Category: Juniors

08May

Peter DiLiberatore (4)

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Quinnipiac University‘s 3rd year, assistant captain defenseman Peter DiLiberatore(4) decides to forego his senior campaign in favor of signing a 3-year entry level deal with draft team, Vegas Golden Knights.

The 6′ 180 lbs. blue liner was a 6th round pick in 2018 (#160 overall).

His numbers at college have been pretty consistent.

He tied his 6 goal best in 2020/2021 and averaged 15 helpers through his three years.

There’s little doubt he’ll report immediately, likely hooking up with affiliate Henderson Silver Knights, a stellar AHL club, so breaking that lineup could be a thinker.

After almost 2 full seasons and his entry level contract about to expire, he gets dealt to Pittsburgh Penguins at the trade deadline, who look like they were eyeing him to be obtained and should retain him for at least another year.

Invited to Arizona Coyotes‘ training camp on a pto, he is released and looked to sign with affiliate Tuscon Roadrunners for 2023/2024, but has slipped off the radar and will lace them up with South Carolina Stingrays.

He plays 8 ECHL games with his new club, recording 3 assists to get himself loaned up to his former team.

While there he gets 1 goal and 2 assists for a new league best of 3 points and gets himself a deal for the season to stay up.

In 29 games, he scores 1 goal and 8 assists with a +2 rating to earn an invite to return for 2024/2025 in a Roadrunners‘ jersey.

He still struggled to get into games and score with only 2 goals in 19 games, so he decides to leave and see if he can’t find something better for himself elsewhere.

Signing with Kalmar HC of HockeyAllsvenskan, he goes on to find his scoring legs with 8 goals and 28 assists, as a d-man.

This performance earns him a look up and contract with Malmo Redhawks SHL for 2026/2027.

08May

Joey Potter (3)

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University Of Alaska-Anchorage Seawolves‘ junior defenseman Joey Potter(3) transferred from a freshman year at Union College Dutchmen, maybe wanting to head back close to where he played his 2nd season of NAHL juniors at Fairbanks Ice Dogs, amassing 34 assists.

The 5’11” 185 lbs. blue liner from Los Angeles, CA has 2 goals and 2 assists in 12 games for his new club.

He’s 22-years old and plays like a leader out there, when he’s not catching some zzz’s.

After 2 season of playing the independent schedule, scoring a college best last season as a junior with 4 goals and 6 assists in a high 32 games, he is heading off a 2nd time to go finish up his senior year at Lake Superior State University Lakers for 2026/2027.

08May

Patrick Giles (54)

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Massive 6’5″ 216 lbs. center Patrick Giles(54) took 4 years, 2 as assistant captain at Boston College Eagles to a 1st pro contract upon elimination from the NCAA Division 1 tournament.

He signs an ato with Charlotte Checkers under the watchful eye of parent club Florida Panthers dictating moves and will skate under an AHL deal for 2022/2023.

In 10 games, he has only an assist, but is likely adjusting to the new style game.

Although playing Hockey East for 4 sessions definitely had to help and in his senior year he scored a college career best 15 goals and 22 points.

The 22-year old from Chevy Chase, MD, who came up through the USNTDP program should be able to find his game, but will have to work for it and look for his spots.

After 10 pro games to end the 2021/2022 session, he had 1 assist, but the big team see something in the towering frame moving forward and sign him up for a 2-year NHL entry level deal through 2023/2024.

He’s had 2 good seasons in the minors without a recall, but is looking closer to ready to earn a 2-year extension to stay with the affiliate, Checkers.

Signed to another 2-year extension, he looks set to make the big club and just a few games in, earns a spot due to the injury bug hitting early and he makes an NHL debut, skates 11 shifts for 7:34 of ice time with 2 shots, 1 block, 2 giveaways and went 75% in the face off dot in a 5-2 loss.

After 9 games with no points, but still lighting it up nicely in the minors, he is traded to San Jose Sharks, where they may have better room to slot the big player.

He spends 67 with affiliate San Jose Barracuda, running up some good points and when called up gets 1 assists in 3 games with a +1 rating.

His numbers are solid enough to merit a 2-year extension through 2027/2028 to stay a Sharks.

