Category: College Hockey Player

University Of Wisconsin Badgers‘ graduate left wing Jack Gorniak(20) signs a 1st pro deal for 2023/2024 with Fort Wayne Komets.

The 5’11” 176 lbs. forward is like the complete Wisconsin story, played high school hockey at West Salem High, skated games for Team Wisconsin and only played 2 USHL games for Lincoln Stars as junior hockey.

Undrafted, the 23-year old will likely connect for a good amount of points in the ECHL is our bet.

9 goals and 16 assists takes his pro game up from college to earn himself another full season in a Komets‘ jersey.

Northeast Generals‘ 2nd year right wing Michael Locke(13) takes some phenomenal NA3HL scoring last season with 13 goals, 41 assists for 54 points in 44 games with a +32 rating to his 2024/2025 commit at Manhattanville University Valiants.

The 6′ 170 lbs. forward from Wakefield, MA should score in college like he did in juniors.

At 20-years old, he is likely ready to make the next step in his hockey career.

Canisius College Golden Griffins‘ graduate center Griffin Loughran(13) finishes up at his 3rd school with a decent run of 6 goals and 9 assists in 21 games.

It’s nowhere near the 23 goals and 16 assists in 37 games set as a sophomore at Northern Michigan University Wildcats, but is within the range of regularly striking to connect.

The small 5’7″ 146 lbs. forward has 2 junior hockey frames, but really excelled in his 2nd term with Fargo Force, where he helped them win the 2018 USHL Clark Cup Championship.

From Orchard Park, NY, the 25-year also played his senior year at Michigan State University Spartans, signs a 1st pro deal with Savannah Ghost Pirates and pretty quickly has 2 assists in 5 Echl games with a +2 rating.

He signs with Worcester Railers for 2024/2025 and we think this is a good ECHL team for him to gain league footing.

Hobart College Statesmen senior captain, center Zach Tyson(16) helped his team to the NCAA Division 3 Championship and will head to France2, signing a 1st pro deal with Mont Blanc for 2023/2024.

The 5’8″ 165 lbs. forward had a college high 11 goals last season with his 2 best frames coming as a freshman and junior, where he scored 27 points.

He played 3 sessions of juniors, winning the 2016 USPHL Premier and having his most productive run in his final campaign for South Shore Kings of the USPHL/NCDC.

We see the 25-year old from Dublin, OH playing his way up overseas.

After 18 games, worth 2 goals and 15 assists, he decides to return and signs with Huntsville Havoc of the SPHL for 2024/2025 and we expect him to see scoring success.

10th year center Rylan Schwartz(13) helped his club Lowen Frankfurt win the 2022 DEL2 Championship with 14 points (6 goals, 8 assists) in 12 playoff games, and for his efforts earns a promotion up to their DEL team.

This will be his 7th year playing in either of Germany’s top leagues.

The 5’10” 192 lbs. forward left after a particularly good season for Orlando Solar Bears, scoring 23 goals and 19 assists in 40 ECHL games.

As an unrestricted free agent, graduating top scorer at Colorado College Tigers, he signed a 2-year entry deal with San Jose Sharks.

The 32-year old, who calls where he plays his half birth home, is likely pretty happy to be still playing good hockey.

For 2023/2024, he will stay on for a 3rd campaign with his champion club.

He would move down to DEL2 and signs with EC Kassel Huskies and does ok, especially in the playoffs.

At 34-years old, he is heading out for a new kind of hockey in the EIHL and signs with Glasgow Clan for 2024/2025.

Undrafted defenseman Ryan Wheeler(6) signs fairly quickly after his college team, University Of Connecticut Huskies was eliminated from their deepest career run in Hockey East tournament history.

The 6′ 190 lbs. blue liner had a modest best tying his 2 goals and 4 assists, but elevating to a new high points of 6 in his senior year with a handy +4 rating.

He signs to play out 2021/2022 with Iowa Heartlanders and in his ECHL debut he notched a point, an assist.

The 24-year old Lancaster, NY, twice New Jersey Titans‘ d-man of 20+ points should be able to play a good game, if he can get on a decent enough team.

He was on for his rookie run 2022/2023, scored 1 goal and 10 assists in 59 games, but was released and sign by  Cincinnati Cyclones to finish off the frame.

For 2023/2024, he’s setting new sights and signs a 1-year minor league deal with Adirondack Thunder, bringing him maybe a little closer to home.

After 61 games, getting 10 goals and 12 assists with a -1 rating, he skates 17 playoff matchups, scoring 4 goals and 1 assists with a +2 and he will re-sign to stay in a Thunder sweater, 2024/2025.

Worcester Railers signed Long Island University Sharks‘ graduate left wing Adam Goodsir(18) after he finished up his only season there at the independent school, scoring by miles a new college best 15 goals and 19 assists in 35 games.

The 6′ 194 lbs. forward is off to a good ECHL start scoring 4 assists in 3 games.

He committed to his first school, Michigan State University Spartans after his 2nd USHL season as captain for Tri-City Storm.

His decent size makes the 24-year old from Okemos, MI one to watch.

After posting 5 assists and generally just looking like he belongs out there, he signs with the Railers for his rookie year in 2023/2024.

He actually gets moved in a future considerations deal with Iowa Heartlanders and they will be the team he skates for this season.

Through 53 games, he scores 4 goals and 9 assists with a not so great plus/minus, but he’s a got fit and asked to return for 2024/2025 and wear the Heartlanders‘ colors.

Anaheim Ducks recently acquired Minnesota Wild 6th round pick in the 2019 draft (#172 overall), Boston College Eagles‘ junior center Nikita Nesterenko(62) gets a 2-year NHL entry level deal to leave school a year early to come skate pro.

The 6’2″ 183 lbs. forward had a college career best 13 goals and 21 assists in 36 games that last through the 2nd round of Hockey East tournament.

He gets to skate a first big league game, going 17 shifts for 13:06 of ice time with 4 shots on net and left a 4-1 loss with a -1 rating.

Only 21-years old from Brooklyn, NY there is time for him to develop, but he may be ready to play at the highest level.

He reports to affiliate San Diego Gulls and helps them win games with 16 goals and 21 assists in 70 games and a +6 rating.

Little thought to invite him back to see what more he has to accomplish.