University Of Denver Pioneers‘ 3rd year defenseman Sean Behrens(2) is wooed to leave 1 session of college on the table to sign a 3-year NHL entry level contract for the 2nd round pick in the 2021 draft (#61 overall) by Colorado Avalanche after he wins 2 NCAA Division 1 Championships.
The 5’10” 170 lbs. forward had 2 successful USNTDP sessions before school.
Signed to an ato to join affiliate Colorado Eagles, he scores a first assist in his 1 AHL game, then is a +2 in another playoff matchup.
The 21-year old is likely just ready to get started.
Youngstown Phantoms and PAL Jr. Islanders‘ defenseman Coleson Hanrahan(47) commits to UMASS Minutemen for 2024/2025.
The 5’10” 170 lbs. blue liner had 7 goals and 36 assists in 39 USPHL/NCDC games to get loaned up to the USHL for 23 games, getting 2 goals and 5 assists with a +5 rating before choosing his school.
He was 2023/2024 Defenseman Of The Year in his 1st year with the former club and remarkably played himself up from Premier just the campaign prior.
The Longmeadow, MA native is 19-years old, so will be worth a watch as he becomes draft age ready.
Northeastern University Huskies‘ sophomore goaltender Grant Riley(37) only had 2 starts in his time with the team, enters the transfer portal and will next tend net for Lake State Superior University Lakers as a junior, 2024/2025.
The 6’4″ 201 lbs. net minder played a shortened USHL COVID infested season, but mostly his only junior session was in the BCHL for Chiliwack Chiefs, going 25-10-2 with a 2.47 GAA and .907 SV%.
From Rochester, NY, the 21-year old will likely get a lot more opportunities to shine at his new school.
Kalpa‘s rookie defenseman Aapeli Rasanen(22) left his final year at Boston College behind possibly not knowing how the upcoming season would turn out during a raging pandemic, as he signed soon after 2019/2020 was aborted.
The 6′ 207 lbs. forward came to life scoring in his final year at college with 11 goals and 13 assists in 34 NCAA games with a +14 rating.
He continued on that path his first year in Liiga grabbing 13 tallies and 9 helpers.
It’s not certain what his future will be with Edmonton Oilers, who drafted him in the 6th round of 2016 (#153 overall) and still retains his contract rights.
The 22-year old is back home in Finland and maybe not looking back, which is too bad because he was always a good player to watch in Hockey East.
He spends his 1st 4 pro years with the same team, scoring decently, but maybe it’s time for a rival switch, so he signs with Tappara for 2024/2025.
Northern Cyclones‘ 2nd year USPHL Premier center Billy Dougherty(9) takes a junior best 35 assists to a 2024/2025 commit to Salem State University Vikings.
The 6’1″ 165 lbs. forward actually scored better with 26 goals and 55 points in his 1st year of junior hockey.
From Levittown, PA, the 20-year is likely set to start a MASCAC schedule.
Johnstown Tomahawks‘ big 6’4″ 205 lbs. left wing Reid Lune(13) puts up a 3 year NAHL best scoring 10 goals and 18 assists for 28 points in 47 games to a University Of Wisconsin-River Falls Falcons commit for 2024/2025.
He initially started junior hockey in the NA3HL, but worked his way up after play during the COVID 2020/2021 season.
From Peoria, IL, the 20-year old is surely to be an impact player at college.
Maryland Black Bears 1st year right wing Michael Urgo(8) commits to SUNY-Oswego State Lakers for 2024/2025.
In 51 NAHL games, he had 3 goals and 11 assists with a +8 rating.
The 5’9″ 174 lbs. forward from Davidson, MD did his youth hockey close to home before leaving for 1 CCHL season of junior hockey.
We think the 21-year old will step up nicely to help his new college club.
Boston Jr. Rangers‘ 2nd junior season right wing Spencer Sykes(17) commits to UMASS-Dartmouth Corsairs for 2024/2025.
The 6’1″ 174 lbs. forward from Colorado Springs, CO played an EHL high 48 games, getting a new best 10 goals and 18 assists and also helped them capture the 2023 Championship in his 1st frame.
He did all of his youth hockey before coming east, but obviously likes it with his choice of college.
Stonehill College Seahawks‘ sophomore defenseman William Tripp(44) was likely a lot disappointed with his output last season after coming off a freshman frame, where he produced 1 goal and 23 assists in 25 games with a +17 rating.
The last schedule was definitely much more weighted in D1 opponents, as opposed to the college club’s 1st year at the higher level.
From Lakeville, MA, the 5’11” 161 lbs. blue liner enters the transfer portal and will play for Connecticut College Camels as a junior in 2024/2025.
We look for the 22-year old, who only did 1 USPHL/NCDC with South Shore Kings before school to do well with the full D3 schedule.
12th year, small 5’9″ 161 lbs. defenseman Chay Genoway(39) maybe wants to take the edge off playing for big squads in the KHL or SHL, as he’s been doing for the past 8 seasons.
For 2022/2023, he has signed with EC Salzburg of ICEHL and will definitely find some room to score big in Austria’s top hockey league.
In fact, in his 1st 2 games, the former University Of North Dakota Fighting Hawks already has a goal and an assist.
Undrafted, he signed an entry level deal with Minnesota Wild, yet only skated 1 NHL game at the end of his rookie season, coming away with an assist.
The 35-year old from Morden, MB is likely still just having too much fun playing the game to quit.
He posts 10 goals and 17 assists in 45 games, then adds another 8 points in 16 playoff matchups en route to the 2023 ICEHL Championship to earn himself another year on the now 36-year old’s contract.
At 37-years of age, he continues to contribute for a 2nd league title in a row and he is to be kept on in a Red Bulls‘ uniform for a 3rd straight year, 2024/2025 (and another championship).
