Category: Juniors

08Aug

Zane Kindrachuk (4)

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Junior right wing Zane Kindrachuk(4) only played 2 games in 2 years at Niagara University Purple Eagles with obviously little to show, so enters the transfer portal to arrive at Albertus Magnus College Falcons for 2023/2024.

The 5’10” 165 lbs. also gets to skate on a college team with his younger brother and has already put up a quite D3 impressive 2 goals and 2 assists in a 6-2 debut victory.

In 3+ years of AJHL junior hockey for the local Okotoks Oilers, he was always a productive point person, increasing goal scoring and strong at feeding the puck.

The 23-year old from Calgary, AB is in a much better place to complete his education and play some college hockey.

He and his brother Zeph also have their 1st names printed on the back of their jerseys in what we think is a 1st of a kind fun, team move.

After a graduate season, scoring a new college hockey best 11 goals and 11 assists in 25 games with a +3 rating, he signs a 1st pro contract with Roanoke Rail Yard Dawgs for his rookie run in 2026/2027.

07Aug

Connor Doherty (28)

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7th year ECHL, 3rd season Maine Mariners‘ captain, defenseman Connor Doherty(28) signs on to stay in upper New England after posting a mammoth +31 rating last season.

From Holden, MA he played all his junior hockey for Junior Bruins before heading off to Sacred Heart University Pioneers.

He left a year of college on the shelf before turning pro with the local Worcester Railers, where he stayed for his 1st 3 sessions.

The 6’2″ 195 lbs. blue liner left in 2020/2021, signing with Kansas City Mavericks, when some teams elected not to play.

When he arrived with his current club, the fit seemed very right and was worth 20 assists just 1 season ago.

For his 8th year of pro hockey, he decides to switch up teams and signs on with 3-time league champs, Florida Everglades for 2024/2025.

After a season of scoring 4 goals and 14 assists with a mammoth +30 rating, he will return to the Everblades‘ blue line in 2025/2026.

He wins a 2026 Kelly Cup and decides to return to Maine Mariners for 2026/2027.

07Aug

Ivan Chukarov (13)

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Undrafted 2nd year defenseman Ivan Chukarov(13) takes the COVID season off, but decides to get back on the ice and switches allegiance from Worcester Railers, the only team he’s played for since graduating UMass Minutemen to Wheeling Nailers for the 2021/2022 ECHL.

The 6’2″ 203 lbs. forward was a big scorer in his 2nd year of junior with Minnesota Wilderness, scoring 12 goals and 31 assists in 55 NAHL games to get his college commitment.

Originally a Buffalo Sabres‘ 7th round pick in the 2015 draft (#182 overall), it seems like the 26-year old still can be a big contributor, despite what league he eventually lands.

He would actually land at Adirondack Thunder for last season’s play and had 2 goals and 5 assists in 38 games, but a terrible -22 rating.

For 2022/2023, the Des Plaines, IL native will return to continue work on his game, trying to contribute.

He puts up a career best 11 assists with 12 points and was a +12 rating through 58 games last season.

For 2023/2024, he gets traded and signs a 1-year deal with Jacksonville Icemen, his 3rd team in the league.

After 67 games, scoring a new best 7 goals and 26 assists with a +16 rating, he will take his game for a 1st time overseas, joining Coventry Blaze of the EIHL for 2025/2026.

In 23 games, he is scoring ok, but has a bad +/-, so decides to come back and signs with Bloomington Bison for the 2nd half of 2025/2026.

With only 1 assist in 8 games and a not so hot +/-, Savannah Ghost Pirates see something they can use in his game and acquire him for future considerations.

In 13 games, he gets 5 assists, but for 2026/2027 he is heading to Germany4 and signs with Eisadler Dortmund.

07Aug

Ty Pelton-Byce (32)

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Manitoba Moose 2021/2022 signing Ty Pelton-Byce(32) agreed to join the team on an ato to finish up the season after completing his studies at University Of Wisconsin Badgers, scoring a new college best 12 goals, 19 assists and 31 points in only 24 NCAA Division Big Ten games.

In his 5th AHL game, he pots a first pro goal for himself.

The 6’2″ 194 lbs. power forward started college at Harvard University Crimson but entered the transfer portal a couple of seasons in to switch schools, closer to his Madison, WI home.

He should be able to crack the score sheet with decent regularity as he enters his rookie campaign but this is a good chance to get those skates wet.

For 2022/2023, he switches up teams, signing with Idaho Steelheads after performing very well for Newfoundland Growlers, when he was on ECHL reassignment.

He slams it out of the park with 60 points in 57 games and gets some loans to a couple teams that play up higher and he will be back for more in a Steelheads‘ jersey for 2024/2025.

In his 3rd season, he comes away with a 24 best goals and 61 best points to easily sign to return and be a Steelheads for 2025/2026.

Once again, he scores pretty effectively with 13 goals and 28 assists in 59 games and a +4 rating, then added 6 points in the play and he is just a good fit here to sign again and be Idaho in 2026/2027.

07Aug

Jesse Lansdell (34)

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University Of Notre Dame Fighting Irish senior left wing Jesse Lansdell(34) will start a graduate year at University Of Nebraska-Omaha Mavericks for 2023/2024.

The 5’11” 187 lbs. forward has been an ok scorer through college thus far and was a bit uneven through 4 seasons of BCHL.

