Category: College Hockey Player

20Aug

Anthony Rinaldi (8)

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After four solid seasons at Union College, scoring a collegiate career best 20 assists and 29 points in a COVID stopped 2019/2020, undrafted right wing Anthony Rinaldi(8) signed his first pro career with Kansas City Mavericks but after just 5 ECHL games with no points found the mix just didn’t fit and was traded to Greenville Swamp Rabbits.

The 6′ 188 lbs. forward has found his nitch with the new club, scoring 6 goals and 5 assists in 30 games with a +2 as a rookie.

We think the 25-year old native of Pierrefonds, QC can put up numbers like he did in two years of juniors, first in the BCHL (22-16-38), then the OJHL (38-35-72) for Kingston Voyageurs as assistant captain.

Coming off a rookie campaign scoring 7 goals and 6 assists in 43 games with a +1 rating looks like numbers that can be increased thinks Greenville Swamp Rabbits, who re-ups him for a 2nd, full 2021/2022.

After a 2nd solid frame in the league, he decided to leave for an opportunity to sign for 1-year with Les Jokers De Cergy Pontoise of Ligue Magnus for 2022/2023 and recorded 10 goals and 10 assists in 33 games, then added 7 points in 8 playoff matchups.

He’s moving over for 2023/2024 to the EIHL and agrees to terms with Dundee Stars, which should see him produce well.

After a first good season overseas, scoring a tidy 16 goals and 21 assists, he will take his game next to Germany3, where he signs with Tilburg Trappers for 2024/2025.

20Aug

David Cotton (13)

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Carolina Hurricanes‘ 6th round pick in the 2016 draft (#169 overall) center David Cotton(13) is blowing up the AHL scoring in his rookie season with 6 goals and 4 assists with a +8 rating in 12 games for Chicago Wolves.

He would easily be getting a look from the NHL level if his parent club wasn’t so good, but may just stay in the minors and look to make the big league out of training camp next season.

The 6’2″ 200 lbs. power forward has always been a good scorer in 4 years at Boston College, putting up his best numbers overall totals last campaign scoring 15 goals and new bests 24 assists and 39 points as team captain.

This is an overall player/skater that easily went in later rounds as he was seemingly just getting going in his one year of juniors with Waterloo Blackhawks of the USHL.

His progress should be easy to follow and he’s even signed alongside brother Jason in his pro contract.

He wasn’t given a qualifying offer as a restricted free agent to stay, so for 2022/2023, he signs a minor league deal to join the brand new Coachella Valley Firebirds.

After appearing in only 2 games with a good team, he gets himself traded to San Diego Gulls for a necessary new start.

In 34 games with his new team, he scores 4 goals and 5 assists with a -13 rating on a non-playoff contender.

For 2023/2024, he makes a smart move, signing with Florida Everblades, where his scoring talents should finally emerge as a pro.

After 7 games with 2 assists, he receives a trade to a team that seems to really want him, Kansas City Mavericks, another good landing spot, then scores a goal in his 1st game.

He would excel with his new team, scoring 14 goals and 24 assists in 41 games with a +25 rating, then connecting solidly in the playoffs, so he will re-sign to stay in KC for 2024/2025.

20Aug

Brandon Tabakin (7)

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Yale University Bulldogs‘ senior defenseman Brandon Tabakin(7) will head to Arizona State University Sun Devils to start a graduate program.

The 5’10” 170 lbs. blue liner  didn’t play any games as a sophomore, instead deciding to return to his USHL junior team Sioux Falls Stampede for half a season.

He actually leaves his 4-year college team with a college hockey best 2 goals and 4 assists in 29 games on a team that struggled out of the gate last year.

The 22-year old from Woodbury, NY should find a little more room to skate with the schedule of his new college club.

He finishes up an extra frame with a college tying 2 goals, best 8 assists and 10 points to a 1st pro deal with Newfoundland Growlers, where he got an assist in his 2nd ECHL game.

Unfortunately, they end up closing down and parent club, Toronto Marlies step in to offer an amateur tryout offer.

He plays no games at the end of last season and for 2024/2025, his rookie frame signs a 1-year ECHL deal with the new Tahoe Knight Monsters.

20Aug

Ryan Wheeler (6)

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Undrafted defenseman Ryan Wheeler(6) signs fairly quickly after his college team, University Of Connecticut Huskies was eliminated from their deepest career run in Hockey East tournament history.

The 6′ 190 lbs. blue liner had a modest best tying his 2 goals and 4 assists, but elevating to a new high points of 6 in his senior year with a handy +4 rating.

He signs to play out 2021/2022 with Iowa Heartlanders and in his ECHL debut he notched a point, an assist.

The 24-year old Lancaster, NY, twice New Jersey Titans‘ d-man of 20+ points should be able to play a good game, if he can get on a decent enough team.

He was on for his rookie run 2022/2023, scored 1 goal and 10 assists in 59 games, but was released and sign by  Cincinnati Cyclones to finish off the frame.

For 2023/2024, he’s setting new sights and signs a 1-year minor league deal with Adirondack Thunder, bringing him maybe a little closer to home.

After 61 games, getting 10 goals and 12 assists with a -1 rating, he skates 17 playoff matchups, scoring 4 goals and 1 assists with a +2 and he will re-sign to stay in a Thunder sweater, 2024/2025.

19Aug

Blake Christensen (27)

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Undrafted, 2nd year left wing Blake Christensen(27) takes a weirdo COVID run rookie season with Bakersfield Condors, but only appearing in a limited 10 AHL games, getting a pair of tallies, including a game-winner.

