Category: Juniors

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.


3rd year NAHL thus far undrafted prospect Cam Gaudette(7) scored the 2nd goal of the 4-3 overtime win his new team, Maryland Black Bears got over his old club, Northeast Generals at the first home game in Attleboro since October.

The 6’1″ 190 lbs. defenseman has committed to Northeastern University for Fall 2021, where his tough play style will fit in nicely with Hockey East.

His point production is down significantly in this awkward frame but I don’t think there’s much worry that he’ll play a strong zone coverage and will easily become a leader in the locker room.

The 20-year old has a brother that went to the same school and currently skates for Vancouver Canucks and another one up at University Of Maine heading into his 3rd campaign.

After two seasons at his current school only figure into 8 games per frame, he has made the decision to switch out, enter the transfer portal and comes out at Stonehill College Skyhawks, where he will easily be able to take up his game.

For a 2nd straight season he scores 1 goal and 4 assists, with a 0 rating last year and signs a try-out agreement with Rapid City Rush, which we think will equal a 1st contract for 2025/2026.

14th year left wing, Justin Vaive(46) signs with Cincinnati Cyclones for a 9th ECHL season, 2024/2025.

He’s served as team captain 3 times.

The big 6’6″ 238 lbs. forward was originally an Anaheim Ducks‘ 4th round pick in the 2007 draft (#92 overall), but never signed.

He did however sign an NHL contract a few years later with New York Islanders, which had him spend his entire time with affiliate Bridgeport Sound Tigers.

From Buffalo, NY and son of former NHLer Rick Vaive, the 35-year old, who did 4 years at Miami University (Ohio) Redhawks may not score like he once did, but he will certainly bring himself back up to a + player.

For an 8 season, 6 as team captain, he signs on to a team he has found a pretty great home with in Cincinnati for 2025/2026.

Miami University (Ohio) Redhawks‘ senior center P.J. Fletcher(26) scored a college best 11 goals last season, but had 16 assists and 24 points as a sophomore transfer from Quinnipiac University, where he attended as the ECAC chose to shutdown next session due to COVID and he went to be captain for Dubuque Fighting Saints and scored 16 goals and 18 assist in 44 USHL games before heading to his new school.

The 6’2″ 201 lbs. forward from Dana Point, CA played his original junior hockey in the BCHL, where he really tilting scoring in the playoffs for 14 points in 18 games.

He signed a 1st pro contract, an ato with Florida Everblades and in 3 ECHL games has yet to connect, but could very well be a playoff contributor.

For his rookie season, he signs with Atlanta Gladiators for 2024/2025.

In 18 games, he has a 1st goal and 3 assists, but is a little miserable -9 and gets himself traded to the new Bloomington Bison to see if he can correct it.

After 22 games with a new team, he scores 1 goal and 3 assists with a -1 rating, so does improve there, but still gets moved, this time to Greenville Swamp Rabbits.

He finishes up with 11 games, scoring 2 assists, but will continue to move on and signs with Wichita Thunder for 2025/2026.

It’s the no-brainer, unrestricted free agent signing of the 2022 post-college hockey season, in undrafted center, twice captain Colin Bilek(6) at Army West Point Black Knights‘ gets a AHL contract with Manitoba Moose for 2022/2023 and stays on Winnipeg Jets‘ radar.

The 5’11” 195 lbs. forward came away from 2021/2022 with a college career high 20 assists and 31 points in 34 NCAA Division 1 games.

He scored 18 goals as a junior.

The Brighton, MI native also had 18 goals in each of his 2 years of junior hockey with Northeast Generals.

He also posted 22 and 32 assists.

The 25-year old will certainly arrive ready to compete for a roster spot as a rookie.

He skates only a couple of games with the big club before being dispatched to ECHL affiliate Trois-Rivieres Lions, where he has a decent 14 goals and 9 assists in 46 games.

As the trade deadline looms, he gets a new address as Rockford Ice Hogs will adopt his contract, but likely will start with Indy Fuel.

We will see if he can make a bigger difference for a playoff tilted team.

After just 1 game with new contract club and then being reassigned down, he 7 goals and 4 assists in 18 games, then another 2 goals and 1 assist in 4 playoff matchups, he gains their confidence to have him back in an Ice Hogs‘ jersey for 2023/2024.

He would be reassigned down for the entire frame, but got settled and started connecting regularly for 20 goals and 23 assists in 51 games with a +5 rating.

