Undrafted right wing Jason Kleinhans(93) has always scored decently through youth hockey, but it maybe took Air Force Academy Falcons to see the 5’10” 170 lbs. play his power forward style with Danbury Jr. Hat Tricks to commit.
He posted 10 goals and 14 assists in 49 NAHL games of a topsy-turvy 2020/2021 that didn’t include playoffs for his young club.
The 20-year old plays completely in-your-face puck that will be a welcome addition to the NCAA Atlantic Hockey college team.
St. Cloud State University Huskies‘ sophomore right wing Jack Johnston(7) wasn’t able to get into more than 3 NCAA/NCHC games in 2020/2021 with an odd +2 rating, due to a very stacked squad returning for the college team, who went onto win their first three rounds Frozen Four tournament and only lose to the eventual winners in the semi-finals.
The 5’10” 170 lbs. forward left three season of junior hockey for Fairbanks Ice Dogs with career high numbers, 18 goals, 27 assists for 45 points in 52 NAHL games with a +25 rating.
A prolific scorer going back to his 2nd year of high school back in St. Paul, MN, he brought that forward to his first two years in Alaska, scoring 31 goals and 39 assists in 103 games with a combined +31 before running the totals he did in ’19/20 before playoffs were crashed by COVID.
The 21-year old will continue to need to work hard to find his room on the college roster but there’s little doubt he will.
Air Force Academy Falcons‘ 2021/2022 defenseman commit Jasper Lester(5) caught the colleges’ attention playing youth hockey with close to home Colorado Rampage, and also just as he was starting to play junior hockey for Fairbanks Ice Dogs of the NAHL.
The 6′ 180 lbs. blue liner skated two seasons in Alaska, leaving with a junior career best 7 goals, 16 assists for 23 points and a +14 rating for a 2nd time.
At 20-years old, he should compete well from the get-go in NCAA Division 1 Atlantic Hockey.
Jared Lambright(72) appeared to score assists from his defensive post with happiness at his Lake Placid prep Northwood School, totally 33 the season after committing to St. Lawrence University for 2021/2022.
The small 5’9″ 165 lbs. hard working, fast pivot next joined Northeast Generals as his first year in juniors scoring 2 goals and 13 assists with a +7 rating 47 games in stopped 2019/2020 session due to the COVID outbreak.
He transferred allegiances for a new club in Minot Minotouros but lasts only 8 games with a goal, an assist and a bit of a woeful -7 to be released and sign with Boston Advantage of the USPHL/NCDC, where he didn’t have a tally but added 6 assists in an on and off 2020/2021, but did go to playoffs.
The 20-year old should find space and develop nicely at his new school.
The bonus questions’ section of our 1-question interview with 2021/2022 Long Island University commit and 2-time Northeast Generals‘ captain, Dylan Schuett.
We are super sad to hear the news Robert Morris University has decided to pull Colonials‘ hockey amongst other sports the school hosts and hope they will see it clear to change their path back to NCAA Division 1 competition.
Knoxville Ice Bears‘ rookie defenseman Sean Giles(41) wasn’t able to come up with a goal but did post 4 assists in 35 SPHL games with a +1 rating, then played in a pair of playoff matchups.
The 6′ 182 lbs. blue liner played 4 years at Robert Morris University Colonials after two years for Lone Star Brahmas of the NAHL, where he committed to college after a solid 2nd frame, scoring 2 goals and 16 assists with a +13 rating as team captain.
It will be interesting to see where the 25-year old goes next.
University Of Huntsville-Alabama Chargers‘ freshman defenseman Mick Heneghan(20) skated 13 NCAA/WCHA games in 2020/2021’s compressed season scoring a goal and 3 assists.
It took him a year of juniors cycling through three NAHL clubs and one short stint in the EHL after 18U in his native Illinois to get grounded, but in his 2nd campaign hooked up with New Jersey Rockets of the USPHL/NCDC posting a career high 9 goals and 25 assists for 34 points.
The 5’11” 170 lbs. blue liner next signed with Northeast Generals scoring another new best marks of 34 assists and 37 points before hooking up with his future college in the summer.
Seems likely the 22-year old’s game will elevate as he continues with the inevitable increase of games and exposure.
After 4 years at a couple of prep schools, defenseman Jude Brower(22) only required one season of juniors with Junior Bruins of the NCDC/USPHL to find his college commit for 2021/2022, US Army Black Knights.
The 6’1″ 190 lbs. blue liner did destroy in the point category in school, grabbing 46 goals and 69 assists in 104 games, which is just massive for a d-man.
He also managed to score 5 goals with 11 assists in 39 games last season.
The 19-year old Mahopac, NY native says he’s following a family tradition entering the armed services but could also find himself wooed by the pros if he continues to post dozens upon dozens of helpers.
South Shore Kings‘ undrafted 2nd year net minder Evan Szary(31) was named NCDC/USPHL Goaltender Of 2020/2021.
In 37 starts he went 21-13-1 with a 2.71 GAA and .929 SV%, then in 3 playoff games had a 2.32 and .936 but fell 1-2.
The Nashville, TN native has basically played most of his youth and the start of junior hockey in the state of New Jersey, save for one year in Phoenix, until he branched out with his travels leading him to a contract in Foxboro that appeared to solidify his game.
He heads of to Army West Point Black Knights for 2021/2022 and you watch the 21-year old will be competing for the top job in no time.
