Category: College Hockey Player

11Jul

Alex Turcotte (38)

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Los Angeles Kings‘ 1st round pick in the 2019 draft (#5 overall) rookie center Alex Turcotte(38) has been sort of quietly surviving his rookie season playing hockey in a pandemic with affiliate Ontario Reign, sort of quietly grabbing a couple of snipers and 10 assists in 20 AHL games on a non-playoff contending team.

Nothing like the pair of seasons in the USNTDP program that got him selected super early and saw him commit to University Of Wisconsin.

The 5’11” 185 lbs. forward only lasted one season in college hockey before deciding to sign his 3-year entry level deal and get started.

At still just 20 years old, the recent WJC U20 gold medal winner could benefit from more time in the minors but in a better session could perform on the scoresheet like he did and could get the recall from a team that’s also in need of some scoring punch.

After posting 3 goals and 7 assists in 18 games with a +10 rating, he scores himself an NHL recall and debut.

In his 1st game, he skates 20 shifts for 12:08 ice time with 3 shots, 1 take away, 1 shot block, 2 penalty minutes and was a -1 in a 6-3 loss.

Recalled for a 1st time after exploding scoring in the minors, he pots a 1st NHL goal in 14 tries over 3 seasons to finally get it done.

He is showing effective play at both levels and is rewarded with a 3-year deal through 2026/2027 to stay in a Kings‘ jersey.

 

11Jul

Davis Kinne (3)

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New York Applecore 1st year defenseman Davis Kinne(3) commits to Neumann University Knights for 2024/2025.

The 5’11” 185 lbs. blue liner brings with him an EHL junior best 11 goals and 39 assists (good for 5th in the league).

He had previously done a year of NA3HL with Northeast Generals, scoring very well for himself there.

From Swampscott, MA, the 20-year old is considered a good thinker and now scorer out there to help his college team.

10Jul

Mitch Gillam (30)

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5th year goaltender Mitch Gillam(30) takes a good, much shortened season for Wichita Thunder, posting a 4-2 record with a 2.47 GAA and .927 SV% to a new deal with Indy Fuel for 2021/2022.

The 6′ 174 lbs., former 4-year Cornell University Big Red backstop put up real solid, good numbers at school (47-28-17) with a 2.15 GAA and .923 SV%.

He’s definitely made a career out of playing in the ECHL with 133 games to his credit, but almost oddly in his only AHL appearance with Bridgeport Sound Tigers left with a 1.54 GAA and .944 SV%, but has received no future looks from the top farm league.

If the 29-year old starts strong, he most definitely should earn another look from the level up, but we think he may set his sights on overseas options after this frame.

He will take what was a pretty good season with a 17-12-1 record to a new adventure, signing for 2022/2023 with Manglerud Star of Fjordkraft-ligaen.

After a bit of a rough go with his initial club, he would be traded to Valerenga, where things would improve dramatically, as he went 8-4 with a 2.08 GAA and .923 SV%, but has decided to push on and sign with Odense Bulldogs for 2023/2024 and skate in Metal Ligaen.

He’s not exactly doing so badly in Denmark, but he’s heading back to EliteHockey Ligaen, signing with his 3rd team, Frisk Asker.

In 6 games, he posts a 4-1 record with a 1.82 GAA and .932 SV%, then appears in 10 playoff games.

We are thinking maybe the job isn’t done here, so he signs on to where an ‘Asker jersey again in 2024/2025.

10Jul

Shane Kuzmeski (14)

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Wheeling Nailers‘ rookie defenseman Shane Kuzmeski(14) wasn’t exactly the biggest scorer through 4 years at Clarkson University.

He left school with a peak performance of one goal and 5 assists.

In 17 ECHL games, he a new goals scored in a season record with 2 and added 4 assists, which makes it look like turning pro was good for the blue liner to connect on the scoresheet.

He was able to put up a healthy amount of helpers through two years in the NAHL (18, 24) though, so maybe it’s an environment thing.