 

07May

Jamison Sluys (26)

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Western Michigan University Broncos‘ freshman left wing Jamison Sluys(26) maybe wasn’t entirely thrilled to be only figuring into 20 games with 2 goals and 1 assist that he enters the transfer portal to go skate for St. Cloud State University Huskies as a sophomore in 2026/2027.

The 5’10” 194 lbs. forwad left his 2nd year of USHL as a point-per-game scorer.

From Port Roberts, WA, we look at his new school giving the 20-year old a better chance to prove himself.

07May

Trent Burnham (1)

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RIT Tigers‘ graduate net minder Trent Burnham(1) only played 2 games after a tough senior year, but we’re unsure if it was specifically they were riding another goalie for most of the season.

The 6′ 165 lbs. goaltender signed to be Roanoke Rail Yard Dawgs as emergency back-up goaltender and is sticking through the SPHL playoffs.

He transferred from his junior year at Lindenwood University Lions, where he was unreal playing D3 as a freshman.

From Eagle River, AK, the 26-year old will need a new deal for 2026/2027.

07May

Grayson Dietrich (17)

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Niagara University Purple Eagles‘ senior center Grayson Dietrich(17) had his best college scoring season as a junior with 5 goals and 6 assists after transferring from his sophomore frame at American International College Yellowjackets.

The 6’2″ 201 lbs. forward signs a 1st pro deal with Port Huron Prowlers upon tournament completion and scores 6 goals and 2 assists in 5 FPHL games with a +10 rating.

From Calgary, AB, the 24-year old did 3 AJHL seasons before colllege.

He looks to sign his way up is how it’s looking for 2026/2027.

06May

Peyton Platter (24)

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University Of Alaska-Fairbanks Nanooks‘ sophomore center Peyton Platter(24) scored a college best 8 goals and 13 assists last season that he takes into the transfer portal to next play his game at closer to home for 2026/2027 at University Of Minnesota-Duluth Bulldogs as a junior.

The 6’1″ 181 lbs. forward did 2 NAHL junior sessions with Chippewa Steel, scoring almost point-per-game totals in his 2nd frame before school.

From Eu Claire, WI, we look for the 22-year old to increase NCHC his play.

06May

Gunnar VanDamme (8)

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Maryland Black Bears‘ 1st year NAHL defenseman Gunnar VanDamme(8) has put up 3 goals and 25 assists in 58 games and added another 3 (1-2) points in 3 playoff matchups, which he will take to a 2023/2024 commit to University Of Alaska-Anchorage Seawolves.

The 6′ 190 lbs. blue liner also did 1 session up north in the OJHL for Lindsay Muskies, earning 6 goals and 18 assists.

We’re thinking the 20-year old from Pittsford, NY will thrive with the independent schedule his new college club plays.

After 2 years of decent play, he decides to head to his junior year a little closer to home at RPI Engineers for 2025/2026.

In 33 games, he comes away with 5 assists, but something maybe isn’t right, so he enters the transfer portal a 2nd time and will next go to still close by home, Robert Morris University Pioneers for 2026/2027.

06May

Judah Makway (18)

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University Of Alaska Seawolves‘ freshman center Judah Makway(18) scored 3 goals and 6 assists in 33 games on a team that struggled to win some games that he takes into the transfer portal to next play at University Of Maine Black Bears.

The 6’3″ 190 lbs. forward did 3 years BCHL and scored big in his last frame before college.

From Trail, BC, we look for the 21-year old to use his size in Hockey East.

05May

Branden Piku (77)

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Lake Superior State University Lakers‘ commit, 2nd year NAHL center Branden Piku(77) is putting up junior hockey, career best numbers, 8 goals and 12 assists in 22 games for Maryland Black Bears, like he’s getting ready to contribute from the get-go 2022/2023, if given the opportunity.

The small 5’8″ 154 lbs. pivot  has definitely displayed that he can pocket points.

We’re sure that as he finishes up the current frame, the 19-year old from Harrison Township, MI has his eyes on some CCHA hockey.

In his junior season, he scores a new college best 9 assists and 17 points that he enters the transfer portal to next play his hockey at Northern Michigan University Wildcats.