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.
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.
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.
Mercyhurst University Lakers‘ graduate defenseman Owen Norton(26) signs with Maine Mariners as soon as his team is knocked out of Atlantic Hockey tournament play.
The 5’10” 181 lbs. blue liner has skated 4 ECHL games with no points, but is always fully involved in the action.
While not exactly the biggest point-getter, he did do well in his 2nd GOJHL frame and only BCHL campaign.
From Ancaster, ON, the 24-year looks to establish himself well once he gets some more game under his belt.
They seen something in there to develop and sign him to stay in a Mariners‘ uniform for 2023/2024.
He is actually released from his deal and signs fairly quickly with Norfolk Admirals, which should be a pretty good landing spot for him.
Finds little traction with this club, only scoring 2 assists in 14 games, so is waived and picked up by Newfoundland Growlers to give a kick at the wares.
He’d only record 1 assist in 12 games before the team disintegrated.
For 2024/2025, he signs with Wheeling Nailers, which should continue to help his game.
University Of Alaska-Fairbanks Nanooks‘ sophomore center Cade Neilson(25) enters the transfer portal to skate for Michigan Tech Huskies for 2024/2025.
The 6′ 189 lbs forward took up scoring last season to the tune of 5 goals and 14 assists in 31 games with a +8 rating.
He did 3 NAHL frames for Aberdeen Wings, blowing up scoring in his final year.
The Lafayette, LA native won a MJAHL Championship his 1st year of juniors after playing most of his youth hockey in England.
He actually decides to return home and signs with Glasgow Clan of the EIHL for the new season.
After just 4 games overseas, he decides to return and signs with Utah Grizzlies for 2024/2025.
Union College Dutchmen senior defenseman Nathan Kelly(26) signs an amateur tryout contract with Norfolk Admirals upon completion of ECAC hockey.
In a college high 35 games, he scored his only goal and 7 assists for 8 points with a +1 rating.
The 6′ 185 lbs. South Delta, BC native skated 3 BCHL seasons of junior hockey.
In 2 ECHL games he doesn’t have any points, but is a nice +2 rating.
For his rookie season, he will don the Admirals‘ jersey to skate his rookie season, 2024/2025 with the team.
