Kalpa‘s rookie defenseman Aapeli Rasanen(22) left his final year at Boston College behind possibly not knowing how the upcoming season would turn out during a raging pandemic, as he signed soon after 2019/2020 was aborted.
The 6′ 207 lbs. forward came to life scoring in his final year at college with 11 goals and 13 assists in 34 NCAA games with a +14 rating.
He continued on that path his first year in Liiga grabbing 13 tallies and 9 helpers.
It’s not certain what his future will be with Edmonton Oilers, who drafted him in the 6th round of 2016 (#153 overall) and still retains his contract rights.
The 22-year old is back home in Finland and maybe not looking back, which is too bad because he was always a good player to watch in Hockey East.
He spends his 1st 4 pro years with the same team, scoring decently, but maybe it’s time for a rival switch, so he signs with Tappara for 2024/2025.
Northern Cyclones‘ 2nd year USPHL Premier center Billy Dougherty(9) takes a junior best 35 assists to a 2024/2025 commit to Salem State University Vikings.
The 6’1″ 165 lbs. forward actually scored better with 26 goals and 55 points in his 1st year of junior hockey.
From Levittown, PA, the 20-year is likely set to start a MASCAC schedule.
Johnstown Tomahawks‘ big 6’4″ 205 lbs. left wing Reid Lune(13) puts up a 3 year NAHL best scoring 10 goals and 18 assists for 28 points in 47 games to a University Of Wisconsin-River Falls Falcons commit for 2024/2025.
He initially started junior hockey in the NA3HL, but worked his way up after play during the COVID 2020/2021 season.
From Peoria, IL, the 20-year old is surely to be an impact player at college.
Maryland Black Bears 1st year right wing Michael Urgo(8) commits to SUNY-Oswego State Lakers for 2024/2025.
In 51 NAHL games, he had 3 goals and 11 assists with a +8 rating.
The 5’9″ 174 lbs. forward from Davidson, MD did his youth hockey close to home before leaving for 1 CCHL season of junior hockey.
We think the 21-year old will step up nicely to help his new college club.
Boston Jr. Rangers‘ 2nd junior season right wing Spencer Sykes(17) commits to UMASS-Dartmouth Corsairs for 2024/2025.
The 6’1″ 174 lbs. forward from Colorado Springs, CO played an EHL high 48 games, getting a new best 10 goals and 18 assists and also helped them capture the 2023 Championship in his 1st frame.
He did all of his youth hockey before coming east, but obviously likes it with his choice of college.
Holy Cross College Crusaders‘ senior captain, right wing Grayson Constable(13) is heading off to play an independent schedule in 2023/2024 for Long Island University Sharks.
The 6’2″ 201 lbs. forward scored a college career best 6 assists and 12 points last season.
For juniors, he skated a couple of frames in the BCHL, but really came alive after switching to the AJHL, hooking up a captain for Bonnyville Pontiacs.
The 25-year old Lethbridge, AB native does better with his new college club, scoring new bests 9 goals and 9 assists.
He signs with Coventry Blaze of the EIHL for his rookie campaign, 2024/2025.
Stonehill College Seahawks‘ sophomore defenseman William Tripp(44) was likely a lot disappointed with his output last season after coming off a freshman frame, where he produced 1 goal and 23 assists in 25 games with a +17 rating.
The last schedule was definitely much more weighted in D1 opponents, as opposed to the college club’s 1st year at the higher level.
From Lakeville, MA, the 5’11” 161 lbs. blue liner enters the transfer portal and will play for Connecticut College Camels as a junior in 2024/2025.
We look for the 22-year old, who only did 1 USPHL/NCDC with South Shore Kings before school to do well with the full D3 schedule.
12th year, small 5’9″ 161 lbs. defenseman Chay Genoway(39) maybe wants to take the edge off playing for big squads in the KHL or SHL, as he’s been doing for the past 8 seasons.
For 2022/2023, he has signed with EC Salzburg of ICEHL and will definitely find some room to score big in Austria’s top hockey league.
In fact, in his 1st 2 games, the former University Of North Dakota Fighting Hawks already has a goal and an assist.
Undrafted, he signed an entry level deal with Minnesota Wild, yet only skated 1 NHL game at the end of his rookie season, coming away with an assist.
The 35-year old from Morden, MB is likely still just having too much fun playing the game to quit.
He posts 10 goals and 17 assists in 45 games, then adds another 8 points in 16 playoff matchups en route to the 2023 ICEHL Championship to earn himself another year on the now 36-year old’s contract.
At 37-years of age, he continues to contribute for a 2nd league title in a row and he is to be kept on in a Red Bulls‘ uniform for a 3rd straight year, 2024/2025 (and another championship).
American International College Yellowjackets‘ Finnish-born, senior center Julius Janhonen(11) heads home to Liiga to sign with HPK for 2024/2025.
The 6’1″ 185 lbs. forward played a college high 40 games and scored a best 19 assists and 24 points last season.
He did all his youth and junior hockey back home for the 25-year old and should do well upon returning.
9th year defenseman Davis Vandane(55) will head back to IceHL, where he was for most of 2021/2022, before leaving at the end to help Lowen Frankfort win the DEL2 Championship, scoring 3 goals and 7 assists in 12 games.
The big 6’4″ 207 lbs. blue liner was rewarded with a 1-year move up to DEL with the same club, where he would score 7 goals and 20 assists with a +11 rating in 56 games.
He decides not to stay and return to Austrian hockey for 2023/2024, signing with HC Bolzano Foxes.
From Yorkton, SK, the 31-year old played 3 WHL seasons for Spokane Chiefs and Prince Albert Raiders before heading to 2 sessions at University Of Calgary Dinos.
He’s got to be pretty happy with the way things have turned out.
It looks like he’s in a habit of jumping back-and-forth in between Germany and Austria and heads back to the former for 2024/2025 with Krefeld Pinguine.
