Category: College Hockey Player

17May

Massimo Rizzo (13)

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University Of Denver Pioneers‘ freshman center Massimo Rizzo(13) is tied for 3rd in NCAA Division 1 scoring at 24 points (10 goals, 14 assists).

He is a Carolina Hurricanes‘ 7th round pick in the 2019 draft (#216 overall) and looking to prove them right with the deep pick.

The 5’10” 174 lbs. forward was a solid performer through 3 years of BCHL with a couple of teams (43 goals and 80 assists in 132 games) and won a 2017 championship with Penticton Vees, the year he arrived from youth hockey.

This is definitely the style player from Burnaby, BC that can break through and find space in the NHL.

After another 40+ points frame, the now junior decides to leave a year on the table and signs a 2-year NHL entry level deal with Philadelphia Flyers, who picked up his playing rights in a trade.

17May

Charles-Alexis Legault (6)

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Quinnipiac University Bobcats‘ sophomore defenseman Charles-Alexis Legault(6) is a Carolina Hurricanes‘ 5th round draft pick in 2023 (#139 overall).

He was selected after winning the 2023 NCAA Division 1 trophy with his underrated college club.

The big looking 6’3″ 214 lbs. blue liner played 2 seasons of juniors, 1st during COVID in the USHL, but went north closer to where his lives in Laval, QC to skate in the BCHL before heading to school.

He still has a ways to go, but some more development camps with the big club probably couldn’t hurt.

putting up 9 goals and 15 assists in 39 games with a monster, league best +36 rating, gets him a serious look and is signed to a 3-year NHL entry level contract by the team that selected him.

17May

Dylan Peterson (13)

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Boston University Terriers‘ senior center Dylan Peterson(13) scored a college best 8 goals and 20 points last season and signs his 2-year NHL entry level contract with draft club St. Louis Blues (3rd round, 2020 #86 overall).

The big 6’4″ 203 lbs. forward did 2 years USNTDP juniors racking up decent point totals before heading to school.

From Roseville, CA, look for the 22-year old to be an impact player as soon as he arrives as a rookie.

16May

Tristan Crozier (16)

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Brown University Bears‘ 2-time captain, senior right wing Tristan Crozier(16) will extend a year of eligibility and head to Merrimack College Crusaders for 2022/2023.

He scored a college career best 6 goals and 9 assists last season in 26 NCAA Division 1 games played.

The 5’11” 183 lbs. forward from North Vancouver, BC spent 4 years in junior hockey, first a pair of seasons in the AJHL, then 2 super good in the BCHL for Nanaimo Clippers before heading to school.

He will definitely be more challenged where he’s headed, but the 24-year old could be ready.

In 38 games, he gets 2 goals and 9 assists on a ride that ends in the Hockey East Finals.

Upon being eliminated, he signs a 1st pro deal with Tulsa Oilers and in 7 ECHL has 1 goal and 3 assists on a non-playoff club.

For his official rookie season, he is setting off to see something different and play elsewhere, signing a 1-year deal with Les Jokers Cergy-Pontoise of Ligue Magnus 2023/2024.

He actually seems to have a decent amount of success in the regular campaign, then through the playoffs, but has decided he won’t want to seek out another contract and retires.

16May

Daimon Gardner (16)

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Clarkson University Golden Knights‘ freshman center Daimon Gardner(16) maybe wants to play his college hockey a little closer to home, enters the transfer portal and will skate for St. Cloud State University Huskies as a sophomore 2024/2025.

The big 6’4″ 201 lbs. Eagle Lake, ON native, Vancouver Canucks‘ 4th round pick in the 2022 draft (#112 overall) forward had an odd little travel through 2 years of USHL with Tri-City Storm split by 1-year of blow-up scoring at Warroad High USHS-MN.

He had 1 goal and 5 assists in ECAC play last season.

We think a happier 20-year old will score more.

15May

Mark Zengerle (89)

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9th year center Mark Zengerle(89) wins a pair of DEL Championships with Eisbaren Berlin and leaves for a new opportunity with rival Straubing Tigers.

It will be his 5th season in the league.

The University Of Wisconsin Badgers‘ forward scored 34 assists and 44 points in 37 NCAA Division 1 games as a senior.

He has never had an NHL contract and played 4 AHL seasons with one short stop in Sweden’s SHL before leaving for his half birth nation to continue his game.

The 33-year old from Rochester, NY must have a nice smile on his face playing in Germany.

He’s been with the same club for 2 years and by his previous marks, he needs to sign with a 4th team on that soil and takes a new country best 15 goals and will skate with Augsburger Panther 2024/2025.

14May

JJ Piccinich (14)

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5th year right wing JJ Piccinich(14) decides it’s time to look outside the box, signing a 1-year deal with Belfast Giants for 2021/2022.

The Paramus, NJ native had an interesting path to turning pro.

Originally a Toronto Maple Leafs‘ 4th round pick in the 2010 draft (#105 overall), he only ever signed with their affiliate Toronto Marlies.

He would next sign to San Antonio Rampage, but was reassigned mostly to affiliate Tulsa Oilers, where he popped in a massive 42 assists.

The 6′ 190 lbs. forward also had a pair of amazing sessions for London Knights, including his 2nd as team captain, scoring 138 points (56-82) in 132 games.

This followed up just a single season at Boston University Terriers.

The 25-year old will bring some good winning to his new club: 2016 Memorial Cup, 2016 OHL Championship and 2019 ECHL Kelly Cup with Newfoundland Growlers.

It’s almost as if he can’t stop winning titles, as his Ireland lands the 2022 EIHL Championship and he ends a career scoring season with a league most goals, assists, points, plus/minus and forward of the year award.

He’s decided to up and leave and try something different though, signing in Norway with Stjernen Hockey.

As he posted a 25 goal and 40 assist frame in 45 games with his new club and has gone on to include an assist in one playoff match, the almost point-per-game Youngstown Phantoms re-signs to stay.

In roughly 90 games, he amasses 110 points and decides to head back to England with the Giants to explode more scoring and look for a title.