University Of Wisconsin-Superior Yellowjackets‘ graduate defenseman Blake Holmes(16) takes a college best 13 assists last season to a 1st pro contract with Fayettesville Marksmen.
In 10 SPHL games, he had 1 assist with a 0 rating.
The big 6’2″ 209 lbs. blue liner did 2 successful frames of NAHL junior hockey before heading to Utica College Pioneers through his junior session.
From Apple Valley, MN, the 25-year old looks to be off and running.
Undrafted 4th year center Brady Ferguson(12) re-ups for another two seasons with Rogle BK after putting up 2 goals and 9 assists in 24 SHL games with a +4 rating, as 2021/2022 rolls.
The 6′ 194 lbs. forward had a bit of an odd start and maybe a little bit of an odd contract experience with Toronto Marlies that saw him mostly reassigned to affiliate Newfoundland Growlers.
Following an awesome college career at Robert Morris University Colonials, scoring 66 goals and 101 assists with a mind-blowing +41 before signing an ato and grabbing 4 assists in 5 AHL games to start his pro career.
Oddly, although signed, he wasn’t able to stick at that higher level and was one of the more than point-per-game providers driving the ECHL team to a 2019 Kelly Cup Championship.
The 27-year old has definitely found a nice hockey home in Sweden and would be no surprise to see him stay.
He has shown point increases with each session, arriving at 25 last run in 52 games.
In 2023/2024, he already has 2 goals and 3 assists in 8 games, so we believe we are looking at Swedish career point bests in his 4th year there, and he was re-upped for 2024/2025 already.
He had a career best 10 goals last season, but has decided to look around and signs for 2025/2026 with EHC Red Bull Munchen.
Albertus Magnus College Falcons‘ senior center Tim Manning(12) signed a pro contract with Roanoke Rail Yard Dawgs upon finishing up tournament play.
The 5’10” 181 lbs. gritty forward has skated 12 SPHL games, scoring 2 goals and 2 assists before opting out of the playoffs.
He scored an identical 7 goals and 10 assists as a junior and senior, but scored best, 11 goals and another 10 assists as a sophomore.
From Concord, OH, he scored big at USHS-Prep before juniors.
The 24-year did 1 year of EHL junior hockey for Valley Jr. Warriors and was a lead for that team.
No surprise, he is finding room as a pro.
Boston College Eagles‘ senior captain defenseman Eamon Powell(11) maybe a little quietly this season amassed a college best 26 assists to go with his 5 goals that match those junior totals in 34 games with a +19 rating.
The 6′ 177 lbs. blue liner had a team high 2 assists in the Hockey East quarterfinals’ win over the weekend to advance to the next round.
A Marcellus, NY native, the young 21-year old is a Tampa Bay Lightning 4th round pick in the 2020 draft (#116 overall) and will be a watch to sign an NHL entry level deal.
The rights to ink are left to expire, so he becomes an unrestricted free agent.
He signs a 1-year AHL deal with Charlotte Checkers to start 2025/2026, but will jump in for the playoffs on an ato, and already has a 1st goal and assist in 5 games.
Endicott College Gulls‘ senior right wing Andrew Kurapov(12) is looking to best his 13 goals and 18 assists he set as a junior with 5 goals and 9 assists in 12 games with a +5 rating to start this campaign.
The 5’10” 170 lbs. forward blew out scoring his 2nd frame of USPHL/NCDC for Twin City Thunder, amassing 22 goals and 39 assists after a year earlier had 1 goal and 2 assists in 35 games.
From Corvallis, OR, the 24-year old.
He does a graduate frame and comes away with a new college best 14 goals in the process.
Upon finishing up tournament play, he signs an ato with Reading Royals and has gotten into 1 ECHL before playoffs.
Arizona State University Sun Devils‘ senior center Alex Young(22) didn’t put up the numbers he did as a junior at Colgate University Raiders, scoring 21 goals and 18 assists in 40 games.
