Category: College Hockey Player

15Jul

Bryce Misley (18)

Posted in College Hockey Player, Europe, Juniors, Minor League Deal, NHL Draft Pick | Leave a comment

Minnesota Wild 4th round pick in the 2017 draft (#116 overall) center Bryce Misley(18) must have jumped at the opportunity to sign his first deal, an ato with affiliate Iowa Wild to show a little of what he’s able to produce after coming off a piss poor COVID busted 2020/2021 University Of Vermont Catamounts‘ NCAA Hockey East schedule of only 14 games.

In 9 AHL games, the 6’1″ 195 lbs. forward has a goal and 2 assists with a multipoint spread.

While not scoring big numbers through 4 years of college, the Calgary, AB native did hit the score sheet hard as a point-per-game producer through 2 seasons of junior hockey with Oakville Blades of the OJHL (45-56 in 99).

The 21-year old has yet to sign his entry level deal and ends up inking a 1-year minor league deal to stay in the system.

He is reassigned down to affiliate Iowa Heartlanders, scoring 11 goals and 19 assists, but unfortunately was a bit of an abysmal -29 rating on a team that struggled.

For 2022/2023, he has decided to split the scene and sign with Asiago of IceHL and should find his scoring elevates nicely.

He posts 9 goals and 30 assists in 49 games to earn himself another 2-year deal to continue.

In his time, he does pretty well on the scoresheet, but definitely could up his on-ice accountability, but will head next to skate for the “hometown” Italian team in the league, HC Bozen-Bolzano Foxes for 2025/2026.

He gets 9 goals in 48 games and is asked to return a 2nd year with the Foxes, 2026/2027.

15Jul

Evan Rodrigues (17)

Posted in College Hockey Player, Free Agent Signing, Juniors | Leave a comment

Undrafted Pittsburgh Penguins‘ 8th year center Evan Rodrigues(17) had a career best 24 assists and 43 points last season, but was going to earn to much heading into the new frame to keep around, so the unrestricted agent was free to hunt for a new deal.

The 5’11” 180 lbs. forward signs with 2022 Stanley Cup Champions Colorado Avalanche for 2022/2023.

He has been a full-time NHL player for the last 4 seasons.

A bit of an inconsistent performer through 4 years at Boston University Terriers, he completely came alive as a senior assistant captain, striking for 21 goals and 40 assists in 41 NCAA Division 1 games with a +30 rating.

39 points in 69 games for his new club, then 5 points in 7 in the playoffs and this unrestricted free agent at 29-years of age is looking good for a long-term deal.

Florida Panthers waste little time, offering him $3M AAV through 2026/2027.

In the final year of his deal, New Jersey Devils come looking to add some scoring up front and trade for a 2-time Stanley Cup recipient.

15Jul

Will Borgen (17)

Posted in College Hockey Player, Free Agent Signing, Juniors, NHL Draft Pick | Leave a comment

9th year defenseman Will Borgen(17) gets traded to a system, where he could easily see himself on the increase side of scoring, as a Boston Bruins.

The 6’3″ 206 lbs. blue liner had 5 goals and 10 assists in 75 games last year with a +3 rating.

Originally a Buffalo Sabres‘ 4th round pick in the 2015 draft (#92 overall), he left 3 years at St. Cloud State University Huskies to turn pro.

He next signed with Seattle Kracken, where he stayed for 4 seasons.

From Moorhead, MN, the 29-year may just be arriving.

 

14Jul

Shane Gersich (29)

Posted in College Hockey Player, Europe, Free Agent Signing, Juniors, Minor League Deal, NHL Draft Pick | Leave a comment

Washington Capitals‘ 4th year center Shane Gersich(29) grabs another one-year, two-way deal to stick around in the prospect system.

The University Of North Dakota Fighting Hawks‘ 3-year forward has consistently put up respectable numbers for affiliate Hershey Bears.

He started his pro career with 3 NHL games fresh off his junior year at school, grabbed an assist and even skated a pair of playoff appearances en route to the 2018 Stanley Cup Championship.

The 24-year old has to be fairly happy with the way things are turning out for this 5th round pick in the 2014 draft (#134 overall).

For 2022/2023, he re-signs on a minor league deal to stay where he is after recording a career high 14 goals and 20 assists with a +4 rating.

After a 5th season where he’s been and a brand new 2023 Calder Cup Trophy to bear, he decides to look on and signs a 1-year deal with Vasteras IK of HockeyAllsvenskan, where he should do very well.