The small 5’9″ 174 lbs. forward signs a new deal to play in the exact rink he spent his college days at, the Mass Mutual Center, inking for 2021/2022 with Springfield Thunderbirds.

He had four solid years, graduating with 48 goals, 71 assists, 119 points, while skating for an outstanding America International College Yellowjackets team in 142 Atlantic Hockey games.

The Coral Springs, FL native spent two seemingly uninspired campaigns in the USHL before leaving to the BCHL to finish up before school and produced pretty well with Wenatchee Wild.

He was also given a nice chance to play a little hockey in Fjordkraftligaen for Manglerud, connecting for a nice 4 goals and 5 assists.

We think the 25-year old is still getting his wheels on the cart.

After scoring 18 goals and 10 assists on loan to Worcester Railers, he signs a 1-year ECHL deal for 2022/2023 to stick around and pot more tallies.

He records a career best 15 assists in his 2nd frame through 35 games, but gets an offer to join HC Thurgau for their SL playoff run and jumps at the opportunity.

In 4 contests, he has a goal and 2 assists with a +2 rating, but could have suffered an injury.

For 2023/2024, he decides to return to the Railers and hopes to build on what he established with them early.

He maybe doesn’t quite score as much as he did in his rookie campaign, but has a new high assists with 15.

New league club Tahoe Knight Monsters see the upside in his game and sign him for 2024/2025.

19Aug

Billy Jerry (27)

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LIU Sharks‘ graduate center, captain Billy Jerry(27) is definitely putting himself on NHL scouts’ radar with his play for his new club this season after transferring from 4-years at RPI Engineers.

The 6’4″ 190 lbs. forward has a college career high 11 goals and 14 assists with a +3 rating.

His numbers this season put all of his previous school years to shame.

He was a pretty prolific scorer at St. Thomas Academy and did ok in one year of USHL juniors with Madison Capitals before committing to further education.

The 24-year old is definitely playing hockey like he is one to watch.

In maybe a bit of a surprising move, the Rivers Falls, WI native signs his first pro deal with Adirondack Thunder, and in his 2nd ECHL game connects for a 1st goal, then adds an assist the next night, appearing in 6 games.

He got 4 goals and 2 assists in 15 games and will return to Glens Falls, NY for his rookie season in 2022/2023.

Well, he was traded to Florida Everblades, but doesn’t sign with them, instead opting for a deal with Fayettesville Marksmen, where he hopes his scoring fortunes in the SPHL will look pretty good.

He would actually mostly end up with Macon Mayhem and scored well for them, but eyes a new opportunity in Germany3, where he signs with EV Fussen for 2024/2025.

19Aug

Roman Kinal (95)

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University Of Connecticut Huskies‘ graduate captain defenseman Roman Kinal(95) signs an ato to start his pro career with San Jose Barracuda.

In 5 AHL games, he has no points.

The 6’2″ 198 lbs. blue liner has never really put up points, three times hitting 7 in a frame.

From Waterford, MI, the 24-year old may just need a little more time to grow into his pro game.

He signs for 2023/2024, but is dispelled to affiliate Wichita Thunder for a good deal of the session.

For 2024/2025, San Diego Gulls are in search of some assistance and agree with him for a look.

19Aug

Michael Gildon (18)

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Ohio State University Buckeyes‘ graduate right wing Michael Gildon(18) takes a college best 5 goals in 34 games with a +3 rating last season to a 1st pro deal with Worcester Railers.

The 6’2″ 196 lbs. forward from Plano, TX played 2 seasons USNTDP and wasn’t too bad on the scoresheet.

We think the decently-sized skater finds more room for scoring opportunities in the ECHL.

He signs with Jacksonville Icemen for his rookie season, 2024/2025.

19Aug

Mick Messner (25)

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Merrimack College Crusaders‘ senior left wing Mick Messner(25) is having a breakout campaign in his 2nd year with the team since being a portal transfer from 2 seasons at University Of Wisconsin Badgers.

In just 7 NCAA Division 1 games, he has a goal and 4 assists with a +4 rating.

The 5’11” 194 lbs. forward had mostly always connected for points through close to home high school in Madison, WI and 2 and a half USHL seasons for the Capitals.

At still just 22-years old looks poised to post Hockey East college career highs in 2021/2022, making him a nice unrestricted rookie pick up, if he decides to turn pro.

He spends a graduate season at the school and posts 5 goals and 4 assists in 35 games with a +6 rating on the way to a Hockey East Finals bout.

It takes him little time to agree to a pro deal, signing with Utah Grizzlies, where he has no points through 6 games with a +1 rating.

His efforts earn him an ECHL contract for 2023/2024 to wear that Grizzlies‘ jersey as a rookie.

He had a nice full frame, scoring 15 goals and 23 assists in a full slate of 72 games, gets him wanted back to continue wearing that Utah shirt.

19Aug

Josh Boyer (28)

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St. Lawrence University Saints‘ large 6’3″ 201 lbs. graduate center, captain Josh Boyer(28) doesn’t really contribute big points, but gets some, 2 goals and 3 assists in 27 games and is fairly accountable on a team with a losing record.

He transferred from little use as a sophomore at University Of Nebraska-Omaha Mavericks and has always played full slates at his ECAC school.

From Wasilla, AK, he did most of his 1st NAHL junior year with Fairbanks Ice Dogs and 1 more before moving onto a frame with 2 USHL teams prior to heading to school.

The 24-year old could turn pro and score a boatload of goals.

He takes a college tying 3 goals, best 6 assists and 9 points to an ECHL deal with Atlanta Gladiators to get his pro game started and has 1 goal and 1 assist in 7 games.

They like what they see and invite him to spend his rookie season in a Gladiators‘ uniform, 2024/2025.