Category: Juniors

University Of Minnesota-Duluth Bulldogs‘ junior center Kyle Bettens(24) takes up with Northern Michigan University Wildcats for his senior run in 2025/2026.

The 6’3″ 216 lbs. forward had his best scoring college season as a sophomore with 6 goals and 12 assists in 36 games.

He did 3 years of juniors with a final USHL frame before college.

From Winnipeg, MB, the 24-year old has no points in 4 games to start 2025/2026, but think he finds the net more.

New Jersey 87’s 1st year defenseman Connor Santay(15) commits to school maybe a little closer to his Baldwinsville, NY home, when he chooses SUNY Morrisville Mustangs for 2025/2026.

The 6’2″ 190 lbs. blue liner had 5 goals and 8 assists in 25 games, then added 1 goal and 6 assists in 11 on the way to a 2025 EHL Championship.

He did 3 seasons of junior hockey playing his way up to the USPHL/NCDC for 8 games, but decided to return to the other league last season.

The 24-year old is big to do decent at college hockey.

Boston Bruins‘ undrafted 2nd year goaltender Brandon Bussi(35) needed a new contract as a restricted free agent and picks up a 1-year 2-way NHL deal to continue his progress.

The big 6’4″ 227 lbs. net minder went 22-5-4 as a rookie with a 2.40 GAA and .925 SV% and despite losing 3 games posted similar totals in 4 playoff match ups.

From Sound Beach, NY, he did 3 years at Western Michigan University Broncos after bouncing around juniors his 1st two campaigns, then posted a very strong USHL frame with Muskegon Lumberjacks before heading to school.

The 25-year old is off to a pretty strong start on a good team for him and posted a shutout in a 2023 preseason game.

He has been a rock in net for affiliate Providence Bruins and the unrestricted free agent picks up a new 1-year, 2-way deal to continue.

An unrestricted free agent heading into 2025/2026, Florida Panthers sign him on opening day.

Put on waivers for the purpose of reassignment, he is busy moving, as Carolina Hurricanes claim his contract to start the season.

After a couple of almosts with his former club, he gets the nod in net for his 1st big league start and comes away with a 5-1 win on a 1.00 GAA and .941 SV%, nicely impressive NHL debut.

 

 

American International College Yellowjackets junior defenseman Blake Danjos(4) potentially was looking to stay at his 1st school for more than 1 season, but turns out they are sitting a year out, as they switch to Division 3 for 2026/2027.

The 5’10” 174 lbs. blue liner initially committed at Arizona State University Sun Devils, then went to Sacred Heart University Pioneers for his sophomore campaign.

From St. Louis, MO, the 23-year old played 3 junior sessions with his best coming up last in the USHL, where he did really well and he heads to Long Island University Sharks for his senior frame.

Harvard University Crimson senior center Alex Gaffney(12) entered the transfer portal after a disappointing season, mostly lost to injury despite maybe 4 games.

The small 5’9″ 165 lbs. forward heads to University Of St. Thomas Tommies for a graduate frame, 2025/2026.

He was always good for 10+ goals through 3 USHL years of junior hockey

From West Orange, NJ, the 24-year old skates like a bullet and already has 1 goal and 2 assists in 2 games to start the new session.

Merrimack College Warriors‘ Swedish-born sophomore defenseman Max Wattvil(9) enters the transfer portal to next skate at Roger Morris University Pioneers, as a junior in 2025/2026.

Coming over, he only skated 1 season of juniors before college, but did skate a few pro games in Hockeyettan, scoring a couple goals before heading over.

The 6’2″ 192 lbs. blue liner will likely skate a bit better in Atlantic Hockey.

Boston University Terriers‘ 2022 Montreal Canadiens‘ 2nd round pick (#62 overall), freshman defenseman Lane Hutson(48) is off to a monster start, scoring 6 goals and 11 assists in 14 NCAA Division 1 games with a +6 rating.

The fairly small 5’9″ 155 lbs. blue liner ran up some hefty scoring totals in his 2nd session with USNTDP, pocketing just 10 goals, but 53 assists in 60 USHL games with an overwhelming +59 rating.

An only 18-year older from Holland, MI, he looks like he won’t be sticking around in school for too long before accepting his NHL entry level deal, now doesn’t he?

He runs up almost identical freshman/sophomore stats (49 points) and an overall +39 rating through 77 games and taking it all the way to the Frozen Four twice, but that’s enough for the now 20-year old, who signs a 3-year entry level deal with his draft club and steps right into action.

Early in his debut, he sets up the opening goal by his team for a 1st NHL assist and point for himself.

He skates 23 shifts for 21:54 ice time with 1 shot on net and left the game a -1 rating, as his team squandered the lead to a desperate for a win club.

For the 2024/2025 season, he is selected as Rookie Of The Year for an outstanding performance for 6 goals and a massive 60 assists in 73 games.

He has 1 assist in 3 games to start 2025/2026, but is rewarded quickly with a new 8-year $70.8M contract, working out to a tidy $8.85AAV to stay a Canadiens long-term.

5th year right wing Anthony Angello(17) signs a 1-year NHL deal with St. Louis Blues, as an unrestricted free agent after spending the 1st 4 years of his pro career in Pittsburgh Penguins‘ organization.

The towering 6’5″ 209 lbs. forward twice scored 16 goals with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins and has definitely shown a perchance for potential big numbers.

He was originally a 5th round pick in the 2014 draft (#145 overall).

The Albany, NY native did 3 years at Cornell University Big Red before leaving to sign his entry level contract.

At 26-years old, he could be just arriving.

He is acquired late season by Nashville Predators, who send him directly to affiliate Milwaukee Admirals, where he helps their deep 2023 Calder Cup Playoff push.

It’s little doubt he is signed quickly to a 2-year 2-way deal though 2024/2025.

A trade sent him to Tampa Bay Lightning organization, he was reassigned to close by home Syracuse Crunch and scored well in 19 games.

With no deal going forward, he decides to leave hockey after 339 AHL games and 31 NHL games to his credit and could actually head back for his senior year somewhere is a possibility we see.