Category: Juniors

09Aug

Josiah Didier (44)

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9th year defenseman Josiah Didier(44) was an unrestricted free agent after signing a 2-year AHL deal with 4 season team Providence Bruins, where he served as team captain in his last two.

For 2023/2024, he steps off on a new route and signs a 1-year deal with Grand Rapids Griffins to help them shore up their back end.

The rather big 6’3″ 223 lbs. blue liner played 4 years at University Of Denver Pioneers, leaving the program with a +20 rating before turning pro with the final frame of Hamilton Bulldogs‘ storied career in Burlington, ON.

The former Montreal Canadiens‘ 4th round pick in the 2011 draft (#97 overall) would start his pro career with 2 years skating for St. John’s Ice Caps before trading that in for 2 campaigns including a 2019 Calder Cup Championship with Charlotte Checkers, which definitely brought him some attention.

From Littleton, CO, the 30-year old has worked hard for every inch he’s earned.

In 61 games, he scores 4 goals and 4 assists with a +6 rating serving as the team captain and will return in a Griffins‘ jersey for 2024/2025.

He scores 2 goals and 6 assists in 58 games with a +10 rating, but is an unrestricted free agent, so signs with Laval Rocket for 2025/2026.

In 6 games, he already has 2 assists with a +2 rating.

He scores 5 assists in 43 games last season with a +4  that he will take to a new hockey in the SHL, signing for 2026/2027 with IF Bjorkloven.

09Aug

Riley Hughes (19)

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Northeastern University Huskies‘ senior right wing, assistant captain Riley Hughes(19) will take his game into the transfer portal for one more year at Ohio State University Buckeyes before hopefully signing an NHL entry level contract with draft team (7th round, 2018, #216 overall), New York Rangers.

The 6’1″ 172 lbs. forward’s numbers at Hockey East don’t match up with what he was able to do in high school, then one BCHL season with Victoria Grizzlies, notching more than point-per-game numbers in the regular campaign, then playoffs.

While we don’t expect the 22-year old Westwood, MA native to be a scoring machine once he arrives at Big Ten hockey, we do think he’ll connect with better frequency, and continue to play as he always does with a spark plug of energy out there.

He knew as he was entering the new season that he would not be signed, but still goes on after graduating to get a 1st pro deal with Iowa Heartlanders, where we feel once he reaches the ECHL will find the scoresheet with more frequency and came away with 3 goals and 1 assist in 12 games.

Charlotte Checkers are watching and sign him up for a 2-way AHL contract in 2024/2025.

After 31 games with the team and 20 reassigned to the ECHL, where he was a more than point-per-game performer, he receives another 1-year deal to continue being a Checkers.

He spend the full 2025/2026 with affiliate Savannah Ghost Pirates, but gets a new deal for 2026/2027 to continue a Checkers.

09Aug

Brandon Chabrier (15)

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University Of Maine Black Bears‘ senior defenseman Brandon Chabrier(15) takes 12 assists last season with a +8 rating in 31 games to a 1st pro contract with the in-state pro team, Maine Mariners.

The 6′ 185 lbs. blue liner had his most college points as a sophomore with 6 goals and 16 assists.

In 4 ECHL games, he has 1 assist.

The Bayville, NY 23-year old did 3 USHL seasons before college.

For his rookie season, 2026/2027, he signs with New Mexico Goatheads, 1st year team.

08Aug

Janis Jaks (27)

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4th year Latvian-born defenseman Janis Jaks(27) signs on for a 2nd season to stay with HC Litvinov of Czechia Extraliga for 2023/2024.

The 6’1″ 190 lbs. blue liner played a lot of his youth hockey and beginnings of juniors before coming over to the NAHL  with Minnesota Wilderness, where he was twice a +10 player fully grounded in his own zone and helped his team with the 2015 Robertson Cup.

After spending 4 fairly strong sessions at American International College Yellowjackets, he signed with Dinamo Riga, but after 17 KHL games, the relationship soured and he agreed next to Bakersfield Condors and things were looking decent with  2 goals and 4 assists in 20 AHL games with a +3 rating.

He would return to Russia to skate for HK Sochi, but the results didn’t yield much, so he turned his attention to where he is now with much better results, 8 goals, 17 assists in 47 games with a +3 rating to move forward.

The 27-year old has to have at least a little smile on his face to how things are going, especially after winning Bronze at the recent IIHF Worlds.

After 2 strong seasons with the same team, he was in a pretty good spot for himself, but decides to sign with rivals, HC Energie Karlovy Vary.

After 2 seasons with the same club, he decides to return to to HC Litvinov in 2026/2027, where he’s had good success.

08Aug

David Farrance (9)

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Nashville Predators sign their 2017, 3rd round pick (#92 overall) Boston University graduate, defenseman David Farrance(9) to a 2-year entry level contract as he finishes up his 4 session at school scoring another more than point per game performance (5-11 in 11 games).

He had his best season as a junior in ’19/20, when he rocked 14 goals from the “point” to go along with 29 helpers through 34 games.

