Colorado College Tigers‘ 2022/2023 commit, right wing Bret Link(10) is spending his 3rd and final frame at junior hockey with Fargo Force, scoring 2 goals and 3 assists in 13 USHL games.
The 6’2″ 185 lbs. Anchorage, AK forward finished up a pair of successful seasons with Fairbanks Ice Dogs, amassing 55 points in 95 NAHL games with a +22 rating.
As a 20-year old, he should be able to step right into NCHC play, when he arrives.
Mercyhurst University Lakers‘ portal transfer, graduate captain Pierce Crawford(26) gets it going with a 1st Atlantic Hockey goal to go along with a pair of assists in 10 games to start the 2021/2022 session.
In 4 years at University Of Notre Dame Fighting Irish, his best was 5 points (2 goals, 3 assists) as a sophomore.
The 5’9″ wide 190 lbs. forward connected for almost equal points, including 18 goals in a pair of junior seasons, first NAHL and later USHL before college.
It will be interesting to see where the 24-year old will take his game next.
Canisius College Golden Griffins‘ junior portal transfer Danny DiGrande(14) is already sort of doing better than any of his previous two sessions with RPI Engineers.
They didn’t play in 2020/2021.
The 5’10” 181 lbs. forward has two goals to start 2021/2022, and only ever scored 3 goals as a sophomore at his former school.
They did not play last season due to COVID restrictions.
The hard-skating, Macomb, MI native had three decent numbered USHL junior campaigns with 4 different teams, mostly through trades and finally with Green Bay Gamblers, before agreeing to school.
He still has an year to continue improving those stats and it will be interesting to see if Atlantic Hockey was the trick to turn that corner.
Canisius College Golden Griffins‘ graduate defenseman Cory Thomas(37) makes a good decision to enter the portal transfer for his year of eligibility coming in from 4 years at University Of Vermont Catamounts.
The sizably huge 6’5″ 219 lbs. blue liner has never been much of a scorer, but has started 2021/2022 with a goal and an assist in 9 games with a +1 rating, so maybe starting something.
He agreed to his first school after his 2nd season of SJHL, near his hometown St. Brieux, SK, with Flin Flon Bombers.
It will be really interesting to see where the 23-year old, big d-man goes next.
Undrafted 3rd year defenseman Alex Thow(3) started 2021/2022 with 6 Tipos Extraliga games for HKM Zvolen, but was unable to connect, so decided to leave and signs with Nottingham Panthers.
The former 4-year Clarkson University Golden Knights‘ blue liner was always a + player, graduating with a +30 rating and posting a college career best 8 goals and 18 assists as a senior before signing an AHL ato with Utica Comets.
He would sign an extension over the summer to stay, but was reassigned to Kalamazoo Wings, where he spent the entirety of his rookie campaign, scoring ECHL bests 7 goals and 22 assists.
The 6’1″ 200 lbs. 26-year old d-man from East York, ON will likely do very well in the EIHL.
After a solid season in the SJHL, scoring 10 goals and 40 assists in 57 games that got him noticed and committed to attend University Of Vermont Catamounts for 2022/2023, Karter McNarland(43) had a tough time connecting with a pair of USHL and NAHL teams before hooking up with South Shore Kings, where he was able to pop in 5 USPHL/NCDC games with 2 goals and 3 assists.
The 5’11” 170 lbs. Saskatoon, SK native transferred closer to home to the Powell River Kings and is very much hitting the ground running with 4 goals and 5 assists in 9 BCHL games.
At just 18-years old, he may be almost ready to step into tough Hockey East play.
12th year left wing Jerry D’Amigo(9) played his hockey closer to home during the pandemic 2020/2021, signing with Orlando Solar Bears, doing ok scoring 10 goals and 16 assists in 52 ECHL games with a 3 AHL game loan to Colorado Eagles.
The 5’11” 201 lbs. forward leaves once again, rejoining DEL, but switch allegiances, agreeing to terms with Dusseldorfer EG for 2021/2022.
In 10 games, he has 3 goals and 1 assist with a +1 rating, so the 30-year old is still off and running.
The Binghamton, NY native had an interesting run through juniors and college hockey before turning pro.
He started with 2 years in the USDP program before agreeing to college at RPI Engineers, where he put up point-per-game numbers before signing his 3-year entry level deal.
A Toronto Maple Leafs‘ 6th round pick in the 2009 draft (#158 overall), he was reassigned as a rookie to affiliate Toronto Marlies.
He would pot a decent 5 goals and 10 assists in 43 AHL games, but was sent to Kitchener Rangers to play out the remainder of the season in the OHL and blew up the stat sheet.
The 30-year old has only skated 31 NHL games with a goal and 2 assists to his credit, but has to be just still enjoying his time on ice and what he’s still able to accomplish.
For his 10th pro season, veteran of 275 NHL games, Brian Flynn(10) comes home to sign a 1-year deal with New Jersey Devils, and has him reassigned to affiliate Utica Comets, after spending the past pair of seasons overseas, mostly with HC Ambri-Piotta, wrapping up 33/34 points in his time in the NL.
He also skated 13 games for EV Zug after leaving 21 AHL games for San Antonio Rampage and ended up claiming victory of the 2019 Swiss Cup.
The 6’1″ 185 lbs. was never much of a scorer in the big league, mostly a fourth line grinder wearing opponents down.
Undrafted, after graduating from 4 years at University Of Maine Black Bears, where he was a huge hit for points, signed a 1-year entry level deal with Buffalo Sabres and split time between the big club and affiliate Rochester Americans.
The 33-year old is rolling nicely with 2 goals and an assist in 4 games to start 2021/2022, and is likely a great person to have in the locker room and on the bench.
Holy Cross College Crusaders‘ sophomore center Tyler Ghirardosi(39) transferred from 1-year at Quinnipiac University Bobcats with no hockey and is lighting it up.
The solid skating 6’3″ 185 lbs. forward has put up a tidy 3 goals and 4 assists in 9 games to start 2021/2022.
He was a fairly strong scorer in 3 years of juniors with the Trail Smoke Eaters of the BCHL.
If the 22-year old continues on this pace, he’ll definitely get himself noticed for a pro contract in a couple years.
Undrafted 7th year defenseman Ryan Johnston(89) switches up top overseas leagues for a third time, landing in Finland with Liiga, signing a 1-year deal for HPK.
The former 3-year Colgate University Raiders‘ blue liner started his pro career on a 2-year NHL entry level deal with Montreal Canadiens that led to 10 games over two seasons, but no qualifying offer to stay.
From there, he departed for a pair of campaigns in the SHL.
The 5’10” 179 lbs. blue liner maybe somewhat oddly returned for 2019/2020, signing a 1-year AHL deal with San Diego Gulls.
He left for Germany during the pandemic, signing with Iserlohn Roosters and doing quite well with 3 goals and 10 assists in 17 DEL games with a +7 rating.
The 29-year old is off to a bit of a hot start with 4 assists in 9 games to start 2021/2022 and could find a good league to play out his career in.
