Category: Juniors

Reading Royals 2nd year left wing Yvan Mongo(91) is off and running on the stat sheet with 15 goals and 15 assists in 44 ECHL games.

The 5’9″ 187 lbs. forward has well outpaced what he scored as a rookie.

He originally did 4 years in the QMJHL, continuing to take up his scoring as he went and then entered University Of Ottawa Gee Gees.

In 55 games, he records 17 goals and 21 assists to gain a 3rd invite to return and be a Royals.

He only appears in 15 games, but scores decently, then adds an assist in 4 playoff games.

There’s still the look of development, now in a 4th season, wearing a Reading logo.

Bentley University Falcons‘ senior and #1 goal scorer for the past two seasons (tied ’19/20), Jakov Novak(86) entered the college transfer portal to head somewhere new for his final season before he will likely be signed to an entry level deal by draft club (round 7, 2018, #177 overall) Ottawa Senators after a breakout campaign in USHL juniors with Janesville Jets.

His new college team is set to become right down the road Northeastern University Huskies for 2021/2022 and his 6’3″ 216 lbs. frame will be very welcome up front to what was sometimes a bit of a struggling club to score in the last frame.

The 22-year old Canadian hothead on ice will be missed in Waltham, but will fit in perfectly the Boston area playing Hockey East style.

He finished up a graduate year with a tied 8 goals in his 2 campaigns at the new school and 4 assists as assistant captain with a +4 rating.

To turn pro, he signs an ato with Allen Americans, who are the new ECHL affiliate of his draft team and has been turning it up with 7 goals and 5 assists in 14 games, heading into the postseason to hopefully continue to fall under their radar for a contract.

For 2023/2024, he signs a minor league deal with Laval Rocket to officially get started as a rookie.

He spends the majority of 2 seasons with affiliate Trois-Riveries Lions and won the 2025 Kelly Cup last season, as pretty much a point-per-game performer.

Coachella Valley Firebirds have him on their radar and sign him up for 2025/2026.

Colgate University Raiders‘ senior defenseman Nic Belpedio(9) enters the transfer portal to do a year of eligibility as a graduate at Ferris State University Bulldogs.

The 5’10” 194 lbs. blue liner isn’t the biggest scorer, but did have 5 goals and 9 assists as a sophomore.

From Skokie, IL, he did 2 USHL years with Waterloo Blackhawks before college.

The 23-year old will likely fit in nicely with his new school.

9th year right wing Rocco Grimaldi(28) was unable to chase down an NHL deal for 2022/2023, so has decided to sign a 1-year AHL deal with San Diego Gulls to keep his game going.

The small 5’6″ 160 lbs. forward surpasses the 300 games played mark in the league this season and is already on top of scoring with 6 goals and 11 assists in 15 games.

He once scored 30+ goals, once 20+ and 3 times 10+ and also struck for 10 goals in 2 seasons in the upper league and also had 21 assists in his best showing for Nashville Predators, where he spent 4 campaigns.

The 29-year old, 3-year University Of North Dakota Fighting Hawks may not be done, but we’re a little surprised the Anaheim, CA native hasn’t left for some overseas action in say Sweden, instead of playing kind of close to home.

After putting up point-per-game numbers for his current out of playoff contention team, he gets a trade to Rockford Icehogs, who are in a battle for the last spot in their division.

For his 10th season 2023/2024, he signs a 1-year contract with Chicago Wolves, which should be a lot of fun for him.

Despite running up point-per-game numbers with 73 of them, he signs only a pto with Cleveland Monsters for 2024/2025.

Well, after 6 goals and 17 assists in 15 games, as the team leading scorer, they grace the 31-year old with a 1-year contract.

In 66 games, he records a career high 41 assists, but will take his game elsewhere for a 1st time in his pro career, signing a 1-year deal with SKA St. Petersburg for 2025/2026.

Undrafted, small 5’9″ 170 lbs. center Jonny Evans(67) is off to a fast start with 2 goals and 3 assists in 3 ECHL games, including 2 multi-point efforts for a slumping South Carolina Stingrays, since signing his first pro contract just barely a week ago upon graduating University Of Connecticut Huskies.

He didn’t have an explosive senior year on the scoresheet, but always brings a consistency and definitely helped his team to their deepest Hockey East run to the Finals this season.

At 24-years old, with 4 years of junior hockey for Powell River Kings, scoring pretty big especially in his last 3 BCHL sessions, he appears ready.

We think he gets a look at a higher level in someone’s training camp come next Fall.

After scoring 7 goals and 6 assists in 11 games, the Delta, BC native decides to stay and re-sign for 2022/2023.

He would grab 9 goals and 21 assists with a +1 rating in 41 games as a rookie.

They want him to return for 2023/2024, so he will don the Stingrays‘ jersey for a 3rd frame.

