Category: Juniors

09Oct

David Drake (25)

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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)

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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)

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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)

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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

Cam Gaudette (7)

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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.

07Oct

Justin Vaive (46)

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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.

07Oct

P.J. Fletcher (26)

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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.

07Oct

Colin Bilek (6)

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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.

06Oct

Noah Delmas (24)

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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.