Category: College Hockey Player

Robert Morris University Colonials‘ graduate goaltender Francis Boisvert(31) signs a rookie tryout agreement with Fort Wayne Komets.

The 6’2″ 170 lbs. net minder did 4 years at St. Lawrence University Saints, but was used little after his freshman year.

From Blainville, QC, he played 2 years of CCHL before college.

The 25-year old may be just waiting for this ECHL opportunity to shine.

11th year center Chad Nehring(16) decided to head off for something new to start 2022/2023, signing with Grenoble of Ligue Magnus, but after popping 4 goals and 5 assists in just 6 games with a +8, heads back for his 5th DEL season, instead with fourth club Loewen Franfort.

A solid scorer, performer in the AHL, as a +10 player, he earned himself his only NHL contract with Ottawa Senators after scoring a career high 22 goals and 26 assists in the previous frame.

The 5’11” 201 lbs. former 4-year Lake Superior State University Lakers‘ forward left after that season.

At 35-years old, he’s still playing some excellent hockey and may not be eyeing an exit quite yet.

He grabs 12 goals and 10 assists back in Germany, which is good enough by their standards to keep him around and re-up him for another run.

You may think he should just transition straight into coaching where he is, but he has decided to wrap it up at age 37-years old, leaving behind 232 DEL games, 179 AHL, 130 ECHL and 147 NCAA, a really nice total and for his next role becomes a pro scout for Pittsburgh Penguins, starting 2024/2025.  Smooth move.

Mercyhurst University Lakers‘ senior captain, center Marko Reinfenberger(24) signs his rookie season contract with Norfolk Admirals for 2024/2025 after originally suiting up for South Carolina Stingrays in 14 games, getting 3 goals and 1 assist with a +2 rating.

The 6′ 198 lbs. forward scored best as a junior with 6 goals and 8 assists.

He also played 4 years of junior hockey, concluded with 1 very good frame in the NAHL before college.

The Hastings, MN 25-year old will probably do decently as a rookie in the ECHL.

Kasimir-Kaskisuo

Toronto Maple Leafs‘ undrafted Finnish-born goaltender Kasimir Kaskisuo(31) signs on for two more years in the prospect system despite being loaned to Chicago Wolves for most of last season due to a logjam in affiliate Toronto Marlies‘ crease.

In 28 AHL games he posted a 13-13 record with 2 shutouts, a 2.38 GAA and .914 SV%.

The big 6’3″ 195 lbs. net minder played only 7 games in the league as a rookie and was 5-1 with a 1.84 GAA and .935 SV% but spent most of the season in the ECHL backstopping for Orlando Solar Bears.

He played most of his junior hockey in his home country and decided to come across in 2013/2014 to join Minnesota Wilderness, where he earned the NAHL best GAA (1.48) and best SV% (.944) in 32 games, then was equal to the task in the playoffs.

His next move took him to University Of Minnesota-Duluth and his numbers continued to be outstanding.

The 24-year old may have to continue to wait for his chance at a shot to tend the cage in the NHL but it would seem like he should get his opportunity sooner than later.

He started 13 games last season with Laval Rocket, posting a 7-4 record with 2.09 GAA and .909 SV% to earn the 8th year net minder a look for Boston Bruins‘ crease, as he earns a tryout in training camp.

University Of Minnesota-Duluth Bulldogs‘ right wing graduate Nick Swaney(13) takes four seasons of consistent scoring numbers to a 1-year entry level contract with his home state draft club, Minnesota Wild (7th round, 2017, #209 overall) that starts for 2021/2022 but will sign an ato with affiliate Iowa Wild to start immediately.

The 5’11” 175 lbs. forward scored 20+ points in each of his college campaigns with his best total 28 most recently as a senior.

He was also a point-per-game skater in two years at the USHL for Waterloo Blackhawks.

We have a feeling he gets started on the scoresheet sooner than later.

He spends all of his playing time in the AHL, scoring pretty big, but gets injured last season to throw things off track.

For 2024/2025, he does something he has yet to do in his pro career, signs a minor league deal with Chicago Wolves.

St. Michael’s College Purple Knights‘ senior goalie Marshall Murphy(33) signs with HK Prizma Riga of Optibet Hokeja Liga for his rookie season, 2024/2025.

The 5’11” 181 lbs. net minder from Little Canada, MN will definitely look to improve his game on hopefully a better pro team.

He’s 25-year and probably didn’t make the decision to play his next hockey so far away lightly, so has to be ready.