2nd year left wing Ben Berard(39) didn’t score much for Texas Stars, 1 goal and 3 assists in 30 AHL games, but did have an accountable +2 rating.
The 6′ 192 lbs. forward gets picked up by Abbotsford Canucks for 2024/2025, who see his size coming into play to put him more effectively on the scoresheet.
He scored 14 goals as a junior at Cornell University Big Red, then had 17 assists and 28 points in his senior frame.
From Duncan, BC, he played his junior hockey BCHL for Powell River Kings, scoring nicely.
We think the 25-year old does show more inclination towards scoring with his new team, but it may not be exactly breakout style, yet.
Merrimack College Warriors‘ graduate center Will Calverley(36) comes over from 4 years at RIT Tigers, where he managed to score 10+ goals and assists in each of his last three seasons.
The small 5’9″ 174 lbs. firecracker on ice will have to work hard, but could eclipse earlier marks in tougher to play Hockey East competition, but has scored 1 goal and 7 assists in 15 games to get himself going in the right direction.
He played two seasons for Chilliwack Chiefs, running up some big totals in 111 BCHL games.
From Scarborough, ON, this will be an excellent player to watch turn pro.
He finishes up with a very decent 5 goals and 15 assists with a +4 rating in 38 games and a good push to the finals of the Hockey East tournament.
Wasting no time, he signs a 1st deal with Florida Everblades and gets an assist in his ECHL debut, then plants a 1st goal 3 games later.
He would finish the regular frame with the 2 points, then add 5 (3 goals, 2 assists) in 12 games en route to a 2nd straight 2023 Kelly Cup for the team from FLA.
Well, nothing like winning a title to want to return for your sophomore frame in 2023/2024.
He’s probably in a little bit of shock, but he will take place amongst the blue liners with his just traded to team, Iowa Heartlanders.
After a good rookie season with a non-playoff team, scoring 8 goals and 13 assists in 39 games with a -1 rating, he gets a new 1-year deal to return to be a Heartlanders for 2024/2025.
MCLA Trailblazers‘ senior defenseman Nathan Walerowicz(44) transferred from little use at Finlandia University Lions and played a college high 21 games, scoring 3 assists.
He’s pretty big at 6’1″ 203 lbs. signed with Elmira River Sharks upon graduation, but only figured in a single appearance.
For 2024/2025, he will play his FPHL rookie season with the newly launched Monroe Moccasins.
From Sanborn, NY, the 25-year old, former EHL New York Applecore will like do well there as a 1st year pro.
Worcester Jr. Railers‘ 1st EHL year right wing Declan Chapman(3) is continuing to keep things close to home, Douglas, MA, by selecting Assumption University Greyhounds‘ commit for 2024/2025.
The 5’9″ 170 lbs. forward came out of strong play in high school hockey with a USPHL/NCDC frame that maybe wasn’t quite adding up for him to jump down.
It didn’t seem like it took him too much time to settle on a good team to continue his game with.
Boston University Terriers‘ senior center Jay O’Brien(18) leaves college hockey scoring a new best 24 assists and 32 points to sign a 1st AHL pro contract for 2023/2024 with Toronto Marlies.
The 5’11” 185 lbs. forward had 10 goals in 24 games as a junior.
He transferred to the school from a freshman year at Providence College Friars that was maybe a little early for the Hingham, MA native to attend, as he had only a few games of junior experience coming out of 2 years at Thayer Academy USHS-Prep, where he would emerge as a Philadelphia Flyers‘ 1st round pick in the 2018 draft (#19 overall)
They elected to not sign him, potentially due to an injury bug that has seemed to follow him through college hockey, despite scoring pretty effectively in each of those frames.
Next he would leave for a session in the BCHL with Penticton Vees that restored his scoring punch, setting him up to return to school.
No doubt, he will have to fight for room to score where he’s heading, but could very well find some light.
The 23-year old is likely just ready to get started and prove himself at the next level, pro, except suffers yet another unqualified injury and sits the entire frame.
For 2024/2025, Charlotte Checkers take the health gamble.
3rd year left wing Mitchell Balmas(92) will return to Sheffield Steelers for a 2nd season, after scoring 23 goals and 43 assists in 54 games with a +23 rating.
The 5’11” 168 lbs. forward has definitely been able to find the net throughout his playing time, which started with 4 campaigns of QMJHL before deciding to head to St. Mary’s University Huskies for 3 frames.
He played most of his 3rd year at college, but left to sign with Springfield Thunderbirds.
For his rookie season, he signed with Iowa Wild and played mostly for them before heading overseas next.
From Sydney, NS, the 26-year old will definitely continue to do well in the EIHL.
Worcester Jr. Railers‘ 2nd year right wing Thor Hansen(18) takes a junior EHL best scoring 12 goals and 18 assists in 36 games to a 2024/2025 commit at the new D3 Keene State College Owls.
The fairly big 6’3″ 174 lbs. 21-year old forward from Hawthorne, NJ should connect with the independent schedule of his new college team.
USNTDP 2nd year right wing Brodie Ziemer(2) ran up 35 goals, 94 points and a +54 rating last season to be selected by Buffalo Sabres in the 3rd round of the 2024 draft (#71 overall).
The 5’11” 196 lbs. forward is set to go to University Of Minnesota Golden Golphers for 2024/2025.
From Carver, MN, the 18-year old is essentially staying at home for school.
Buffalo Sabres‘ 3rd round pick in the 2016 draft (#86 overall), defenseman Casey Fitzgerald(4) scores a 1st NHL recall and skates a full slate of 27 shifts for 16:42 of ice time and was busy with 2 shots, 5 hits, 2 takeaways, an assist and 5 minutes for fighting, but leaves an overtime loss with a +1 rating.
The 5’11” 181 lbs., former two-time Boston College Eagles‘ captain was never exactly the biggest scorer at school, but did pocket 17 goals and 65 assists in 151 NCAA Division 1 games with a very accountable +26 rating.
He may not reach almost 1100 games in the big league like his New Jersey Devils’ General Manager dad, Tom Fitzgerald, but he still should be able to knock out a formidable career.
After 23 games with 3 assists and a -1 rating, he gets put on waivers to be reassigned, but Florida Panthers swoop in, seeing something in his game they want and claim his rights.
We can only watch to see how he fits into their lineup.
He only plays 4 games with the Cats, then 2 in the playoffs, but not good for any points.
They see something they can potentially use to move forward and sign him to a 1-year, 2-way deal in 2023/2024.
Reassigned for the entire frame to the affiliate, Charlotte Checkers, he does decently and is a very accountable +22 rating to pull down a new 2-year, 1-way in the 2nd contract with New York Rangers that may get him some playing time, but mostly he will be pivotal with Hartford Wolf Pack.
Vermont Lumberjacks‘ 3rd year center Trent King(12) commits to Franklin Pierce University Ravens for 2024/2025.
He takes 40+ games played, scoring 39 and 38 points to his new school.
The 5’10” 155 lbs. forward played his way up from the EHLP, where he also scored well.
From Malone, NY, the 21-year old will definitely help his Northeast 10 team.
