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.
Undrafted rookie defenseman Jared Brandt(16) takes 4 years at Niagara University Purple Eagles to a 1st pro contract with Reading Royals for 2021/2022.
The 1-year Miami University (Ohio) Redhawks‘ transfer was pretty much good for 10 points per frame.
He skated three seasons of juniors for Minot Minotauros and sort of popped his scoring lid as captain with 5 goals and 22 assists with a +17 rating in 59 NAHL games.
The 6′ 196 lbs., 25-year old blue liner will likely be able to connect for points in the ECHL.
He wound up with 1 goal and 6 assists with a +4 rating before a trade sent him to Worcester Railers for the remainder of the frame and he would end up with another helper in 9 contests.
His performance was good enough to want to have him around for a full season in central MA.
Niagara University Purple Eagles‘ senior defenseman Zac Herrmann(12) wasted zero time turning pro, as soon as his team was ousted from NCAA Division Atlantic Hockey play for 2021/2022 and inked a contract to join Cincinnati Cyclones for the remainder of the frame.
In a new high 36 games, he was able to score a best 5 goals and 10 assists.
He had 31 helpers in his 2nd NAHL season of juniors as assistant captain for Odessa Jackalopes.
The Lancaster, NY native also managed 34 assists in one season up north in the OJHL for Burlington Cougars.
No points in a pair of ECHL games to start, but it would be little surprise to see the 6′ 185 lbs. blue liner have an impact early.
Only able to put up an assist in 12 games, he decides to look elsewhere for a contract and signs on with Manchester Storm and will skate EIHL as a rookie.
Big Swedish-born defenseman Oliver Rooth(28) spent only last season at Johnson & Wales University Wildcats, getting 2 goals and 2 assists in 21 NCAA Division 3 games, but has decided to return to the pro ranks at home, joining Borlange HF of HockeyEttan for 2022/2023.
The 6’3″ 200 lbs. blue liner recently played in the tier 3 Swedish league, skating 34 games for Sollentuna HC, getting a goal and 5 assists.
He played there after trying a campaign of junior hockey in the US with Twin City Thunder of USPHL/NCDC.
The 22-year old will no doubt continue to grow his game and maybe attend some school in his hometown on the side.
