Category: Juniors

Toronto Maple Leafs‘ 3rd round pick in the 2016 draft (#62 overall) goaltender Joseph Woll(60) maybe wasn’t quite as effective as he wanted to be in the crazy 2021 AHL season, going 7-7 with one shutout and a not great 3.54 GAA and .892 SV%.

The very sizable 6’3″ 205 lbs. goalie posted similar stats as a rookie on affiliate Toronto Marlies with their equally inconsistent .500 game record.

Although last campaign wasn’t pulled until the playoffs, he may have been just getting familiar with the pro side of the game in 2019/2020 after leaving a frame at Boston College Eagles on the shelf to sign his 3-year entry level deal.

He had a pair of decent showings for the USNTDP squad but mostly seemed to shine when he was involved in international play of the WJC tournaments.

The still young 22-year old from Dardenne Prairie, MO only has another season left on his contract, so we’ll look for him to step it up a level as he’s set to become a restricted free agent.

For 2021/2022, he opened the season as back-up in the minors, as part of a trio of able net minders in the system.

He played 3 games with a 2-1 record but his GAA and SV% were still nothing to brag about.

Maybe a little on the unlikely side, but he found himself to be the goalie on recall in November and started his first NHL game, and got a gattling-gun scoring 5-4 win.

He continued up on backup until a bit more than a week later was called for a 2nd start, which happened to be a 20-save shutout shrinking his GAA to 2.00 and .915 SV% on a 2-0 record.

This is a nice opportunity on a fairly smoking hot 2021/2022 club.

He has found himself pressed into action and has rolled a 3-1 record with 2.76 GAA and .911 SV% to earn a 2-year extension to keep working on his game in the system.

After 25 games in net last season, posting 12-11-1 record with good numbers, then goes 2-0 in the playoffs with a .86 GAA and .964 SV%, he earns himself a very nice 3-year extension to stay in a Leafs jersey.

Trois-Rivières Lions‘ rookie defenseman, Latvian-born defenseman Markuss Komuls(23) will take his pro game closer to home in 2024/2025, signing with HC Nove Zamky of the tough to play Slovak Extraliga.

The 6′ 190 lbs. blue liner came over early for junior hockey and played his way up from an EHL season to the NAHL for 3, earning a commit to University Of Alaska-Fairbanks Nanooks, where he skated 4 seasons.

We think the 26-year old does well there to continue to gain recognition.

Undrafted defenseman Zach Vinnell(6) will take his game to Bowling Green University Falcons for his senior year, leaving behind 3 seasons and a college career junior season at Merrimack College Warriors, scoring 4 goals and 12 assists in 35 NCAA Division 1 games.

The 6’1″ 185 lbs. blue liner from Cochrane, AB played 3 years of junior hockey in the close by AJHL.

We think the 24-year old scored himself a nice invite to Edmonton Oilers‘ development camp and will likely see some mature ice time in the CCHA.

Although he only scored 1 goal with his new college team, he did manage a best 19 assists.

He will take his recent fortunes to a 1st pro deal with Indy Fuel to finish out the season.

In 16 games to debut his pro game, he scores 1 goal and 9 assists with a 0 rating, then added 1 assist in 2 playoff matchups.

He’s taking his game elsewhere for 2023/2024, as he signs on to strengthen the blue line for 1-year with Glasgow Clan of the EIHL.

After 15 games, 1 goal 4 assists, he seemingly leaves and signs with Sheffield Steelers, who seem very happy to have him in their lineup.

He would do pretty well with 1 goal and 4 assists through 15 games with a +12 rating.

Something isn’t gelling on ice though and the 26-year old decides to retire and as soon as 2024/2025 will take up ranks as an assistant coach with rivals, Coventry Blaze.

10th year center Domenic Alberga(88) leaves his team of the last 5 seasons, HC Bolzano to sign with Dundee Stars of the EIHL for 2024/2025.

