Category: College Hockey Player

21Aug

Jarod Hilderman (3)

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Four year and consecutive NCAA Champion defenseman with University Of Minnesota-Duluth Bulldogs‘ Jarod Hilderman(3) knew before the 2019/2020 season came to a crashing halt during the playoffs that he would be heading to Birmingham Bulls for 2020/2021 and spend his rookie season in the SPHL.

Well, a pandemic didn’t sideline those plans, as he reported and played basically a full slate of 36/42 game schedule, unable to grab a goal but he did produce 6 assists.

The 6’1″ 210 lbs. Calgary, AB native started his junior hockey closer to home with 2 seasons for Penticton Vees, where he won his first title, a 2015 BCHL Championship, which is when he committed to college, but then moved south to do a season with Fargo Force of the USHL before reporting to school.

At 24-years old and the leagues opening up to full service, it wouldn’t be surprising to see him elevate his game to the next level.https://www.sandiegogulls.com/players/detail/hilderman

He would spend his 2020/2021 under contract to Tulsa Oilers and ended a 48 ECHL game “rookie” season with a goal and 15 assists, then added 3 assists in 6 playoff matchups.

For 2022/2023, he will return, but we also feel may earn a 1st AHL loan to San Diego Gulls, who have him on their radar.

He puts up some decent enough numbers with a pair of visits up, but needs better on ice accountability.

Despite the parts of his game to work on he gets an invite to return for a 2nd chance in an Oilers‘ jersey.

He has a solid 3rd frame, scoring 35 assists to seemingly rebound hard and will take his game over to Ligue Magnus, signing with Les Bruleurs De Loups for 2024/2025.

 

21Aug

Patrick Watling (28)

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6th year center Patrick Watling(28) decides to head off and try something new, signing for 2022/2023 with HC Kosice of Slovak Extraliga.

He exploded on the ECHL scoring sheet in 2021/2022 for Wheeling Nailers, scoring new bests 31 goals and 46 assists for 77 points 55 games with a +13 rating.

The 6′ 174 lbs. forward also scored a pair of loans up and managed another AHL goal and 2 assists in 5 appearances.

Undrafted, he signed his first deal after 3 OHL seasons with Toronto Marlies and split time with affiliate Orlando Solar Bears, where he pumped in point-per-game stats.

He skated his next pair of campaigns in Florida before being dished very late to Tulsa Oilers.

In the next frame, he took a break before heading to 2 years at University Of New Brunswick Reds before returning.

The 28-year old from Sault Ste. Marie, ON will definitely put up some big numbers in the new league he’s headed to.

In 11 games, he manages 1 goal and 8 assists, but somehow ends up traded or heading to rivals HC Banska Bystrica for the remainder of ’22/23.

Maybe a little oddly, he takes some very decent play after the trade to a new experience, signing for 2023/2024 with Sheffield Steelers of the EIHL.

After a season, scoring like he did in the minors with 22 goals and 36 assists, then helping his team win the 2024 league title, grabbing 3 assists in 3 games.

He will happily be back in a Steelers‘ sweater for 2024/2025.

21Aug

Daniel O’Regan (21)

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6th year German-born center Daniel O’Regan(21) gets a new 1-year, 2-way deal from Anaheim Ducks for 2021/2022.

The unrestricted free agent signed a 1-year deal with Vegas Golden Knights last season and put up point-per-game numbers for affiliate Henderson Silver Knights.

Originally a San Jose Sharks‘ 5th round pick in the 2012 draft (#138 overall), he’s been a prolific scorer since he arrived to ultimate graduate St. Sebastian’s School before committing to 4 years at Boston University Terriers, where he scored 154 points (66-88) in 154 Hockey East games.

His dad Tom O’Regan took a similar path through school.

The 27-year old will likely be pivotal to affiliate San Diego Gulls‘ success.

Mid-season he is moved to Grand Rapids Griffins and his scoring takes flight with 14 goals and 17 assists in 39 games.

For 2023/2024, he will take his 1 NHL goal to a new adventure, signing with MoDo Hockey and we think he finds comfort in scoring in the SHL.

He scores just 4 goals and 8 assists in 34 games with a -9 rating, but Kunlun Red Star see something and sign him to a 1-year KHL deal for 2024/2025.

21Aug

Griffin Loughran (13)

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Canisius College Golden Griffins‘ graduate center Griffin Loughran(13) finishes up at his 3rd school with a decent run of 6 goals and 9 assists in 21 games.

It’s nowhere near the 23 goals and 16 assists in 37 games set as a sophomore at Northern Michigan University Wildcats, but is within the range of regularly striking to connect.

The small 5’7″ 146 lbs. forward has 2 junior hockey frames, but really excelled in his 2nd term with Fargo Force, where he helped them win the 2018 USHL Clark Cup Championship.

From Orchard Park, NY, the 25-year also played his senior year at Michigan State University Spartans, signs a 1st pro deal with Savannah Ghost Pirates and pretty quickly has 2 assists in 5 Echl games with a +2 rating.

