Lebanon Valley College Dutchmen graduate left wing Darion Benchich(13) signs a 1st pro contract with Binghamton Black Bears.
The 5’8″ 174 lbs. forward has skated 4 FPHL games, recording an assist.
He only played just over a half of a season in USPHL Premier junior, blowing up scoring before he was wooed to come to college.
The 24-year old should do well as a pro.
Northeastern University Huskies‘ junior right wing Jack Williams(29) leaves a year on the table to sign a 2-year entry level contract unrestricted free agent contract with Columbus Blue Jackets.
The 5’11” 170 lbs. forward skated 14 shifts for 11:09 of ice time with 1 hit, 1 shot block, 1 giveaway and left a 6-1 victory with a +1 rating.
In his final college season, he scored a best 25 assists and 41 points.
From Biddeford, ME, the 23-year old had a very successful 2nd USHL junior season before school, so we do think he will get to scoring once set into a lineup.
Boston University Terriers‘ 2023/2024 commit, left wing Shane Lachance(18) was going to head to 1 season with Youngstown Phantoms before reporting to school, but plans changed.
In 14 USHL games he has a goal and an assist.
The very big 6’4″ 190 lbs. Andover, MA native forward was coming off a solid season with local Junior Bruins, scoring 6 goals and 9 assists in 25 USPHL/NCDC games.
He’s an Edmonton Oilers‘ 6th round pick in the 2021 draft (#186 overall) and the 18-year old son of Scott Lachance, who played 819 NHL games.
In maybe a little bit of a last minute decision, he stayed on for a 2nd season of junior hockey and throws up 33 goals and 21 assists in 62 games with a +13 rating and is ready for Hockey East matchups.
Through 8 games, the xl up-front guy has 2 goals and 3 assists and is looking like he belongs out there.
In his 2nd season, as captain he has another 10+ goals and new best 15 assists and maybe a little off the radar, his playing rights are traded to New Jersey Devils, where he will join a team, looking to remake a giant.
He is named team captain as a sophomore and scores a college best 18 assists and 30 points last season in a run that went all the way to the final game.
No one is surprised he signs, maybe a little conservative 2-year NHL entry level deal and will get started.
University Of Maine Black Bears‘ freshman center, Bradly Nadeau(29) is picking up where he left off after 2 years with Penticton Vees, including consecutive BCHL Championships, most goals, most assists, MVP twice over and now has 7 goals and 5 assists with a +7 rating in 10 games.
Carolina Hurricanes swooped right in selected him in the 1st round of the 2023 draft (#30 overall).
The 5’10” 170 lbs. forward plays like he is constantly being shot from a cannon out there.
From St. Francois-de-Madaswaska, NB, the 18-year old might be a tough sell to stick with school.
He takes a 1st year scoring 19 goals and 27 assists in 37 games with a +20 rating and signs a 3-year entry level contract with the team that chose him for pros.
It wouldn’t be surprising to see him in a Canes‘ jersey immediately.
In the minors, he scores a jaw-dropping 30 goals and 26 assists in 63 AHL games as a rookie, but will have to raise that -20 rating, despite it earns a 1st NHL look.
He skates 16 shifts for 13:01 of ice time with 1 assist, 1 point, 6 shots on net, 1 hit and left a 4-2 loss with a -1 rating.
Not bad at all.
Boston Jr. Rangers‘ 1st year, South Korean-born left wing Jaeseok Lee(85) commits to New England College Pilgrims for 2025/2026.
The 5’11” 170 lbs. forward scored 5 goals and 13 assists in 53 USPHL/NCDC games last season.
He played some of his youth hockey in Russia before leaving to Quebec for high school.
Chicago Blackhawks‘ 7th round pick in the 2021 draft, Providence College Friars‘ junior transfer from a pair of years at University Of Minnesota-Duluth Bulldogs, defenseman Connor Kelley(13) is off to a hot start with his new team, having scored 3 assists in his 1st 3 games.
Almost oddly, the 6’1″ 190 lbs. blue liner didn’t put up many points for his old school team.
He actually hasn’t really ever put up points, even through 2 years with the USNTDP, so may be breaking new ground.
At 20-years old, we fully expect the Maple Grove, MN native to finish college before looking at pro possibilities.
Through 5 years of college hockey, he leaves a +34 player.
He doesn’t sign with his draft club, but instead inks a 2-year AHL deal with Colorado Eagles, where he should do well.
UMass Minutemen right wing Ryan Sullivan(8) will do his senior year at Miami University (Ohio) Redhawks for 2023/2024.
He was a decent scorer for 2 years of USHL junior with Sioux Falls Stampede, but hasn’t equaled the task in college.
The 5’11” 190 lbs. forward from Grosse Pointe, MI started his hockey in the Honeybaked system.
He may find NCHC play a bit easier than Hockey East, but we shall see.
As a graduate player, he would become captain and score a college best 6 goals and 4 assists in 34 games.
He takes these marks to a 1st pro contract with Savannah Ghost Pirates, where in 14 games, he has 2 assists.
East Coast Wizards‘ 2nd year right wing Jake Murphy(13) takes a junior best 13 goals and 24 assists to a 2025/2026 commit at Rivier University Raiders.
The 6’1″ 190 lbs. forward will definitely help take up his new college team’s scoring.
From Arlington, MA, the 21-year old only leaves to up the road from his house to play college.
UMASS Minutemen junior defenseman Ryan Ufko(85) looks to challenge his 8 goal mark, set as a sophomore with 5 already in 16 games, but may not touch that 26 assist tally he posted in his freshman frame.
He has 9 in the current session with a +6 rating.
The 5’10” 181 lbs. blue liner did 2 seasons with Chicago Steel and won the 2021 Clark Cup Championship in his 2nd campaign.
A Nashville Predators‘ 4th round pick in the 2021 draft (#115 overall), the 20-year old will likely have a great senior year, then sign an NHL entry level deal.
As a junior captain, he scores a new college best 10 goals, ties his 16 assists and 26 points.
He is wooed to leave a year of college on the table and signs a 3-year entry level deal with the team that selected him and looks to head to affiliate Milwaukee Admirals to get things started.
As a 1st year d-man, he puts up 8 goals and 21 assists in 70 games with a +3 rating to earn a 1st recall.
In his NHL debut, he plays 20 shifts for 15:37 of ice with 1 hit and 2 giveaways in a 7-3 loss.
Boston University Terriers‘ captain center Ryan Greene(20) leaves a year on the table and signs with draft team Chicago Blackhawks (2nd round, 2022, #57 overall) after scoring a new college high 13 goals and 25 assists in 40 games with a +6 rating.
The 6’2″ 190 lbs. forward has 3 seasons of 20+ assists.
He did 2 high scoring years of USHL juniors for Green Bay Gamblers.
From St. John’s, NL, the 21-year old will likely do well with his power style play and makes his NHL debut, skating 20 shifts for 12:55 ice time, 3 shot blocks, 3 giveaways and went 33% on the face-off dot in a 4-3 shootout win.
