We are deeply saddened by the news of 7-year NHL, former Boston Bruins‘ (2015-2017) right wing Jimmy Hayes(11) sudden death at age 31.
The big 6’5″ 215 lbs. forward played 334 games in the big league, scoring 54 goals and 55 assists.
He signed 5 major contracts with 5 different clubs, but was probably most successful in his pair of seasons with Florida Panthers, where he struck for 30 goals and 23 assists, including 3 game-winners and 7 on the pp.
The Dorchester, MA native also won the 2010 NCAA Division 1 Championship with his school of 3 years Boston College.
We’re all going to miss that big smile, we got to enjoy just once at an appearance at a local shoe outlet, where we got the chance to meet and talk with him as a member of the Black & Gold.
3rd year Robert Morris University Colonials‘ center Grant Hebert(3) heard what they were saying after hoisting career high 8 goals and 15 assists for 23 points with a +6 rating in 24 Atlantic Hockey games, entered the transfer portal and will come out with his senior year at University Of Maine Black Bears.
The terrain in Hockey East will no doubt be tougher, but we feel the big 6’3″ 175 lbs. forward will step it up.
He caught the attention of his first school with a massive breakout season for Cumberland Grads, throttling 27 goals and 64 assists in 60 CCHL games as the team’s assistant captain.
This set him up for the one year they likely wanted him to put in to a US junior hockey program and he was drafted by and played for Fargo Force, dominating on offense with 15 goals and another helper party of 39 assists with a +19 rating, then another 10 points (3-7) in 14 playoff games to win the 2018 USHL Clark Cup Championship.
We think the 22-year old from St. Andrews West, ON will have a good run with his new college club.
3rd year defenseman Jake Massie(56) signs a 1-year ECHL deal with South Carolina Stingrays for 2021/2022 after not being qualified when his 2-year NHL entry level deal to Florida Panthers expired.
He signed as an unrestricted free agent after leaving after three years at University Of Vermont Catamounts, but completing his degree before he left.
While mostly spending time with then affiliate Springfield Thunderbirds as a rookie, he was only able to get in roughly half the regular season slate of games, despite getting 3 goals and 2 assists in 29 AHL games with a +2 rating.
The 6’1″ 190 lbs. blue liner was reassigned for all of his sophomore campaign to Greenville Swamp Rabbits from Syracuse Crunch, who became the default affiliate during the faulty 2020/2021.
He was originally a Carolina Hurricanes‘ 6th round pick in the 2015 draft (#156 overall), and played only one year of junior hockey with Omaha Lancers, recording 10 points in 44 USHL games.
It seems like the 24-year old from St. Lazare, QC is still playing himself on an upper level radar, but may find better waters elsewhere.
7th year center Travis Boyd(72) finds a new home with Arizona Coyotes for the cap minimum after becoming unrestricted free agent.
He was last spotted skating for Vancouver Canucks after being picked up off waivers from 2020/2021 contract club Toronto Maple Leafs.
Originally a Washington Capitals‘ 6th round pick in the 2011 draft (#177 overall), he stayed with them most of his early career, playing 85 NHL games, getting 8 goals and 23 assists with a +12 rating, while his only AHL time was for affiliate Hershey Bears, picking up 57 goals and 115 assists in 221 games.
We do think it is believed the former University Of Minnesota Golden Gophers forward can score like he did as a college senior, posting 19 goals and 22 assists in 32 WCHA games.
After 10 years of playing 310 AHL with 6 different teams and 71 NHL games for 2 (New York Rangers & Minnesota Wild), Stu Bickel(4) hung up the skates a few years ago and quickly took to coaching.
The extra large 6’4″ 207 lbs. defenseman started with two years as a Undergraduate Assistant Coach with his former college team of only one season University Of Minnesota Golden Gophers.
He moved on from there to become Head Coach, then Assistant General Manager of the Minnesota Magicians, playing in the NAHL.
That lasted for the single 2020/2021 session, and recently he was named assistant coach for Springfield Thunderbirds, a team who is very familiar with him from having to skate against for a great many years.
