Quinnipiac University Bobcats‘ junior defenseman Elliott Groenewold(7) makes another appearance in the 2026 Boston Bruins’ Development Camp.
The big 6’2″ 215 lbs. blue liner scored 7 goals and 13 assists with a remarkable +39 rating.
From Bellows Falls, VT, the 20-year old is a 2024 4th round pick (#110 overall) and still going to need to be impressive.
Clarkson University Golden Knights‘ senior defenseman Tristan Sarsland(61) scored 8 goals and 15 assists in 39 games with a +14 rating as a junior and did slightly less in his final frame, but still good and grabs an AHL deal with San Jose Barracuda for 2026/2027.
The 6’1″ 203 lbs. blue liner from Wayzata, MN blew up scoring at USHS-MN and only did NAHL juniors after graduating high school and scored there through the playoffs before college.
He reported to his new team on an ato, playing 4 games with no points, but that should change quickly as he really gets started.
Sacred Heart University Pioneers‘ graduate right wing John Jaworski(18) takes a college best scoring 13 goals and 18 assists in 39 games with a +8 rating to a 1st pro contract 2025/2026 with Cincinnati Cyclones.
The 5’11” 185 lbs. forward did 2 years of juniors before school.
From Grinnell, IA, the 25-year old will likely score well in the ECHL.
After a good scoring season with 15 goals and 20 assists in 55 games with a +3 rating, he decides to take his game elswhere and signs HK 32 Liptovsky Mikulas of Tipsport Extraliga for 2026/2027.
Philadelphia Rebels‘ 3rd NAHL year defenseman Billy Sheridan(2) was looking to step right into his college hockey game, but decided to wait after making an initial decision.
In 46 games last season, he came away with 33 points (10-23).
The 5’11” 172 lbs. blue liner from Sewell, NJ did a lot of his youth hockey in the New Jersey Rockets‘ system.
For 2026/2027, he commits to Neumann University Knights.
Rochester Jr. Americans‘ 3rd year goaltender Florian Wade(30) commits to Hobart College Statesmen for 2026/2027.
The 6’4″ 183 lbs. net minder gave his team a good shot to play for the NAHL Robertson Cup to the conference finals.
From Anchorage, AK, 21-year old should give the 3-time D3 champ team their new starter.
Four year and consecutive NCAA Champion defenseman with University Of Minnesota-Duluth Bulldogs‘ Jarod Hilderman(3) knew before the 2019/2020 season came to a crashing halt during the playoffs that he would be heading to Birmingham Bulls for 2020/2021 and spend his rookie season in the SPHL.
Well, a pandemic didn’t sideline those plans, as he reported and played basically a full slate of 36/42 game schedule, unable to grab a goal but he did produce 6 assists.
The 6’1″ 210 lbs. Calgary, AB native started his junior hockey closer to home with 2 seasons for Penticton Vees, where he won his first title, a 2015 BCHL Championship, which is when he committed to college, but then moved south to do a season with Fargo Force of the USHL before reporting to school.
At 24-years old and the leagues opening up to full service, it wouldn’t be surprising to see him elevate his game to the next level.https://www.sandiegogulls.com/players/detail/hilderman
He would spend his 2020/2021 under contract to Tulsa Oilers and ended a 48 ECHL game “rookie” season with a goal and 15 assists, then added 3 assists in 6 playoff matchups.
For 2022/2023, he will return, but we also feel may earn a 1st AHL loan to San Diego Gulls, who have him on their radar.
He puts up some decent enough numbers with a pair of visits up, but needs better on ice accountability.
Despite the parts of his game to work on he gets an invite to return for a 2nd chance in an Oilers‘ jersey.
He has a solid 3rd frame, scoring 35 assists to seemingly rebound hard and will take his game over to Ligue Magnus, signing with Les Bruleurs De Loups for 2024/2025.
He took off 2025/2026 to play for Nottingham Panthers and did decently in the EIHL, but will head back to France and signs with Boxers de Bordeaux for 2026/2027.
