Johnstown Tomahawks‘ 2nd year left wing Anthony Galante(16) is putting up junior career highs by a mile with 26 goals and 21 assists in 53 NAHL games, as he commits to Stonehill College Skyhawks for 2023/2024.
The 5’11” 175 lbs. forward skated most of his youth hockey close to home, Morganville, NJ, but did leave for the last year and his 1st junior campaign before coming closer to home.
He’ll head up to Massachusetts for college and play a combination of D1 and D3 games.
The 20-year old will maybe take a little bit to get acquainted, but should be good to watch once he does.
Miami-Ohio University Redhawks‘ Swedish-born junior net minder Ludvig Persson(32) will do his senior year at University Of North Dakota Fighting Hawks, where he hopes to be on a bit of a deeper team to help elevate his play.
He started with games for his home country’s 3rd tier league Hockeyettan before coming here for a remarkable, successful NAHL junior season for Lone Star Brahmas, where he posted a 22-4 record with a .1.56 GAA and .932 SV%.
He has shouldered a lot of net minding through the past couple campaigns with 32 starts in each.
We expect the 6’1″ 183 lbs. 23-year old will continue to shine more brightly in NCHC play.
Colgate University Raiders‘ senior right wing Matt Verboon(13) is listed as a Richmond Hill, ON and Swiss native and played most of his youth hockey there before joining the BCHL for a high scoring effort with Salmon Arm Silverbacks previous to college.
His senior year was his best college scoring with all highs 16 goals, 19 assists for 35 points.
The 23-year old signs with HC Lugano to start his pro career with a season in NL.
He played for the country in junior tournaments, so comes in very familiar.
Northeast Generals‘ 4th year junior right wing Jake LaRusso(43) makes his college commitment for 2023/2024 to the local Stonehill College Skyhawks, where he could have become familiar with the school and team in the current frame.
The Colts Neck, NJ native spent most of his early hockey right next to home, eventually leading up to New Jersey Jr. Titans of the NAHL, but almost ironically he didn’t really start scoring until he was traded to North Iowa Bulls.
He connected for 6 goals and 18 assists in 41 games, then another 3 heading into the next session, but was again dealt, this time, back closer to home, to Northeast Generals.
Here is where the 5’11” 174 lbs. forward found his footing, bursting 29 goals and 27 assists in 52 games with a +6, as they head towards the playoffs.
The 21-year old will be a welcome addition to his new school.
Montreal Canadiens sign UMass-Lowell Riverhawks‘ senior captain Lucas Candotta(28) to a 1-year entry level deal after posting a college career high 10 goals and 13 assists for 23 points in 33 NCAA Division 1 games.
The 6’2″ 209 lbs. forward reports to affiliate Laval Rocket and signs a pto to play out the remainder of the season.
He has consistently been a good scorer, putting up 82 points (35 goals, 47 assists) in his third and final year of OJHL junior hockey for Markham Royals.
In 7 games to finish out the session, he had one assist.
The Georgetown, ON native now has a 1st AHL goal as he connects in his 2nd playoff game.
At 24-years old, we look for him to do well with his short pro commitment.
After skating 72 games for the minor league club, grabbing 16 goals and 14 assists as a rookie, he scores a 1st recall.
In his debut, he scores a 1st NHL in his opening shift and shot, skates 13 shifts for 11:09 total ice with 5 snaps at the net and 3 hits before being returned for the Calder Cup playoffs.
St. Lawrence University Saints‘ senior captain center Jordan Steinmetz(29) will take on a graduate year at American International College Yellowjackets, switching him to Atlantic Hockey, which may have an effect on his scoring output.
The 5’8″ 163 lbs. forward actually posted his highest point college totals as a freshman.
He didn’t score amazing through juniors, but did connect big at Chippewa Falls High USHS-WI.
We expect the 24-year old to put himself directly into plays and increase his scoring chances.
Ohio State University Buckeyes‘ Swedish-born, graduate center Gustaf Westlund(29) will go home to sign with his country’s top league, SHL, joining IK Oskarshamn in 2023/2024.
The 2nd year captain only skated in 7 games last season with 2 goals and 3 assists, was pretty much decently a scorer.
At 6′ 185 lbs. came over soon, playing a senior year at The Gunnery before doing 2 USHL campaigns for Lincoln Stars, worth 27 assists in each frame.
The 25-year old, who was actually born in Paris, FR is likely going to be ready to roll.
After 4 years at Arizona State University Sun Devils scoring a college best 5 goals and 11 assists in 37 games with a +9 rating as a senior, defenseman Jack Judson(22) will take on a graduate season at Clarkson University Golden Knights.
The 6’1″ 190 lbs. blue liner could connect for more points in ECAC, but will have to work for it too.
From White Rock, BC, he was a pretty good point-getter in his 2nd BCHL frame, grabbing 6 goals and 26 assists, then adding another 13 points in 21 playoff matchups.
The 23-year old is obviously up for the next challenge.
Florida Everblades‘ rookie signing Chayse Primeau(34) has yet to register a point in 6 ECHL games, but definitely seems due considering his 6’3″ 194 lbs. frame, seems like he can’t be far off.
He did 4 years at University Of Nebraska-Omaha Mavericks before heading to University Of Notre Dame Fighting Irish for a graduate run and kind of crazy, put up exactly 23 points from his junior to graduate sessions (3).
The Margate, NJ native, son of NHL veteran Keith Primeau will definitely get his opportunity to shine.
Curry College Colonels‘ graduate goalie Reid Cooper(33) apparently gained notice from a bit of an unlikely source, as he will join Washington Capitals on an ato in a back-up mode for their last game of the regular season.
The 6’2″ 190 lbs. net minder posted a 20-6-1 record in 2022/2023 with a 1.92 GAA and .935 SV% in 27 D3 games with 3 shutouts to earn the division CCC Goaltender Of The Year for his outstanding work to win the conference and move on to the final 8.
With this nod, it will be interesting to see where the 25-year old from Corman Park, SK and former 3-year Robert Morris University Colonials will go.