We pretty much thought what has occurred would, he takes a good frame in Sweden’s tier 2 league, scoring 19 goals and 13 assists in 48 games to a higher level of hockey next, signing with Iserlohn Roosters of DEL for 2024/2025.

He does ok with 16 goals and 21 assists in 51 games, but decides to look for another opportunity and signs with HC Bolzano Foxes for 2025/2026.

After putting up some pretty amazing scoring numbers, he decides to sign with rivals, Vienna Capitals for 2026/2027.

14Jul

Charlie Risk (44)

Posted in College Hockey Player, D3, Europe, Juniors, Minor League Deal | Leave a comment

Augustus Magnus College Falcons‘ senior defenseman Charlie Risk(44) will take his game to France2 and signs with Mont Blanc for 2023/2024.

He had a college hockey best 5 goals last season, but had his best totals as a junior with 19 assists and 23 points.

The 5’9″ 165 lbs. blue liner from Medicine Hat, AB did a couple of junior seasons up north with some decent results.

At 24-years old, he may be ready for the next pro adventure and should do ok where he is heading.

He scores 1 goal and 10 assists in 23 games and decides to return to hockey a little closer to home, signing with Huntsville Havoc for 2024/2025.

With 5 goals and 33 assists in 53 games with a +3 rating, he earns the eyes of Maine Mariners, who sign him to a 2-way ECHL deal for 2025/2026.

He is reassigned back down and scores 3 assists in 5 SPHL games with a +7 rating and he eyes a new opportunity for maybe some better hockey overseas he wants to explore and signs with SC Riessersee of Germany3.

Returning to the Havoc mid-season, in 8 games he has 3 assists and we expect that to grow almost immediately and even still possibly play for a loan up.

He would score pretty decently, but for 2026/2027, he is off again, this time the NIHL and signs with Basingstoke Bison.

14Jul

Luke Rowe (41)

Posted in College Hockey Player, Juniors, Minor League Deal | Leave a comment

Air Force Academy Falcons‘ graduate defenseman Luke Rowe(41) takes a college career best 23 assists and 29 points to a 1st pro AHL contract with Ontario Reign.

The fairly big 6’1″ 209 lbs. blue liner from Succasunna, NJ worked his way up from 2 EHL seasons with New Jersey Rockets to sticking with the team as they transitioned a move to the USPHL/NCDC that he did an final impactful frame for with Junior Bruins, as captain striking for 11 goals and 26 assists in 50 games.

He was actually an invite to New Jersey Devils‘ development camp before the start of last season.

An unrestricted free agent, he signs with Bridgeport Islanders for 2025/2026.

For 2026/2027, he stays inside the organization and signs a 1-year deal with the new affiliate, Hamilton Hammers.

14Jul

Blake Coleman (20)

Posted in College Hockey Player, Free Agent Signing, Juniors, NHL Draft Pick | Comments Off on Blake Coleman (20)

Blake-Coleman2

New Jersey Devils‘ 3rd round pick in the 2011 draft (#75 overall) center Blake Coleman(20) suffered a shoulder injury that knocked him out of all but 14 AHL games of his rookie campaign with affiliate Albany Devils (4 goals, 3 assists).

The 5’11” 200 lbs. pivot didn’t let that sidetrack him too much as he had a strong training camp, was one of the last cuts to be reassigned, then got right to work.

In 34 games he is tied for team lead with 13 goals and 10 assists with a best +15 rating.

He’s always been pretty good connecting the puck with the net, basically winning every scoring award category including USA Hockey Junior Player Of The Year in his 2nd season for Indiana Ice of the USHL.

Through four years of college at Miami University (Ohio) he was a point per game guy as a senior and missed a second 20 goal showing by one, while helping his squad win the 2015 NCAA/NCHC Championship.

The 25-year old skated a decent amount of shifts for at least 11+ minutes of ice time in his first two NHL appearances.

There’s little doubt he has the tenacity to become a full-time player in the show but will have to continue to work hard for his opportunities.

He has certainly earned his time as an upper league player, amassing some 693 games at this point, winning 2020 & 2021 Stanley Cup trophies with Tampa Bay Lightning and scored a career high 30 goals with Calgary Flames just a few years ago.

Well, in the off season he is dealt in the final year of his contract to Minnesota Wild for a new start.

