7th year center John McCarron(25) re-signs for his 6th year in uniform with Florida Everblades, and 4th as team captain.
Originally an Edmonton Oilers‘ 6th round pick in the 2012 draft (#153 overall), he never signed, instead after 4 years at Cornell University Big Red, including a best season as junior captain, agreed to terms with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins.
He was mostly reassigned from there to affiliate Wheeling Nailers, where as a rookie he found some of that scoring touch he had as a 2nd year USHL point per game player for Lincoln Stars.
The very large 6’3″ 218 lbs. forward has three times captured 60 points in ECHL games, including new highs set in 2020/2021, 31 goals, 37 assists for 68 points with a +29 rating in 66 games.
There’s little doubt the 29-year old will stay on his point-scoring tear and likely earn some more time in the AHL.
After putting up a career best 41 assists and 70 points in 69 games, he sits the 1st half of 2022/2023 out, but has eventually decided to return to Florida for a 7th session.
Canisius College Golden Griffins‘ senior transfer, right wing Markus Boguslavsky(15) has a career best 6 assists and 9 points after coming over from Boston University Terriers, where he likely felt a bit under utilized.
The very decently sized 6’1″ 190 lbs. forward from Calgary, AB only committed to his 1st school after finishing up a 2nd year for Drumheller Dragons, getting 16 goals and 16 assists in 57 AJHL games.
It will be interesting to see whether or not the 23-year old adds another year to his college career or heads in a different direction.
Canisius College Golden Griffins‘ senior net minder Jacob Barczewski(30) has earned at least one shutout in each year at college and just posted his 1st of the 2022/2023 season in a 3-0 away game blanking of Holy Cross College Crusaders.
Undrafted, the 6’1″ 174 lbs. goalie is one to watch as he has averaged 2.65 GAA and .916 SV% in 92 games.
He hovered around that mark in 3 years of junior hockey as well.
The O’Fallen, MO native is 24-years old.
University Of Connecticut Huskies graduate goaltender Darion Hanson(33) became the starting net minder out of camp and is doing exactly what the team needs, posting a 4-3 record with 2.27 GAA and .925 SV% to fend off hopeful scorers.
The big 6’3″ 181 lbs. net minder came over late 2020/2021, after completing three years at Union College Dutchmen, where he left as captain and went through a down NCAA Transfer Year.
He spent 2 years in juniors in a mess of different leagues, but seemed to really arrive after joining Vernon Vipers and was named Top Goaltender, Best SV% .945 and Best GAA 1.84 in 21 BCHL games with a 14-4 record before heading to college.
The 24-year old have made the nice transition from ECAC to Hockey East.
He turned pro with Reading Royals after finishing up school and in 1 appearance had the win with a 1.00 GAA and .957 SV%, but become the 1st player ever to sign with the new Savannah Ghost Pirates for his official rookie run.
Now, after the midway point of the season, Iowa Heartlanders have a need to fill in net and trade to obtain him.
St. Lawrence University Skating Saints‘ freshman defenseman Anthony Mollica(2) has only 1 assist in 11 games as a first year player.
The big 6’3″ 196 lbs. blue liner skated 3 campaigns of junior hockey, 2 for New Jersey Titans, where he won the 2021 NAHL Championship with them just a season ago and put up a best 8 goals and 13 assists.
From Hudsonville, MI, the 21-year old is likely just getting his feet wet in his new college environment.
After 3 frames in junior hockey, including his current 2nd USHL season for Fargo Force, earning an 11-8 record on a 2.37 GAA and .912 SV%, goaltender Anton Castro(31) commits to University Of Wisconsin Badgers for 2023/2024.
The 6’2″ 187 lbs. net minder from Mendota Heights, MN will likely continue to step up his game.
Tampa Bay Lightning 4th round pick in the 2019 draft (#120 overall), Providence College Friars‘ senior defenseman, captain Max Crozier(24) has a college career high 17 assists, but may not equal his 7 goals set as a junior with only 2 in the net this season.
The 6’2″ 185 lbs. blue liner has 3 times recorded 10+ assists.
From North Vancouver, BC, the 22-year old 1st play 1 season of junior hockey north with Nanaimo Clippers of the BCHL.
He would move on to a USHL session for Sioux Falls Stampede, where he had an outstanding 10 goals and 33 assists through 60 games with a +5 rating.
It looks as though he should be signed quickly upon completely his school hockey and I would put him right into the system.
Undrafted left wing Chris Van Os-Shaw(20) took 3 years at Minnesota State University (Mankato) Mavericks into the transfer portal to play his senior year at American International College Yellowjackets and that easily turned out to be the right move.
The 6’2″ 201 lbs. forward scored a college career high 7 goals and 8 assists for 15 points with a +1 rating in 36 NCAA Division 1 games.
We think he liked Atlantic Hockey.
The Regina, SK native played 3 seasons of junior hockey, two in the SJHL for Humboldt Broncos before signing on for a breakout campaign with Spruce Grove Saints, winning the 2018 AJHL Championship and he came away with most points, most goals and most valuable player nods.
Upon finishing up the playoffs, he signs a 1st pro contract with Indy Fuel and grabs an assist in his debut, then scores a 1st ECHL goal and adds a helper for a 3 point in 3 game start.
The 24-year old has to have a little smile on his face.
He finishes up 2021/2022 scoring 3 goals and 3 assists in 6 games with a +4 rating; good enough to get an early nod to return for 2022/2023 in a Fuel jersey.
As we are pulling into the 2nd half of the season, he finds himself on the end of a deal sending him to another playoff worthy club, Wichita Thunder for the remainder of the year.
5th year left wing Trey Bradley(14) has once again for a 3rd time run his assist totals to 20+ in a season, once 37 in an ECHL for 2 year team Utah Grizzlies, where he received his only loan up to Colorado Eagles for 10 AHL games, scoring 4 assists.
The 5’10” 163 lbs. forward also played 2 games for Toronto Marlies, recording an assist upon completing 4 years at Colorado College, where he ran up 30+ points as a junior and senior.
For the balance of 2023 though, he has decided to shift his focus, accepting a deal to join Ostersunds IK.
The undrafted 26-year old from Tampa, FL will likely do well in Allsvenskan and possibly see his ranks loaned up to the SHL.
University Of Maine Black Bears‘ right wing Cole Hansen(10) came over after just a year at Colgate University Raiders, but was already a wise decision as he’s taken his scoring up to new levels with 6 goals and 3 assists in 23 games.
The 5’11” 174 lbs. forward had a very strong 2nd NAHL frame with New Mexico Ice Wolves, scoring 21 goals and 39 assists in 53 games before heading to school.
From Grand Forks, ND, we’re thinking Hockey East style fits more closely with the style of game the 22-year old plays.
