Long Island University Sharks‘ rookie defenseman Rob McCollum(22) appeared in 10 NCAA/Atlantic Hockey games in a COVID stunted 2020/2021.
The 6’2″ 181 lbs. d-man split his time between three teams through his only season of American junior hockey starting in the NAHL for Kenai River Brown Bears before moving on to the USHL, where he ultimately landed with Muskegon Lumberjacks to gain his college commitment.
The Thunder Bay, ON native also did a couple of years of juniors close to home too in the NOJHL, SIJHL and ultimately the OJHL.
Look for the 21-year old to gain more ice time and we think his stay at home style could connect.
Utah Grizzlies‘ undrafted rookie left wing Matt Hoover(72) is maybe having a bit of a quiet first run scoring 4 goals and 9 assists in 41 ECHL games on a team in a fight for a playoff berth.
It’s a little surprising, considering he was coming off three straight seasons of big numbers for college team, Canisius College Golden Griffins.
He finished with 47 goals and 52 assists in 148 NCAA Atlantic Hockey games.
The 5’10” 181 lbs. forward went north to the OJHL then lit up the BCHL for his junior hockey.
It will be interesting to see what’s next for the 25-year old, Peoria, IL native, but we get the sense he may be just getting situated.
Finland-native defenseman Veli-Matti Tiuraniemi(20) heads back home for 2021/2022 to Karpat of Liiga after four years at University Of Maine.
Never the biggest scorer through college, his best outing was as a junior, when he connected for 2 goals and 8 assists but you can hardly count the COVID interrupted 2020/2021, where he was only able to skate 14 NCAA Hockey East games for 3 points, all assists.
The 6′ 193 lbs. d-man came to the US for a single season of juniors with Dubuque Fighting Saints of the USHL and did produce 19 assists, but has to be seen as more of a stay-at-home style blue liner.
He did produce a decent amount of helpers through U18 and U20 play, so has the ability to contribute scoring.
We’ll see how the 23-year old readjusts to his home country’s play after most of 5 years away.
Manitoba Moose towering 6’4″ 216 lbs. rookie defenseman Dylan Samberg(44) has three assists in 24 AHL games with a +3 rating.
He is a Winnipeg Jets‘ 2nd round pick in the 2017 draft (#43 overall) and was signed to a three year entry level deal after completing a third, playoff cut short season at University Of Minnesota-Duluth Bulldogs, where he helped them win a pair of consecutive NCAA Championships.
Committing to college after his 2nd year at hometown Hermantown High before becoming captain of the squad in his third session, then went onto play 6 USHL games for Waterloo Blackhawks before heading to school.
It’s possible for the 21-year old to earn a recall in the current frame but as the playoff push is very much on, it’s may be more likely he stays put and helps his current club with their postseason quest.
San Jose Sharks‘ undrafted free agent signing, defenseman Brinson Pasichnuk(50) scores a first NHL game in his rookie season with affiliate San Jose Barracuda.
Both clubs are deep in a playoff hunt.
He skated 14 shifts for 8:34 total ice.
In 29 AHL games he has a goal and 6 assists.
The 6′ 185 lbs. blue liner spent 4 years at Arizona State University Sun Devils with the last two as team captain, and scored a college career best 26 assists and 37 points as a senior before COVID shut down any playoff hopes.
He was the first player from the college ever to be signed to a big league contract as an unrestricted free agent and at 23-years old seems to be at the right place at the right time.
Forward Brendan Clark(24) committed to Brown University after a strong second showing at Delbarton School that saw him achieve 4 goals and 18 assists in 27 games.
He seemed to sputter a bit in the follow-up campaigns but upon signing to play junior hockey in the NAHL for Johnstown Tomahawks, his scoring touch has exploded.
The 6’1″ 185 lbs. pivot has scored 14 goals and 32 assists in 43 games with a +18 rating.
It will be very interesting to see how the 19-year old Morris Plains, NJ native will perform in playoff hockey but we suspect he’ll adapt to ECAC Division play pretty quickly.
Rookie right wing Steenn Pasichnuk(80) probably just needed to hear San Jose Barracuda intended on playing hockey this season to make the decision to join the team after four years at Arizona State University Sun Devils.
He is a big 6’4″ 190 lbs. forward but never really lit it up on the scoresheet with his best season as a junior amassing all of 8 points (2-6).
It’s not always been like that.
Through three campaigns of AJHL play with Bonnyville Pontiacs, the year in which he committed was looking to be a huge leap for him scoring 19 goals and dishing out 30 assists as 2nd year captain.
He’s actually shown lots of ability to score through U15 and U18 play.
Reassigned for his debut to Allen Americans of the ECHL, maybe to just get him some games immediately, he was unable to connect before being recalled a second month into a delayed AHL start and what do you know, he connects for his first pro goal in his third game, then adds a 2nd a night later.
We think that if the 24-year old can get himself situated, he’ll be an asset up front for any team but will always need to work for it.
Florida Panthers‘ 1st round, just signed goaltender Spencer Knight(30) got the nod in between the pipes for his first NHL start vs. a slumping Columbus Blue Jackets‘ squad.
Well, he shut the door on a 5-1 win making 33 saves in 60:00 minutes of playing time, leaving with a 1.00 GAA and massive .973 SV%.
He was also given the game’s first star honors.
Nice start, literally.
Manitoba Moose left wing Jeff Malott(39) is lighting up the AHL as a rookie with 11 goals and 4 assists in 22 games with a +6 rating.
The former four year Cornell University Big Red captain is completely outpacing what he was able to produce at college, which was exactly 6 goals in each of his seasons.
At 6’4″ 205 lbs. he’s a very large on-ice presence committed to school just before producing his best offensive output with Brooks Bandits of the AJHL.
In his 2nd frame of junior hockey the Burlington, ON native scored 25 goals and 35 assists for 60 points in just 46 games.
Matt Hellickson(55) finishes up as assistant captain in his COVID stunned senior year at Notre Dame Fighting Irish and the New Jersey Devils‘ 7th round pick in the 2017 draft (#214 overall) signs an AHL contract for the remainder of 2021 with affiliate Binghamton Devils to get started.
The 6′ 183 lbs. defenseman recently played his first game, a 6-3 win, where he didn’t come away with a point but left the highest scoring contest a +2 skater.
He committed to the college of his choice in last year at high school, then joining the USNTDP program for 2 sessions before signing with Sioux City Musketeers, where his assist totals exploded for a 2nd time.
The 23-year old awaits an NHL contract but we got to think he’s fully on the radar to get one fairly soon.
