Providence College 2nd semester Freshman defenseman Taige Harding(27) arrives to the team from Fort McMurray Oil Barons, where he had 14 goals and 23 assists in 37 AJHL games.
The 6’7″ 234 lbs. blue liner is a Chicago Blackhawks‘ 3nd round pick in the 2021 draft (#93 overall) will benefit big from tough Hockey East style play.
He already spent 3 years in junior hockey and is 20-years old, so we’ll see how much college time he will spend.
Finishing up his senior year, scoring 2 goals and 12 assists in 37 games with a +9 rating, he signs with the team he was selected by and will report to affiliate Rockford Icehogs to get started.
Ohio State University Buckeyes‘ junior defenseman Damien Carfagna(93) is undrafted and signs a 2-year NHL entry level deal with Edmonton Oilers after scoring a college best 7 goals and 21 assists with a +16 rating.
The 5’11” 168 lbs. blue liner came over after a freshman year at University Of New Hampshire Wildcats.
He did 2 seasons of junior hockey before school and won the USHL Clark Cup Championship in his 2nd.
From Wood Ridge, NJ, the 22-year old may report to the affiliate to start, but he is going.
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.
Boston College Eagles‘ freshman center Ryan Leonard(9) is doing basically what you expect of him on the scoresheet with 5 goals and 7 assists in 12 games, including a +8 rating.
The 6′ 190 lbs. Washington Capitals‘ 1st round pick in the recent 2023 draft (#8 overall) put up big stats with the USNTDP, especially during his 2nd run in the program.
From Amherst, MA, the 18-year old is still looking at quite a bright future he’ll need to maintain.
His team is exited in the 2nd round of the national tournament and he immediately signs a 3-year NHL entry level deal to join his draft team in his home city for college hockey to get pro started.
In his debut he skates 20 shifts for 14:14 of ice time with 3 hits, 2 giveaways, 1 shot block and left a 1-goal win with a +1 rating.
Providence College Friars‘ freshman left wing Trevor Connelly(16) is off to a quick scoring, college start with 2 goals and 7 assists in 8 games.
The 6’1″ 165 lbs. forward had 2 heavy scoring USHL seasons for Tri-City Storm.
From Tustin, CA, the 18-year is a Vegas Golden Knights‘ 1st round pick in the 2024 draft (#19 overall), so he has definitely impressed.
After just 1 season in Providence, scoring 4 goals and 9 assists in 23 games and looking like a lead player out there in his 1st college season, including a 5-point game, he signs a 3-year NHL entry level deal to join his draft club right away.
Express Hockey Club 2nd year right wing Charles Vukovic(17) commits to MCLA Trailblazers for 2025/2026.
He scored an junior best 10 goals and 12 assists in 46 EHL games last season, as he heads into the playoff, where he has 2 assists in 3 games.
The 6’2″ 196 lbs. forward from Castaic, CA 20-year old should help his new college team on the scoresheet.
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.
Northeastern University Huskies‘ 2022/2023 commit, center Cameron Lund(46) is hitting the score sheet with decent frequency for new club Green Bay Gamblers, scoring 4 goals and 2 assists in 14 USHL games.
Last season he put up 17 goals and 17 assists in 40 USPHL/NCDC games with Junior Bruins.
The 6’2″ 185 lbs. 17-year will only turn 18 months before he enters school.
In his only full season of juniors, he would score 25 goals and 25 assists in 62 games before being selected in 2nd round of 2022 (#34 overall) by San Jose Sharks.
At college, he consistently rose scoring totals with 18 goals and 22 assists as a junior before leaving a year on the table to sign his entry level deal.
In his 2nd game, he scores himself a 1st NHL goal.
Northeastern University Huskies‘ junior center Matt Choupani(10) enters the transfer portal to try a new region of the country for his senior year 2024/2025 at Miami University (Ohio) Redhawks.
Undrafted, the 5’11” 185 lbs. forward didn’t quite have the season he had as a sophomore (10-9-19) and played a 3-year low games at 28, but stayed fairly on ice accountable in the tough to play Hockey East.
From Montreal, QC, he scored very well in youth hockey before being USHL drafted to play 2 scoring seasons for Des Moines Buccaneers before school.
The 22-year old is likely looking forward to what hockey style awaits him next.
He has 6 goals and a college best 10 assists last season and takes those numbers to a 1st pro contract with Savannah Ghost Pirates.
Plays 6 ECHL games with his new pro team, scores 3 assists and is a +6 rating, but has no playoffs, so signs with Grizzlys Wolfsburg for 2025/2026 to play some DEL hockey.
