Category: College Hockey Player

16Sep

Marc Del Gaizo (2)

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Nashville Predators‘ 4th round pick in the 2019 draft (#109 overall) defenseman Marc Del Gaizo(2) will leave a year on the table at UMass Minutemen after winning the 2021 NCAA Championship in a cinderella-like run.

The 5’10” 185 lbs. blue liner was selected after his freshman season at the college, where he put up as many points basically as he did the next two, although he was almost always a plus player, leaving the school with a +60 rating.

At just 21, he can also breathe a little sigh of relief that this season may wrap up, as his 3-year entry level deal starts 2021/2022, unless he is itchy and signs an ato somewhere.

He actually jumped on for his 1st 9 AHL games for Chicago Wolves and puts up 5 assists with a +3 rating.

His contract would initiate upon playing for Milwaukee Admirals, where in his 3rd year would come away with a season best 8 goals, 34 points with another 20+ assist frame and a +18 rating, then contributed 7 points in 15 playoff games.

The 24-year old, who also played 9 NHL games last season with 3 assists and a +2 rating becomes easy to sign to a 1 year deal to continue.

15Sep

Zach Walker (18)

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Pensacola Ice Flyers‘ rookie right wing Zach Walker(18) has a couple of goals and an assist in 21 SPHL contests.

The 6′ 200 lbs. forward was never much of a scorer during four seasons at Boston College.

He posted his highest totals as a freshman with 2 goals and 5 assists.

The still young 22-year old started with a couple of campaigns in the USNTDP.

It will be interesting to see if he plays himself up to another level or heads overseas for different gold.

He finished his first session, scoring 4 goals and 6 assists in 36 games, then went on to light it up for a goal and 3 assists with a +5 in 4 playoff contests, which easily put him back on the radar.

The Boise, ID native gets the call from his local team and signs a 1-year ECHL deal with Idaho Steelheads for 2021/2022.

He was originally going to sign with them for last season, but they decided to sit out the pandemic run and he becomes the first born in the state capital to play for the team.

After 10 goals and 13 assists in 63 games with a +6 rating, he’s definitely feeling right at home, and stays for a 2nd session.

He’s basically fairly steady in his 2nd session, getting 6 goals and 12 assists in 56 games with a +12 rating.

For 2023/2024, he leaves home and signs a 1-year deal with Adirondack Thunder that should makes sense for his scoring to continue.

He is limited to only 27 games last season and is involved in some incidents that get him suspended for long stretches, but the wear and tear on him is enough as he leans into what to do for 2024/2025 and will stay in a Thunder “jersey” joining their front office to handle the team’s community relations and also take part in some sales.

14Sep

Matt Barry (26)

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2nd year right wing Matt Barry(26) takes a phenomenal frame at Germany3 for Rostock Piranhas, scoring 23 goals and 48 assists in 42 games to a new deal with Glasgow Clan for 2023/2024.

The 6′ 180 lbs forward twice had 15 assists at Miami University (Ohio) Redhawks.

He also did 1 year at Holy Cross College Crusaders before entering the transfer portal for his sophomore session.

The Naperville, IL native was also a very successful assist guy in 2 years NAHL (36), then USHL (37) junior hockey before college.

We think the 28-year old will also do quite well scoring in the EIHL.

He does ok for himself with 10 goals and 21 assists, but something isn’t right, so he opts out of playing and quickly accepts a job as assistant coach with Tri-City Storm of the USHL.

14Sep

Kevin Lassman (55)

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Hobart College Statesmen senior defenseman Kevin Lassman(55) has not been known to score a lot, but last season got 1 goal with 7 assists in only 24 games with a nice +18 rating.

From Parkland, FL, the 24-year came in from 2 USPHL/NCDC frames, where in 47 games in his 2nd year he had 15 assists.

The 5’8″ 165 lbs. blue liner, who won consecutive NCAA D3 Championships signs a 1st pro deal with Knoxville Ice Bears and will skate SPHL as a rookie 2024/2025.

13Sep

Ara Nazarian (22)

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4th year left wing Ara Nazarian(22) re-signs for a 3rd season with Jacksonville Icemen for 2022/2023.

The 5’9″ 185 lbs. forward is a pretty big scorer, last year hitting for 13 goals and 18 assists in 40 ECHL games with a +12 rating.

He was also loaned up to Rochester Americans, appearing in 14 AHL games for 2 goals and 1 assist.

The Boxford, MA native scored decently through 4 years at University Of New Hampshire Wildcats, striking best as a senior for 12 goals and 11 assists in 33 NCAA Division 1 games.

He was also a strong scorer at Malden Catholic USHS-Prep.

The 26-year old will very likely continue to take his game up.

He left for a year to join Belfast Giants and knocked scoring out of the park in the EIHL, but will return home under a deal to Syracuse Crunch for 2024/2025.

11Sep

Garrett Metcalf (39)

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Undrafted rookie net minder Garrett Metcalf(39) originally signed on with Knoxville Ice Bears to start his pro career in the SPHL, but within a week off that occurring his home town Utah Grizzlies had a better offer ready.

After graduating from his third school on record, Long Island University Sharks, he would go 4-4 in his first ECHL stint with a 2.33 GAA and .915 SV%.

These stats proved good enough for them to offer the 6’4″ 195 lbs., former Anaheim Ducks‘ 6th round pick in the 2015 draft (#179 overall), now unrestricted free agent a 1-year deal to return to the crease.

The 25-year old 1st commit to UMASS-Lowell Riverhawks for only 1 year of little usage before pushing off to Mercyhurst University Lakers for 2 for the Salt Lake City, NV native, who will definitely help his team win games.

After going 2-2-1 for his new club with an outstanding 1.84 GAA and .932 SV%, he gets the nod from Lehigh Valley Phantoms and in his AHL debut gets a 2-1 win in overtime with 25 saves, posting a 0.99 GAA and .962 SV%.

He will return to Maverik Center his home state again for 2022/2023, the team he’s spent most of his time with since graduating college.

It will be little surprise to see him compete for the starter’s job.

For 2023/2024, the parent club of the team he spent most of last session with Colorado Eagles sign him to a contract.

He would head back to Utah to start the current frame, but through 4 games it is determined he should have dual hip replacement surgery (we can’t even imagine), so that will wrap up a very short-lived career, but what he turns it into next will be something to watch.

Looks like he is heading back to LIU Sharks and will jump behind the bench as an assistant coach, starting 2024/2025.