University Of Wisconsin-River Falls Falcons‘ 2023/2024 commit, 3rd year NAHL and 2nd season Maine Nordiques‘ left wing Jonny Meiers(7) had a junior hockey best 20 assists and 29 points last campaign with a +7 rating, then added another 4 helpers in 7 playoff matchups.
The 20-year old Eagan, MN, former high school hockey captain moves closer to home to play college hockey and should be a freshman spark plug in WIAC play.
After 3 seasons at Boston University, undrafted center Jack DeBoer(19) decides to switch it up almost completely and leaves for Niagara University Purple Eagles in his senior 2021/2022 year.
The big 6’3″ 187 lbs. forward originally committed to college in his first year at Salisbury School USHS-Prep but would only stay there a season before moving onto two years of the USDP U17-18 program before heading off to school on the young side for hockey.
He’s not exactly the biggest goal scorer but in Atlantic Hockey the 20-year old could hover around the net and open up a bit more room to pot shots.
He is also the son of former Vegas Golden Knights‘ coach Pete DeBoer.
In a pair of frames for his new school, he continues to struggle to score points with only 2 goals and 1 assist in 35 games.
The graduate student decides to go pro upon finishing up a 5th year at school and signs a 1-year deal in BeNe League with EHC Neuwied.
South Shore Kings‘ fourth year defenseman and two-time captain, defenseman Ryan Leonard(22) had to wait a bit for his commit, but it eventually came through, near the tail end of 2020/2021.
The 21-year old is heading to Lindenwood University, who will become a D1 school come 2022/2023.
He’s fairly big 6’3″ 209 lbs. and we think the blue liner will do well at this school.
After 17 games, scoring 2 goals and 6 assists, he decided to leave for Buffalo State College Bengals, recording 4 assists in his sophomore year, but we’re betting he continues to get better and stronger out there.
11th year defenseman Chad Billins(41) re-signs with HV71 for 2022/2023, but gets an SHL promotion after helping his team to the 2022 HockeyAllsvenskan Championship with a league most 35 assists in the regular season.
It will be his 6th year in the top Swedish hockey league.
Undrafted, he signed with Grand Rapids Griffins as a rookie after completing four years at Ferris State University Bulldogs.
The 5’10” 181 lbs. won the 2013 Calder Cup in that season and he managed a nifty 2 goals and 12 assists in 24 AHL Playoff games with a +5 rating.
He was subsequently signed by Calgary Flames, giving him a 1st NHL contract, skated 10 games over a pair of recalls and grab an assist in each of his 1st 2 appearances, but was reassigned back down.
The Marysville, MI would leave for the KHL in the next session, but only lasted half a campaign before leaving for Sweden.
He would return a couple years later under contract to Vancouver Canucks, but skated the entire frame as veteran presence with affiliate Utica Comets.
To follow that up, he made the easy return to Linkoping HC and was once again the assist king.
At 33-years old, it’s still got to be a thrill to play for someone who always seems to show a lot of passion for the game on ice.
He must be having some sort of hockey laugh to himself with his current deal to head back to his 3rd team, Brynas IF, but walking back down a rung to Allsvenskan for 2023/2024.
Clarkson University Golden Knights‘ German-born, graduate defenseman Lukas Kaelble(27) is definitely glad he added a year of eligibility to his calendar, as he was able to come away with a college career high 7 goals in 32 NCAA Division 1 games.
The 6’1″ 205 lbs. blue liner takes what he was able to earn in 2021/2022 to a 1st pro contract with Florida Everblades.
He did all his early junior/youth hockey close to home in Mannheim, but did come over for a year of USHL, skating a full schedule for Fargo Force.
Lake Superior State University Lakers liked what they saw of his US play and invited him aboard.
He was captain as a senior.
The 24-year will likely do well wherever he ultimately decides to play hockey
In 9 ECHL games, he scores 1 goal and 5 assists with a +10 rating, then strikes for exactly the same numbers in 20 playoff games en route to the 2022 Kelly Cup Championship.
This showing earns him a contract with the parent club, Charlotte Checkers for 2022/2023, which should see him need to elevate his game, but hold his own to start in the AHL.
He was never quite able to appear in games at the upper level, as he was reassigned at the start of last frame to toil the zone for the lower affiliate, but he responded.
In 63 games, he posted 4 goals and 26 assists with a +19 rating, then added another 4 helpers in the playoffs, en route to another 2023 Kelly Cup Championship.
He has decided for his next step, he will take his game back home to DEL and signs a 1-year deal with Fischtown Pinguins to guard their territory.
Bentley University Falcons‘ senior center Joe Winkelman(24) signs a 1st from deal with Corsaires de Dunkerque of France2 for 2023/2024 after coming off a modest college best 2 goals and 5 assists in 30 games last season.
His best look was oddly the game on/game off 2020/2021 affair, where he played in 4 and scored 1 goal and 1 assist.
The 5’11” 180 lbs. forward committed to school after his 2nd NAHL frame for Odessa Jackalopes, racking up 30 points (12-18) in 21 games.
He plays aggressively enough to potentially score a lot more in this pro league for the 23-year old.
University Of Denver Pioneers‘ senior defenseman Brett Edwards(28) will do a graduate season at Northeastern University Huskies for 2023/2024.
The 5’11” 200 lbs. forward is a bit of a thinker, as he scored well over 2 AJHL sessions with Drumheller Dragons before committing to school, but once there seemed to struggle after his freshman year.
He was apart of the team’s 2022 NCAA Division 1 Championship, playing 21 games that season.
From Grand Prairie, AB, we doubt there will be more room for the 24-year old to score in Hockey East competition, but he may grow into it as a graduate skater.
Gustavus Aldophus College Golden Gusties‘ 2023/2024 commit, fairly big 6’2″ 185 lbs. defenseman Jack Anderson(21) will likely contribute immediately to his new college club.
He scored a fairly nice 3 goals and 16 assists in 57 games was a good look last season with Kenai Brown Bears in his 1st NAHL season.
The Orono, MN native had a really good USPHL Premier session for Tampa Bay Juniors that elevated his game and got him signed by Twin City Thunder and a USPHL/NCDC frame.
3rd year extra large 6’7″ 239 lbs. defenseman Connor McCarthy(2) is heading to Slovakia’s top hockey, signing 1-year with HC Banska Bystrica for 2023/2024.
He is mostly a stay at home style blue liner, who was twice signed by Bridgeport Islanders, but skated mostly for affiliate Worcester Railers.
The former Clarkson University Golden Knights senior assistant captain should do very well where is headed.
University Of Notre Dame Fighting Irish 2023/2024 commit, 2-year USNTDP defenseman Paul Fischer(7) hasn’t a lot of points, but definitely showed much better accountability with a +9 rating.
The 6′ 183 lbs. blue liner from River Forest, IL came up through the Chicago Mission program.
Draft eligible, the 18-year will likely be sitting on his hands in a week.
