Category: Juniors

02Jun

Chris Harpur (96)

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Undrafted defenseman Chris Harpur(96) stuck at Niagara University for a year of eligibility and in his 5th year put up new college bests in assists (14) and points (17) before deciding to turn pro, signing for the remainder of the season with Orlando Solar Bears.

The massively solid 6’3″ 201 lbs. blue liner from Niagara-On-The-Lake, ON played all his junior hockey up north and had an outstanding final year with Cowichan Valley Capitals, putting up 7 goals and 32 assists in 54 BCHL games.

Well, the 25-year old is off to a good start, because he netted his 1st pro point, an assist in his ECHL debut.

He came away from his 1st stint with 2 helpers and a +1 rating to be offered a new contract for 2022/2023 to stay.

Playing a full tilt of 72 games, getting 2 goals and 9 assists for the d-man isn’t so bad, although he could clean up his -8 rating.

His efforts for the big d-man are seen and he’s offered to return to put on that Solar Bears‘ sweater once again for 2023/2024.

Loaned up to Syracuse Crunch, through 17 games he records 4 assists with a +2 rating and the big d-man is fitting right in, so is re-upped for a 2nd AHL season.

After splitting equal time between the 2 leagues last season, he for a 1st time jumps and signs in Liiga for 2026/2027 with Lukko.

02Jun

Jan Lasak (34)

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St. Lawrence University Skating Saints‘ senior assistant captain, Slovakian-born right wing Jan Lasak(34) is heading back home to sign his 1st pro deal with HKM Zvolen for 2026/2027.

The 6’2″ 201 lbs. forward played only 6 games last season.

Coming off a productive NAHL junior frame, scoring point-per-game marks, he did best scoring as a freshman with 11 assists and 15 points.

We think he plays a strong game once he gets back.

01Jun

Isak Walther (22)

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University Of Vermont Catamounts‘ Swedish-born, senior right wing Isak Walther(22) scored decently in college, best as a sophomore with 9 goals and 10 assists in a high 36 games.

The 6’4″ 205 lbs. forward already has 13 goals and 10 assists in 25 games with a +14, as a pro, signed with Atlanta Gladiators.

We do believe he scores himself a loan up for a look.

The 24-year old did all his youth and junior hockey at home before coming over.

He did in fact score a loan up to Milwaukee Admirals for 4 AHL games, scoring 1 assist.

In 62 ECHL games, he had 23 goals and 20 assists with a +8 rating, then added 2 more points in the playoffs.

For 2026/2027, he is stretching back and signs in Liiga with Vaasan Sport.

01Jun

Joshua Burke (7)

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Amherst College Mammoths‘ senior defenseman Joshua Burke(7) scored a seriously high college 12 goals and 14 asssits in 25 games last season with a +6 rating.

The 5’11” 179 lbs. blue liner did have a better 15 assists as a junior.

From Land O’ Lakes, FL, the 24-year old signed a 1st pro deal with Macon Mayhem and got into 2 SPHL playoff games to score 1 assist.

We feel he will need a new deal for 2026/2027.

01Jun

Ethan Lund (20)

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Niagara University Purple Eagles‘ senior captain, defenseman Ethan Lund(20) skated in a college high 36 games last season, scoring 2 goals and 4 assists.

The 5’10” 181 lbs. blue liner played 4 AJHL seasons for Brooks Bandits, getting 19 assists in his final junior frame.

From Calgary, AB, the 25-year old signed with Evansville Thunderbolts as tournament play finished up.

In 4 games, he came away with 1 assist, then 12 playoff games, en route to a 2026 SPHL Championship, he had 1 goal and 2 assists.

31May

Cole Bardreau (10)

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Undrafted 7th year right wing Cole Bardreau(10) re-ups for a 3rd season with New York Islanders on a 2-year, 2-way deal.

The 5’10” 185 lbs. forward is somewhat inconsistent scoring but did pop a very solid 10 goals and 6 assists in just 24 AHL games in 2020/2021’s COVID-baked season.

It was a similar through 4 years at Cornell University Big Red, but in his senior year he did manage new bests 17 assists and 22 points.

Originally signed as an unrestricted free agent by Philadelphia Flyers, he spent 4 years in their system under a pair of contracts.

Over a pair of recalls from his current club, he’s appeared in 10 NHL games scoring a goal and an assist.

If the 28-year can go on a bit of a tear to start 2021/2022, he could easily earn more time up.

A career best 15 goals and 16 assists in 67 games and a single game recall earns him another look for 2023/2024, but somehow structured under an affiliate Bridgeport Islanders‘ deal.

It’s becoming a no brainer as to where he is going to sign at this point as he returns for a 6th run in Bridgeport after once again coming away with 10+ goals and assists.

He will head on a new excursion that we can only think good things will come to him from, signing with HC Falkensteiner Pustertal Wolfe for 2025/2026.

Indeed, good things to come, as he is almost a point-per-game player and then helps a deep playoff run to get himself an easy invite back to continue to be a Wolfe.

31May

Henry Bowlby (28)

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Florida Panthers‘ undrafted center Henry Bowlby(28) leaves three years of Harvard University as he enters his senior season with zero hockey to play due to COVID considerations shelving it for the college in 2020/2021.

The decently sized 6’1″ 195 lbs. forward was assigned to affiliate Syracuse Crunch to start his career after signing a 2-year entry level deal that started right away.

In his AHL debut he potted his first pro goal and still has the one tally and no assists through 4 games with a +3 rating.

He’d always been a scorer in the teens at school, three times getting 8 assists and twice similar goal totals, so it will be interesting to see if a more open style opens up the scoring valve.

As a rookie, he scores 12 goals and 16 assists with a +14 rating and he is given a 1-year, 2-way deal to stay for 2022/2023.

We think he plays his way to an NHL recall.

He would score almost identical 2nd and 3rd frames for affiliate Charlotte Checkers, but was a group 6 unrestricted free agent at the end of his deal and was basically set free.

The Edina, MN next picks Colorado Eagles to play games, signing a minor league contract for 2023/2024.

After 7 games into his career with 1 goal and 2 assists in the north and he maybe gets a better offer to head to Sweden and signs with Rogle BK.

He should do well in the SHL.

Through 29 games, he scores 2 goals and 5 assists, then adds 2 points in 15 playoff matchups to be wanted back for 2024/2025 in a Rogle BK uniform.

He scores 4 goals and 3 assists in 43 games, which isn’t too terrible, but decides to push off for a new deal in IceHL with HC Falkensteiner Pustertal Wolfe for 2025/2026.

In 47 games, he scores 19 goals and 24 assists with a +18 rating, then performed well in the playoffs to grab another year for 2026/2027 to be a Wolfe again.

31May

Kienan Draper (12)

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University Of Michigan Wolverines‘ senior assistant captain, right wing Kienan Draper(12) scored a college best 13 assists and 18 points in his final year.

He had 7 goals as a junior.

The 6’2″ 209 lbs. forward had a really successful BCHL frame before school.

From Royal Oak, MI, the 24-year old is a Detroit Red Wings‘ 7th round pick in the 2020 draft (#187 overall), but signs a 2-year AHL contract with affiliate Grand Rapid Griffins.

He skated 2 regular season games with no points, but didn’t make the playoff roster.