Boston Jr. Rangers‘ Czech-born, 1st full EHL season left wing Denis Valenta(23) scores a junior best 17 goals and 26 assists through 45 games, then gets another 3 goals in the playoffs and will take it to a 2024/2025 commit at St. Mary’s University Cardinals.
The 6’1″ 187 lbs. forward was a good scorer as a senior at Rice Memorial USHS Prep, then went to 1 USPHL Premier game for New Hampshire Jr. Monarchs, getting 2 assists and promoted to NCDC, but in 16 games wasn’t connecting.
From Prague, the 21-year old is likely to do really well for his new college team.
Curry College Colonels‘ senior defenseman, captain Nicholas Favaro(3) took his game up in his final frame to grab a college best 8 goals 25 assists in 29 games with a +28 rating.
He turns pro and signs a 1-year ECHL deal with Cincinnati Cyclones for 2023/2024.
The 5’11” 190 lbs. blue liner from Woodbridge, ON stayed close to play 4 OJHL junior seasons before heading to school.
At 25-years old, he’s likely ready for this next step.
12 games in with his new team, recording only 1 assist, another team wants him and Wichita Thunder have plans for him on their blue line.
He would only record another helper in 9 games with a -4, but they are seeing something and invite him back to wear a Thunder sweater for his rookie session, 2024/2025.
RPI Engineers‘ senior defenseman Mason Klee(7) will extend his college career for a graduate season at Ohio State University Buckeyes in 2023/2024.
He had a modest new college best 6 assists and 7 points last season, but it’s his 6’2″ 192 lbs. size that brings accountability into the zone.
2 years of USHL juniors did see him raise the 2019 Clark Cup Championship with Sioux Falls Stampede.
He takes 1 goal and 4 assists in a college best 38 games to a 1st ECHL contract with Worcester Railers and in 5 games has 1 assist and is a +1 rating to get himself loaned up to old “affiliate” pal San Jose Barracuda, where he has no points in 4 AHL games, as they fight for a playoff berth.
In 5 games in the upper league, he ultimately comes away with 1 goal and for 2024/2025, he re-signs for his rookie season with the Railers.
University Of Denver Pioneers‘ Swedish-born, senior goaltender Magnus Chrona(30) signs a 2-year entry level deal with San Jose Sharks after being picked up in a trade with draft team Tampa Bay Lightning, where he was selected in the 5th round of 2018 (#152 overall).
The absolutely massive 6’6″ 216 lbs. net minder has always done well at school, winning the 2022 NCAA Division 1 Championship in what was his best season as a junior with a 28-8-1 with a 2.11 GAA and .911 SV%.
He would likely be best to sign an ato with affiliate San Jose Barracuda, as they fight to make the last playoff spot.
In his rookie year, he plays the full gambit of pro hockey leagues from the ECHL, AHL and NHL, but definitely looks to be working out the some kinks for consistency.
A big offseason trade sends him to Nashville Predators to continue and he’ll likely get the nod in net for affiliate Milwaukee Admirals to start. .
University Of Massachusetts‘ senior defenseman Colin Felix(26) signs with Lehigh Valley Phantoms to start his pro career at the AHL level.
He would leave school a 3-time Hockey East Champ and 2021 NCAA Division 1 title too.
The 6’1″ 203 lbs. blue liner was a +27 player in college, so has good accountability.
He played a pair of junior seasons, first in the NAHL, then was drafted, ended up with Madison Capitals and somehow exploded for 8 goals and 19 assists in 56 USHL games.
The 23-year old from nearby Camden, NJ will likely find success in the league and will score another look in Philadelphia Flyers‘ camp.
Unfortunately he wasn’t even given a look at the higher level and reassigned to affiliate Reading Royals, where he spent all of last season scoring 8 goals and 19 assists, putting up a mammoth +29 rating, then adding another 2 points in 11 playoff matchups.
For 2023/2024 Utica Comets saw something they like and step in to sign him.
He is mostly dispatched to affiliate Adirondack Thunder and does well enough to grab a 2024/2025 look with a 1-year contract from Rockford IceHogs.
Long Island University Sharks‘ senior right wing Nolan Welsh(17) signs a 1st pro deal after wrapping up the team’s independent schedule.
The 6′ 185 lbs. forward inks with Savannah Ghost Pirates of the ECHL.
He wasn’t exactly the biggest scorer through 4 college years, getting a best 12 assists as a junior and six goals his senior frame.
The Burnaby, BC native played 4 BCHL junior seasons before school.
At 24-years old, he is likely ready for that next step.
For his rookie season, he signs with Reading Royals 2024/2025 and should score much like he did in juniors.
UMass Minutemen undrafted center Carson Gicewicz(15) missed most of 2019/2020, as he was readying to skate his fourth campaign at St. Lawrence University Saints, so he decided to take his extra year of eligibility for another season and enter the transfer portal, which saw him show up in western MA.
It was a great decision as he simply burst on the score sheet with his new club, striking for new highs 17 goals (a team best) and 24 points with a +8 rating.
The very decently sized forward 6’3″ 212 lbs. also won himself a piece on a 2021 NCAA National Championship.
With his new hardware and heightened profile, he signs a first pro contract with Rockford IceHogs of the AHL that will extend through the 2022/2023 campaign.
We think the huge question that will need to get answered is will the 24-year old play himself onto the radar of the parent club, Chicago Blackhawks to score himself an NHL contract.
After over 100 games in the midwest, he is dealt to Rochester Americans at the deadline to finish up last season there.
For 2023/2024, Milwaukee Admirals, who had their own deep playoff push last round, see something in the big frame they can use.
He gets reassigned to Atlanta Gladiators for most of last frame, despite doing decently for the contract club.
In 43 ECHL games, he scores 6 goals and 21 assists, but will next play his game for Florida Everblades in 2024/2025.
Colgate University Raiders‘ big 6’4″ 226 lbs. graduate center Ethan Manderville(14) signs a 1st pro contract with Indy Fuel for 2024/2025.
He scored a new best 9 goals and 19 points in 36 games last season.
From Philadelphia, PA, the 24-year old is likely to do well in the ECHL.
Worcester Jr. Railers‘ 1st year center Marcus Chrisafidelis(7) commits to the new D3 team at Keene State College Owls for 2024/2025.
The small 5’6″ 150 lbs. forward actually played 4 games with Westfield State University Owls in 2022/2023 after high school.
He scored 24 goals and 20 assists through 38 games last season, then added 5 goals and 5 assists in 10 playoffs games en route to the 2024 EHL Championship.
The 20-year old from Marlborough, MA will do well playing the independent schedule.
Maryland Black Bears‘ 1st season right wing Ryder Nienhuis(9) picks Adrian College Bulldogs for his 2024/2025 commit.
He came over from 1 successful USPHL/NCDC frame, scoring for Mercer Chiefs.
The 6’4″ 214 lbs. 20-year old forward from Sarnia, ON also did 1 junior session in the GOJHL.
