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.
8th year defenseman Shayne Gostisbehere(41) leaves Philadelphia Flyers‘ nest for a 1st time, after 381 NHL games, scoring 60 goals and 159 assists.
The generously listed at 5’11” 180 lbs. blue liner was traded to Arizona Coyotes, as he still has two years left on his 6-year deal signed in 2017.
He has been always known to put up a lot of assists, culminating in his 4th season, where he had 52 helpers.
The 28-year old’s offense has ticked down in the last couple campaigns, but on this new team that has legs, we could see it move back up.
After a couple of trying years in the desert, the former 3-year Union College Bobcats gets himself a trade to a Stanley Cup contender for 2023, Carolina Hurricanes.
We are maybe a little surprised the unrestricted free agent didn’t sign to stay on, but jumps for a little more money than his last deal on a 1-year term for $4.125M with the constantly rebuilding Detroit Red Wings.
Well, looks like he heads back to Carolina on a 3-year, $3.2M AAV deal after posting a 2nd highest assist total at 46 last season.
Maine Mariners‘ 3rd year defenseman Andrew Peski(2) seems to be enjoying his 2nd season with the north New England club, scoring a new ECHL best 13 assists and tying 16 points.
The fairly large 6′ 220 lbs. blue liner did play under an AHL contract to Providence Bruins, coming out of 4 years at University Of North Dakota Fighting Hawks for a couple of seasons before officially signing where he is currently.
From Orleans, ON, he played 3 years of junior hockey, 2 in the CCHL and 1 USHL with all successful in assist scoring.
He would finish up with those 13 assists and 3 goals with a +3 rating, then added another 2 points through 6 playoff matchups to finish out his 2nd frame in Maine.
The d-man will return for a 3rd session to see if they can push it further.
After 3 years in the northeast US, he decides to move on and heads to Metal Ligaen, signing with Rungsted Seier Capital for 2024/2025.
Unrestricted 5th year free agent left wing Cameron Hughes(24) signs a 2-year 2-way deal with Seattle Kracken, getting him slightly closer to his Edmonton, AB home.
Originally a Boston Bruins‘ 6th round pick in the 2015 draft (#165 overall), he was with them through four seasons, scoring a career high 14 goals and 31 assists in 59 AHL games, serving as assistant captain for affiliate Providence Bruins last session.
The 5’11” 181 lbs. forward was senior captain at University Of Wisconsin Badgers, where he tallied 20+ assists as a sophomore and junior.
At just 25-years old with 2 games NHL experience to his resume, he could just be starting to come of age.
He blows up scoring with new career highs in goals, points and plus/minus rating for the affiliate Coachella Valley Firebirds, helping them to the Calder Cup Finals both seasons.
An unrestricted free agent, he signs a 1-year, 2-way deal with Dallas Stars, likely spotting a hole for some play at the higher level.