The 5’11” 183 lbs. forward scored big in his 2nd and 3rd junior years with Cranmore Eagles, collecting 30+ goals and 40+ assists in the AJHL.
From Calgary, AB, the 23-year old graduates, signs a standard player contract with Adirondack Thunder and would go on to grab a 1st 2 ECHL goals and 4 assists in 7 games with a +5 rating, looking to be playoff ready.
He doesn’t come away with any points in 9 playoff games, but has earned himself a full rookie season look in a Thunder jersey for 2024/2025.
With 9 goals and 15 assists in 43 games, he is doing pretty well for himself, but finds himself on the end of a trade that sends him down to Atlanta Gladiators.
He scores well with 4 goals and 4 assists in 11 games, but is a -6, so still needs to bring that up in his game.
We do think he will look to get a contract.
Junior defenseman Elliot McDermott(58) cashes in a pair of seasons at Colgate University Raiders for a new adventure through the transfer portal, arriving at UMass Minutemen for 2022/2023.
The 5’11” 193 lbs. blue liner will has geared up nicely for the transition, scoring a college career tying 2 goals and new best 9 assists, 11 points with a +9 rating last year.
A Kingston, ON native, he played his high school and junior hockey relatively close to home.
The 23-year old will likely step nicely into Hockey East style.
While maybe not scoring a lot of points, he was still a + player after 2 seasons.
He would in fact, pull a graduate frame and scurried off to RPI Engineers, where ECAC style must have gelled with his, because he made off with a college best 3 goals, 15 assists in 35 games and a 0 rating.
Upon tournament elimination, he quickly signs with Adirondack Thunder and works himself into 5 ECHL games before the season is over.
He recorded an assist.
Miami University (Ohi0) Redhawks‘ graduate defenseman Jack Clement(4) tied a college best 7 assists and signs a 1st deal with Cincinnati Cyclones.
The big 6’4″ 201 lbs. blue liner has skated 8 ECHL games with no points on a non-playoff team.
He won a 2018 NAHL Robertson Cup in his 1st year in the junior league and committed after more good play in his 2nd.
The 24-year old from Detroit, MI may have found a good landing spot close to school, but we shall see.
He is signed, but traded to Tulsa Oilers, who will definitely look to make good use of his size.
In 45 games with 1 goal and 15 assists with a +6 rating, he is strong for this team.
Kalamazoo Wings, who unfortunately aren’t in playoff contention move to obtain him for future considerations.
In 10 games, he grabs 1 goal and 1 assist with a 0 rating.
He should return there.
Plymouth State University Panthers‘ junior defenseman Donte DiPonio(79) spent the last 2 seasons at University Of New England Nor’easters, but figured into only 16 games overall with 1 goal and 2 assists, so entered the transfer portal to arrive at his new college hockey home.
He’s already skated 17 in the current frame, so obviously made a good decision, but he also has 5 goals and 11 assists with a +16 rating in just 17 games.
The small-ish 5’9″ 175 lbs. blue liner did mostly 2 USPHL/NCDC seasons, but never quite struck for any points.
From Trenton, WI, the 23-year old has made a smart choice about where he is playing his hockey.
He skates 26 games in his senior year for 2 goals and 10 assists with a +10 rating and takes it to a 1st pro contract with Quad City Storm.
In 3 SPHL games, he records no points, but is likely a good signing going forward.
University Of Wisconsin Badgers‘ graduate right wing Brock Caufield(12) signs a 1st pro contract with Toronto Marlies for his rookie season, 2023/2024.
The 5’9″ 181 lbs. forward scored a college best 11 goals and 23 points last season.
From Stevens Point, WI and older brother of Cole Caufield(22), the 24-year old may find more room to score points.
He is mostly reassigned to affiliate Newfoundland Growlers, where he goes on to score 12 goals and 20 assists in 63 games, when he team vanishes at the tail end of last season.
For 2024/2025, he signs with Reading Royals.
He gets traded to a non-playoff team, Cincinnati Cyclones, plays 1 ECHL game and records an assist to be loved by club going forward if signed.