The Grayslake, IL native played limited games in 2021/2022 for Iowa Heartlanders, then had more luck with Utah Grizzlies, striking for 5 assists in 14 games last season.

For 2022/2023, he signs a new deal with Norfolk Admirals and may just be able to find some better footing.

He actually spends zero time where he signs and instead splits time with Indy Fuel, doing remarkably well before a trade sends him to Trois-Rivieres Lions for the remainder of the session.

Looks like he will lace up the skates for a 6th league team in 2023/2024, as he signs with Fort Wayne Komets, as place he likely hopes he can stick around for awhile.

And before he can even throw on the skates for a home game, he gets dealt to Florida Everblades, where he should be super happy.

He is doing pretty well with 1 goal and 4 assists with a +6 rating, but Wichita Thunder want him for their blue line and trade to get him.

And lookie there, in 3 games he has 2 assists and a +3 rating.

Through 35 games, he scores 1 goal and 7 assists with a +14 rating and is invited to return for the Thunder.

09Jul

Robbie Czarnik (77)

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12th year center Robbie Czarnik(77) signs on for a 3rd tour with Ravensburg Towerstars after posting exactly 30 assists for a 2nd time and adding 15 goals with a +13 rating, then popped in another 10 points in 13 playoff games.

His 241 games in DEL2 mark the most in any league he’s played.

The 6′ 190 lbs. former Los Angeles Kings‘ 3rd round pick in the 2008 draft (#63 overall) has scored 120 goals and 145 assists with a +54 rating and a 2019 Championship in his 1st run with current club.

He was pretty much a similar sniper in the ECHL through 183 games.

The 32-year old from Detroit, MI, who played his college hockey for just two years at University Of Michigan Wolverines has to have a little smile on his face, seeing how smoothly things go.

He signs on for a 6th season in a Towerstars‘ jersey 2024/2025, where he recorded his 3rd straight 40+ point session.

09Jul

Ryan Cox (41)

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Toledo Walleye rookie left wing Ryan Cox(41) scored his 1st ECHL goal, the game winner for his new club.

The 5’11” 181 lbs. forward has a very impressive 5 goals and 4 assists in 5 games.

He comes in from 5 seasons at Niagara University Purple Eagles, where he left as a graduate student with a new college best 14 goal and 14 assists in 40 games.

The 24-year old from St. Albert, AB with 3 multi-point games already should be in line to get a new deal to stay fairly quickly.

On his ato he comes away with a tidy 5 goals and 6 assists in 12 games, but somehow doesn’t sign and moves on to a agree to terms with Orlando Solar Bears for 2023/2024.

After 35 games, recording 7 goals and 6 assists, he is traded to Reading Royals.

To complete an earlier trade, he goes to Kalamazoo Wings for 2024/2025.

09Jul

Chris Harpur (96)

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Undrafted defenseman Chris Harpur(96) stuck at Niagara University for a year of eligibility and in his 5th year put up new college bests in assists (14) and points (17) before deciding to turn pro, signing for the remainder of the season with Orlando Solar Bears.

The massively solid 6’3″ 201 lbs. blue liner from Niagara-On-The-Lake, ON played all his junior hockey up north and had an outstanding final year with Cowichan Valley Capitals, putting up 7 goals and 32 assists in 54 BCHL games.

Well, the 25-year old is off to a good start, because he netted his 1st pro point, an assist in his ECHL debut.

He came away from his 1st stint with 2 helpers and a +1 rating to be offered a new contract for 2022/2023 to stay.

Playing a full tilt of 72 games, getting 2 goals and 9 assists for the d-man isn’t so bad, although he could clean up his -8 rating.

His efforts for the big d-man are seen and he’s offered to return to put on that Solar Bears‘ sweater once again for 2023/2024.

Loaned up to Syracuse Crunch, through 17 games he records 4 assists with a +2 rating and the big d-man is fitting right in, so is re-upped for a 2nd AHL season.