Category: Juniors

University Of Minnesota-Duluth Bulldogs‘ senior center Dominic James(17) was a Chicago Blackhawks‘ 6th round pick in the 2022 draft (#173 overall), but did not sign.

Instead he became an unrestricted free agent and agreed to a 2-year NHL entry level deal with Tampa Bay Lightning.

The 6′ 190 lbs. forward has skated 23 games with 3 goals, 5 assists and a +1 rating.

He has been reassigned to affiliate Syracuse Crunch and popped with 3 goals and 2 assists in 4 AHL games with a +3 rating.

From Plymouth, MI, the 23-year old is doing nicely for himself.

Colgate University Raiders‘ senior center Ben Raymond(3) posted a college best 9 goals and 9 assists in 36 games, then after tournament play concluded signed with Iowa Heartlanders, getting a 1st assist.

For his rookie season, 2025/2026 the 5’11” 179 lbs. forward signs with Maine Mariners.

In 10 ECHL games, he has 2 assists.

The Newton, MA native went to Dexter-Southfield USHS-Prep, then took off to the BCHL for the Covid-filled 2020/2021 before committing.

The 24-year old should continue to up his game.

Wheeling Nailers‘ 2nd year center Logan Pietila(49) if off to a nice start with 5 goals and 14 assists, challenging his 1st year marks, 9-18.

He was signed by parent club, Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins for 2024/2025 and appeared in 5 AHL games with 1 assist and a +3 rating before being reassigned.

The 5’11” 185 lbs. forward did 5 years at Michigan Tech Huskies, playing a new college high 40 games, scoring a best 13 goals and 16 assists.

From Howell, MI, the 25-year old will continue to do well and could gain a loan from another source.

Junior center Matt Hubbarde(81) will take 2 years at Dartmouth College Big Green to continuing his education and hockey with Providence College Friars.

The 6’1″ 190 lbs. scored fairly equally in his 1st 2 seasons at school.

From Pickering, ON, he played most of his junior hockey in Canada and had a most impressive bit of a shortened frame in the BCHL with Langley Rivermen.

The 23-year old will be taking on a new challenge playing Hockey East.

He would only figure in 13 games, scoring 1 goal, so no surprise he will do his senior year at University Of Alaska-Fairbanks Nanooks for 2024/2025 and will likely give him the room he needs.

In a ties for college high 30 games played, he scores new best 13 goals and 10 assists for 23 points playing the independent schedule.

With no postseason, he signs a 1st pro deal with Iowa Heartlanders and scores a 1st ECHL goal in his debut.

He would sign for 2025/2026 with them, but traded to Rapid City Rush after just 6 games, then he is moved again to Bloomington Bison.

Alvernia University Wolves‘ senior center Patrick Del Vecchio(68) was sent to sign with an SPHL club after skating 4 games with Evansville Thunderbolts, recording 1 assist, he decides to head off for something new to start his pro hockey career and signs in Central European Hockey League with Smoke Eaters Geleen II for 2025/2026.

The 6′ 170 lbs. forward, who started college with 3 years at Norwich University Cadets has exploded scoring in this league to the tune of 28 goals and 10 assists in 14 games.

From Mississauga, ON, you got to think the 25-year is looking out for other higher opportunities.

UMass-Lowell Riverhawks‘ senior captain, center Owen Cole(49) had a college best 12 assists and 20 points last season in 36 games with a +1 rating.

He signed with Kansas City Mavericks upon completion of tournament play and in 8 ECHL games had 2 assists.

The 5’10” 172 lbs. forward from Dunnville, ON did 3 years of juniors up north before heading to school.

For his rookie season, 2025/2026, the 25-year old will need a new contract.

He actually signs with Cincinnati Cyclones, but after 19 games with 1 goal scored his luck is with him, as he gets traded to the 1st place Wheeling Nailers.

3rd year right wing Jordan Kaplan(47) recently signed with Newfoundland Growlers after a somewhat inactive year in 2021/2022.

The 5’10” 170 lbs. forward already has a helper in a couple of appearances with his new club.

After graduating from University Of Vermont Catamounts, which followed up 3 years at Sacred Heart University Pioneers, he signed as a rookie with Adirondack Thunder, scoring 11 goals and 21 assists in 65 ECHL games, but also had a somewhat disastrous -32 rating.

From Bridgewater, NJ, we think the 25-year old will fit in nicely with his new club.

After 6 games with his new team, he gets released and claimed by Worcester Railers, but only lasts a couple of appearances before he’s on the move again, this time heading overseas to join Saale Bulls Halle for the remainder of 2023.

Germany3 hockey should come pretty easy for him to score big for his new club.

He does almost exactly as we saw would happen, scoring 4 goals and 6 assists in 11 games during the regular frame, then adding another 7 goals and 11 assists in 13 playoff matchups.

For 2023/2024, he will start his 3rd season in the league he’s mostly known with a 6th club, Indy Fuel and we think will find ways to put in points.

He actually played no games with who he initially signed and ended up bouncing around for a few games here and there, but lacking anything close to what he had as a rookie.

Playing maybe a bit of the waiting game, he decides to sign with Savannah Ghost Pirates to help make an impact with the new team and scores 1 in his 2nd game.

A couple months prior to 2024/2025, he finds himself traded after 14 goals and 14 assists in 51 games on a non-playoff team.

He returns to Worcester Railers, where he played 2 games and feel he will easily fit back into team mentality.

After 18 goals and 31 assists in an almost full run of 68 games, he re-signs to stay a Railers to see if he can help push this team further in 2025/2026, as they know they should be going.

As the new season approaches, he finds himself as part of a three team trade sending him to Wheeling Nailers, where we are sure he will be a big part of this team.

In 16 games with his new team, he has 1 goal and 5 assists with a +2 rating, but finds himself traded to a Cincinnati Cyclones, who maybe need him to score for them a bit more.

Post University Eagles‘ senior captain defenseman Trey Deloury(90) is an exceptionally large frame at 6’5″ 190 lbs.

He signed a 1st pro deal with Danbury Hat Tricks, scoring a 1st FPHL goal and 6 assists in 21 games with a +2 rating.

His play earns him a loan up to the Roanoke Rail Yard Dawgs, where in 4 SPHL games, he has yet to score and is a -2, but looks to be contributing.

From Andover, MA, the 25-year old did 1 good year of EHL juniors before school.

2nd year defenseman Trevor Grasby(77) was last season’s FPHL rookie of the year with 66 assists top scoring and 9 goals with a +2 rating in 55 games.

The 5’10” 170 lbs. former Morrisville University Mustangs‘ junior captain, blue liner had 4 goals and 7 assists in 5 games with Watertown Wolves this frame after starting 2025/2026 in the SPHL with Macon Mayhem.

In maybe a little bit of a trade move, he is sent to Topeka Scarecrows, where he should just continue to score and likely earn another look up.

From Holland Landing, ON, the 25-year old has a bit of a future to play for.