Category: Juniors

10Oct

Daniel O’Regan (11)

Posted in College Hockey Player, Europe, Free Agent Signing, Juniors, NHL Draft Pick | Leave a comment

6th year German-born center Daniel O’Regan(11) gets a new 1-year, 2-way deal from Anaheim Ducks for 2021/2022.

The unrestricted free agent signed a 1-year deal with Vegas Golden Knights last season and put up point-per-game numbers for affiliate Henderson Silver Knights.

Originally a San Jose Sharks‘ 5th round pick in the 2012 draft (#138 overall), he’s been a prolific scorer since he arrived to ultimate graduate St. Sebastian’s School before committing to 4 years at Boston University Terriers, where he scored 154 points (66-88) in 154 Hockey East games.

His dad Tom O’Regan took a similar path through school.

The 27-year old will likely be pivotal to affiliate San Diego Gulls‘ success.

Mid-season he is moved to Grand Rapids Griffins and his scoring takes flight with 14 goals and 17 assists in 39 games.

For 2023/2024, he will take his 1 NHL goal to a new adventure, signing with MoDo Hockey and we think he finds comfort in scoring in the SHL.

He scores just 4 goals and 8 assists in 34 games with a -9 rating, but Kunlun Red Star see something and sign him to a 1-year KHL deal for 2024/2025.

Through 65 games, he scores pretty well, but lacks some on-ice accountability and next decides to head to DEL, where he signs with Schwenninger Wild Wings for 2025/2026.

10Oct

Lincoln Erne (24)

Posted in College Hockey Player, Juniors, Minor League Deal | Leave a comment

Canisius College Golden Griffins‘ senior defenseman Lincoln Erne(24) left school with new modest bests 1 goal and junior year tying 5 points, playing 41 games en route to a 2023 Atlantic Hockey Championship.

The very solid 6’2″ 201 lbs. blue liner, magically ascended to 29 assists in his 2nd NAHL frame as assistant captain for Minot Minotauros.

From Blaine, MN, the 24-year old signs a 1st pro deal with Tulsa Oilers for 2023/2024.

He actually ends up with Newfoundland Growlers and in 23 games has 6 assists, but Idaho Steelheads want him and trade to get him to reunite with a former college player on their team.

3 goals and 8 assists through 27 games is ok, but he once again finds himself on the trading block and is dealt to another team that allegedly want him, Jacksonville Icemen.

No points in 3 games and for 2024/2025 he will go to Iowa Heartlanders.

He has 1 goal and 1 assist in 14 games with a -1 rating and gets traded to Savannah Ghost Pirates to see if he can ignite scoring better.

In just 3 games, he has no points and is a -4 rating, so gets again moved, this time to Utah Grizzlies give him a home.

An unrestricted free agent, he signs with Tahoe Knight Monsters for 2025/2026.

10Oct

Blake Wells (54)

Posted in College Hockey Player, Juniors, Transfers | Leave a comment

UMass-Lowell Riverhawks‘ senior left wing Blake Wells(54) heads into the transfer portal for a graduate season roughly 90 minutes west at American International College Yellowjackets.

The 6’2″ 201 lbs. forward should find more room in Atlantic Hockey to score.

His best season was as a junior, getting 3 goals and 5 assists in 29 games.

The 23-year old Blackie, AB native played 2 seasons in the nearby AJHL for Okotoks Oilers before committing to school.

He comes away with a college best 4 goals and 6 assists in his extra frame and signs a pro deal with Utah Grizzlies, where we suspect he will find more room in the ECHL to score using his power forward size.

After 3 games with no points, they would like to see what he does in a full frame, so sign him to continue wearing a Grizzlies‘ jersey for 2024/2025.

He was season-ending injured on opening night in his rookie frame, but is set to go for a rookie run in 2025/2026 and signs with Tahoe Knight Monsters.

10Oct

Arvils Bergmanis (38)

Posted in College Hockey Player, Europe, Juniors, Minor League Deal, Transfers | Leave a comment

RPI Engineers‘ Latvian-born senior defenseman Arvils Bergmanis(38) played a college most 35 games, scoring a new high 4 goals and 4 assists.

The 6′ 190 lbs. blue liner scored best as a sophomore at University Of Alaska-Fairbanks Nanooks with 17 assists and 19 points.

He did youth hockey at home, but played 3 years of junior hockey in Russia and got into 3 KHL games.

For his rookie season, the former National league played signs a 1st ECHL pro deal with Rapid City Rush, 2025/2026.

09Oct

Brian O’Neill (91)

Posted in College Hockey Player, Europe, Free Agent Signing, Juniors | Leave a comment

13th year center Brian O’Neill(91) will skate the SHL for his 1st season, signing with Lulea HF for 2024/2025 after 2 NL frames for EV Zug.

Upon leaving North American pro hockey, the 5’9″ 172 lbs. forward spent 6 years in the KHL for Jokerit.

Undrafted, he played his 1st 3 seasons in Los Angeles Kings‘ system, winning the 2015 Calder Cup with affiliate Manchester Monarchs, getting voted MVP amongst other awards.

He would next be traded to New Jersey Devils, scoring 22 NHL games, getting 2 assists.

The 2-time Yale University Bulldogs‘ 20-goal scorer and 3-time 20+ assists for the former captain did 1 USHL year Chicago Steel before school.

We think the 35-year old still has some hockey to prove.

