UMASS Minutemen freshman center Nicholas Van Tassell(22) is an Ottawa Senators‘ 7th round pick in the 2023 draft (#215 overall).
The big 6’4″ 200 lbs. forward scored pretty well in his 2nd USHL season for Green Bay Gamblers.
He only got 1 goal and 1 assist in 23 games, but definitely appears on the verge of opening that up with more experience.
From Basking Ridge, NJ, the 19-year old did all his youth hockey close to home.
Harvard University Crimson sophomore, Finnish-born goaltender Aku Koskenvuo(30) is a Vancouver Canucks‘ 5th round pick in the 2021 draft (#137 overall).
The giant 6’4″ 200 lbs. net minder started a college career best 16 games with a 5-5-4 record, 2.87 GAA and .914 SV%.
He was in net for the team’s single elimination ECAC 1st round playoff matchup to post a 38-save 1-0 shutout and advance.
All his youth and junior hockey was played at home before coming over for school.
The 2 teams tied their regular season matchup.
Boston College Eagles‘ 2nd year defenseman (transferred from St. Lawrence) Ben Finkelstein(28) is off to a hot start as a rookie with his new club, Greenville Swamp Rabbits.
In 18 ECHL games, he’s grabbed 4 goals from the point and 13 assists with a solid +4 rating on a team that has been somewhat of a discovery mode for this odd season.
The 5’9″ 181 lbs. blue liner could easily gain a look on loan to an AHL team.
Through 35 games as a rookie, he scored 11 goals and 21 assists with a +11 rating, and got signed up by Toronto Marlies, but played the entire 2021/2022 frame with Newfoundland Growlers, where he equaled his 11 goals, but exploded his assists to a league best 51.
His good play has given him a new AHL deal with Iowa Wild for 2022/2023, but we doubt he’ll be assigned lower for his sophomore effort.
After managing his way into only 6 games with his new team, recording 1 assist, he has decided to push off and join Vienna Capitals for the remainder of the season, and we think the d-man’s game will be well-suited for Austria’s top league, the IceHL.
He scores 10 goals and 14 assists in 23 games to earn a new deal with Eisbären Berlin and is heading to Germany to play in DEL.
After 15 assists in 37 games, the 26-year old decides to retire, based on personal reasons that we are sure will surface eventually, but it’s a sad day for the former Eagles.
Cornell University Big Red freshman defenseman Hoyt Stanley(5) is an Ottawa Senators‘ 4th round pick in the 2023 draft (#108 overall).
He is a big, pounding presence at 6’3″ 201 lbs.
The 18-year old played most of 2 BCHL seasons with Victoria Grizzlies.
He’s definitely one to watch.
3rd year center Nolan Vesey(11) is off to his best start with a pair of goals and an assist in 5 ECHL games with new contract club, Worcester Railers.
The North Reading, MA native sort came home to a degree, signing with the close to home team for 2021/2022.
A one-time Toronto Maple Leafs‘ 6th round pick in the 2014 draft (#158 overall), he was chosen after an exceptional one year of junior hockey for South Shore Kings USPHL Premiere team, and then went on to attend University Of Maine Black Bears for 4 seasons, but never signed.
He was three times a 10+ goals and 10+ assists player in Hockey East.
The 6′ 185 lbs., 26-year old forward seems to be a bit of an underachiever, considering his brother Jimmy is a full-time NHL skater.
After throwing in a career high by a long shot 12 goals and 28 assists with a +13 rating in 62 games as assistant captain last season and a 3-game loan up to Springfield Thunderbirds, he decides to stick around in central MA for a 2nd run.
He posts a career best 13 goals last season in the lower league, but his eyes are open for opportunities leading in his next stage and he maybe a tiny bit oddly late signs with DVTK Jegesmedvek of Erste Liga for the remainder of the frame.
Providence College Friars‘ freshman center Hudson Malinoski(9) was a Toronto Maple Leafs‘ 5th round pick in the 2023 draft (#153 overall).
The 6’1″ 189 lbs. forward was selected after putting up 53 assists in 44 AJHL games for Brooks Bandits.
He has 5 goals and 4 assists in 19 games with a +3 rating.
The 19-year old from Saskatoon, SK seems to be right on track.
10th year left wing Justin Florek(9) scored a career high 22 goals and 25 assists for 47 points in 2021/2022 for South Carolina Stingrays.
He was also a 3-time 30+ point guy in the AHL.
The big 6’4″ 205 lbs. forward played 3 seasons overseas and always notched 20+ points.
He also topped the 30+ mark as a sophomore and senior at Northern Michigan University Wildcats.
A former Boston Bruins‘ 5th round pick in the 2010 draft (#135 overall), the 31-year old from Marquette, MI is still at the top of his game.
He will return for a 3rd straight season in South Carolina.
A 3rd 40+ points ECHL season has him maybe put a small pause on the start of his 12th frame and he agrees to head back to Germany, signing with Dresdner Eislowen of DEL2, which should be a buzz for him.
Boston College Eagles‘ 2022/2023 commit, Swedish-born center Cutter Gauthier(19) had a 2nd USNTDP season that went completely off-the-hook scoring.
The 6’2″ 201 lbs. Philadelphia Flyers‘ 2022 1st round pick, #5 overall in the NHL draft scored 34 goals and 31 assists in 54 USDP U18 games with a +33 rating and another 19 goals and 9 assists in 22 USHL games with a +14.
At just 18-years old, he’s been in the US for a long while acclimating his game and should be a force as a rookie next season.
His playing rights for the big league have been traded to Anaheim Ducks, which is a no-brainer for him to sign, when he’s ready, as he allegedly didn’t want to skate for his draft team.
Quinnipiac University Bobcats‘ sophomore center Sam Lipkin(28) has 9 goals and 11 assists in 17 games with a +11 rating, which has him closing in on the 14 tallies he had last season, but ascending to that 29 helpers’ mark will be a feat.
The 6’2″ 190 lbs. forward is an Arizona Coyotes‘ 7th round pick in the 2021 draft (#223 overall).
He had 2 successful runs through the USHL and was named captain of Chicago Steel in his 2nd frame, scoring 36 goals and 35 assists in 59 games with a +21 rating.
From Philadelphia, PA, the 20-year old is still setting himself up nicely.
University Of North Dakota Fighting Hawks‘ sophomore center Ben Strinden(21) is definitely challenging last year’s total for goals tying last year’s mark of 3 after 13 games with just 1 assist, so still has a little ways to go in that scoring category.
A Nashville Predators‘ 7th round pick in the 2022 draft (#210 overall), the 6’1″ 201 lbs. forward was selected after a 2nd, best run with Muskegon Lumberjacks, scoring 25 goals and 31 assists in 61 USHL games.
From Fargo, ND, the 21-year old is likely looking for a little consistency to his game.
