2nd year in Florida Panthers‘ system (6th overall), left wing Ryan Lomberg(94) gets a new contract extension for a couple more seasons after opening 2021/2022 with 2 goals and 3 assists in 14 NHL games with a +5 rating.
The scrappy 5’9″ 187 lbs. forward started his pro career on a minor league deal and even was sent to the ECHL for most of his rookie session to Adirondack Thunder, putting up close to point-per-game production, then helping the playoff push with more strikes.
He spent the entirety of his sophomore campaign up in the AHL, scoring 13 goals and 16 assists with a +15 in 68 games to gain final notice of the parent club, Calgary Flames, who signed him to a 2-year entry deal with a one year follow-up.
He received some big league time and had an assist, but couldn’t hang on with the parent club.
The 2-year University Of Maine Black Bears’ averaged close to 10 goals while he was there, but in an almost oddball move, left and returned to become captain of Youngstown Phantoms for another run through the USHL before turning pro.
While not exactly a fighter, he has gotten into some scraps with guys much bigger than him, which shows disregard but a level of balls for sure.
As an unrestricted free agent, he waited right up until the start of the new season before agreeing to terms, but almost oddly played entirely up in the show.
The 26-year old has to laugh a little at the ride he’s taken to make it stick.
Canisius College Golden Griffons‘ junior net minder John Hawthorne(29) isn’t finding a lot of room to take over, but is doing his best in time spent, earning a 1-0-1 record with a 2.90 GAA and .915 SV%.
The 6’2′ 190 lbs. net minder came over after two seasons at Northern Michigan University Wildcats, but didn’t get to tend much last season’s weirdo run.
He spent a couple of junior seasons with Alberni Valley Bulldogs of the BCHL before heading to school.
The 23-year old from Chemainus, BC may agree with Atlantic Hockey style better.
Boston University Terriers‘ 2022/2023 commit, goaltender Anton Castro(31) has definitely played for some tough luck teams in junior hockey and this his final year with Fargo Force will likely be an uphill struggle.
He has a 2-4-2 record in 8 USHL games.
It’s nothing like the two clubs that got him his college of choice, North Jersey Avalanche 16U AAA and Gentry Academy 15U AAA.
The 6’2″ 180 lbs. back stop will definitely shine once he drops into Hockey East play.
Buffalo Sabres‘ 4th round pick in the 2016 draft (#99 overall), 3rd year left wing Brett Murray(57) played his first season under the guide of the parent club on an AHL contract with affiliate Rochester Americans.
The kinda giant 6’5″ 228 lbs., former year and a half Penn State University Nittany Lions‘ forward posted 9 goals in each of his first two seasons and 10+ assists before dropping a goal and 7 assists in 6 games in the current frame to earn a 2nd recall.
In his first re-appearance, he failed to connect in a win, but had an assist the next night and topped it with a two point, first NHL goal and an assist performance in a loss that should have earned him a third star award.
The Bolton, ON native took an interesting path from a first year at juniors, directingly into a first year at college hockey, but only stayed one run before returning to Youngstown Phantoms to absolutely detonate the stat sheet with a league best 41 goals and 35 assists with a +13 rating.
That was basically all the now 23 year old needed to turn pro and now he’s looking at some extended time up.
Undrafted 4th year 6’1″ 209 lbs. center tower Nic Pierog(61) decides to head for some new kind of hockey, signing with HKM Zvolen of Slovak Extraliga for 2021/2022.
The former two-time Clarkson University Golden Knights‘ captain always keeps it exciting on the ice and maybe what he had yet to develop scoring in college, he’s definitely a new kind of player as a pro.
Through 179 ECHL games, he’s popped in 78 goals and 56 assists.
He would end up signing an AHL deal with Springfield Thunderbirds after agreeing to head off, but aside from one appearance played 4 games for Worcester Railers (2 goals, 2 assists), but is now set to head to some tougher hockey in the top Slovakian league.
Northeastern University Huskies‘ 2022/2023 commit defenseman Nolan Hayes(18) was pointed at joining Omaha Lancers for one more year of juniors before heading to school.
In 14 USHL games, he has one goal and one assist with a +1 rating.
The 6′ 181 lbs. blue liner was definitely known for being able to contribute points in his last year of school at Cushing Academy, then first run of juniors with South Shore Kings, scoring 8 goals and 11 assists in 35 USPHL/NCDC games.
He will turn 20 by the time he reaches his freshman year and you can bet he’ll be competing for a Hockey East roster spot.
UMass-Lowell Riverhawks‘ 2022/2023 commit, center Jak Vaarwerk(29) is decently frequent on the stat sheet with 3 goals and 13 assists in 20 NAHL games for Jamestown Rebels.
It will be the 18-year old’s only run in junior hockey and he’s making it a memorable one.
The 5’11” 174 lbs from Amherst, NY did his entire youth hockey in Buffalo Jr. Sabres‘ system.
He could be a frequent freshman introduced into the Hockey East lineup.
12th year veteran defenseman Jared Nightingale(3) retired after 1 game for Quad City Mallards and went on to take the assistant coach reins at Omaha Lancers of the USHL.
The big 6’3″ 205 lbs. blue liner has skated 472 AHL games, 202 ECHL after 4 years at Michigan State University Spartans.
He sort of followed a bit of a pattern coaching, two years in US juniors, two OHL and then adopted to coach a team he’d played 67 games for as team captain, Rockford Icehogs.
The 39-year old from Jackson, MI has to have a little smile on his face.
Holy Cross College Crusaders‘ 2022/2023 commit, small center Joe Solimine(9) is cutting it up in his 2nd season for Junior Bruins, capturing a new high 8 goals and 18 assists for 26 points in 20 USPHL/NCDC games.
The 5’8″ 181 lbs. pivot looked is an aggressive skater and will likely play into Atlantic Hockey style play well, when he arrives.