Off to a hot start in 2025/2026, he is rewarded with a 3-year deal to stay with Lulea HF.

09Oct

David Drake (25)

Posted in College Hockey Player, Juniors, Minor League Deal | Leave a comment

Undrafted, 3rd year 6’6″ 195 lbs. defenseman David Drake(25) decided to take 2020/2021 off, as did his team of the past couple seasons, Reading Royals, despite them both being ready to re-up.

For 2021/2022 though, he is set to rejoin them and becomes one of the initial signings.

The former two year University Of Connecticut Huskies assistant captain actually signed for his rookie and sophomore sessions to their parent club, Lehigh Valley Phantoms, but only played 9 AHL games, with 7 being after college graduation, gaining 2 assists.

Never the biggest scorer in college or a couple of years of junior hockey with Des Moines Buccaneers, he actually had 13 assists in ’19/20.

The 26-year old has found himself a nice home for hockey in PA.

He would last only 18 games in 2021/2022 before being sent to Wheeling Nailers, where he spent most of the season, but was also loaned up on a pair of occasions.

In his 4 games for Rochester Americans, he had an assist and was a +3.

For 2022/2023, he heads back to West Virginia, which might lead to his best success.

4 goals and 15 assists (both clearly career bests) and he has to return to continue wearing that Nailers‘ jersey.

He runs a best 18 assists and 20 points with a +18 rating in 65 ECHL games to be welcome back for 2024/2025.

In another 65 games, he records 14 assists, but looks elsewhere for a new contract and signs for 2025/2026 with Greenville Swamp Rabbits.

09Oct

Ryan Miotto (27)

Posted in College Hockey Player, Juniors, Minor League Deal, Transfers | Leave a comment

Canisius College Golden Griffins‘ senior right wing Ryan Miotto(27) has chosen to add another season to his studies and will join University Of Vermont Catamounts for the start of a graduate program.

The 6′ 185 lbs. forward punched through on scoring last season with 17 goals and 18 assists in 42 games, more than doubling his previous highs.

He was a very decent scorer in his 2nd BCHL junior session for Alberni Valley Bulldogs.

The 23-year old from Thorold, ON should do well in Hockey East.

He takes a decent season, playing a little different style of hockey to a 1st pro contract with Wheeling Nailers and he just got his 1st ECHL goal in his 5th appearance with a +3 rating.

For his official rookie season, he signs with Iowa Heartlanders, 2024/2025.

After a successful 1st campaign, scoring 18 goals and 21 assists in 67 games with a 0 rating, he gets traded to a team that will use his size, Worcester Railers for 2025/2026.

09Oct

Owen Lindmark (39)

Posted in College Hockey Player, Juniors, Minor League Deal | Leave a comment

University Of Wisconsin Badgers‘ graduate center Owen Lindmark(39) signs an ato to join San Diego Gulls.

In 15 AHL games, he scored 1 assist with a 0 rating.

He actually did 6 years at the college, but played only 9 games as a junior, so that may have been waived.

His best scoring season was as a senior with 11 goals and 10 assists in 29 games and a +17 rating.

From Enid, OK, the 24-year old will need a deal for 2025/2026.

For his rookie season, 2025/2026, he re-signs a 1-year standard player contract to remain a Gulls.

08Oct

Pheonix Copley (29)

Posted in College Hockey Player, Free Agent Signing, Juniors, NHL Draft Pick | Leave a comment

9th year net minder Pheonix Copley(29) has finally found his NHL team, Los Angeles Kings after some searching and a 237 journey through the AHL.

He did start the frame in the minors with affiliate Ontario Reign before his recall, which quickly netted wins and solidified his spot as the team’s starter.

The 6’4″ 200 lbs. wall has a 17-4-2 record with a 2.74 GAA and .901 SV%.

Undrafted, the former Michigan Tech Huskies‘ goalie has played 6 years in the system of initial signing club, Washington Capitals.

The 31-year old picks up a nice new 1-year deal to stay at $1.5M AAV.

He plays 1 game in the big league with not great results, but hums along nicely in 42 games in the minors with a good record to earn another year, basically at league minimum to return in a Kings‘ jersey.

We actually think there is more shine in the now 33-year old.

He is claimed off waivers by Tampa Bay Lightning, who will use him as a back-up and with affiliate Syracuse Crunch.

08Oct

Hunter Johannes (21)

Posted in College Hockey Player, Juniors, Minor League Deal, Transfers | Leave a comment

University Of North Dakota Fighting Hawks‘ graduate left wing Hunter Johannes(21) had a fairly solid year of eligibility scoring 12 goals and 7 assists in 31 games with a +10 rating.

The big 6’3″ 209 lbs. forward oddly did best scoring as a senior at Lindenwood University Lions with point-per-game numbers, 13 goals and 16 assists in 28 games.

From Eden Prairie, MN, he did his high school hockey right there, finding his edge as a senior.

He seemed to bounce around junior hockey a bit, never quite sticking in one place too long before eventually heading to his 1st school of 3 years, American International College Yellowjackets.

Upon graduating, he signed a 1-year AHL with Grand Rapids Griffins for 2024/2025, but joins them on an ato.

He’s without points in 6 games, but we feel it’s just a matter of time.

An unrestricted free agent, he signs a pto with Florida Panthers that should turn into a 1-year deal, as he reports to affiliate Charlotte Checkers.