UMASS Lowell Riverhawks‘ junior defenseman Gabe Blanchard(88) leaves for a new adventure at Sacred Heart University Pioneers for his senior year 2024/2025.
The 6’1″ 199 lbs. blue liner doesn’t get a lot of points, so looks for accountability.
From Buffalo, NY, the 23-year should do better in Atlantic Hockey play.
He gets 6 assists in 38 games and signs a 1st pro deal with new ECHL team Greensboro Gargoyles for his rookie year, 2025/2026.
In 9 games, he has 1 assist, but Worcester Railers see something in his game and trade for him, giving up future considerations.
He gets 1 goal and 2 assists in 37 games, but plays like someone who owns his zone and gets re-signed to return for 2026/2027 as a Railers.
Quinnipiac University Bobcats‘ junior left wing Cristophe Tellier(11) enters the transfer portal and will skate his senior year at Northeastern University Huskies, 2024/2025.
The 6’1″ 185 lbs. forward put up a college career best 19 assists and 26 points last season.
He was able to put up good numbers in junior hockey, whether he was playing BCHL or USHL.
From Sherbrooke, QC, the 24-year old will be challenged in a good way by Hockey East play.
Upon finishing up his extended year with 5 goals and 13 assists in 36 games, he signs a 1st deal with Savannah Ghost Pirates and grabs a 1st ECHL goal in his 2nd game.
He is immediately signed for a 1-year 2-way deal 2025/2026 with Charlotte Checkers.
In 58 games, he scores 8 goals and 24 assists to gain the notice of Utica Comets, who sign him to an AHL contract for 2026/2027.
Boston University Terriers‘ freshman defenseman Jack Page(19) is still working his way into the lineup, only appearing in 4 wins thus far with the team this season, recording no points yet, but stands at a +1 rating.
The big 6’4″ 194 lbs. blue liner joined the team for 1 appearance coming off 15 NCDC/USPHL games in his 2nd run for New Jersey Rockets, where he had 19 assists just 1 season earlier.
From West Chester, PA, the 21 year old looks like he is going to make moves to become a roster regular for his sophomore run.
He plays a college best 23 games as a senior and records 2 assists, which he takes to a 1st pro contract with Reading Royals for his rookie season, 2025/2026.
In 29 games, he records a 1st ECHL goal and 3 assists to earn another 1-year as a Royals.
Brown University Bears‘ junior, captain defenseman Alex Pineau(3) may have not scored last season like he did as a sophomore with 7 goals and 9 assists, but lead his club as a leader and will take that into the transfer portal to next go try his game with Northeastern University Huskies in 2026/2027, as a senior.
The 6’3″ 215 lbs. blue liner did just 1 USHL frame before committing.
From Thunder Bay, ON, we look for the 23-year old to compete well in Hockey East.
Niagara University Purple Eagles‘ senior captain, defenseman Ethan Lund(20) skated in a college high 36 games last season, scoring 2 goals and 4 assists.
The 5’10” 181 lbs. blue liner played 4 AJHL seasons for Brooks Bandits, getting 19 assists in his final junior frame.
From Calgary, AB, the 25-year old signed with Evansville Thunderbolts as tournament play finished up.
In 4 games, he came away with 1 assist, then 12 playoff games, en route to a 2026 SPHL Championship, he had 1 goal and 2 assists.
He takes his good start to a 1st pro contract in France3 with Montpellier Vipers as a rookie in 2026/2027.
Tuscon Roadrunners‘ pto defenseman Brandon Estes(6) comes in after completing a 5th year at Union College Dutchmen, putting up college career bests 7 goals, 22 assists and 29 points in 37 NCAA Division 1 games.
The 6′ 175 lbs. blue liner played two virtually equal seasons of junior hockey, first in the NAHL, then USHL before heading to school.
He has a pair of assists in 5 AHL games with a +3 rating, so is off to kind of a booming start.
The 25 year old from Richardson, TX is setting himself for a good contract somewhere next season.
He signs a 1-year deal with division rivals Henderson Silver Knights for 2022/2023.
Mostly reassigned down to affiliate Savannah Ghost Pirates, he strikes for 9 goals and 15 assists in 62 games, while playing only 4 up with no points.
For 2023/2024, he re-signs to stay in GA with one of their newest ECHL teams.
He scores a new career best 25 assists and 32 points and will take these stats overseas, signing with Odense Bulldogs to play his hockey in Metal Ligaen 2024/2025, where he should do really well.
He takes a tremendous frame in Denmark, helping win the 2025 Metal Ligaen Championship to a new deal with Cardiff Devils that will take him to the EIHL for 2025/2026, another league he will likely do well in.
After a 6 goals and 36 assist frame, he is an easy invite back to be a Devils again for 2026/2027.
Reading Royals‘ left wing Connor McMenemin(39) played only 29 games last season, but scored effectively 7 goals and 10 assists.
The former 5’11” 185 lbs. University Of Minnesota-Duluth Bulldogs‘ graduate and Penn State University Nittany Lions‘ senior did 3 years of USHL juniors before college.
From nearby Collegeville, PA, the 25-year old gets another year to continue with the ECHL home team.
In 63 games, he scores a new best 14 goals and 15 assists to become a no-brainer for a 3rd invite to be a Royals in 2026/2027.
Worcester Railers‘ rookie center Matt Kopperud(18) has been scoring at a decent clip with 7 goals and 14 assists in 28 games, but has to clean up a -7 rating.
The 6’1″ 194 lbs. forward was a twice 20+ goal scoring and similar 10+ assists in 4 years at Arizona State University Sun Devils.
From Denver, CO, he did 2 BCHL seasons and 1 USHL before heading to school.
The 25-year old could very well set himself up to do well.
He does well in the lower league, but decides to take his game elsewhere and signs in Metal Ligaen.
In 46 games, he scores 30+ points, but signs with rivals, Rodovre Mighty Bulls for 2026/2027.
Stonehill College Skyhawks‘ sophomore left wing Joel Lehtinen(16) enters the transfer portal to play at University Of Alaska-Fairbanks Nanooks for his junior season, 2026/2027.
The 6’4″ 209 lbs. forward played a college high 34 games, scoring new best 6 goals and 9 assists last year.
He did his youth hockey in Finland and came over for 1 NAHL campaign that blew up scoring some.
From Dallas, TX, the 22-year old continues to play the independent schedule, but should have even more luck with this club.
Quinnipiac University Bobcats‘ graduating senior, captain center Wyatt Bongiovanni(5) had a college career year scoring next bests 16 goals and 18 assists for 34 assists with a +27 rating in 42 NCAA Division 1 games and takes that to his next adventure: a 2-year NHL entry level deal with Winnipeg Jets.
He twice had 10+ goals (14, 15), as a freshman and sophomore and 9 and 10 assists.
The 6′ 184 lbs. forward was twice a 30+ point scorer in USHL juniors.
At a still young 22-years old, he may spend some time in the minors working on his game, but should surely get the recall.
He is traded mid-season to Ottawa Senators, who see some usefulness in his game for their future.
After career high numbers, goal 22 and assists 11 with a +3 rating, Bonjo is an easy invite for another 1-year deal with the Senators for 2025/2026.
He comes away with a career best 13 assists, but gets a late trade that sends him to Hershey Bears.
For 2026/2027, he signs with Providence Bruins, should be a great landing spot.