The 6’2″ 209 lbs. forward maybe didn’t have the year he was used to and wants to switch things up.

He played 4 ECHL sessions to start his pro career, 3 with Norfolk Admirals and was loaned up in his final frame that maybe had him looking for more and headed overseas.

From Maple, ON, he played 4 OHL junior campaigns before heading to Ryerson University Rams for 2.

The 31-year old keeps it going.

University Of Connecticut Huskies‘ junior left wing Chase Bradley(20) leaves a year on the table to sign a 2-year NHL entry level contract with Colorado Avalanche.

The 6′ 198 lbs. forward was originally drafted by Detroit Red Wings in the 7th round of the 2020 draft (#203 overall), but they elected to not sign him.

He scored a college best 11 goals and 11 assists last season.

From St. Louis, MO, the 22-year old will likely start with their affiliate Colorado Eagles, but could blossom quickly.

Elmira College Soaring Eagles‘ senior left wing Nicholas Domitrovic(8) signs for 2024/2o25 in France2 with Les Ours-de-Villard.

The 5’10” 181 lbs. forward scored a college best 18 goals and 20 assists in 28 games with a +25 rating last season.

From Ottawa, ON, he did 3 CCHL seasons before committing to college.

We do think the 24-year old will do well with the 2023/2024 league champs next season.

2nd year USNTDP defenseman John Whipple(4) finally selects University Of Minnesota Golden Gophers for a 2024/2025 commit.

The 6’1″ 194 lbs. blue liner is 2024 draft eligible.

From Morristown, NJ, the 17-year old isn’t exactly known for putting up points, but holds his zone steady.

After another year of mostly shut down play, despite not many points and overall +25 player, he is selected in the 5th round by Detroit Red Wings, who will watch him go to school to start.

Faced with the prospects of no senior year, it was a no brainer for Harvard Universitys defensive wunderkid Reilly Walsh(8) to sign his three-year entry level with New Jersey Devils, the team that drafted him 3rd round, 2017, #81 overall.

In his minor league debut with affiliate Binghamton Devils, he gets credited for the overtime 4-3 game-winner and his first pro AHL goal and currently has 2 goals and 5 assists in 12 games, which is impressing big at the struggling parent club.

The 6′ 185 lbs. 21-year old blue liner may have to spend some time honing his game at the stage lower than the show but look for him to get an opportunity.

And after scoring new career bests: 9 goals and a whopping 34 assists in 69 games with a +11 rating for affiliate Utica Comets, gets him the nod for his NHL debut.

In his 1st game, he skated 20 shifts for 14:23, got an assist, had 2 shots, 2 blocks and 1 giveaway in a 5-4 loss.

The Framingham, MA gets traded to his hometown Boston Bruins as free agency looms after 2 seasons of 30+ assists in the minors.

He strikes his 3rd straight season of 9 goals in the minors, but shows maybe a bit more focus in the playoffs with 2 assists in 4 games.

For 2024/2025, he signs a 1-year, 2-way deal with Los Angeles Kings.

We need to congratulate former Cornell University Big Red‘ captain Jeff Malott(39) on scoring a one-year two-way NHL deal from Winnipeg Jets for 2021/2022 after potting 14 goals and 6 assists, including 1 game-winner and 4 on the power-play in 34 AHL games with affiliate Manitoba Moose.

The big 6’3″ 204 lbs. left wing may just play his way onto the parents’ club radar as a sophomore skater and is easily headed in the right direction.

He’ll remember the date: 3/20-2022. He makes his big league debut skating a conservative 8 shifts for 4:06 ice time with 3 hits and 2 penalty minutes in a 6-4 victory.

Nice start.

After blowing out his rookie season scoring with 23 goals and 18 assists in 62 games with a +11 rating, then getting another tally in 5 playoff games, earns the 25-year old a new 2-year deal to stay.

He would score a career high 30 assists and 52 points in 70 games and signs a new 2-year deal with Los Angeles Kings, who could give him his 1st looks in the big league.