Lindenwood University Lions‘ graduate defenseman Brenden Rons(5) hasn’t ever been exactly known for points and this season evened his 3 assist mark he set as a junior at Ferris State University Bulldogs.
The XL 6’5″ 220 lbs. blue liner did 3 years of mostly NAHL junior hockey, in his last season as captain for Topeka Pilots grabbing 17 assists.
From Farmington Hills, MI, the 25-year old will be an interesting watch to see what might develop next.
In 27 games, he gets 3 assists and takes that to a 1st pro contract with Rapid City Rush for his rookie season, 2024/2025.
He skates a total of 1 game with his new team and is traded to Worcester Railers for future considerations.
In 15 games, he grabs a 1st ECHL goal and 1 assist, then returns to Peoria Rivermen for the SPHL playoffs.
For 2025/2026, he re-signs to return, but we feel will easily be loaned back up.
St. Lawrence University Skating Saints‘ senior center Reilly Connors(42) signs a 1st pro contract with Utah Grizzlies and set off scoring unlike he ever did in the college ranks.
The 6’1″ 190 lbs. forward has 5 goals and 3 assists in 13 ECHL games to get started.
From Madison, CT, he did 3 years at Yale University Bulldogs, leaving as their junior captain.
The 25-year old did 2 successful junior frames with one up in Canada in the AJHL.
He will need a contract for 2025/2026.
Colorado Eagles step in and sign him up for an AHL deal for his rookie season, 2025/2026.
Providence Capitals‘ 1st year left wing Daniel Kroon(24) scored a junior best 25 goals and 48 assists in 47 EHL games.
The 5’11” 174 lbs. forward takes it to a 2025/2026 commit at College Of St. Scholastica Saints.
He also did 2 years of KJHL juniors.
From Calgary, AB, the 21-year old should do well at his new school.
RIT Tigers‘ senior defenseman Ryan Nicholson(24) signed an ato with Savannah Ghost Pirates upon finishing school and scores 1 assist in 2 ECHL games to get his pro career started.
For his official rookie season, he will head to Finland’s tier 2 Mestis league and signs with RoKi for 2024/2025.
The 6’3″ 201 lbs. blue liner had a college high 9 assists last season.
From Mississauga, ON, he did 3 years of juniors close to home before college.
We think the 25-year old does well in this league.
He scores 1 goal and 7 assists in 47 games and will next take it to the EIHL and signs with Fife Flyers for 2025/2026.
Utica Jr. Comets‘ 2nd year defenseman Owen Hodgett(24) takes a junior high games played 54, scoring new junior bests 3 goals and 11 assists, which he takes to a 2025/2026 commit at Suffolk University Rams.
The 5’11” 181 lbs. blue liner play his way through the Blue Jackets Jr. system for youth hockey.
From Montgomery, OH, the 20-year will likely do alright
Bentley University Falcons‘ graduate defenseman Nick Bochen(5) scored a college best 9 goals and 21 assists in 40 games with a +15 rating.
The 5’9″ 170 lbs. blue liner from North Vancouver, BC signs a 1st pro contract in tier 2 Hockeyallsvenskan with Vimmerby HC for his rookie year, 2025/2026.
He did 2 successful BCHL junior seasons before 1st heading to Quinnipiac University Bobcats for 2 seasons.
We look for the 24-year old to be successful in this league.
Boston University Terriers‘ sophomore Finnish-born defenseman Sascha Boumedienne(78) got himself 1st round drafted by Winnipeg Jets, #30 overall in the 2025 draft.
As a freshman, he scored 3 goals and 10 assists in 40 games with a +8 rating.
The 6’2″ 190 lbs. blue liner came over quickly doing youth hockey in the Blue Jackets‘ system before 1 year of USHL previous to school.
We look for the still very young 18-year old to slowly grow his game.
Philadelphia Flyers undrafted free agent signing, center Jackson Cates(63) signed a two-year entry level contract after completing his third season at University Of Minnesota-Duluth Bulldogs, where he scored a college career high 11 goals and 16 assists for 27 points in 28 games with a +8 rating.
He was a freshman when the college team won their 2nd straight NCAA Championship in 2019.
The 6′ 190 lbs. forward played a pair of junior hockey seasons with the famed Waterloo Blackhawks and his 33 goals and 30 assists in year 2 got him voted USHL Forward Of The Year award.
He’s skated roughly 15 shifts for roughly 10 minutes of ice time a night, grabbing a first assist but is a -3 rating with 7 shots on net.
The 23-year old may be just getting started with his big league debut.
He would appear in 11 games, getting his first NHL goal and as a restricted free agent, finally gets his 1-year extension to continue to build.
A group 6 UFA upon exiting last season, he signs a pto with New York Islanders that we feel if doesn’t turn into a deal with the big club, will get him under terms with affiliate Bridgeport Islanders upon reporting to their camp.
He was actually never signed and then released after only 1 goal in 12 games to be offered the same look from Rockford IceHogs, where he scored 2 goals and 3 assists in 6 AHL games to earn a full contract for 2023/2024.
11 goals and 14 assists through 50 games with a -1 rating, gets him another look for 2024/2025 in an Icehogs‘ uni.
After a 64 game season, scoring decently, then contributing a little for the playoffs, he is retained on a new 1-year minor league deal to stay in Rockford.
American International College Yellowjackets‘ Russian-born junior left wing Timofei Khokhlachev(22) heads home, signing with Lada Togliatti, but starts in the lower VHL with CSK VVS Samara for 2025/2026.
The 6’4″ 216 lbs. forward scored a college best 8 goals and 10 assists in 32 games with a +5 rating last season.
He came over fairly quickly for some school and 3 years of juniors before college..
The 23-year old should compete to move up to play with his older brother Alexander.
Johnstown Tomahawks‘ 2nd year right wing Nicholas White(91) takes 2 seasons of 34 and 27 points to a 2025/2026 commit at Trine University Thunder.
The 6’3″ 190 lbs. forward also did 2 years of Canadian juniors previous.
From Ottawa, ON, the 21-year old is likely to be a bit dangerous.
