Harvard University Crimson senior, captain center Casey Dornbach(47) will take his game in a year of eligibility to a new experience with 2022 NCAA Division 1 champs, University Of Denver Pioneers for a graduate year, 2022/2023.
He maybe didn’t post any career highs in his 3rd year of play at school, but still registered a solid 8 goals and 17 assists in 34 games that should easily get turned up on a high scoring team.
An Edina, MN native, he played his high school USHS-MN in town before heading off to a pair of terms with Lincoln Stars of the USHL.
The 24-year old is a leader and likely on some NHL teams radar, but a good season in Colorado will definitely seal the deal, so to speak.
American International College Yellowjackets‘ graduate, left wing Elijiah Barriga(19) signs a 1st pro deal with Dundee Stars of the EIHL for 2022/2023 after putting up a college career best 15 assists and 24 points last season.
The West Covina, CA native did one season at University Of Nevada-Las Vegas Rebels lighting it up big before arriving east.
He did 2 seasons up in the BCHL with Salmon Arm Silverbacks and was a point-per-game guy in his 2nd year.
We expect the ice to open up where he’s going for the 5’11” 194 lbs. forward to put up some points.
Canisius College Golden Griffins‘ senior defenseman Derek Hamelin(63) will extend a season of eligibility, try something completely different and head to University Of Alaska-Anchorage Seawolves for the start of his graduate program.
The 5’11” 170 lbs. blue liner tied his best 4 assists last season, but does have a decent level of on ice accountability to bring to his new team.
A Mercier, QC native, he came to play hockey in the US early, which seemed to suggest he knew which direction he was headed.
The 25-year old should fit in nicely in his new club’s more open divisional play.
Senior defenseman Dylan Anhorn(4) will take his game from 3 years at Union College Bobcats into the transfer portal to St. Cloud State University Huskies for 2022/2023.
The 6′ 183 lbs. blue liner spent 2 years running up almost equal point totals in each frame for Prince George Spruce Kings and a 2019 BCHL Championship before heading to school
A Calgary, AB native, the 23-year old had a college best 7 goals and 10 assists last season and should be able to help his new club.
Senior defenseman Matthew Kellenberger(6) exchanges one Tigers’ team for another, as he heads for a year of eligibility to RIT Tigers after 4 seasons with Princeton University Tigers.
He scored a college career best 4 goals and 6 points in his final session.
The 6′ 183 lbs. Toronto, ON native was a big scorer in two years with Oakville Blades of the OJHL.
It wouldn’t be surprising to see him put up a good amount of points in Atlantic Hockey.
After 8 seasons of essentially guiding Reading Royals and winning the 2013 Kelly Cup with the team as an assistant captain, Kirk MacDonald(13) steps away for a new opportunity to become head coach with Dubuque Fighting Saints.
He wrapped up his playing days with that title and went on to become assistant coach at his old college, RPI Engineers to get his feet wet, but turned pro after a single frame.
Not sure what went into the 6’2″ 209 lbs. right wing veteran of 272 AHL games and 135 ECHL games had in mind to leave for a USHL junior hockey team, but obviously there is some reasoning there.
Undrafted, 4th year left wing Mike Szmatula(9) leaves after his 4th ECHL season and first away from Adirondack Thunder, who didn’t play last season, but had they, he would have returned yet again.
The former Northeastern University Huskies and ultimately after a portal transfer University Of Minnesota Golden Gophers skated for Jacksonville Icemen in 2020/2021, scoring a third 20+ goal campaign.
He left once briefly to play in Poland, but that lasted all of 4 games before his return.
The 5’9″ 181 lbs. forward will head to Denmark’s Metal Ligaen, signing with SoderjyskE for 2021/2022.
There’s little doubt the 28-year old will achieving new scoring heights if he stays in this league, but nothing is certain and he could come back to the team he’s played 122 games for.
The Commerce Township, MI native returns home to sign with the last team he left, Jacksonville Iceman and should be able to connect for even more scoring than he did previously.
University Of Maine Black Bears‘ graduate, Danish-born right wing Jacob Schmidt-Svejstrup(16) takes a year of eligibility to a new experience, agreeing to terms with Clarkson University Golden Knights for 2022/2023.
In 28 NCAA Division 1 games last season, the assistant captain had 4 goals and 8 assists.
He’s a 6’2″ 205 lbs. forward, so has some size and always seemed to increase his point totals, as he was coming up through junior hockey, finishing with a USHL campaign for Fargo Force that culminated in a 2018 Clark Cup Championship.
The 24-year old will likely see his best totals on ice in Atlantic Hockey with his new college club.
Boston College Eagles land a good, seasoned goalie through the transfer portal in a year of eligibility for Mitch Benson(1) to go Hockey East for a graduate season after 4 at Colgate University Raiders, putting up an effective 2.48 GAA and .918 SV% in 71 NCAA Division 1 games.
The 6’1″ 185 lbs. net minder really arrived at his game, when he transferred from junior play in the BCHL to Brooks Bandits, where he helped them win the 2017 AJHL Championship going 12-1-0 in the playoffs.
