Category: College Hockey Player

11th year defenseman Nicholas Schaus(28) returns to Norfolk Admirals, where he spent 18 AHL games in his third pro season.

Now an ECHL team, in 5 games, he’s already posted a pair of assists.

The 5’11” 200 lbs. blue liner has always been known for dishing helpers in good amounts, reaching 20+ assists and 30+ points overseas on 3 occasions.

He had 10+ assists for 3 of 4 years at UMass-Lowell Riverhawks.

The 35-year old is a great team guy and maybe shows little signs of slowing down.

He likes where he is and decides to stay for 2022/2023 after putting in 4 goals and 11 assists.

This could be it, then he would be an amazing coach.

Undrafted rookie right wing Jack Billings(27) becomes one of the first player signings to the new ECHL team Iowa Heartlanders.

The Oak Lawn, IL native has already experienced an interesting run to ultimately turning pro.

He played his 1st junior season with Janesville Jets, scoring a modest 2 goals and 6 assists in 42 NAHL games as a youngster.

Also, drafted by Green Bay Gamblers, he skated 4 USHL games, grabbing an assist.

He would start the next season back in tier 2 junior hockey, but maybe almost oddly left to join a high performance skating league HPHL 18U for a spell before settling in with Brockville Braves to play out his 2nd frame.

Turns out he like the CCHL and settled in for the next couple years (41-77=118 in 130 games) before committing to Salve Regina University Seahawks DIII.

The 5’9″ 190 lbs. forward would have a decent rookie campaign, but really starting popping as a 2nd year skater for 19 goals and 26 assists in 40 games.

Just as he was readying for a third season at school, Niagara University Purple Eagles swoop in, he sits one season in the transfer portal and finishes up with two seasons on some very decent scoring ground.

The 25-year old is likely ready to transition his game to another level.

He scores 14 goals and 15 assists as a 1st year player and he’s off, signing a 1-year deal with Coventry Blaze of the EIHL for 2022/2023 and on a good team will likely light that league up big.

Anna Maria College Amcats‘ graduate center Gavin Proeh(16) maybe didn’t have his highest scoring totals with 5 goals and 11 assists in 22 games, but did leave last session with his highest plus/minus mark at 13.

The 6’2″ 192 lbs. forward will next take his game to HockeyTvaan, signing a 1-year deal with Amals SK.

A Highland Park, IL native, he was a good scorer in USHS-IL.

We think the 24-year old could become somewhat of a stud in Sweden’s tier 4 league.

Colgate University Raiders‘ graduate right wing Griffin Lunn(16) signs a 1st pro contract for 2022/2023 with Wheeling Nailers.

The 5’10” 190 lbs. forward scored a college career best 12 goals and 19 points last season.

He played 2 USHL sessions before leaving for school with his 2nd one for a pair of teams showing good scoring signs.

The 24-year old, Buffalo, NY native will likely shine well in the ECHL.

Undrafted left wing Jackson Jutting(14) trades in a pair of seasons at Colorado College Tigers, scoring a college best 3 goals and 7 assists in 35 NCAA Division 1 games for a junior year, closer to home with Bemidji State University Beavers.

The 5’10” 196 lbs. forward was a solid scorer through 4 years at Prior Lake High, always increasing his point totals through USHS-MN seasons until hitting 42 points in 24 games as a senior captain.

He was selected by his 1st school early in his sophomore session.

The 21-year old will likely find the CCHA a little tougher going, but should be able to find space to add to scoring.

Castleton University Knights‘ graduate defenseman Jahwara Rennells(5), who lists Sandy Hill, ON and Jamaica as places of birth, decides to turn pro and accepts an offer to join tier 3 Hockeyettan, signing for 2022/2023 with Helsingborgs HC.

The 5’9″ 194 lbs. blue liner had a college best 2 goals and 5 assists in 26 games last season.

He played most of three years in the CCHL before heading to school.

The 25-year old will likely catch on big in Sweden’s hockey league.

After taking a year to turn pro after two NAHL seasons with Maine Nordiques, Stockholm-born defenseman Casper Soderling(56) skated for Nacka HK of Division 2, running some decent numbers, 2 goals and 16 assists in 26 games last season.

The 6′ 172 lbs. blue liner seems to have changed his mind and accepted a commitment to American International College Yellowjackets for 2022/2023.

As a 21-year old, he will likely find some room to play his game in Atlantic Hockey and may even really take to it well.

5th year left wing Jackson Leef(19) is an interesting story and has been on quite the pro hockey ride for himself.

The 6′ 187 lbs. forward started his career under contract to Evansville Thunderbolts, but after scoring 6 goals and 7 assists in 16 games earn a loan up to Brampton Beast.

He was able to assimilate himself nicely into the new lineup and stuck, ultimately getting 5 goals and 9 assists in 44 ECHL games.

Almost phenomenally, he even caught the attention of Laval Rocket and skated a single AHL in that same rookie run.

Not terrible for a kid who didn’t play his college hockey at some fancy D1, but instead went from a pair of USHL and NAHL junior seasons to DIII Westfield State University Owls.

He scored big here, more than point-per-game performances by the end of it, served as senior team captain and was voted player of the year.

The Fort Wayne native was left without his usual team to sign with for 2020/2021, and agreed to terms with Fort Wayne Komets, which turned out very nice, as he would go on to win the 2021 Kelly Cup Championship.

It also happened to be the team his dad played for and is in their hall of fame for his play.

For 2021/2022, the 29-year old has made a nicely competitive decision to sign with Allen Americans.

This is the type of team that could give the always hard working skater new best point totals.

Through last campaign it seemed like the skater was having a hard time finding grip with any one club until he arrived late on a trade with Tulsa Oilers.

He re-gained his scoring form and was once again almost a point-per-game player, along with a tidy +9 rating.

It was fairly obvious the nearby resident would stay for a complete run in 2022/2023.

Daniel Colabufo(3) committed to College Of Holy Cross Crusaders after his first year at Northwood School, where he put up numbers similar to what he was able to achieve back home at the less competitive West Genesee High, getting an almost ridiculous 32 goals and 31 assists in 68 USHS-Prep games.

After graduation, the initial plan was to head up to the BCHL to play for Bonnyville Pontiacs but as the pandemic raged it was likely thought better for him to stick closer, so he signed with Maryland Black Bears for 2020/2021.

In 40 NAHL games, the 5’9″ 170 lbs. forward was able to score 8 goals and 14 assists with a +2 rating, including 2 game-winners, 3 on the power-play and 1 shorthanded, then got another pair of tallies in 8 playoff contests.

After 15 NCAA Division 1 games with no points, the now sophomore has decided to switch things up for 2022/2023 and will attend Oswego University Lakers.

We definitely look for him to take up his game big at D3.

Northeastern University Huskies‘ 2022/2023 commit, defenseman Jackson Dorrington(16) is doing alright with 2nd year junior team, Des Moines Buccaneers, not scoring but 5 assists in 13 USHL games.

Last year with local to home team, Junior Bruins, the North Reading, MA native potted two goals and 18 big assists in 33 USPHL/NCDC games.

Scary to think the 6’2″ 192 lbs. 17-year old blue liner is draft eligible for 2022 and how quick or deep he may go.

Vancouver Canucks make the right move and step in for a 6th round pick, #176 overall, as he starts to prepared for some Hockey East action.