The 34-year old has elevated himself to a nice new level but we see how long the Chanhassen, MN native stays.
Undrafted left wing Christopher Berger(10) leaves after graduating 4 years at Brown University Bears, and somehow still has two years of eligibility remaining as he’s set to join Michigan Stage University Spartans for 2021/2022.
His former college team did not play in 2020/2021 due to COVID restrictions and he ended the previous campaign on a season ending injury after just 9 ECAC games, scoring two goals and two assists, which gives him his pair of additional campaigns.
The 5’9″ 175 lbs. forward did a pair of successful junior seasons, first with Buffalo Jr. Sabres (34-56-90) in 98 OJHL games, then moving more into America for a frame with Des Moines Buccaneers, where he got 10 goals and 20 assists.
He was having breakout scoring in college as a sophomore, similar to when he was able to produce 8 goals and 11 assists in 29 USHL games,
The 23-year old, Amherst, NY native may find it a bit tough, but he could adjust quickly to Big Ten play and start scoring.
Air Force Academy Falcons loses a good one through the transfer portal, as undrafted, right wing Thomas Daskas(34) takes off for Miami University (Ohio) Redhawks.
The solid 6’2″ 201 lbs. power forward had only 14 Atlantic Hockey games in a screwed up 2020/2021, but struck for 3 goals and 4 assists.
He spent three seasons in junior hockey, starting up north in the CCHL for Kemptville 73’s before coming back to a pair of NAHL campaigns, of which hooking up with Lone Star Brahmas for a 2nd frame made it work for 19 goals and 29 assists with a +28 rating to score his college commitment.
The 21-year old will bring good things to his new school and should be able to play himself into a place, where he becomes a sought after unrestricted free agent upon completing.
Undrafted, 7th year net minder C.J. Motte(30) circles back to rejoin Coventry Blaze after playing a much smaller 2020/2021 schedule closer to home on return with Allen Americans and on loan to Bridgeport Sound Tigers.
He was last in the EIHL after a somewhat unsuccessful run in EBEL with HC Innsbruck.
The 6′ 185 lbs. has played net in 22 AHL games and 155 ECHL posting very decent numbers in both leagues.
It’s likely the 29-year old, former Ferris State University Bulldogs‘ senior captain, who did very well in four years at school, will be well at home playing in the United Kingdom again.
Anaheim Ducks selected with their #98 pick in the 2021 draft, UMass Minutemen center Josh Lopina(10), who won a 2021 NCAA Division 1 Championship and scored a tidy 9 goals and 14 assists for 23 points in 29 Hockey East games with a +21 rating.
He was also a strong scorer in 2 years of USHL with Lincoln Stars, twice scoring 12 goals and grabbing 23 assists in his 2nd campaign.
The 6’2″ 194 lbs. forward from Minooka, IL played all his youth hockey in the Chicago Mission 13U – 16U programs.
At just 20-years old, it wouldn’t be even odd to see him finish up school before he signs an entry level contract.
11-year veteran defenseman Matt Smaby(32) played 122 NHL games, all for draft club (2nd round, 2003, #41 overall) Tampa Bay Lightning, scoring no goals and 6 assists.
He also skated 212 AHL games with 7 goals and 36 assists, the super-large 6’6″ 229 lbs. blue liner was a mostly stay-at-home style with good shot blocking capabilities.
The former University Of North Dakota Fighting Hawks‘ junior captain finished his pro career, playing four seasons for EHC Munchen and leaving the game on back-to-back 2016 & 2017 DEL Championships.
He would immediately take up as Team Manager for his old college team, before moving back to Germany for a year to be the assistant coach of EC Salzburg.
In his next move, it was likely best for him to stick close to home as a pandemic raged around the globe, so he took up as Youth Hockey Director with Grand Forks and coached their 14U Bantam AA.
This set him up perfectly for the next opportunity that would come knocking: USHL head coach Waterloo Blackhawks.
The 36-year old is moving on nicely.
