The bonus video section with the Northeastern University Huskies 2021/2022 commit featuring many more questions about his time with the USPHL/NCDC Jr. Bruins and the future outlook, now that’s he’s heading to play at an amazing Division 1 Hockey East school.
Jack Drury(13) basically had the best hockey experience he probably never even imagined, as his college team of two seasons, Harvard University Crimson had their playoff picture scrapped at the end of 2019/2020, then was going to shudder for 2020/2021 due to COVID complications.
The 6′ 175 lbs. forward took a few months to consider options and what came up was seemingly the best one to pursue, sign with Vaxjo Lakers to start his pro hockey career.
He played 41 games in 2020/2021 scoring 10 goals and 20 assists with a +10 rating, then struck for another 5 goals and 6 assists in 14 playoff appearances with a +5 en route to the 2021 SHL Championship.
The ball is now in Carolina Hurricanes‘ court, who picked him in the 2nd round of the 2018 draft (#42 overall), to sign him to an entry level deal to keep the 21-year old around.
After 4 seasons with St. Lawrence University Saints, serving as team captain for the last two, defenseman Dylan Woolf(2) turns pro signing with Florida Everblades for what’s left of 2021, but there is a playoff run with this squad, he will definitely hope to be part of.
The 6’1″ 205 lbs. blue liner has never been known for his point totals, instead is more of a stay at home style, handing out punishment to offenders.
It’s likely a really good time for the former, 3 season Lincoln Stars‘ d-man to sign, as his college team had a very good run in the COVID broken 2020/2021.
The 25-year old MN native may find a good home down south but considering how this outing has gone, nothing is for certain.
University Of Alabama-Huntsville Chargers‘ rookie forward Noah Finstrom(28) scored only a single goal in 2020/2021.
He had an outstanding third and final year of juniors with Jamestown Rebels scoring 16 goals and 26 assists in 52 NAHL games, which got him noticed by his college.
We have little doubt the 21-year old, who originally committed to a DIII school, will be picking up the pace as he heads into his sophomore season at the DI.
Chicago Blackhawks‘ undrafted rookie left wing Mike Hardman(86) scores a 1st NHL goal in his 5th game.
The 6’2″ 205 lbs. forward has skated roughly 17 shifts for 10+ minutes per outing.
Signed to a two year entry level deal through 2021/2022, he wasted no time getting situated, joining the taxi squad with the big club instead of heading to Rockford Icehogs to start his pro career.
He’s been with them for just over a month before getting his opportunity to show what the power pivot could do coming off only his 2nd campaign at Boston College Eagles, where he scored 10 goals and 9 assists in a COVID shortened 24 NCAA Division 1 Hockey East game schedule.
The 22-year Hanover, MA native is just getting started, obviously.
While undrafted goalie, Michael Houser(32) didn’t go the college route after a single campaign with Des Moines Buccaneers in the USHL 2008/2009, and went the route of junior hockey joining London Knights of the OHL for three seasons before signing his only big league contract to Florida Panthers for 2012-2015.
The 6’1″ 185 lbs. net minder has mostly signed AHL deals with different clubs but somehow has always seemed to circle back to Cincinnati Cyclones of the ECHL, where he’s appeared in a jaw-dropping 149 games for the double A club.
He scored his first major contract in 6 years with Buffalo Sabres after being voted Goaltender Of The Year in 2019/2020 with the Cyclones while under contract to their affiliate Rochester Americans, and maybe would have returned to the team, if they hadn’t needed to opt out due to the COVID restrictions of 2020/2021.
Although he didn’t start a minor league game this season, he was summoned to the taxi squad and for a team that just about couldn’t sink any lower, the 28-years old, Youngstown, OH native scores his first NHL start, wins it with a third period comeback, gets the nod in net for a 2nd straight game and picks up a 2nd victory in the shootout.
This is 2020/2021’s best hockey story right here.
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.
