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.
Boston Jr. Terriers‘ 1st year right wing Gavin Dach(16) commits as a freshman to Assumption University Greyhounds for 2024/2025.
The 6’1″ 201 lbs. forward from Bradford, PA started his junior hockey with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Knights, where he split time between USPHL/NCDC and Premier.
He put up 10 goals and 21 assists last season.
From Bradford, PA, the 21-year old
Boston College Eagles‘ senior center Liam Izyk(26) enters the transfer portal and will lace up the skates in 2023/2024 for a graduate frame at Sacred Heart University Pioneers.
The Blackie, AB native played 3 years in the AJHL for Fort McMurray Oil Barons, scoring quite nicely in each frame before committing to his 1st school, University Of Alabama-Huntsville Chargers.
At 6’1″ 187 lbs., the 24-year old scored best as a freshman, but we’re thinking Atlantic Hockey has more room for him to find the net.
He scores a new by short best 4 goals and 4 assists and will take that to a 1st pro deal with RoKi of Mestis.
Melbourne, Australian-born University Of Alabama-Huntsville Chargers‘ rookie center Tyrone Bronte(18) had a very successful COVID blasted season in the college ranks scoring 4 goals and 9 assists in 22 NCAA/WHCA games.
Always a solid scorer through 3 NAHL seasons for Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Knights, he finished with a junior career best 36 assists and 48 points with a +21 rating.
It looks as though, he’s been away from home from a fairly young age simply plying his hockey talents to see how far this now 21-year old can take it.
We had no idea he entered the transfer portal and appears to be excited coming out the other side, heading to Michigan Tech Huskies for 2021/2022.
He finishes up his 3rd season, scoring a college best 6 goals and 8 assists in a high 35 games and takes these totals to a 1st deal with KHL Sisak of AlpsHL for his rookie frame, 2024/2025.
Whitecourt Wolverines‘ center Joey Melo(20) commits to Anchorage Alaska-Anchorage Seawolves after a spectular AJHL frame , netting rookie of the year honors.
The 6′ 174 lbs. forward from Georgetown, ON started juniors with a USPHL/NCDC season for South Shore Kings.
He’s still just 19 years old and just may pop up on radar with a little indie schedule play.
Trois Rivières Lions‘ center Cedric Lacroix(19) has finally seemingly arrived at a team he feels comfortable being with, as he’s scoring a decent 5 goals and 5 assists in 18 ECHL games on a non-playoff team.
He’s had forays in the AHL, but only when he 1st arrived and played 1 game with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins, getting 2 goals, but then being reassigned for the rest of the frame to Wheeling Nailers was odd.
His 4 seasons at University Of Maine Black Bears all looked relatively similar.
It’s a little tough to say why the 28-year old from Shefford, QC hasn’t found his hockey home.
In what is a no surprise move, he decides to move on and signs with Pioneers Vorarlberg of IceHL for 2023/2024.
He scores 6 goals and 8 assists in 19 games, but something isn’t right, so he switches to agreeing to the remainder of the frame with Vasterviks IK of Allsvenskan.
For 2024/2025, he heads back to Austria, signing with HC Pusteral Wolfe.
7th year center Evan Jasper(26) signs into his 7th overseas league, the IceHL for 2024/2025, joining Vienna Capitals.
His best scoring across the way has been 2 years in DEL and 1 VHL.
The 5’10” 190 lbs. forward from Whitby, ON lit up 3 years of OJHL for Cobourg Cougars before committing to Sacred Heart University Pioneers.
Already 32-years old, he still appears to be making his mark and playing at a great level.
Michigan State University Spartans‘ Belarus-born freshman defenseman Artyom Levshunov(5) grabs the 2nd spot in the 2024 NHL draft by Chicago Blackhawks, making him the highest chosen player from his country ever selected, beating out a mark that stood for almost 30 years.
The 6’2″ 210 lbs. blue liner looks to be a complete product and one they look to pin their hopes on to rebuild their defense.
Just 18-years old, he came over for a single USHL season with Green Bay Gamblers and then got right to work last season, scoring 9 goals and 26 assists in 38 games with a +27 rating.
He does look to be the full picture they are looking for.
Now, will he report back to his school team?
We didn’t really hear much about him in development camp, but maybe we also didn’t need to, as he was making an impression and signs a 3-year NHL entry level deal for 2024/2025.
4th year center Mason Jobst(26) circles back to re-sign for 2022/2023 with the team he originally inked last season with, Rochester Americans before being dealt late to San Jose Barracuda.
The 5’8″ 185 lbs. forward had a career tying 5 goals and best 10 assists and 15 points in 2021/2022, but could bring his on ice accountability up a bit.
He averaged 40+ points per frame in 4 years, twice captain at Ohio State University Buckeyes, so can definitely put up stats.
Almost oddly he didn’t strike as much until his 3rd year of juniors with Muskegon Lumberjacks.
We look for the 28-year old from Speedway, IN to have a career best session and potentially move on, but we shall see.
He scores a career best 22 goals and 28 assists in 64 games with some good playoff points to add and earns a 1-year, 2-way deal from Buffalo Sabres to continue, his 1st NHL deal in 5 seasons.
We also have to think he’s on a bit of a short list for a recall from the Amerks.
2nd year defenseman Eric Gotz(6) will take a successful rookie season with Krefeld Pinguine of DEL2 to Metal Ligaen, where he signs with Aalborg Pirates for 2024/2025.
The 5’10” 181 lbs. blue liner played 4 years at Michigan Tech Huskies, then did a year of eligibility at University Of Vermont Catamounts.
He was a 3-time college 10+ assist provider, but didn’t really burst like he did his 2nd NAHL season with Minnesota Wilderness, where he potted 39 helpers.
From Hermantown, MN, the 25-year old should do quite well in Denmark’s top league.
