Category: Juniors

29Jul

Matt Tugnutt (29)

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Rookie right wing Matt Tugnutt(29) signs his first pro contract with Idaho Steelheads 2021/2022.

He played for Providence College Friars in 2020/2021 after transferring from 3 years at Sacred Heart University Pioneers, who did not skate last season.

The 5’10” 185 lbs. forward spent 5 campaigns in junior hockey all with Kemptville 73’s, , who happened to be coach by his dad of 537 NHL games, Ron Tugnutt, running up big points (83-127) in 261 CCHL games.

He’ll have to work for it, but the 25-year old could run up some good numbers in the ECHL.

Traded after 49 games, he winds up with Greenville Swamp Rabbits heading down the stretch, and in 4 games managed to put up 5 assists with a +4 rating, but was unable to find space on the playoff roster before the season came to an end.

The Portland, ME native should easily sign where he wants for 2022/2023.

He decides to head off to see how hockey life will be on the other side of the ocean as a pro and signs a 1-year deal with Chamonix Mont-Blanc Pionneers of Ligue Magnus and should do extremely well in France’s top league.

Through 37 games, he grabs 13 goals and 16 assists with a +5 rating, but will return home to sign a 1-year deal with South Carolina Stingrays for 2023/2024.

After 12 games, recording 2 goals and 1 assist, he decides to head back across the pond and signs in the EIHL with Guildford Flames for the remainder of the season.

In 32 games, he scores 6 goals and 8 assists, but it’s the 3 helpers in 4 playoff matchups with a +3 rating that we were mostly eyeing.

For 2024/2025, he will take his game back to France’s highest Ligue Magnus and it’s an easy choice, who to sign with as he returns to the Pionneers for more.

He is having fun, skating well for this team and will come back for a 3rd season, 2025/2026 in Chamonix.

29Jul

Jayden Lee (6)

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Quinnipiac University Bobcats‘ graduate defenseman Jayden Lee(6) signs a 1st pro deal with Hershey Bears for his rookie season, 2024/2025.

The small 5’9″ 165 lbs. blue liner scored a college best 23 assists and 26 points last season.

He leaves the program a remarkable +74 player.

From North Vancouver, BC, the 23-year old did 2 sessions of BCHL before committing to school.

Reassigned to affiliate South Carolina Stingrays, he basically explodes scoring with 8 goals and 24 assists in 48 ECHL games with a +36 rating, then does pretty well in the playoffs too.

For his efforts, hometown team Abbotsford Canucks were keeping track and sign him for 2025/2026.

29Jul

Brian Pinho (28)

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6th year center Brian Pinho(28) gets signed relatively quickly in unrestricted free agency by New York Islanders for 2023/2024.

He had a best 17 assists, but his 20 goals in his 2nd season with Hershey Bears, under contract to draft club Washington Capitals, 6th round 2013 (#174 overall) are tops in that category, which suggests he can score at this level.

The 6’1″ 190 lbs. forward had 3 points (2 goals, 1 assist) in 6 playoff games with Utica Comets last season.

He did 4 years at Providence College Friars, serving as senior captain, twice getting 12 goals and 20+ assists.

The 28-year old from Beverly, MA is in a good spot moving forward.

After a season best point totals, he joins Charlotte Checkers on a 2-year AHL pact.

29Jul

Travis Boyd (72)

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Arizona Coyotes‘ 7th year center Travis Boyd(72) is putting behind him a by a mile NHL career best campaign, scoring 16 goals and 18 assists to earn a nice two-year extension.

The former Washington Capitals‘ 6th round pick in the 2011 draft (#177 overall) once had 15 helpers.

He was also a 2-time 20+ assist player as a junior and senior at University Of Minnesota Golden Gophers.

The 5’11” 185 lbs. forward was also a twice 30+ assist and once had 47 in an AHL season for Hershey Bears.

He continues a nice scoring rolling the start of his new contract, but gets hurt trashing last year after 16 games.

An unrestricted free agent, he moves away from his 3-year team and signs a 1-year deal with Minnesota Wild for 2024/2025.

