Category: Juniors

29Jun

Joseph Woll (53)

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Toronto Maple Leafs‘ 3rd round pick in the 2016 draft (#62 overall) goaltender Joseph Woll(53) maybe wasn’t quite as effective as he wanted to be in the crazy 2021 AHL season, going 7-7 with one shutout and a not great 3.54 GAA and .892 SV%.

The very sizable 6’3″ 205 lbs. goalie posted similar stats as a rookie on affiliate Toronto Marlies with their equally inconsistent .500 game record.

Although last campaign wasn’t pulled until the playoffs, he may have been just getting familiar with the pro side of the game in 2019/2020 after leaving a frame at Boston College Eagles on the shelf to sign his 3-year entry level deal.

He had a pair of decent showings for the USNTDP squad but mostly seemed to shine when he was involved in international play of the WJC tournaments.

The still young 22-year old from Dardenne Prairie, MO only has another season left on his contract, so we’ll look for him to step it up a level as he’s set to become a restricted free agent.

For 2021/2022, he opened the season as back-up in the minors, as part of a trio of able net minders in the system.

He played 3 games with a 2-1 record but his GAA and SV% were still nothing to brag about.

Maybe a little on the unlikely side, but he found himself to be the goalie on recall in November and started his first NHL game, and got a gattling-gun scoring 5-4 win.

He continued up on backup until a bit more than a week later was called for a 2nd start, which happened to be a 20-save shutout shrinking his GAA to 2.00 and .915 SV% on a 2-0 record.

This is a nice opportunity on a fairly smoking hot 2021/2022 club.

He has found himself pressed into action and has rolled a 3-1 record with 2.76 GAA and .911 SV% to earn a 2-year extension to keep working on his game in the system.

After 25 games in net last season, posting 12-11-1 record with good numbers, then goes 2-0 in the playoffs with a .86 GAA and .964 SV%, he earns himself a very nice 3-year extension to stay in a Leafs‘ jersey.

Playing the majority of games for the parent club with good results, he is eyed for a trade with 2 years left on his current deal and gets shipped to Philadelphia Flyers, where he should fit in nicely.

29Jun

Tristan Sarsland (61)

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Clarkson University Golden Knights‘ senior defenseman Tristan Sarsland(61) scored 8 goals and 15 assists in 39 games with a +14 rating as a junior and did slightly less in his final frame, but still good and grabs an AHL deal with San Jose Barracuda for 2026/2027.

The 6’1″ 203 lbs. blue liner from Wayzata, MN blew up scoring at USHS-MN and only did NAHL juniors after graduating high school and scored there through the playoffs before college.

He reported to his new team on an ato, playing 4 games with no points, but that should change quickly as he really gets started.

29Jun

John Jaworski (18)

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Sacred Heart University Pioneers‘ graduate right wing John Jaworski(18) takes a college best scoring 13 goals and 18 assists in 39 games with a +8 rating to a 1st pro contract 2025/2026 with Cincinnati Cyclones.

The 5’11” 185 lbs. forward did 2 years of juniors before school.

From Grinnell, IA, the 25-year old will likely score well in the ECHL.

After a good scoring season with 15 goals and 20 assists in 55 games with a +3 rating, he decides to take his game elswhere and signs HK 32 Liptovsky Mikulas of Tipsport Extraliga for 2026/2027.

29Jun

Billy Sheridan (2)

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Philadelphia Rebels‘ 3rd NAHL year defenseman Billy Sheridan(2) was looking to step right into his college hockey game, but decided to wait after making an initial decision.

In 46 games last season, he came away with 33 points (10-23).

The 5’11” 172 lbs. blue liner from Sewell, NJ did a lot of his youth hockey in the New Jersey Rockets‘ system.

For 2026/2027, he commits to Neumann University Knights.

28Jun

Jarod Hilderman (3)

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Four year and consecutive NCAA Champion defenseman with University Of Minnesota-Duluth Bulldogs‘ Jarod Hilderman(3) knew before the 2019/2020 season came to a crashing halt during the playoffs that he would be heading to Birmingham Bulls for 2020/2021 and spend his rookie season in the SPHL.

Well, a pandemic didn’t sideline those plans, as he reported and played basically a full slate of 36/42 game schedule, unable to grab a goal but he did produce 6 assists.

The 6’1″ 210 lbs. Calgary, AB native started his junior hockey closer to home with 2 seasons for Penticton Vees, where he won his first title, a 2015 BCHL Championship, which is when he committed to college, but then moved south to do a season with Fargo Force of the USHL before reporting to school.

