves for DEL2 and signs with Krefeld Pinguin, where his stats explode beyond goal-per-game numbers and he is doing it again for a 2nd straight season to earn himself a contract to stay 2 more through 2027/2028.
5th year right wing Jake Smith(24) doesn’t seem to be bothered finding the net, regardless of the ECHL team he may be paired with at the moment.
The 5’10” 170 lbs. took a bit of a weird path, starting with 2 QMJHL seasons, then switching to the OHL and heading to a year at Carlton University Ravens before turning pro.
He started as a rookie in the SPHL, but would eventually split for a short run in Germany3 with Starbulls Rosenheim, a team he oddly played a year of youth hockey with, considering his birth place is Pickering, ON.
Returning, he skated the COVID-busted season in the league and would do well enough to score a look in the higher league.
He started with Kansas City Mavericks, but failed to connect and took up with Iowa Heartlanders and the scoring wasn’t immediate, but eventually pulled in for 25 goals and 25 assists in 52 games.
There’s little doubt he can score in the league, but could definitely use more on ice accountability.
The 26-year old seems to have found a good spot with Reading Royals, good for 7 goals and 5 assists in 19 games, but a lowly -12.
It takes a little while, but he signs a 1-year deal to stay in a Royals’ jersey for 2024/2025.
With some good scoring, 16 goals and 21 assists, he decides to head back for another venture and signs with Aalborg Pirates of Metal Ligaen.
He’s a more than point-per-game, so will head to Mestis and signs with JoKP
Skidmore College Thoroughbreds‘ freshman left wing Tyler Fogu(16) committed after 2 seasons of 20+ points with New Jersey Hitmen in 98 USPHL/NCDC games.
The 6’3″ 196 lbs. forward has 1 goal and 3 assists in 13 games with a +3 rating.
From Bayonne, NJ, the 21-year old did all his youth and high school hockey close to home.