As an assistant captain for affiliate Iowa Wild, he scores a career 22 goals and 31 assists in 63 games to sign a new 1-year 2-way deal with Toronto Maple Leafs.

29Jul

Max Dorrington (43)

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St. Lawrence University Saints‘ senior defenseman Max Dorrington(43) takes on a year of eligibility and will head to play some Atlantic Hockey for 2024/2025, joining Sacred Heart University Pioneers, as a graduate.

The 6’3″ 220 lbs. forward scored less as a senior, then he did as a junior or sophomore, but he’s very big and takes up a lot of space out there, which we think will add up to scoring with his new college club.

From North Reading, MA, the 22-year old, former Cushing Academy USHS-Prep standout, we think will play himself on pro signing radar next season.

He does score a college best 12 goals and 10 assists in 38 games with a +4 rating to sign a 1st pro deal with Bridgeport Islanders, who are far off a playoff hunt.

In 7 games, he records 1 assist and signs a 1-year deal with parent club New York Islanders for 2025/2026, as an unrestricted free agent.

29Jul

Hunter Shepard (30)

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Hershey Bears jumped fairly quickly to sign undrafted, former University Of Minnesota-Duluth Bulldogs‘ 2-time NCAA Champion, captain, goaltender Hunter Shepard(30) to a deal for 2020/2021.

The fairly large 6’1″ 210 lbs. net minder was reassigned to affiliate South Carolina Stingrays, where he has played 14 ECHL games, recording a 6’5-2 record with a 2.84 GAA and .915 SV% on a club headed to the postseason, as there was little room in the crease above for the young goalie.

He has gotten his opportunity to shine though in 2 AHL appearances delivering a pair of wins, including a debut shut out for a .50 GAA and .983 SV%.

The one-time NAHL Goaltender Of The Year in 2016, right before committing to college, the 25-year old has always seemed to work hard for any credit but has to have Washington Capitals step in and offer him an NHL entry level deal, as he is firmly on their radar.

For his efforts backstopping the Bears to a 12th Calder Cup Championship, he is rewarded with a 2-year, 2-way deal that is worth some handsome money wherever he throws on those pads.

He gets to start a 1st game, as the big club is out to a bit of a wobbly start and gets the W in a 6-4 contest, stopping 18 of 22 shots to potentially get a 2nd nod in another night.

His 2-1-1 record wasn’t bad, although maybe his numbers could have improved, but for a 2nd straight season with the affiliate, he posts a 27-4-3 record with a 1.76 GAA and .929 SV% to earn himself the Baz Bastien Award as the AHL’s Most Outstanding Goaltender and will once again look to push his club deep in the playoffs.

He’s all set with a 2-year contract through 2024/2025, so can continue to concentrate on winning.

Very successful in his time, as an unrestricted free agent, he signs a 1-year, 2-way deal with Ottawa Senators.

29Jul

Brendan Dumas (21)

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New Jersey Titans‘ 2nd year NAHL junior right wing Brendan Dumas(21) is off to another hot start with 5 goals and 12 assists in 14 games with a +4 to start 2022/2023.

The 5’11” 185 lbs. forward virtually was a point-per-game play in his 1st season with 58 points (20-38) in 59 games.

For 2023/2024, he commits to Sacred Heart University Pioneers.

The 20-year old from North Attleborough, MA will be a treat to watch in Atlantic Hockey action.

After only appearing in 20 games throughout 2 seasons, he enters the transfer portal to next play his college hockey at Trinity College Bantams for 2025/2026, his junior year.

29Jul

Oliver Chau (20)

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Quinnipiac University Bobcats‘ center Oliver Chau(20) is definitely glad he added another year to his college hockey playing days with the portal transfer from 2021 NCAA Division 1 champs University Of Massachusetts Minutemen.

The plays bigger than 5’9″ 165 lbs. forward has a new best 13 goals and 33 points, with his 20 assists just 2 behind the mark he set last season and has a +19 rating.

Undrafted, the 24-year old Oakville, ON native is definitely setting himself up for some looks with another potential title winner.

