Mercer Chiefs‘ 1st year defenseman Brody Finnegan(24) is heading to Elmira College Soaring Eagles on a 2025/2026 commit after putting up a nice 4 goals and 23 assists in 51 USPHL/NCDC games, then another 1 goal and 4 assists in 4 playoff matchups.
The 5’11” 180 lbs. blue liner from Fort Bragg, NC knows what it is to leave home to play hockey.
At still only 19-years old, we think he adapts well and contributes nicely to his new college team.
2nd year USNTDP center captain Rutger McGroarty(2) is readying himself with some solid stats to commit to University Of Michigan Wolverines for 2022/2023.
The 6’1″ 205 lbs. power forward has put-up point-per-game numbers this season.
It’s an easy call to say this 17-year old is going to be selected high in the draft with no reservations.
He was selected at #14 in 2022 by Winnipeg Jets, but as he started gaining ground at college, last season posting 36 assists in 36 games, he was indicting he would never sign with his draft club.
His wish is granted as Pittsburgh Penguins step in to offer the yet unsigned protege a new avenue and sign him to a 3-year entry level deal, leaving 2 years of school on the table.
He debuts on opening night, skating 16 shifts for 10:12 of ice with 1 shot and 2 hits and his feet are wet in a 6-3 victory.
In his 5th game, he pops in a 1st NHL goal and an assist for a multi-point effort, plus he skated almost a team best 18:28.
Ogden Mustangs‘ 2nd year defenseman Grant Hineman(94) returns back east with some junior best numbers to his 2025/2026 commit at Salve Regina University Seahawks.
The 6′ 170 lbs. blue liner scored 3 goals and 21 assists in 52 USPHL/NCDC games last season.
He came off strong seasons at Unionville High USHS-PA and many years in the Philadelphia Jr. Flyers‘ youth hockey system.
From West Chester, PA, the 21-year old will play college hockey a little closer to home.
Boston College Eagles‘ freshman right wing Gabe Perreault(94) is lighting up assists like he did last season with the USNTDP.
He has 3 goals and 17 assists in 14 games with a +9 rating to start his 1st year.
New York Rangers know.
They selected the 18-year old in the 1st round of the 2023 draft (#23 overall).
After a 2nd season of big college hockey scoring, maybe a little less than his first season, but good enough to get the draft team to say, let’s go and sign him to a 3-year NHL entry level deal.
He skates his debut upon inking, playing 20 shifts for 13:38 of ice time with 3 shots, 2 giveaways and was a -1 in a 5-4 overtime win.
University Of Minnesota Golden Gophers‘ junior right wing, Jimmy Snuggerud(21) takes 3 amazing seasons and turns it into a 3-year entry level deal with 1st round draft pick team St. Louis Blues (#23 overall).
The 6’1″ 186 lbs. forward makes his NHL debut, skating 15 shifts for 10:43 ice time with 2 shots, 1 giveaway and was a -1 rating in a 2-1 overtime win.
From Chaska, MN, he was prolific in high school, then in 2 years of USHL juniors with the USNTDP.
Providence College 2nd semester Freshman defenseman Taige Harding(27) arrives to the team from Fort McMurray Oil Barons, where he had 14 goals and 23 assists in 37 AJHL games.
The 6’7″ 234 lbs. blue liner is a Chicago Blackhawks‘ 3nd round pick in the 2021 draft (#93 overall) will benefit big from tough Hockey East style play.
He already spent 3 years in junior hockey and is 20-years old, so we’ll see how much college time he will spend.
Finishing up his senior year, scoring 2 goals and 12 assists in 37 games with a +9 rating, he signs with the team he was selected by and will report to affiliate Rockford Icehogs to get started.
Ohio State University Buckeyes‘ junior defenseman Damien Carfagna(93) is undrafted and signs a 2-year NHL entry level deal with Edmonton Oilers after scoring a college best 7 goals and 21 assists with a +16 rating.
The 5’11” 168 lbs. blue liner came over after a freshman year at University Of New Hampshire Wildcats.
He did 2 seasons of junior hockey before school and won the USHL Clark Cup Championship in his 2nd.
From Wood Ridge, NJ, the 22-year old may report to the affiliate to start, but he is going.
Former University Of Nebraska-Omaha Mavericks‘ senior captain, defenseman Joel Messner(59) decides to leave the ship for other waters for his 4th season.
He will skate in Austria’s IceHL for a seemingly favored by Americans’ club, HC Innsbruck.
The solid 6’2″ 200 lbs. d-man was mostly under deals with Providence Bruins, originally scouted by Boston Bruins and in their system for 48 AHL games, but was in a uniform mostly with affiliate Atlanta Gladiators.
In 86 ECHL games, he did alright with 14 goals and 41 assists.
He played 4 more games in the league for Jacksonville Icemen to start 2020/2021 and got a goal and 2 assists.
We think the 27-year old Winnipeg native will like it in his new hockey home but if he does really well will move up.
He played for HKM Zvolen of Slovak Extraliga last season, putting up 4 goals and 9 assists in 50 games with a +7 rating, then added another 6 points in 17 playoff matchups.
For 2023/2024, he will head back to Austria, where he had very good luck and agrees to terms with Pustertal/Val Pusteria.
He grabs some decent points, but the -18 is a problem, then performs really well in 13 playoff games to get a want from rivals, Fehervar AV19 for 2024/2025.
Through 48 games, he has 2 goals and 17 assists with a +8 rating, so is becoming a bit of an offensive threat out there and scores himself a new 1-year deal to stay on in this part of Austria.
Boston College Eagles‘ freshman center Ryan Leonard(9) is doing basically what you expect of him on the scoresheet with 5 goals and 7 assists in 12 games, including a +8 rating.
The 6′ 190 lbs. Washington Capitals‘ 1st round pick in the recent 2023 draft (#8 overall) put up big stats with the USNTDP, especially during his 2nd run in the program.
From Amherst, MA, the 18-year old is still looking at quite a bright future he’ll need to maintain.
His team is exited in the 2nd round of the national tournament and he immediately signs a 3-year NHL entry level deal to join his draft team in his home city for college hockey to get pro started.
In his debut he skates 20 shifts for 14:14 of ice time with 3 hits, 2 giveaways, 1 shot block and left a 1-goal win with a +1 rating.
Providence College Friars‘ freshman left wing Trevor Connelly(16) is off to a quick scoring, college start with 2 goals and 7 assists in 8 games.
The 6’1″ 165 lbs. forward had 2 heavy scoring USHL seasons for Tri-City Storm.
From Tustin, CA, the 18-year is a Vegas Golden Knights‘ 1st round pick in the 2024 draft (#19 overall), so he has definitely impressed.
After just 1 season in Providence, scoring 4 goals and 9 assists in 23 games and looking like a lead player out there in his 1st college season, including a 5-point game, he signs a 3-year NHL entry level deal to join his draft club right away.
