Category: College Hockey Player

10Jul

Gunnarwolfe Fontaine (11)

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Northeastern University Huskies‘ senior center Gunnarwolfe Fontaine(11) caps a successful final season in a college jersey by scoring the overtime game-winner to lift his team to a 2nd straight Beanpot Championship.

The small 5’8″ 174 lbs. forward is a Nashville Predators‘ 7th round pick in the 2020 draft (#202 overall).

He may not equal college scoring highs he set as a junior, but still has solid totals and a +5 rating.

The East Greenwich, RI native played 2 USHL seasons, scoring big for Chicago Steel.

It seems like a pretty easy consideration to give him a 2-year entry level contract to see what he can do in the system.

Once again, spectacular for his college club with crucial game-winning goals, he will extend college for a year of eligibility at Ohio State University Buckeyes, which should just see him continue on his path.

After a new college best 17 goals and 23 assists, he signs with Iowa Wild, but in 5 games gets no points with a +1 rating.

For his rookie season, he agrees with Toronto Marlies 2025/2026.

He is mostly reassigned to Cincinnati Cyclones, where he scores even better than he did in college with 21 goals and 24 assists in 71 ECHL games, but he looks elsewhere and signs for 2026/2027 in IceHL with HC Pustertal .

10Jul

Tyler Busch (13)

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Former Arizona State University Sun Devils‘ undrafted 2 year team captain Tyler Busch(13) quite possibly was waiting to see where North American pro hockey was going to settle before agreeing to leave the country for his next pursuit and decided to sign on with Sweden’s tier 3 league HockeyEttan joining Tranas AIF.

He did sign with Cincinnati Cyclones during the summer but then decided to forego the 2020/2021 due to COVID restrictions.

The 6’3″ 195 lb. power forward scored a healthy diet of four goals and 5 assists in 17 games before adding an assist in the playoffs.

He put up 21 points in two straight seasons before graduating with a career high 18 assists and +15 rating as a senior.

The Lloydminster, AB native played 3 years in the AJHL for Spruce Grove Saints and arrived at college after his best session as a more than point-per-game performer serving as captain.

What the 25-year old does next is up in the air but he could easily continue where he’s at and likely receive a look from the NL.

For 2021/2022, he was initially signed with the Cyclones return, but switched it up closer to the start of the frame and went with Fort Wayne Komets in 2021/2022, ending up getting 8 goals and 11 assists in 59 games, including a 4 game AHL loan to Henderson Silver Knights.

He re-signs to stay where he played as a rookie and we only see things improving for this young player.

Traded to Iowa Heartlanders early in the season, he managed to connect for 14 goals and 14 assists in 56 games.

He’ll take that ECHL experience to the EIHL next, signing for 2023/2024 with Cardiff Devils.

After 2 seasons, scoring decently, he will switch things up to sign with rivals, Guilford Flames for 2025/2026 and hopes to increase his play.

He would put up a new league best scoring 21 assists and 32 points to easily get another 1-year deal to stay a Flames for 2026/2027.

10Jul

Trevor Kuntar (16)

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Boston Bruins‘ 3rd round pick in the 2020 draft (#89 overall), Boston College Eagles‘ junior center Trevor Kuntar(16) will leave a year of college on the table to sign a 2-year NHL entry level deal.

The 6′ 196 lbs. forward recorded a college career best 13 goals and 16 assists in 34 games with a +5 rating as a junior.

He was a more than a point-per-game player in his 2nd season with Youngstown Phantoms, getting 53 points in 44 USHL games.

The 21-year old may report to and help affiliate Providence Bruins go for a Calder Cup, but will most definitely compete in camp 2023 for a roster spot.

He goes into restricted free agency unqualified, so able to look for a contract as an unrestricted free agent and signs a 1-year AHL deal with Rochester Americans for 2025/2026.

In 24 games this season, he has a team high 9 goals and 13 points, so gets offered a 1-year contract with parent club, Buffalo Sabres worth $775K AAV.

We expect an NHL recall soon.

He does score the 1 game upside, but plays 70 games, scoring a new best 21 goals and 16 assists to earn a 2-year extension to stay an Amerks.

09Jul

Sean Collins (61)

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12th year center Sean Collins(61) has been league jumping for the past couple seasons, going through the KHL, DEL, Liiga and the SL to finally arrived at Steinbach Black Wings Linz of IceHL for 2023/2024 .

Originally a Columbus Blue Jackets‘ 7th round pick in 2008 (#168 overall), he was able to get in a few games with the big club, recording a few assists, but no goals.

The solid 6’3″ 190 lbs. forward has played 278 AHL games, scoring 71 goals and 91 assists with a +23 rating.

From Saskatoon, AB, the 33-year old 4-year Cornell University Big Red senior, assistant captain scorer has to be happy with the way things are going, having come off a season, scoring a best 27 goals and 30 assists.

He is playing good hockey, scoring points, helping his team win, where he is at, so is staying put for a 3rd season in a Wings‘ jersey.

His 3rd year numbers maybe ticked down a notch and that has the 37-year old maybe still waiting to play, but take it to another level, signs with Sheffield Steelers.

We look for him to become an EIHL favorite in no time.

09Jul

Jake Witkowski (83)

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Canisius College Golden Griffins‘ transfer portal, graduate right wing Jake Witkowski(83) has made a good decision trading 4 seasons at Hockey East, Boston University Terriers for Atlantic Hockey.

in 6 games, he almost unbelievably has outpaced anything he did previously, as those became his first college tallies.

The 5’10” 180 lbs. forward played 4 years at Malden Catholic High, which was near to where he was born in Melrose, MA,

He would leave for a year at Avon Old Farms School, lighting it up for 13 goals and 27 assists in 27 games, then head off to the BCHL.