At 24-years old and the leagues opening up to full service, it wouldn’t be surprising to see him elevate his game to the next level.https://www.sandiegogulls.com/players/detail/hilderman

He would spend his 2020/2021 under contract to Tulsa Oilers and ended a 48 ECHL game “rookie” season with a goal and 15 assists, then added 3 assists in 6 playoff matchups.

For 2022/2023, he will return, but we also feel may earn a 1st AHL loan to San Diego Gulls, who have him on their radar.

He puts up some decent enough numbers with a pair of visits up, but needs better on ice accountability.

Despite the parts of his game to work on he gets an invite to return for a 2nd chance in an Oilers‘ jersey.

He has a solid 3rd frame, scoring 35 assists to seemingly rebound hard and will take his game over to Ligue Magnus, signing with Les Bruleurs De Loups for 2024/2025.

He took off 2025/2026 to play for Nottingham Panthers and did decently in the EIHL, but will head back to France and signs with Boxers de Bordeaux for 2026/2027.

28Jun

Spencer Cox (13)

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Long Island University Sharks‘ sophomore defenseman Spencer Cox(13) enters the transfer portal and is up for a new challenge, heading to Miami University (Ohio) Redhawks for 2023/2024.

He committed to his 1st school after a decent NAHL frame for Chippewa Steel, getting 4 goals and 16 assists.

The 5’10” 181 lbs. blue liner, who sometimes skates forward, from Powell, OH will likely find the NCHC schedule a bit tougher to play, but may also add a little pepper to his game.

After 2 years at his new school, he signs a 1st pro contract with Indy Fuel.

In 9 ECHL games, he has 2 assists.

Doesn’t take them too long to re-up with him for his rookie season, 2025/2026 in a Fuel sweater.

Before he even skates a game in the current 2025/2026 frame, he is traded to Cincinnati Cyclones.

He appears in only 28 games, scoring 1 goal and 2 assists, which he takes to some off season training and signs with Canberra Braves of the AIHL.

28Jun

Aaron Ness (27)

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

10th year defenseman Aaron Ness(27) was in Boston Bruins‘ training camp, but signs for 2021/2022 with affiliate Providence Bruins to stay in the system.

It’s his 1st minor league deal.

The 5’10” 184 lbs. blue liner has played an outstanding 557 AHL games, scoring 45 goals and 222 assists with an overall +7 rating.

He’s appeared in 72 NHL games in 7 seasons with 3 different teams, scoring just a goal and 6 assists.

We do believe the 31-year old, former 3-year University Of Minnesota Golden Gophers will look to continue his hockey overseas next, just to be able to say he did it as a pro.

Looks like we guessed wrong, as he signs for 2022/2023 with the team he had a 50 assist campaign for a few years ago, Hershey Bears and the recently turned 32-year old should be able to help them find their playoff punch again.

He’s riding a good playoff run with the team after getting 5 goals and 14 assists in 69 games with a +14 rating during the regular season, but has yet to add anything in the playoffs.

No worries says this minor league club as they would like him to stay in Chocolatetown for at least another 2 more years.

For a 7th season, he will stay a Bears, 2024/2025.

He spends his 2nd year as team captain, but maybe limits appearances to 38 games to ease off a bit.

Well, 818 games in the AHL and 72 in the NHL with 1 goal and it’s time to at 36-years old retire from pro hockey.

We think he stays put to assume an assistant coach role, he’d be a perfect fit for.

28Jun

Tyrone Bronte (18)

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Melbourne, Australian-born University Of Alabama-Huntsville Chargers‘ rookie center Tyrone Bronte(18) had a very successful COVID blasted season in the college ranks scoring 4 goals and 9 assists in 22 NCAA/WHCA games.

Always a solid scorer through 3 NAHL seasons for Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Knights, he finished with a junior career best 36 assists and 48 points with a +21 rating.

It looks as though, he’s been away from home from a fairly young age simply plying his hockey talents to see how far this now 21-year old can take it.

We had no idea he entered the transfer portal and appears to be excited coming out the other side, heading to Michigan Tech Huskies for 2021/2022.

He finishes up his 3rd season, scoring a college best 6 goals and 8 assists in a high 35 games and takes these totals to a  1st deal with KHL Sisak of AlpsHL for his rookie frame, 2024/2025.

Doing pretty well, he returns to North American hockey and spends most of 2025/2026 with Pensacola Ice Flyers, scoring nicely.

For a 2nd straight season, he leaves for the AIHL for some summer hockey with Melbourne Ice.