Merrimack College Crusaders‘ senior left wing Mick Messner(87) is having a breakout campaign in his 2nd year with the team since being a portal transfer from 2 seasons at University Of Wisconsin Badgers.
In just 7 NCAA Division 1 games, he has a goal and 4 assists with a +4 rating.
The 5’11” 194 lbs. forward had mostly always connected for points through close to home high school in Madison, WI and 2 and a half USHL seasons for the Capitals.
At still just 22-years old looks poised to post Hockey East college career highs in 2021/2022, making him a nice unrestricted rookie pick up, if he decides to turn pro.
He spends a graduate season at the school and posts 5 goals and 4 assists in 35 games with a +6 rating on the way to a Hockey East Finals bout.
It takes him little time to agree to a pro deal, signing with Utah Grizzlies, where he has no points through 6 games with a +1 rating.
His efforts earn him an ECHL contract for 2023/2024 to wear that Grizzlies‘ jersey as a rookie.
He had a nice full frame, scoring 15 goals and 23 assists in a full slate of 72 games, gets him wanted back to continue wearing that Utah shirt.
As an assistant, he scores a new pro best 16 goals and 24 assists in another complete 72 game schedule and will return for his 3rd season as Grizzlies‘ team captain.
After 3 games, he has a change of attitude, sees an opportunity overseas to sign with HC Banska Bystrica for 2025/2026 in Slovak Extraliga and has an assist in his debut.
Undrafted center Danny Weight(19) takes a single season at Boston College Eagles across the country through the transfer portal to Colorado College Tigers, where he’ll look to finish up the next three years.
He seemed to struggle scoring only grabbing a goal and an assist as a freshman in 19 Hockey East games.
It’s doubtful that the college division play was too much, but potentially he could have expected different coming from an all-star season for Penticton Vees, scoring 25 goals and 35 assists in 58 BCHL games.
He seems to score in seasonal spurts with nothing matching the 120 points (52-68) in 83 games he was able to put up as a P.A.L. Junior Islanders 16U AAA.
The 20-year old 6′ 175 lbs. forward will likely find more room to skate in the NCHC, but it still won’t be easy.
Oh, and he happens to be former 1238 NHL games played and 1033 points’ Hall Of Fame, center Doug Weight‘s son.
He skated in only 6 games on a well-led team last season, but is now a graduate and enters the transfer portal for one last college skate.
The Edmonton, AB native will next play some Atlantic Hockey with American International College Yellowjackets, which also brings him back east.
We believe he finds more space in this conference too.
He matches his 12 point best, but scores a new high 5 goals and signs a 1st pro deal with Wichita Thunder for his rookie frame, 2025/2026.
After 1 ECHL game, he is reassigned to affiliate Birmingham Bulls and scores a 1st SPHL goal in his 2nd game.
Union College Dutchmen senior right wing Caden Villegas(28) had a college best 22 assists in his final season.
The 5’8″ 174 lbs. forward from Plano, TX moved through the ranks of youth hockey before heading to juniors, where he moved up before college.
He signed a 1st pro deal with Adirondack Thunder and in 12 ECHL games, recorded 1 goal and 2 assists.
For his rookie run, he will need a contract.
He finally does come around to sign a 1-year deal to remain a Thunder for 2025/2026, but actually changes things up to become a free agent and signs for a 1st year with Maine Mariners instead.
University Of Michigan Wolverines‘ sophomore center William Horcoff(44) left his 2nd USNTDP season to join his college commit team and scored 4 goals and 6 assists in 18 games.
In his 2nd year, the 6’5″ 203 lbs. forward has 6 goals and 4 assists in 7 games.
He also became a Pittsburgh Penguins‘ 1st round pick in the 2025 draft (#24 overall).
From Birmingham, MI, the 18-year old will see how long he school stays.
Thunder Hockey Club 2nd year left wing Roman Wainwright(26) takes some junior best USPHL/NCDC scoring with 17 goals and 18 assists in 51 games to a 2025/2026 commit at Johnson & Wales University Wildcats.
The 6′ 185 lbs. forward should score well for the CNE club.
From Detroit, MI, the 21-year old is likely ready to contribute at the next level.
RPI Engineers‘ graduate defenseman Jake Gagnon(27) signs a 1st pro deal with Anglet Hormades Pays Basque for his rookie year, 2025/2026.
The 5’10” 170 lbs. has 1 goal and 2 assists in 7 Ligue Magnus games.
He was always good for 10+ points in 3 of 4 seasons played.
From Port Claire, QC, the 24-year old blew up scoring in only 1 junior season before school.
Union College Dutchmen sophomore defenseman Joseph Messina(23) takes 2 seasons of exact 1 goal and 3 assists in 20+ games into the transfer portal to show up at Atlantic Hockey members, Canisius College Golden Griffins for 2025/2026, as a junior.
In 5 games, he has yet to record a point.
The 5’9″ 185 lbs. blue liner from Woodridge, ON did 2 seasons BCHL before college.
We look for the 23-year old to have a bit better success.
Undrafted 7th year center Josh Jooris(36) leaves North American pro hockey for a first time to sign with Lausanne HC of NLA for 2019/2020.
He departs having played 213 NHL (23-32-55) games for 5 different teams but was exclusively in the minors with Toronto Marlies last season, although signed by the parent club Toronto Maple Leafs.
The former high scoring 6’1″ 198 lbs. Union College forward has less AHL games to his credit at 160 (20-26) but suited up for an equal amount of teams as he did at the higher level.
He is now 34-years old and that hasn’t deter how well he does in Switzerland’s top hockey.
Staying with his new Swiss team for 2 seasons, he switches it up to sign with Geneve-Servette HC, where he agrees for a 4th frame and is scoring pretty well out of the gate.
Consistently producing 20+ points, he is back for a 5th season with Geneve-Servette and is scoring very well with 3 goals and 5 assists in 17 games.
American International College Yellowjackets‘ Swedish-born sophomore defenseman Theo Angesved(2) leaves to turn pro back home, as his college team takes a year off to transition to D3 play in 2026/2027.
The 5’11” 179 lbs. signed in tier 3 Hockeyettan with Tingsryds AIF and already has 4 assists in 5 games.
He played previous games in the league after junior hockey back home and even had 1 SHL appearance.
We look for the 23-year old to do well.
Rochester Jr. Americans‘ 2nd year defenseman Liam Chapman(7) takes some junior high numbers, 7 goals and 19 assists in 56 NAHL games with a +32 rating to a 2025/2026 commit at Army West Point Black Knights.
The 6’1″ 187 lbs. blue liner also had 10 assists in 12 playoff games.
From Weare, NH, the 21-year has the size to do well.
