UMASS-Lowell Riverhawks‘ graduate goaltender Henry Welsch(33) posted a 4-1 win (almost shutout) against University Of Minnesota-Duluth Bulldogs in the 2nd game on the new NCAA Division 1 2024/2025 season.
The 6’2″ 201 lbs. net minder from Lakeville, MN was a standout in NAHL junior hockey before arriving at school.
He started a college season high 22 games last year and despite a not winning record was still an impressive 2.45 GAA and .908 SV%.
Maybe not a lot of offensive in his opening game, but the 23-year old looks set for his additional frame.
Long Island University Sharks‘ Latvian-born, freshman left wing Patriks Marcinkevics(27) leaves through the transfer portal to arrive at the much more contentious Michigan Tech University Huskies for 2023/2024.
The small-ish 5’9″ 159 lbs. forward had a bit of a strange path through juniors, starting with Islanders HC of USPHL ranks, running up point-per-game totals to the weirdo COVID struck 2020/2021, where he ultimately would play for New England Wolves and run up crazy tier 3 EHL numbers (11-5 in 6 games).
For his final frame before heading to school he agreed with Jersey Hitmen and would go bananas on the scoresheet: 34 goals, 62 assists for 96 points in 49 games, then another 15 points in the playoffs on the way to the 2022 NCDC Champions, which included personal awards for most assists, points and Valuable Player.
The undrafted 22-year old will likely do well in the CCHA.
He skates 5 games with his new college team, potting 1 goal and 1 assist, but something isn’t right and he decides it’s time to turn pro, signing a contract with Utah Grizzlies going forward.
Ending up with Quad City Storm to round out the season, he clicks with 7 goals and 17 assists in 20 games with a +9 rating to score a contract for 2024/2025 with Allen Americans.
Los Angeles Kings‘ 7th round pick in the 2019 draft (#188 overall), Swedish-born, left wing Andre Lee(47) signed a 2-year NHL entry level deal after finishing up 3 years at UMass-Lowell Riverhawks with new college bests 16 goals and 28 points, then signs an ato with affiliate Ontario Reign to start his pro career.
The 6’4″ 204 lbs. forward played most of his youth hockey and the beginning of juniors back home with Farjestad BK, but did come over for a USHL season with Sioux Falls Stampede, scoring 20 goals and 15 assists, then winning the 2019 Clark Cup Championship.
In 10 AHL games, he has a pair of assists.
The 21-year old should impress in 2022 training camp.
Playing a solid game in the minors, he erupts for 4 goals in 8 playoff games last season to earn a spot on the opening night NHL roster, 2024 and plays 9 shifts for a conservative 5:54 of ice time with 2 shots on net in a 3-1 win.
University Of Connecticut Huskies‘ Swedish-born, sophomore defenseman Viking Gustafsson Nyberg(6) transferred from his freshman year at Northern Michigan University Wildcats.
In 33 games last season, he had 2 goals and 1 assists and in 3 Hockey East games, he already has 2 assists with a +2 rating.
The 6’6″ 205 lbs. tower on the blue line played his youth and junior hockey back home before arriving for school.
Boston College Eagles‘ center Will Smith(6) is taking zero time to adjust to college play after 2 seasons of USNTDP.
In 6 games, he has 4 goals and 4 assists with a +2 rating to go along with those 51 goals and 76 assists he had last year and 42 points (15-27) in 20 USHL games.
The 6′ 181 lbs. forward was a San Jose Sharks‘ 1st round pick in the 2023 draft (#4 overall), so the 18-year old from Lexington, MA has lots to look forward to.
After just 1 season of lighting up the college ranks to the tune of 25 goals and 46 assists with a +25 rating through 41 games and the waiting is over, as the 19-year old signs a 3-year NHL entry level deal, starting 2024/2025.
He debuts with his new NHL team right away, playing 16 shifts for 13:41 ice, 2 shots on net and like his former Hockey East friend needs improving in the face-off dot.
Boston University Terriers‘ freshman left wing Macklin Celebrini(71) is considered to be a potential #1 NHL draft pick for the 2024.
The 6′ 190 lbs. forward is from Vancouver, BC.
He completely blew up scoring for Chicago Steel last season with 46 goals and 40 assists in 50 USHL games with a +27 rating.
