Defenseman Taylor Brierley(2) decided to enter the transfer portal and leave 4 years at Union College Dutchmen, where he didn’t get to play in 2020/2021 for Wilkes University Colonels.
From a scoring perspective it worked wonders as he struck for 3 goals and 22 assists in 24 D3 games.
The 5’10” 175 lbs. blue liner had 10+ assists through 2 years of USHL juniors, most recently with Dubuque Fighting Saints.
He will take his new scoring prowess to a deal with Chambery of France2.
The 25-year old from East Grand Forks, MN seems to be starting a little low on the pro hockey chain, but look for him to move up quickly.
In 12 games, he scores 3 assists, but decides to head back, closer to home, signing again with Birmingham Bulls, scoring 1 goal and 6 assists in 17 SPHL games with a +19 rating, which gets noticed and loaned up to Fort Wayne Komets, quite a nicely ECHL landing spot.
Idaho Steelheads‘ 2nd year center Zane Franklin(37) returns after an ECHL season best 16 goals and 33 points.
He had 23 assists as a rookie with Allen Americans.
The 5’11” 201 lbs. forward played 4 WHL seasons and was captain for Kamloops Blazers in his final year before turning pro.
He turned pro in that 2020/2021 year, that lost a lot of teams to COVID restrictions, but did manage to skate 60 games.
For his next frame though, he decided to attend 1 year at University Of Saskatchewan Huskies, then signed with Reading Royals for 4 games and 5 points, but would get traded to his current club.
The 24-year old from Marwayne, AB is likely looking to continue to up his game.
Almost oddly, he is sent to Cincinnati Cyclones in a deal for future considerations after running up 7 goals and 15 assists in 23 games, meaning he will be an asset for his new Eastern Conference club.
Quite potentially, voicing displeasure with what occurred sending him to another team in the league, he ups and leaves for Vienna Capitals and will continue to play his hockey in IceHL for the time being.
Maine Nordiques‘ 3rd year defenseman Evan Orloff(7) has chosen St. Lawrence University Saints for his 2024/2025 commit.
Through 25 NAHL games this season, he has 5 goals and 8 assists with a +16 rating, which projects him to surpass last year’s best: 8-14 marks in 50.
The fairly large 6’3″ 194 lbs. blue liner from Kensington, MD did 2 years in New Jersey Rockets‘ system before heading to his current club.
Undrafted, he’s been wooed higher in juniors, but the 20-year has stuck and now hopefully will become a difference maker at school.
Quinnipiac University Bobcats‘ sophomore center Sam Lipkin(28) has 9 goals and 11 assists in 17 games with a +11 rating, which has him closing in on the 14 tallies he had last season, but ascending to that 29 helpers’ mark will be a feat.
The 6’2″ 190 lbs. forward is an Arizona Coyotes‘ 7th round pick in the 2021 draft (#223 overall).
He had 2 successful runs through the USHL and was named captain of Chicago Steel in his 2nd frame, scoring 36 goals and 35 assists in 59 games with a +21 rating.
From Philadelphia, PA, the 20-year old is still setting himself up nicely.
Amherst College Mammoths‘ junior left wing Matt Toporowski(41) got the 4-3 game-winner in overtime away against Curry College Colonels at Canton Ice House on a weekday afternoon back from break.
The 5’10” 183 lbs. forward has 4 goals and 3 assists in 10 games as he looks to eclipse marks set earlier in his college run.
From Kirkland, QC, he did some time with Junior Bruins, but split that season with the CCHL before going belly up for COVID to shut down the year before he was to head to school.
He plays like he wants to score goals.
3rd year defenseman Elijah Vilio(41) re-signs to stay with Savannah Ghost Pirates after going there mid-last season from Norfolk Admirals.
Oddly, but maybe not, his best frame in ECHL so far has been as a rookie with Atlanta Gladiators, scoring 9 goals and 14 assists in 50 games.
The 6’2″ 205 lbs. blue liner from Abbotsford, BC played 4 years at Trinity Western University Spartans and able to connect for a good amount of points.
We are definitely looking at him to have an outstanding upcoming frame in a place he wants to be and the 26-year old could even get called up for a 1st time.
Through 10 games, he posts 1 goal and 5 assists with a +2 rating, but maybe thinking he is a little boxed in, so gets wooed across the pond to sign with Dundee Stars of the EIHL, which should also equal a good fit.
Philadelphia Hockey Club 2nd year left wing, captain Elijah Clow(8) is set to put up junior hockey best stats in all categories with a new high 5 goals, tying 10 assists and 15 points in just 28 EHL games before he commits to Alvernia University Knights for 2024/2025.
The small 5’7″ 170 lbs. forward from St. Sault Marie, MI came east pretty quickly.
He will turn 21-years old just as he arrives.
Dubuque Fighting Saints‘ 1st year left wing Nicky Romeo(29) selects UMASS Lowell Riverhawks for a 2025/2026 commit.
He came in this season from scoring in 15 NAHL games with Maine Nordiques, 13 goals and 8 assists with a +17 rating, as team captain to earn a call-up.
The 5’10” 165 lbs. forward likely wants to really ready himself with a full USHL frame before leaving for school.
From New City, NY, the 18-year old has definitely been showing plenty of pop.
New Jersey Titans‘ Russian-born center Nikita Meshcheryakov(24) commits to Princeton University Tigers for 2024/2025.
The 6’2″ 187 lbs. forward has 11 goals and 9 assists in 24 NAHL games with a +4 rating, his only full year of juniors.
He managed to come over just as COVID was relaxing and play a short USHL frame before heading to a year at Northwood School USHS-Prep, where he detonated scoring.
The still young 18-year old is making a name for himself quickly.
Assumption University Greyhounds‘ freshman left wing Jonathan Surrette(10) has a team leading 12 goals and 8 assists for 20 points in 14 games with a +12 rating.
The 6′ 191 lbs. forward had a big 1 USPHL/NCDC session for Junior Bruins, getting 22 goals and 20 assists in 49 games before committing.
From Woburn, MA, you have to wonder if the 20-year is a little surprised his is doing so well at D3 hockey.
Jonathan Surrette (9)