Long Island University Sharks‘ sophomore defenseman Spencer Cox(13) enters the transfer portal and is up for a new challenge, heading to Miami University (Ohio) Redhawks for 2023/2024.
He committed to his 1st school after a decent NAHL frame for Chippewa Steel, getting 4 goals and 16 assists.
The 5’10” 181 lbs. blue liner, who sometimes skates forward, from Powell, OH will likely find the NCHC schedule a bit tougher to play, but may also add a little pepper to his game.
After 2 years at his new school, he signs a 1st pro contract with Indy Fuel.
In 9 ECHL games, he has 2 assists.
Doesn’t take them too long to re-up with him for his rookie season, 2025/2026 in a Fuel sweater.
Before he even skates a game in the current 2025/2026 frame, he is traded to Cincinnati Cyclones.
He appears in only 28 games, scoring 1 goal and 2 assists, which he takes to some off season training and signs with Canberra Braves of the AIHL.
10th year defenseman Aaron Ness(27) was in Boston Bruins‘ training camp, but signs for 2021/2022 with affiliate Providence Bruins to stay in the system.
It’s his 1st minor league deal.
The 5’10” 184 lbs. blue liner has played an outstanding 557 AHL games, scoring 45 goals and 222 assists with an overall +7 rating.
He’s appeared in 72 NHL games in 7 seasons with 3 different teams, scoring just a goal and 6 assists.
We do believe the 31-year old, former 3-year University Of Minnesota Golden Gophers will look to continue his hockey overseas next, just to be able to say he did it as a pro.
Looks like we guessed wrong, as he signs for 2022/2023 with the team he had a 50 assist campaign for a few years ago, Hershey Bears and the recently turned 32-year old should be able to help them find their playoff punch again.
He’s riding a good playoff run with the team after getting 5 goals and 14 assists in 69 games with a +14 rating during the regular season, but has yet to add anything in the playoffs.
No worries says this minor league club as they would like him to stay in Chocolatetown for at least another 2 more years.
For a 7th season, he will stay a Bears, 2024/2025.
He spends his 2nd year as team captain, but maybe limits appearances to 38 games to ease off a bit.
Well, 818 games in the AHL and 72 in the NHL with 1 goal and it’s time to at 36-years old retire from pro hockey.
We think he stays put to assume an assistant coach role, he’d be a perfect fit for.
Melbourne, Australian-born University Of Alabama-Huntsville Chargers‘ rookie center Tyrone Bronte(18) had a very successful COVID blasted season in the college ranks scoring 4 goals and 9 assists in 22 NCAA/WHCA games.
Always a solid scorer through 3 NAHL seasons for Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Knights, he finished with a junior career best 36 assists and 48 points with a +21 rating.
It looks as though, he’s been away from home from a fairly young age simply plying his hockey talents to see how far this now 21-year old can take it.
We had no idea he entered the transfer portal and appears to be excited coming out the other side, heading to Michigan Tech Huskies for 2021/2022.
He finishes up his 3rd season, scoring a college best 6 goals and 8 assists in a high 35 games and takes these totals to a 1st deal with KHL Sisak of AlpsHL for his rookie frame, 2024/2025.
Doing pretty well, he returns to North American hockey and spends most of 2025/2026 with Pensacola Ice Flyers, scoring nicely.
For a 2nd straight season, he leaves for the AIHL for some summer hockey with Melbourne Ice.
University Of North Dakota Fighting Hawks‘ hometown, senior assistant captain right wing Ben Strinden(21) scored a college best 15 goals and 20 assists in 38 games last season with a +15 rating.
The 6’1″ 209 lbs. forward is a Nashville Predators‘ 7th round pick in the 2022 draft (#210 overall).
He signs a 2-year AHL deal with affiliate Milwaukee Admirals through 2027/2028, but that means he will stay under the watchful eye of the parent club for progress.
From Fargo, ND, the 23-year old has no points in 3 games, but we feel will step into his game as he settles.