From Surrey, BC, the 24-year old probably won’t find the NCHC any easier to play in.

He records a new college high 12 assists with his new team in 39 games with a +1 rating and takes it to a 1st pro contract with Florida Everblades, where he is connecting decent for a 1st 2 ECHL goals in 6 games, then adding an assist through 5 in the playoffs, so far.

4 assists in 23 playoff games with a +6 rating to a 2024 Kelly Cup Championship and he will return for his official rookie season in 2024/2025.

He puts up 2 30+ points seasons and earn another 2026 Kelly Cup to stay and sign for 2026/2027 and continue as an Everblades.

07Aug

Alex Jefferies (38)

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Merrimack College Warriors‘ senior left wing Alex Jefferies(38) is a New York Islanders‘ 4th round pick in the 2020 draft (#121 overall) and signs an ato with affiliate Bridgeport Islanders to get his pro game started.

He had an assists in his AHL debut and has skated 4 games.

The 6′ 194 lbs. forward had a 3rd straight college frame of 10+ goals in his final year and 27 assists as a junior.

From Framingham, MA, the 22-year old played only 2 USHL games of junior hockey for Dubuque Fighting Saints, but that was while he was playing USHS-Prep.

As he minor league team is finishing up their season, he is reassigned to the parent club for their playoff push and signs a 2-year NHL entry level deal, starting 2024/2025.

After a 2nd 29 point season, he is invited for a 3rd in 2026/2027 to likely report to new affiliate Hamilton Hammers to start.

07Aug

Pierson Brandon (16)

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UMASS-Lowell Riverhawks‘ graduate transfer defenseman Pierson Brandon(16) from last year captain at Colgate University Raiders, tying a college best 15 points, also set as a sophomore.

The 6′ 190 lbs. plays a very solid, close checking game in his zone.

He did 2 successful NAHL seasons for Aberdeen Wings, scoring pretty well.

From New York, NY, the 23-year old looks great out there.

He signed after tournament play with Adirondack Thunder, but didn’t appear in any ECHL games before the team’s season ended.

It looks like he will return to skate a full rookie frame in 2025/2026.

In 17 games, he records 2 assists with a +2 rating and gets an invite to return as a Thunder for 2026/2027.

06Aug

Neil Shea (27)

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Undrafted, junior left wing Neil Shea(27) has played most of his hockey relatively close to home (Marshfield, MA), but after two underperforming seasons at Northeastern University Huskies, he’s branching out to leave for well, Connecticut, joining Sacred Heart University Pioneers in 2021/2022.

He was a prolific scorer when he committed to college in his 1st year at Lawrence Academy, then took it up a notch in his senior season with 24 goals and 34 assists in 32 USHS-Prep games before taking up with draft club, Cedar Rapids RoughRiders for 11 USHL games (1 goal, 2 assists).

The 6’1″ 205 lbs. forward was once again selected and skated his only full season of juniors for Chicago Steel, scoring 15 goals and 28 assists.

It’s possible the switch to Atlantic Hockey style play will connect with the 22-year old’s ability to amass points.

The Massachusetts’ native has scored big with his switch of schools, amassing decent scoring with 4 goals and 10 assists, blowing away his previous college marks, in 20 NCAA Division 1 games.

He finishes up a 2nd season at his new school with a new college best 14 goals and signs a 1st contract, an ato with Chicago Wolves to test the waters.

No doubt, he will have to step up his game to score in the AHL.

He gets a 1st goal in the league and adds 1 assist in 6 games with a +3 rating as a newly turned pro.

For 2023/2024, Toronto Marlies are liking what they see and sign him to a 1-year minor league deal as an official rookie.

He actually skates 64 ECHL games for affiliate Newfoundland Growlers, scoring 18 goals and 19 assists, but is moving on and signs with Colorado Eagles for 2024/2025.

In 8 contests, he scores 1 goal and 2 assists, but on reassignment to affiliate Utah Grizzlies popped 19 goals and 20 assists in 36 games to earn another year to wear an Eagles‘ jersey more often than not.

We are a little unsure of the detail of him leaving to sign with Greenville Swamp Rabbits, but that is where he shows up under a new contract and should help them on the scoresheet.

In 21 games, he scores 4 times and 11 assists to easily earn an invite back to be a Swamp Rabbits in 2026/2027.

06Aug

Wyllum Deveaux (4)

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Harvard University Crimson graduate left wing Wyllum Deveaux(4) always looks like he should be putting up points, when he’s on the ice, but somehow through 26 games, this season has recorded but 1 assist.

Last year, as a senior was a breakout season for the fairly big 6’2″ 205 lbs. forward, as he got 1 goal and 1 assist, his college best.

What’s the likely irony is the 22-year old, Sackville, NS native will turn pro and start scoring.

You watch.

For 2023/2024, he picks up his 1st deal and signs for 1-year ECHL with Maine Mariners, who must have seen him play at school.

You watch, goals and assists will come.

Just as predicted, his rookie totals were 13 goals and 11 assists in 46 games with a +6 rating, earning him another season in a Mariners‘ uniform.

The captain will return for a 3rd season in a Maine uniform, 2025/2026 after playing a new high 66 games, scoring bests 19 goals and 12 assists.

Injury limits him to only 7 games last season, but he is still wanted to return to the Mariners in 2026/2027.