UMASS Minutemen junior center Lucas Mercuri(11) is definitely on track for next college career bests scoring with 5 goals and 9 assists in 18 games with a +4 rating, putting him just a point or two of his marks.
The 6’3″ 192 lbs. forward is a Carolina Hurricanes‘ 6th round pick in the 2020 draft (#159 overall).
He came down from Montreal, QC for school and scored big to secure his finding, then went onto 1 USHL frame with Des Moines Buccaneers before heading to school.
The 21-year old is likely just hoping he’s doing everything right to earn his NHL entry level deal and we think he’s heading in the right direction more than ever now.
Finishing up his final season with new college bests 10 goals and 21 assists with a +14 rating, he is traded to Tampa Bay Lightning, signed to a 2-year entry level deal and sent to start his pro career with affiliate Syracuse Crunch.
Former University Of Nebraska-Omaha Mavericks‘ senior captain, defenseman Joel Messner(59) decides to leave the ship for other waters for his 4th season.
He will skate in Austria’s IceHL for a seemingly favored by Americans’ club, HC Innsbruck.
The solid 6’2″ 200 lbs. d-man was mostly under deals with Providence Bruins, originally scouted by Boston Bruins and in their system for 48 AHL games, but was in a uniform mostly with affiliate Atlanta Gladiators.
In 86 ECHL games, he did alright with 14 goals and 41 assists.
He played 4 more games in the league for Jacksonville Icemen to start 2020/2021 and got a goal and 2 assists.
We think the 27-year old Winnipeg native will like it in his new hockey home but if he does really well will move up.
He played for HKM Zvolen of Slovak Extraliga last season, putting up 4 goals and 9 assists in 50 games with a +7 rating, then added another 6 points in 17 playoff matchups.
For 2023/2024, he will head back to Austria, where he had very good luck and agrees to terms with Pustertal/Val Pusteria.
He grabs some decent points, but the -18 is a problem, then performs really well in 13 playoff games to get a want from rivals, Fehervar AV19 for 2024/2025.
Through 48 games, he has 2 goals and 17 assists with a +8 rating, so is becoming a bit of an offensive threat out there and scores himself a new 1-year deal to stay on in this part of Austria.
University Of Maine Black Bears‘ junior center Harrison Scott(22) transferred after 2 years at Bentley University Falcons, where he had a best 8 goals and 7 assists as a sophomore.
In 10 games with his new college club, he has 1 goal and 4 assists, which could best earlier marks.
The 6′ 185 lbs. forward looks more committed to score playing Hockey East competition.
From San Jose, CA, the 23-year old looks to be a pretty natural fit for this northern New England school.
He does certainly best his scoring marks in his 1st year in a new school and then for his senior year, explodes to 18 goals and 17 assists with a +13 rating on a very good team.
His team exits the tournament late and he wastes little time signing a 1st pro deal, an ato to join Texas Stars., but the next day that gets upped to a 1-year NHL entry level deal to start 2025/2026 with parent club, Dallas Stars.
Long Island University Sharks‘ graduate right wing Connor Gregga(17) signs a 1st pro deal with Savannah Ghost Pirates and has a 1st ECHL goal in 9 games.
He scored a college best 8 assists and 12 points last season.
The 5’10” 180 lbs. forward came over after his senior year at University Of Minnesota-Mankato Mavericks.
From Markham, ON, the 25-year old did 2 BCHL seasons of juniors before college.
Colorado College Tigers‘ junior, assistant captain center Noah Laba(26) leaves a year of school on the table to sign a 2-year NHL entry level contract with draft club, New York Rangers.
The 6’2″ 192 lbs. forward reported to affiliate Hartford Wolf Pack to get his pro career started and what do you know, pops in a 1st AHL goal in his debut.
He left college with 10 goals and 16 assists in 29 games, a little less than the spectacular run he had as a sophomore, running 20 goals and 17 helpers.
From Northville, MI, the 21-year old is moving on nicely.
Ohio State University Buckeyes‘ graduate right wing Michael Gildon(18) takes a college best 5 goals in 34 games with a +3 rating last season to a 1st pro deal with Worcester Railers.
The 6’2″ 196 lbs. forward from Plano, TX played 2 seasons USNTDP and wasn’t too bad on the scoresheet.
We think the decently-sized skater finds more room for scoring opportunities in the ECHL.
He signs with Jacksonville Icemen for his rookie season, 2024/2025.
Actually, he ends up with Fort Wayne Komets and things go pretty smoothly with 5 goals and 3 assists with a +2 rating in 23 games, but gets himself traded to Allen Americans, who bring him home.
University Of Connecticut Huskies‘ graduate, captain defenseman Jake Flynn(18) is one of 2 players, who did 5 years at the school.
The 6′ 181 lbs. blue liner played his 4th 30+ game set, and probably would have in 2020/2021, if his team played that many games.
From Weymouth, MA, the 22-year old played no junior hockey before committing.
He becomes a very interesting hockey watch when Hockey East playoffs are done.
We knew this entry wouldn’t wait long before an update: 2 weeks.
He signs a 1st deal with Greenville Swamp Rabbits that proves to be a good landing spot, as he has a 1st ECHL goal and 1 assist with a +3 rating in 6 games to start.
For 2024/2025, he was going to leave to play overseas, but re-signs for his rookie frame to stay a Swamp Rabbits.
In 36 games, he scores 3 goals and 5 assists with a -3 rating and Bloomington Bison think they can use him, so trade for him.
Lindenwood University Lions‘ senior left wing Mitchell Allard(21) takes a college best 32 games played to signing a 1st pro contract with Kansas City Mavericks, where in 7 games already has an assist.
The 6’1″ 209 lbs. forward wasn’t exactly the biggest scorer through college hockey, since joining D1 hockey in his sophomore year.
From Shelby Township, MI, he did 2 years of juniors in the NAHL for the somewhat local Minnesota Wilderness.
The 25-year old may connect for points better as a pro.
4th year defenseman Christian Hausinger(11) is on the move and traded to Utah Grizzlies, who looked to pick him up from Atlanta Gladiators, where he had 0 goals and 7 assists with a -11 rating.
The 6’1″ 190 lbs. blue liner played last season in Germany 3, picking up a healthy 31 assists in 43 games after coming over from 1 year in the EIHL with Fife Flyers, where he also scored pretty well.
He was coming off a season for Norfolk Admirals with 17 assists to his credit.
The 4-year University Of Wisconsin-River Falls Falcons‘ d-man had a college best 10 goals and 26 assists in 27 games as a junior and his senior year was that COVID-bust affair.
From Anchorage, AK, the 28-year old has to be thinking things are going pretty good.
Plymouth State University Panthers‘ senior left wing, captain Ethan Stuckless(18) scores a college best 15 goals last season and signs a 1st pro contract with Fayettesville Markmen.
The 6′ 194 lbs. forward has always scored well in school with a high 19 assists and 31 points as a sophomore.
From St. John’s, NL, the 24-year old played his junior hockey closer to home.
We look for him to do well in the SPHL.
