University Of New England Nor’easters‘ goaltender Billy Girard(1) will take a step up, enter the transfer portal and do a graduate frame at Boston University Terriers for 2024/2025.
The 6’1″ 201 lbs. net minder was actually the EHL goalie of the year in his 2nd season with Boston Jr. Rangers with a 28-6-1 record.
He will no doubt fight for playing time, but we feel he could step in and steal some as well.
From Boca Raton, FL, this is a great, maybe a bit unlikely D3 development for the 25-year old.
Sacred Heart University Pioneers‘ graduate right wing, assistant captain Kevin Lombardi(12) signed with Orlando Solar Bears upon finishing up and came mostly to life in 6 playoff games, with 1 goal and 1 assist and a +1 rating.
Rockford Icehogs are watching and sign the 6’5″ 229 lbs. forward to an AHL contract for 2024/2025.
Maybe not a huge scorer through college or junior hockey, we think as a pro the 25-year old finds the room he did in high school and youth hockey.
Express Hockey Club 1st year left wing Cody Walker(71) scored a junior best 26 goals and 33 assists in 44 EHL games and commits to Albertus Magnus College Falcons for 2024/2025.
The 5’9″ 170 lbs. Boise, ID native did 2 NOJHL seasons for Hearst Lumberjacks before committing to school.
At 21-years old, we look for him to lead his new NEHC team.
5th year defenseman Blake Thompson(8) is taking his game overseas for 2022/2023, signing with Cardiff Devils.
The 6’1″ 205 lbs. blue liner is coming off a career year, scoring a new best 20 assists and 25 points.
He even scored a 1 AHL game loan up to Hartford Wolf Pack.
The former St. Norbert College Green Knights‘ d-man twice had close to 20 assists in a frame.
We think the 29-year old is going to find good room in the EIHL to continue to elevate his game.
He returns home from a pair of decent frames overseas and signs a 1-year ECHL deal with South Carolina Stingrays for 2024/2025.
Boston Jr. Terriers‘ 7-game start goaltender Colin Rowbotham(31) commits some pretty awesome stats in a losing record (2-5, 1.96 GAA and .945 SV%) to Anna Maria College AMCATS in hopes the large 6’5″ 195 lbs. can grab the starting duties for 2024/2025.
From Delano, MN, he did similar things in USHS-MN, but since has been a little under radar for such a big guy.
He’s 21-years old and we bet can’t wait to get started.
Boston Jr. Rangers‘ 1st season goaltender Charles Watson(31) takes 24 EHL games with a 17-6 record, 2.21 GAA and .932 SV% to a 2024/2025 commit at Castleton University Spartans.
From Yarmouth, ME, the 6′ 190 lbs. 20-year old had a super impressive final frame at St. Mark’s School USHS-Prep , in 28 games with a 1.56 GAA and .939 SV%.
We expect him to compete for the starter’s job.
Express Hockey Club 3rd year right wing Evan Gravel(21) commits to close to home Johnson & Wales University Wildcats for 2024/2025.
The 6’1″ 172 lbs. forward played his way up from a season scoring pretty big in the EHLP.
From Smithfield, RI, the 21-year old heads to school with an EHL junior best 11 assists and 17 points.
University Of Maine Black Bears‘ 5th year graduate student, right wing Jack Quinlivan(4) signs his 1st contract for 2022/2023 with close to home, Worcester Railers.
His home base is the town next door, Shrewsbury.
The 6′ 194 lbs. forward has struggled some scoring, grabbing only 6 assists as 2nd year captain last season, but we feel he could come alive as a pro in a different environment.
At 26-years old, he should step right in.
Through 10 ECHL games, he got 2 goals and 1 assist, but was sidelined with injuries and they discovered papillary thyroid cancers to exit him.
He will return for his next official rookie season 2023/2024.
In 32 games, he comes away with 6 goals and 6 assists, but he is completely injury plagued, so enough is enough, he decides to call it quits and will become an amazing coach, if he decides on that route for himself.
Union College Bobcats‘ senior goaltender Connor Murphy(1) came over after 2 seasons at Northeastern University Huskies finished up 31 games and signs a first pro deal, an ato with Calgary Wranglers, which puts him with a top-rated AHL team to start things up with.
The 6’4″ 200 lbs. net minder has never exactly produced outstanding stats, but I think to just look at him and how centered he is to the frame makes him a natural to give a shot to.
He had one year of super-strong junior hockey performance in the CCHL with Carleton Place Canadians before committing to school.
The 24-year old from Hudson Falls, NY may just shine if given the chance.
He signs on to stay for his rookie season in Alberta with the minor league club.
In a split schedule with ECHL affiliate Rapid City Rush, he does decently enough with both for another look and is signed to wear a Wranglers‘ sweater for 2024/2025.
8th year center Philippe Maillet(61) returned last season to Laval Rocket under a 1-year NHL deal with Montreal Canadiens and scored quite well with a new AHL best 21 goals.
The 5’10” 185 lbs. forward is leaving again, this time he joins NL and signs with HC Ambri-Piotta for 2024/2025.
He came back from 2 very strong sessions in the KHL for Metallurg Magnitogorsk.
From Lachenaie, QC, the 31-year old played 4 years of QMJHL, then went to University Of New Brunswick Reds for another 4.
He will do really well in Switzerland.