14Jul

Matt Stienburg (36)

Posted in College Hockey Player, Free Agent Signing, Juniors, Minor League Deal, NHL Draft Pick | Leave a comment

Cornell University Big Red junior, center Matt Stienburg(36) is a Colorado Avalanche 3rd round pick in the 2019 draft (#63 overall) and looks to be ready for another breakout session.

In 3 games, he’s got a pair of goals and looks to score many many more in 2021/2022.

The 6’1″ 192 lbs. native of Halifax, NS originally accepted his college in his first season, then was NHL selected in the follow-up frame, where he was almost a point and a half player and served as team captain, while also heading to 3 USHL games with Sioux City Musketeers of a junior hockey career during break.

At 21-years old and one year away from finishing through some tough college hockey times without a 2020/2021 frame, he probably should just continue before signing an entry level deal, but he’s easily the style of power forward the parent club wants.

Smitten by the injury bug, his senior year as assistant captain was limited to 18 appearances with 2 goals and 5 assists.

He plows through though and signs an ato to join Colorado Eagles to hopefully get back to pushing his game forward.

In his 4th AHL game, he records a 1st point, a nice assist for himself.

He appears in 4 more playoff games and gets another helper point for himself.

It looks as though he has made a decent enough impression to score a contract for 2023/2024.

Through 54 games last season, he scores 5 goals and 8 assists with a +2 rating and in the opening 2 games of the 2024/2025 season, he grabs 1 goal and 1 assist with a +2 to earn a 1st NHL recall.

In his debut he skates 9 shifts for 4:36 of ice time, including 3 hits and 1 fight with a -1 rating in a 5-3 loss, then follows it up with 8 shifts for 5:16 ice and 2 shots on net in an overtime win.

He has been absolutely hampered by the injury bug for the past 2 seasons, playing barely 10 games, but Vancouver Canucks have him back to better health and sign him for 2026/2027.

13Jul

Dustin Gazley (10)

Posted in College Hockey Player, Europe, Juniors, Minor League Deal | Leave a comment

12th year right wing Dustin Gazley(10) signs on for a 3rd season with HC Bolzano Foxes, as he continues to put up numbers (31 points in 38 IceHL games) at 33-years of age.

Not too bad for the 5’8″ 161 lbs. forward that came out of Michigan State University Spartans‘ scorer, who spent most of his 1st two seasons tearing up the scoresheet in the ECHL before signing with Hershey Bears.

He stayed with the team for 5 years before heading off to Europe.

The Novi, MI native has to be happy playing pro hockey for the Italian team in the mostly Austrian league.

After scoring a tidy 17 goals and 31 assists in 47 games with a +19 rating, then potting another 13 points in 18 appearances during the playoffs earns him a 4th season to return.

48 points is his highest point total so far in the league.

For 2026/2027, he signs on for a 7th season with the Foxes after scoring a 2nd 18 goal season.

13Jul

Angus Crookshank (9)

Posted in College Hockey Player, Free Agent Signing, Juniors, NHL Draft Pick | Leave a comment

Ottawa Senators step in to sign 5th round pick in the 2018 draft (#126 overall) left wing Angus Crookshank(9) to a three-year entry deal, leaving one year of school at University Of New Hampshire on the table, after scoring 9 goals and 9 assists in 20 games in a completely broken NCAA season.

The 21-year old from North Vancouver, BC has always been a fairly consistent scorer netting more than a point per game in his 2nd year with Langley Rivermen of the BCHL before committing to college and getting on the radar fully to be selected.

He has finally arrived to make his debut with affiliate Belleville Senators and notched an assist in his debut, a resounding 7-2 win.

With the season continuing and the parent club being out of the playoff hunt, he could garner a look.

He is running totals with their affiliate Belleville Senators and has 10 goals and 11 assists in 24 games this season to earn a 1st NHL recall.

In his debut, he skates 16 shifts for 10:11 ice time with 3 hits in a 6-3 loss to one of the best teams in the league.

He is basically a point-per-game player for the affiliate and gets 2 goals and 1 assist in 13 games in the big league to earn himself a 1-year extension.

Amassing 8 games in the big league, he notches an assist, but in the minors he pops for another 20+ goal campaign.

An unrestricted free agent for a 1st time, he signs a 2-year deal with New Jersey Devils, that may have him see some playing time with Utica Comets, but definitely offers him a window to earn his way up.

He scores 24 goals and 12 assists in 60 AHL games and gets 8 up in the big league, where he gets a 1st NHL goal.

For 2026/2027, he gets traded to Florida Panthers.