Soon after his team was eliminated from tournament competition, he signed on for the remainder of 2021/2022 with Tuscon Roadrunners and in 3 AHL games already has 2 assists.

He finished up his ato with 4 assists in 10 games, which definitely was a nice start to a pro career.

For 2022/2023, he signs a nice 1st deal with last year’s champions, Florida Everblades, which should be a great place to play his rookie frame.

He is able to put together 13 goals and 24 assists with a +32 rating in 42 ECHL games, then 7 goals and 10 assists in 19 playoff match ups en route to a 2nd 2023 Kelly Cup Championship.

It’s an absolute no brainer for him to return for his sophomore frame, 2023/2024.

After another career scoring season, then point-per-game playoffs to be MVP and win a 2nd straight 2024 Kelly Cup, he gets an offer to ascend and sign a 1-year AHL deal with Springfield Thunderbirds for 2024/2025.

He spent his 3rd season in Florida and would be named captain with once again very good scoring.

For 2025/2026, he returns for a 4th season and will likely continue in his role.

29Jul

Jake Stevens (44)

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Long Island University Lakers‘ graduate defenseman Jake Stevens(44) has college career high 4 goals, tied his 13 assists as a freshman and a new best 17 points in 29 games.

The 6’2″ 205 lbs. committed after his first BCHL season for Victoria Grizzlies, then in his follow-up went on to score junior best 8 goals and 45 assists in 58 games.

He transferred for 2021/2022 from 4 years at St. Lawrence University Saints.

The undrafted, 25 year old is definitely a good player to see what develops.

Upon completing his 5th year, the native of Naperville, IL signs a 1st pro deal with Iowa Heartlanders and has a 1st ECHL goal and 2 assists in 6 games with a +1 rating on a team that has been losing.

He would conclude his short spell with 1 goal and 7 assists in 11 games with a +1 rating.

For 2023/2024, he signs with Orlando Solar Bears and should be able to help their blue line not give up goals and score points.

He gets released after 2 goals and 2 assists in 24 games and quickly picked up by Greenville Swamp Rabbits, who think they can add to those totals.

In 10 games, he records 1 goal and 4 assists with a +5 rating, but decides to sign with Maine Mariners to start 2024/2025.

9 game played without any points, Tahoe Knight Monsters want him to join their team.

In 3 games with his new club has 2 assists with a +4 rating, so things are looking up.

Worcester Railers see something in him they can you and sign him up for 2025/2026, where his size should fit in nicely with the team’s game style.

28Jul

Andrew Poturalski (22)

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Undrafted 6th year center Andrew Poturalski(22) circles back to rejoin his original team, Carolina Hurricanes on a 1-year 2-way contract for 2021/2022.

He spent the last two years away under a pair of contracts to Anaheim Ducks, which saw him only play for their affiliate San Diego Gulls.

The 5’10” 183 lbs. forward was basically a point-per-game guy in 2020/2021, scoring 9 goals and 34 assists in 44 AHL games.

He was an outstanding scorer for then farm club Charlotte Checkers, averaging 20+ goals and 35+ assists in 3 years.

The 2-year University Of New Hampshire Wildcats‘ skater put up big numbers in Hockey East, just like he did in his 2nd year of the USHL with Cedar Rapids RoughRiders.

Although he may have only seen two NHL games as a rookie, we think he may be on a short list for a quick recall in 2021/2022.

Almost oddly, he is recalled for 2 games and grabs 2 assists, but is captain of affiliate Chicago Wolves and absolutely blows up scoring with 28 goals and 73 assists in 71 games, then goes on to win the 2022 Calder Cup Championship.

He is twice the league leading scorer.

As a free agent, he signs a 2-year deal with Seattle Kracken and helps lead their affiliate, Coachella Valley Firebirds to a pair of minor league finals before bowing out.

For 2024/2025, he signs another 2-year pact, but moves on to the rebuilding San Jose Sharks.

He steps away for something different, signing with Avangard Omsk for 2025/2026 and we think will do really well in the KHL.