He signs with Worcester Railers for 2024/2025 and we think this is a good ECHL team for him to gain league footing.

21Aug

Ryan Orgel (28)

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Adirondack Thunder 2nd year ECHL defenseman Ryan Orgel(12) scores a loan up to Syracuse Crunch.

In 1 AHL game, he has no stats to report.

The 6′ 190 lbs. blue liner has a career best 5 goals this season, but his 10 assists after moving up from the SPHL Pensacola Ice Flyers stands for now.

He did 2 years of little use at University of Denver Pioneers, only to transfer to University Of Wisconsin-Stevens Point Pointers where his best showing was the ill-fated 2020/2021, where he scored 5 goals and 4 assists in 10 games.

The 27-year old from Los Angeles, CA seems to be pulling his game together at the perfect time.

He actually left his 2nd NAHL season to head to college.

In 40 games, he scores a new best 5 goals and will take that to a contract with the new to the league, Tahoe Knight Monsters for 2024/2025.

21Aug

Colton Young (19)

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Colgate University Raiders‘ junior left wing Colton Young(19) is having a college career year with new bests of 11 goals and 19 points in 20 NCAA Division 1 games.

The 6′ 174 lbs. forward put up consecutive 60+ point numbers in two years of junior hockey for Canmore Eagles, finishing with 157 in 176 AJHL games.

At 23-years old, the forthcoming unrestricted free agent will definitely be one to see where he heads to start pro hockey, if he does.

And he does, signing a deal with Greenville Swamp Rabbits, where he has 1 goal and 3 assists in 4 ECHL games, heading into the playoffs.

He grabs 1 assist in 5 playoff games and is an easy sign to welcome back as a Swamp Rabbits for his rookie season 2023/2024.

Through 39 games, he scores 6 goals and 10 assists, but is loaned up to Ontario Reign for 19 AHL games, where he pots 2 goals and 2 assists.

For 2024/2025, he is invited back to wear a Swamp Rabbits‘ jersey, which he would do, but late in the game is invited back to the Reign for the upcoming session.

21Aug

Zach Tyson (16)

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Hobart College Statesmen senior captain, center Zach Tyson(16) helped his team to the NCAA Division 3 Championship and will head to France2, signing a 1st pro deal with Mont Blanc for 2023/2024.

The 5’8″ 165 lbs. forward had a college high 11 goals last season with his 2 best frames coming as a freshman and junior, where he scored 27 points.

He played 3 sessions of juniors, winning the 2016 USPHL Premier and having his most productive run in his final campaign for South Shore Kings of the USPHL/NCDC.

We see the 25-year old from Dublin, OH playing his way up overseas.

After 18 games, worth 2 goals and 15 assists, he decides to return and signs with Huntsville Havoc of the SPHL for 2024/2025 and we expect him to see scoring success.

20Aug

Rylan Schwartz (13)

Posted in College Hockey Player, Europe, Free Agent Signing, Juniors, Minor League Deal | 1 Comment

10th year center Rylan Schwartz(13) helped his club Lowen Frankfurt win the 2022 DEL2 Championship with 14 points (6 goals, 8 assists) in 12 playoff games, and for his efforts earns a promotion up to their DEL team.

This will be his 7th year playing in either of Germany’s top leagues.

The 5’10” 192 lbs. forward left after a particularly good season for Orlando Solar Bears, scoring 23 goals and 19 assists in 40 ECHL games.

As an unrestricted free agent, graduating top scorer at Colorado College Tigers, he signed a 2-year entry deal with San Jose Sharks.

The 32-year old, who calls where he plays his half birth home, is likely pretty happy to be still playing good hockey.

For 2023/2024, he will stay on for a 3rd campaign with his champion club.

He would move down to DEL2 and signs with EC Kassel Huskies and does ok, especially in the playoffs.

At 34-years old, he is heading out for a new kind of hockey in the EIHL and signs with Glasgow Clan for 2024/2025.

20Aug

Shane Gersich (10)

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Washington Capitals‘ 4th year center Shane Gersich(10) grabs another one-year, two-way deal to stick around in the prospect system.

The University Of North Dakota Fighting Hawks‘ 3-year forward has consistently put up respectable numbers for affiliate Hershey Bears.

He started his pro career with 3 NHL games fresh off his junior year at school, grabbed an assist and even skated a pair of playoff appearances en route to the 2018 Stanley Cup Championship.

The 24-year old has to be fairly happy with the way things are turning out for this 5th round pick in the 2014 draft (#134 overall).

For 2022/2023, he re-signs on a minor league deal to stay where he is after recording a career high 14 goals and 20 assists with a +4 rating.

After a 5th season where he’s been and a brand new 2023 Calder Cup Trophy to bear, he decides to look on and signs a 1-year deal with Vasteras IK of HockeyAllsvenskan, where he should do very well.

We pretty much thought what has occurred would, he takes a good frame in Sweden’s tier 2 league, scoring 19 goals and 13 assists in 48 games to a higher level of hockey next, signing with Iserlohn Roosters of DEL for 2024/2025.