For 2024/2025, he officially signs with the Fuel to try to improve their playoff push.

After 3 seasons in the same jersey, scoring a new best 34 assists, he agrees with Kalamazoo Wings, who seem to be scooping up a lot of the unrestricted free agent prospects for a Cup run.

Kansas City Mavericks‘ rookie defenseman Noah Delmas(24) is having a season that maybe exists a little below the radar as he’s on a team that’s still in the hunt but currently at the bottom of their division and he has only tallied a goal and 3 assists through 26 ECHL games.

The 6′ 195 lbs. blue liner was named team captain for Niagara University Purple Eagles, but failed to connect as he did as a sophomore and junior, when he scored 25 assists in both frames and even potted 15 goals in his third year.

He was a 2018 invite to Toronto Maple Leafs‘ development camp.

Playing most of his junior hockey with close to home club Aurora Tigers of the OJHL, the Newmarket, ON native did come down for 17 USHL games with Bloomington Thunder after committing to college, it didn’t last and he headed back for a bit of a playoff push with his former team.

It’s likely the 25-year old will continue in the league he accepted but also wouldn’t be out of the question for him to get a few nods at AHL life.

He signed on for another tour with his 1st pro club and in 32 games, had new best marks of 2 goals and 7 assists with a +2 rating, but he decided to head off to the EIHL, signing for the remainder of 2021/2022 with Manchester Storm.

In 18 games over in England, he grabbed 2 goals and 2 assists, but was a bit of a lowly -8 rating.

He is welcome “home” though, signing a 1-year deal with Worcester Railers for 2022/2023 that will likely see him achieve his best results.

After a decent enough 3rd frame in central MA, scoring 2 goals and 16 assists, but with a horrible plus/minus signs for 2023/2024 with GKS Katowice of Polska Hokej Liga.

In 40 games, he scores 3 goals and 10 assists and will next take that to the EIHL and signs with Fife Flyers for 2024/2025.

He returns “home” after a couple seasons away to sign with the new league team Greensboro Gargoyles and we feel like that will settle his game nicely.

6th year center Drew Wallin(77) signs on for a 4th straight season with Springfield Thunderbirds, 2024/2025 mostly because he really seems to fit with team mentality well.

His 6’3″ 203 lbs. size definitely has some AHL bearing.

He had 2 20+ assist seasons at Bentley University Falcons.

In 2 junior NAHL sessions with Janesville Jets, he was a 30+ point scorer.

From Madison, WI, we think the 29-year old smiles as he goes.

He has been 3 years with the same team, scoring ok, but will return to Worcester Railers, where he played as a rookie and for a couple seasons and will be back for scoring in 2025/2026.

 

3rd year left wing Lincoln Griffin(44) has skated most of his first two years in the SPHL, but on a pair of loans he scored 3 goals and 2 assists in 13 ECHL games as a rookie.

For 2021/2022 he agrees to terms on a new deal with Indy Fuel.

The former Northeastern University Huskies‘ forward was a decent scorer at college, taking his totals up to new highs as a senior (7-14-21) with a +20 rating.

He was a big scorer through 4 years at Thayer Academy.

The 24-year old from Walpole, MA should be able to elevate his game in the higher league.

He would actually end up playing the entire 2021/2022 frame with Cincinnati Cyclones, scoring an almost bananas, best by a mile 21 goals and 25 assists in 57 games.

There’s little doubt he would be invited back to try to win the whole league thing.

He is taking a very good 2nd frame with the team from Ohio to a new adventure, signing a 1-year deal with HK Nitra to play his next games in Slovak Extraliga 2023/2024.

Only managing to get into 12 games over there, scoring 1 goal and 1 assist, he decides to return home to the team he knows and obviously likes a lot, having spent more than 100 games with in the Cyclones for 2023/2024.

Another solid season of getting points and he is back for a 3rd swing through Cincinnati and may be searching for a home.

He goes on to score new bests in his 4th frame with 25 goals and 27 assists in 70 games with a +7 rating and he will be back for more as a Cyclones again.

University Of Wisconsin-Superior Yellowjackets‘ senior left wing Reed Stark(29) signs a 1st pro deal with Utah Grizzlies.

The fairly big 6’2″ 180 lbs. forward scored a college best 14 goals last season and tied his assists from freshman year at 9.

From Suffern, NY, the 25-year old will likely do well in the ECHL once he gets his footing.

For his rookie season, he decides to sign with Dusseldorfer EG of DEL2, where he will definitely be challenged.