After a career setting 2nd frame, he scores himself an AHL tryout with parent club, Hartford Wolf Pack, we believe will stick for him 2024/2025.

He is actually passed down to Bloomington Bison, where in 30 games he scores 2 goals and 9 assists and is an easy ask to return for 2025/2026.

Orlando Solar Bears‘ 2nd year left wing Tanner Schachle(17) will return for 2024/2025 after scoring 4 goals and 12 assists in 50 games with a +8 rating.

The 6’4″ 218 lbs. forward has still been looking for that spark to affect his ECHL scoring.

He was never much of a scorer with 7 goals and 7 assists as a sophomore at University Of Alaska-Anchorage Seawolves before transferring to Long Island University Sharks, where he wasn’t used much.

From Wasilla, AK, the 27-year old would love to see another breakout, like his 2nd NAHL frame with Fairbanks Ice Dogs.

After just 2 games into his 2nd season with 1 team, he traded to Worcester Railers, where he only figures into 11 games, but manages to score 1 goal and 4 assists with a +1 rating and signs for 2025/2026 with his brother Porter, giving his team a very menacing look.

Providence College Friars‘ graduate center Craig Needham(13) scored a college best 7 assists and 11 points last season.

The Medford, MA native was a point-per-game player in high school and scored decently in his 2nd USHL session as captain with Youngstown Phantoms before committing to school.

His team is knocked out of Hockey East tournament play immediately and he wastes little time to sign an amateur tryout with Florida Everblades.

In 11 ECHL games, he didn’t register points and has yet to appear in the postseason.

The 5’10” 181 lbs. forward is going to return for a full Everblades‘ rookie season, 2024/2025.

He has a full frame, 63 games scoring 8 goals and 10 assists with a +9 rating to earn an easy contract to return to Florida for a 2nd year.

Los Angeles Kings‘ 2nd round pick in the 2022 draft (#51 overall), center Jack Hughes(27) is just starting his 2nd season at Northeastern University Huskies, where in 4 games this season already has 2 assists.

He scored decently as a freshman.

The 5’11” 170 lbs. forward played two solid frames with the USNTDP after playing high school at St. Sebastian’s Prep, scoring well enough at both levels.

It’s maybe a bit of a wonder as to why he went so high, but he does play like he always shows tremendous upside and is dad is the General Manager of Montreal Canadiens, Kent Hughes.

For his junior year, he has decided to switch up Hockey East affiliations and will head to Boston University Terriers, starting 2023/2024.

After a third 7 goal outing, to go along with 18 assists and a +9 rating, he signs a 1-year AHL deal with affiliate Ontario Reign for 2025/2026.

11 year defenseman Chad Ruhwedel(5) finds himself in a new uniform for the 1st time in 8 seasons.

He has been with Pittsburgh Penguins, but was just moved for a 4th round draft pick to New York Rangers, who saw use for him as they look to make a deep run in the playoffs.

The 5’11” 182 lbs. blue liner originally made his debut under NHL contract with Buffalo Sabres, getting his feet wet with a few games.

He did 3 seasons at UMass Lowell Riverhawks after 2 USHL stints for Sioux Falls Stampede.

From all places, San Diego, CA, the 33-year old’s best season was post-COVID, when he notched 4 goals and 9 assists and he also won the 2017, when he 1st moved to his 2nd team.

He plays 5 games in a Blueshirts‘ jersey and they want him to return for a full frame in 2024/2025.

For a 2nd straight season, he plays 5 games with the big club and records an assist.

He is really strong with affiliate Hartford Wolf Pack, scoring 3 goals and 15 assists in 50 games with a +12 rating.

Well, let’s see: 369 NHL games, 261 in the AHL and 12 pro seasons with 1 Stanley Cup is a good run and the 35 year old is ready to find something new to do with his ice time.

Idaho Steelheads‘ center Jack Becker(27) re-signs with the team after posting 12 goals and 21 assists in 49 ECHL games with a +14 rating as a rookie.

The 6’3″ 192 lbs. forward played 4 seasons at University Of Michigan Wolverines, reaching 10+ points in 3 of his years.

Originally a Boston Bruins‘ 7th round pick in the 2015 draft (#195 overall), he performed maybe a little better in 2 frames of USHL junior hockey for Sioux Falls Stampede.

From Dellwood, MN, the 26-year has found his gear and now is settling in.

In 33 games on loan to parent club, Texas Stars, he scores 5 goals and 2 assists and no points in 5 playoff games after virtual point-per-game numbers in the lower league.

He definitely will be back for 2024/2025 to earn more AHL time.

Appearing in 70 games last season, he scores 11 goals and 7 assists with a +2 rating, then adds 4 points (2-2) in 14 playoff matchups.

He is an easy return for 2025/2026 as a Stars.