At just turning 17-years old over the summer, he has entered his freshman year of college early and already has 3 goals and 1 assist in 3 games with a +2 rating.
San Jose Sharks draw the 1st choice and he is adopted.
He scored 32 goals and 32 assists in 38 games last season with a +25 rating, so we have to wonder how long he will stick around.
Coming fresh off his 1st development camp, he signs a 3-year entry level deal to become a full-time Sharks in 2024/2025.
In his debut, he nets a 1st NHL goal in his 1st 7 minutes of ice time and also lands an assist in 22 shifts for 17:35, 2 giveaways, 1 takeaway and needs to be better on the face-off dot in a 5-4 overtime loss.
2nd year USNTDP center captain Rutger McGroarty(2) is readying himself with some solid stats to commit to University Of Michigan Wolverines for 2022/2023.
The 6’1″ 205 lbs. power forward has put-up point-per-game numbers this season.
It’s an easy call to say this 17-year old is going to be selected high in the draft with no reservations.
He was selected at #14 in 2022 by Winnipeg Jets, but as he started gaining ground at college, last season posting 36 assists in 36 games, he was indicting he would never sign with his draft club.
His wish is granted as Pittsburgh Penguins step in to offer the yet unsigned protege a new avenue and sign him to a 3-year entry level deal, leaving 2 years of school on the table.
He debuts on opening night, skating 16 shifts for 10:12 of ice with 1 shot and 2 hits and his NHL feet are wet in a 6-3 victory.
Undrafted 4th year right wing Josh Kestner(62) takes a fantastic first season overseas at TPS, scoring 24 goals and 25 assists in 59 Liiga games with a +6 rating to a new contract with Admiral Vladivostok of the KHL for 2021/2022.
The 6’1″ 185 lbs. forward had a very similar session for Newfoundland Growlers, grabbing another 49 points (22-27) in 61 ECHL games with a +8, then potted another 9 goals and 7 assists in 21 playoff contests en route to the 2019 Kelly Cup Championship.
He would next sign an AHL deal with Grand Rapids Griffins but was exclusively dished to Toledo Walleye, where he received accolades for Most Goals (33), Most Points (73) and League MVP.
The 27-year old Huntsville, AL native and graduate of University Of Alabama-Huntsville Chargers seems to be just getting started.
He would take a decent frame in Russia back to a less successful year in Switzerland and then branch out for Czechia Extraliga and will next arrive at the tough to play Slovakia Extraliga, signing with HK Spisska Nova Ves for 2024/2025.
Stonehill College Skyhawks‘ graduate goaltender Connor Androlewicz(29) came over from little use at his 1st school, University Of Maine Black Bears, where he spent 4 years.
In the opening game of the NCAA Division 1 hockey season, he posts a 3-2 overtime win to collect just his 2nd victory in college hockey.
The 6’2″ 201 lbs. net minder played only 1 season bouncing around between a few teams, but it was his run at Holderness School USHS-Prep that got him spotted.
From St. Louis, MO, we look for the 23-year old looks focused to continue to do well this season.
Undrafted third year defenseman Charlie Curti(3) somewhat returns home to Adirondack Thunder, where he had a breakthrough rookie campaign, scoring a career high 11 goals and 20 assists for 31 points in 56 ECHL games.
He had to go away as a sophomore skater, signing for 2020/2021 with Rapid City Rush, as his upper state NY club was forced to sit due to COVID restrictions.
The 6′ 191 lbs., 26-year old, former 4-year Yale University Bulldogs‘ blue liner returns to his first year club and could very well set more bests point totals.
Instead of heading back to upper state New York for a 2nd season, the 25-year old has rethought that decision and accepts a contract with Aalborg Pirates of Metal Ligaen.
This may just be the start of his hockey life overseas as he could do very well in Denmark’s top league.
He would return after scoring nicely overseas and sign a 1-year ECHL deal with Toledo Walleye, where he ran up 25 points in 39 games with a +20 rating before adding 8 assists in 12 playoff matchups.
For 2023/2024, he is heading to play with 2-time EIHL Champs Belfast Giants, where he just may help them raise a 3rd straight trophy.
He maybe didn’t capture a title, but did nicely with 2 goals and 17 assists in 39 games with a +11 rating to sign with rivals, Guilford Flames for 2024/2025.