Signed for his only junior campaign with Alberni Valley Bulldogs, he continued to gain notice with 23 goals and 17 assists and agreed to head to his first school.

It will be interesting to see what the 25-year old ends up with and where he looks to take his hockey next.

He scores a college career best 5 goals and 6 assists in 32 games with a +6 rating and signs a rookie contract with Pensacola Ice Flyers just as the season starts.

In 2 SPHL games, he has an assist.

He will likely find room in this league to put the puck in the back of the net.

After 9 games last season, scoring 2 goals and 1 assist, he leaves for the 2nd tier league NIHL, signing with Leeds Knights and putting up a bundle of points, 46 (16-30) in 26 games.

He waits a tiny bit, but re-signs to head back to the small English town team for 2023/2024.

For 2024/2025, he left for the lower NIHL 1 league and signed with Deeside Dragons.

He’s absolutely blown up scoring and is having a lot of fun to continue for a 3rd & 4th frame through 2027/2028.

09Jul

Nate Clurman (5)

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Colorado Avalanche signed Boulder native and 6th round pick in the 2016 draft (#161 overall), former Notre Dame Fighting Irish captain, Nate Clurman(5) after the tumultuous 2020/2021 pandemic season rollercoaster.

He  arrives for his pro debut close to home in Loveland with affiliate Colorado Eagles, so the whole family & friends can hopefully come see him play. phew.

The 6’2″ 200 lbs. blue liner has never really put up big points, although did have a career high 4 goals last year and did use to connect at Culver Military Academy Prep in Indiana, so it’s possible he was maybe a bit dormant through juniors and college.

No doubt the 22-year old will be a solid addition to the lineup and may even spark some notice above.

He had been reassigned to the ECHL to start his pro career with farm club, Utah Grizzlies and managed to connect for a goal and 6 assists with a +9 rating to earn a recall.

The very decently sized d-man got a first AHL goal in his 6th appearance.

After 3 seasons with his 1st club, he moved along to Pittsburgh Penguins, where he appeared in his 1st NHL game.

The unrestricted free agent was next signed by Montreal Canadiens, but sent to affiliate Laval Rocket, where his numbers were good.

He is looking for a new start in 6th year of pro hockey and signs with Rogle BK, where he should play well in the SHL.

09Jul

Taylor Makar (6)

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University Of Massachusetts Minutemen sophomore, left wing Taylor Makar(6) is starting to pop scoring with 7 goals and 2 assists in 19 games.

The fairly sizable 6’4″ 209 lbs. forward was a Colorado Avalanche 7th round pick in the 2021 draft (#220 overall), which could very well put him on the same team as his Stanley Cup winning, NHL Best Defenseman brother, Cale Makar.

He has yet to prove he has the same depth, but did take his scoring up in his 3rd season with AJHL junior team, Brooks Bandits before getting selected.

The Calgary, AB native is big and looks to be starting to use his size to his advantage, which will definitely create room for him to score.

For his senior year, he decides to head off to Hockey East rival, University Of Maine Black Bears for 2024/2025 and he’s off to a huge start with 4 goals and 3 assists in 4 games.

There’s little doubt he will post some college hockey bests, but 18 goals and 12 assists in 38 games with a +24 rating and he is ready to sign and does on a 1-year NHL deal.

He reports to affiliate Colorado Eagles on an ato to get things started.

Starting the season in the AHL, he skates 10 games, scoring 1 goal and 3 assists with a +4 rating to score a 1st appearance in the big league.

He skates just 8 shifts for 6:07 ice time in a 3-2 overtime loss.

After helping push the affiliate in the playoffs, he scores a 2-year deal to continue with the Avalanche through 2027/2028.

09Jul

Chase Yoder (48)

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Providence College Friars‘ senior center Chase Yoder(48) scored what turned out to be the game-winner for the 2023 Mayor’s Cup, Battle of Providence vs. Brown University Bears, 3-0.

The 5’10” 176 lbs. forward is easily threatening college bests with 6 goals and 6 assists in 17 games.

A Pittsburg Penguins‘ 6th round pick in the 2020 draft (#170 overall), the Fairview, TX native did 2 years in the USNTDP system before school.

We think this is the season to see an uptick in the 21 year old’s game, getting him ready to sign an NHL entry level deal.

He goes unsigned by his draft club, but somehow picks up the radar of Winnipeg Jets, who get him signed to an AHL contract with affiliate Manitoba Moose for 2025/2026.

Splitting time with affiliate Norfolk Admirals, where he was close to a point-per-game player and even got 2 goals and 2 assists in 23 games up, he gets another look in a Moose jersey for 2026/2027.

09Jul

Eamon Powell (11)

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Boston College Eagles‘ senior captain defenseman Eamon Powell(11) maybe a little quietly this season amassed a college best 26 assists to go with his 5 goals that match those junior totals in 34 games with a +19 rating.

The 6′ 177 lbs. blue liner had a team high 2 assists in the Hockey East quarterfinals’ win over the weekend to advance to the next round.

A Marcellus, NY native, the young 21-year old is a Tampa Bay Lightning 4th round pick in the 2020 draft (#116 overall) and will be a watch to sign an NHL entry level deal.

The rights to ink are left to expire, so he becomes an unrestricted free agent.

He signs a 1-year AHL deal with Charlotte Checkers to start 2025/2026, but will jump in for the playoffs on an ato, and already has a 1st goal and assist in 5 games.

In 23 games, he scores 1 goal and 5 assists, but is an unrestricted free agent and signs with Utica Comets for 2026/2027.