University Of Maine Black Bears‘ senior right wing Donovan Villeneuve-Houle(96) signs an ato with San Jose Barracuda to get his pro career going.
The 6’1″ 195 lbs. had a college best 15 assists and 24 points last season.
He grabbed a 1st AHL assist in his 2 of 3 games played thus far.
The Montreal, QC native did a pair of SJHL junior seasons for Flin Flon Bombers before heading to school.
At 24-years old, he absolutely ready and signs a deal for 2024/2025.
Dartmouth College Big Green sophomore goaltender Cooper Black(31) puts up some college career best numbers with a 13-8-8 record with a 2.58 GAA and .910 SV%, including 2 shutouts.
The absolute giant 6’8″ 240 lbs. undrafted backstop signs a 2-year entry level contract with Florida Panthers, starting next season, but will join the team on a pto for the playoffs.
From Alpena, MI, he did 2 NAHL campaigns with almost identical stats, but played on a better team to start.
The 22-year old was complete shutdown as a senior USHS-MI.
He reports to affiliate Charlotte Checkers on a pto to start.
Princeton University Tigers‘ senior right wing Ian Murphy(12) takes basically 3 seasons of 10+ goals and assists to a new style of hockey at University Of Notre Dame Fighting Irish for 2024/2025, a graduate frame.
The 5’11” 176 lbs. will have to fight for space, but we think he’ll find it for more scoring.
From Scituate, MA, the 25-year old, who played 2 USHL seasons with Tri-City Storm looks to be getting pro ready.
Plymouth State University Panthers‘ senior defenseman Brett Lockhart(18) signs a 1st pro contract with Port Huron Prowlers of the FPHL and has 1 goal in 5 games, and no points in 3 playoff games, as he wraps up his 1st foray into being a pro.
The 6’1″ 181 lbs. blue liner scored a college best 11 assists and 11 points last season with a +17 rating in 27 games.
He played no junior hockey, heading straight to college from Tilton School USHS-Prep.
We shall see where the 23-year old from Braintree, MA signs next, but has himself a nice start.
University Of Denver Pioneers twice NCAA Division 1 champion, junior defenseman Shai Buium(8) leaves a season on the table to sign a 3-year NHL entry level deal with Detroit Red Wings that will see him on an ato with affiliate Grand Rapids Griffins to get started.
He was selected in the 2nd round of the 2021 draft (#36 overall).
The big 6’4″ 210 lbs. blue liner had all college bests last season with 7 goals and 29 assists for 36 points with a +33 rating in 43 games.
He was chosen after his only USHL session for Sioux City Musketeers.
From San Diego, CA, the 21-year old is still pretty young, but likely just wants to get started with the next step.
Merrimack College Warriors‘ graduate defenseman Liam Dennison(8) played a college high 35 games with 2 goals and 7 assists for 9 points and takes it to a 1st pro contract with Utah Grizzlies, who were just bounced from their postseason bid.
He played 7 ECHL games with no points and a -4 rating.
The small 5’9″ 172 lbs. d-man played 2 USHL seasons with Youngstown Phantoms, scoring a junior best 4 goals and 21 assists with a +5 in his 2nd frame.
From Manotick, ON, the 25-year may sign where he is or look elsewhere as a future rookie.
Quinnipiac University Bobcats‘ sophomore left wing Sam Lipkin(38) forgoes 2 years of school to sign a 3-year NHL entry level deal with draft team (round 7, 2021, #223 overall) Arizona Coyotes after he scored a college high 15 goals in 39 games last season.
The 6’2″ 192 lbs. forward had an assist in his AHL debut.
He scored huge in his 2nd USHL season as captain with Chicago Steel, but won the Clark Cup Championship in his 1st with the team.
From Philadelphia, PA, the 21-year old is likely ready for some playoff hockey with affiliate Tuscon Roadrunners.
Johnstown Tomahawks‘ 2nd year, captain center Zachary Aben(12) takes a junior best 20 goals and 33 assists in 54 NAHL games with a +10 rating to a 2024/2025 commit at Stonehill College Seahawks.
The 5’9″ 181 lbs forward has always been a goal scorer through youth hockey.
From Shavertown, PA, the 20-year old is likely already itching to get it started.
UMass-Lowell Riverhawks‘ senior center, assistant captain Zach Kaiser(23) had a college career best 8 goals and 8 assists in 30 games before turning pro with Trois Riviere Lions upon finishing up Hockey East last season.
The 6’1″ 181 lbs. forward has decently high scoring frames in AJHL juniors.
From Orangeville, ON, the 24-year old signs for 2023/2024 with EV Lindau of Germany3, where we think he will do exceedingly well.
He blows up scoring to the tune of 27 goals and 28 assists in 47 games to earn a contract up from DEL2, where he will join EC Bad Nauheim for 2024/2025.
Holy Cross College Crusaders‘ senior right wing Tyler Ghirardosi(34) will take on a year of eligibility at the rivals’ house, Sacred Heart University Pioneers for a graduate program starting 2024/2025.
The 6’3″ 185 lbs. forward scored a college best 14 goals and 13 assists last season in 39 games with a +13 rating.
From Montrose, BC, he played 3 BCHL sessions for Trail Smoke Eaters.
We fully expect the one-time freshman at Quinnipiac University Bobcats, who played no games 2020/2021 to continue to connect for more points as he goes.