After a pair of campaigns with USNTDP, in the 2nd he amassed 30 assists to likely get him fully on the NHL club’s radar as well as his future college.

The 6′ 190 lbs. blue liner may report first to affiliate Milwaukee Admirals, but you can beat he will be fighting for a roster spot with the big club as soon as he arrives.

He would play 50 AHL games as a rookie, scoring 1 goal and 13 assists, but would not be given a qualifying offer to stay.

For 2022/2023, he signs a 1-year minor league contract with last year’s champs, Chicago Wolves.

After 14 games, scoring a goal and 4 assists, the d-man finds himself on the move, as Colorado Eagles see something they can use in his game and trade for him.

2 goals and 17 assists in 31 games and he is on the move, signing a 1-year deal with Toronto Marlies for 2023/2024.

He has mostly been loaned to affiliate Newfoundland Growlers, scoring 2 assists, but searching for something better finds it, signing with ERC Ingolstadt of DEL for the remainder of the session.

Coming away with 2 assists in 7 playoff games, he moves on to sign with KooKoo of Liiga for 2024/2025.

After exceeding his 29 assist junior year with a new high 35 in 53 games and a +26 rating, he will move his game up to the KHL, signing with HC Sibir Novosibirsk.

He takes maybe a bit of a slow start in Russia to a new contract back in DEL with Augsburger Panther in hopes of upping his game.

With just 1 goals and 1 assists in 19 games, he decides to look on and signs in IceHL with HC Pustertal Wolfe in 2026/2027.

08Aug

Cody Haiskanen (3)

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Undrafted towering 6’4″ 198 lbs. defenseman Cody Haiskanen(3) takes 5 years at Cornell University Big Red to a rookie contract with Idaho Steelheads for 2022/2023.

The Fargo, ND native did only 1 USHL frame with hometown, Fargo Force before heading to school.

At 25-years old, we’re thinking he has a good ECHL rookie season.

In 61 games the big d-man scores 5 goals and 24 assists with an absolutely monster +53, then keeps things steady through to the Kelly Cup Finals.

There’s little doubt, he will be back donning a Steelheads‘ jersey for 2023/2024.

He’s actually loaned up 3 times during last frame, but eyes a new opportunity, signing for 1-year with Nurnberg Ice Tigers of DEL.

After 2 years with the same team, he decides to dial it down a little and signs with Eisbaren Regensburg of DEL2 for 2026/2027.

08Aug

Zachary Tsekos (17)

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2-time, undrafted senior captain center Zachary Tsekos(17) signed a pro deal as soon as his 4-year college team Clarkson University Golden Knights were eliminated from tournament play with Colorado Eagles for 2022/2023.

Signing an ato for the remainder of the current session, he was reassigned almost immediately to start his pro career with affiliate Utah Grizzlies.

He played in 3 regular season games, grabbing an assist with a +1 rating.

The 5’10” 185 lbs. forward has definitely upped his game in the Kelly Cup playoffs.

Through 10 games, he has a 1st ECHL goal and 7 assists.

Little doubt, the 25-year old from Montreal, QC will look to up his game when the new season gets started.

He mostly finds him other than 6 AHL games (no points) reassigned, but strikes for 13 goals and 12 assists in 30 games.

For 2023/2024, he signs with 2-time Kelly Cup Champions, Florida Everblades.

He plays 27 games, scoring 5 goals and 6 assists with a +4 rating, but was injured for much of last frame.

For 2024/2025, he decides to leave for something different and signs in the EIHL with Dundee Stars.

He takes an impressive run, scoring 19 goals and 27 assists that he takes to DEL2 for 2025/2026, signing with Blue Devils Weiden.

In 25 games, he gets 3 goals and 10 assists that he takes to a new deal for 2026/2027 with Rapaces de Gap.

08Aug

Marek Hejduk (14)

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Harvard University Crimson senior Marek Hejduk(14) right wing didn’t score in college hockey as hard of a game he played as a power forward.

He had 2 goals and 5 assists in 35 games last season and did best in his freshman frame with 6 goals and 7 assists.

The 6’1″ 190 lbs. point signed a 1st pro deal with Utah Grizzlies, when tournament played finished up.

From Parker, CO, the 22-year old has 4 goals and 2 assists in 8 ECHL games with a +3 rating, but will need a new deal for 2026/2027 with a new team.

For his actual rookie season, he decides to head to a place of his family background, Tipsport Extraliga and signs a try-out with HC Motor Ceske Budejovice, but we think it sticks for 2026/2027.

08Aug

Thomas Freel (20)

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University Of Maine Black Bears‘ senior UK-born captain, center Thomas Freel(20) 3 times had 10+ points through college and a combined +17 rating.

The 6′ 190 lbs. forward did his youth hockey in Canada before joining the CCHL for 2 years with more than point-per-game scoring in his 2nd.

From Aberdeen, GBR, the 24-year old signed a deal with Iowa Heartlanders, but had no points in 5 ECHL games.

For 2026/2027, he gains interest from Greensboro Gargoyles and signs.