Category: College Hockey Player

Quinnipiac University Bobcats‘ graduate defenseman Griffin Mendel(77) had his best college scoring season with his new school, almost equaling 4 years of totals he had at his initial one, University Of Denver Pioneers.

He takes his game to the pro level upon finishing up a 5th year of school and signs with Chicago Wolves for the rest of the AHL 2021/2022.

The towering 6’6″ 220 lbs. blue liner played a couple years of junior hockey, sort of close to home in Kelowna, BC for Penticton Vees and skated an equal 52 games, en route to a 2017 BCHL Championship in his 2nd session.

We think it’s his NCAA Division 1 +53 rating that gets the 23-year old the most notice.

In 10 games, he gets 2 assists with a +5 rating and then gets into 1 playoff contest, but leaves a +2.

The Kelowna, BC native is staying put for what will be his rookie season, 2022/2023

With 9 goals and 10 assists in his 1st frame, the big d-man earns himself a handsome 1-year NHL entry level deal from parent club Carolina Hurricanes.

He wasn’t really scoring, until he was reassigned down to Norfolk Admirals, where he finally struck for 3 goals and 3 assists in 8 games with a +3 rating

For 2024/2025, he takes his game to Czech Extraliga and signs with Rytiri Kladno.

In 52 games, he gets 1 goal and 5 assists with a -1 rating to get himself a new deal for 2025/2026.

He continues to do well and is offered a 1-year extension to continue with Kladno.

Salve Regina University Seahawks‘ senior left wing Damon Zimmer(17) scored 6 goals in 3 of his 4 college seasons and also recorded 11 assists in his 1st two frames.

The 6’2″ 196 lbs. forward started junior hockey in the AJHL, but moved down to the NAHL before heading to school.

He started the SPHL with Peoria Rivermen, but transferred to Birmingham Bulls, where he has skated 25 games for 3 assists.

From Heisler, AB, the 25-year old should hit the net for more points, as he goes.

After 28 games, he is released and quickly picked up by Knoxville Ice Bears for the rest of 2025/2026.

Clarkson University Golden Knights‘ freshman goaltender Emmett Croteau(70) has only received 5 starts in 2023/2024, good for a 2-3 record with maybe below what he calls for 3.38 GAA and .851 SV%, but that should improve lots as he spends more time in the net.

6’4″ 209 lbs. big, the 3 USHL season Waterloo Blackhawks‘ back stop was pretty good through 79 games with 2.91 GAA and .904 SV%.

The Bonnyville, AB native is a Montreal Canadiens‘ 6th round pick in the 2022 draft (#162 overall).

He enters the transfer portal for his sophomore year to go tend net at Dartmouth College Big Green and through 18 games, the results are vastly improving.

In his junior frame, he has 10-3 record with a 1.71 GAA and .929 SV% on a team that has entered top 10 best teams.

8th year right wing Riley Barber(11) signs a 1-year deal with Dallas Stars for 2022/2023, as an unrestricted free agent, coming out of 2 years of contracts with Detroit Red Wings.

The 6′ 194 lbs. forward is off to another quick start this season, scoring 3 goals and 2 assists in 6 AHL games for affiliate Texas Stars.

He once had north of 30 goals and 4 times passed the 20+ tally mark and on 3 occasions had 20+ assists.

Originally a Washington Capitals‘ 6th round pick in the 2012 draft (#167 overall), he stayed in their system for 4 years after burning a hole through the college score sheet with Miami University (Ohio) Redhawks.

The 28-year old has somehow skated in 16 NHL games but not registered a point.

You have to think he’ll get another opportunity where he is this season.

He manages a very good, career high 32 goals and 32 assists in 69 games for the Cedar Park team and will next take his scoring abilities to the KHL, signing a 1-year deal with Barys Astana for 2023/2024.

While scoring 10 goals and 13 assists in 28 games, he still finds himself on the move and will head to AK Bars Kazan for the rest of the season.

He does ok, but signs with his 3rd team, Neftekhimik Nizhnekamsk, where he scores well with 16 goals and 14 assists, but lacks a little with a -13 on ice accountability.

For 2025/2026, he decides to move to Germany and ERC Ingolstadt step right in to ink him to a DEL deal.

He absolutely blows up scoring to the tune of 27 goals and 29 assists in 46 games with a +24 rating to conservatively only signing for another year in 2026/2027, Ingolstadt.

Rookie center Tanner Andrew(28) was a senior graduate, captain at RIT Tigers and signed with Norfolk Admirals after tournament play.

The 5’9″ 170 lbs. forward played 2 ECHL games in the 2025/2026, but was maybe released and quickly signed to a league contract by Wheeling Nailers.

He has 3 goals and 5 assists in 26 games with a +3 rating.

In college, he had 10 goals as a sophomore and in his junior year, scored 15 assists.

From Virden, MB, we look for the 25-year old to continue doing well with a good team.

Maine Mariners welcome back 3rd year right wing Lewis Zerter-Gossage(37) for 2021/2022.

He would have likely returned last season, if the team had not elected to take the COVID busted 2020/2021 campaign off, but instead decided to play elsewhere, signing with Blue Devils Weiden of Germany3.

The 6’2″ 195 lbs. forward skated 13 ECHL games on reassignment by contract club Hartford Wolf Pack as an AHL rookie.

He also appeared in 8 games with Reading Royals after a trade sent his rights over.

The former Harvard University Crimson senior captain was a three-time 20+ point getter in college hockey and heading into a new year that’s hopefully completely straightforward will put up new career highs.

After 17 games, scoring 7 goals and 7 assists, he re-signs to stay in Maine for 2022/2023.

He also scored an 8 game loan up to Tuscon Roadrunners, where he picked up a couple of assists.

For 2022/2023, he heads to DEL and signs with Eisbaren Berlin, but late in the season is loaned down to Lausitzer Fuchse, where he does better in DEL2.

He would jump around in the league and back, but for 2025/2026 agreed to terms with Starbulls Rosenheim, where he looks to be scoring and settling to earn a 3-year extension through 2028/2029.