Swedish-born senior left wing Jake Stella(28) leaves 3 years at American International College Yellowjackets for something maybe a bit more challenging in the 2022/2023 schedule of UMass-Lowell Riverhawks.
The 5’11” 185 lbs. forward skated his youth hockey and some juniors at home, but came over initially playing with South Shore Kings for a season before switching to Corpus Christi Ice Rays of the NAHL as assistant captain, where he picked up his college commit and some solid scoring (21-17-38).
He posted college career high marks in 2021/2022, potting 12 goals and 16 assists with a +10 rating in 37 NCAA Division 1 games.
The 23-year old should continue to improve, even with some very tough ice ahead of him.
He actually scored decently as a senior with 4 goals and 9 assists, playing Hockey East schedule and added a graduate session, as team captain.
Finishing up playoff hockey, he signs a pro contract with Rapid City Rush, where in 8 ECHL games he has 1 assist with a +1 rating.
He thanks for east for the hockey experiences, but is heading back home to sign Tingsryds AIF of HockeyAllsvenskan for 2024/2025.
2nd year right wing Quinn Preston(43) returns from a very good EIHL season for Belfast Giants, scoring 12 goals and 10 assists with a +6 rating, to re-signing with Wichita Thunder, where in his 1st game back scores 1 goal and 1 assist.
The 5’11” 188 lbs. forward, former twice assistant captain at Ohio State University Buckeyes also racked up big numbers at juniors with Dubuque Fighting Saints and at high school.
From Trenton, MI, the 26-year old could use a loan up to the AHL to see what gives.
After 17 games, scoring a fairly tidy 3 goals and 9 assists, he finds himself traded to another team that wants him, Kalamazoo Wings.
He gets 3 goals and 7 assists in 16 games with a +2 rating with his new club and is invited to return for a full season in a Wings‘ jersey for 2024/2025.
USNTDP‘s 2nd year left wing Austin Baker(9) is big enough and scores decently to earn himself a Detroit Red Wings‘ 7th round pick in the 2024 draft (#203 overall) and will take his game to a 2024/2025 commit at Michigan State University Spartans.
8th year left wing Matt Wilkins(91) will try yet another league to add to the notches on his belt overseas, joining Slovak Extraliga, signing a 1-year deal with HC Banska Bystrica, which will definitely take it up a big notch for the former Union College 2014 NCAA Division 1 Champion, as a sophomore.
Last season, the 5’11” 190 lbs. forward won the Swiss tier 2 2023 SL Championship with HC La Chaux-da-Fonds, had most points in one session and most assists the previous the 2-year he played AlpsHL for Gherdeina and even raised the 2012 AJHL Championship as a junior with twice holding down most assists.
The 32-year old from Kimberley, BC, who started with 2 ECHL years for Reading Royals, putting up big numbers, has to be happy with the results of his game, despite maybe not reaching for the highest levels.
In 49 games, he blows up scoring with 19 goals and 33 assists, but decides to leave for Ligue Magnus, signing with Les Ducs D’Angers.
University Of Connecticut Huskies‘ graduate portal transfer from 4 years at Yale University Bulldogs‘ right wing Kevin O’Neil(19) has definitely chosen right to continue his year of eligibility, scoring a goal and 3 assists in 7 games, but the 5’11” 181 lbs. power forward could step up those totals at any point.
The Latham, NY native only played one year of juniors, splitting time between Madison Capitals and Fargo Force after detonating three years at Albany Academy.
It’s possible this is the type of player that could get them an invite to an NHL camp and be discovered.
The 24-year old finishes up his year of eligibility with totals very much in line with his bests, hovering in the land of 16 and his team presses Hockey East as far as they have ever to fulfill an unreal season.
Deciding to turn pro, he signs a 1st deal with South Carolina Stingrays to hopefully get them pointed in a better scoring direction and has a pair of goals and an assist in 3 ECHL games with a +3 rating.
Nice start.
He finishes up his tryout deal scoring 6 goals and 4 assists in 10 games to be a cinch to stay a Stingray for 2022/2023.
After 2 games loan to Hershey Bears, scoring a 1st AHL goal and a prolific frame for the lower league team, potting 24 goals and 26 assists, he scores a 1-year deal in the upper league for 2023/2024.
He would mostly play in the lower league and blows up scoring to the tune of 16 goals and 47 assists in 63 games with only 4 games up for the contract club.
Utica Comets step right in and offer the close by NYer a 1-year deal for 2024/2025.
2-time, undrafted senior captain center Zachary Tsekos(11) signed a pro deal as soon as his 4-year college team Clarkson University Golden Knights were eliminated from tournament play with Colorado Eagles for 2022/2023.
Signing an ato for the remainder of the current session, he was reassigned almost immediately to start his pro career with affiliate Utah Grizzlies.
He played in 3 regular season games, grabbing an assist with a +1 rating.
The 5’10” 185 lbs. forward has definitely upped his game in the Kelly Cup playoffs.
Through 10 games, he has a 1st ECHL goal and 7 assists.
Little doubt, the 25-year old from Montreal, QC will look to up his game when the new season gets started.
He mostly finds him other than 6 AHL games (no points) reassigned, but strikes for 13 goals and 12 assists in 30 games.
For 2023/2024, he signs with 2-time Kelly Cup Champions, Florida Everblades.
He plays 27 games, scoring 5 goals and 6 assists with a +4 rating, but was injured for much of last frame.
For 2024/2025, he decides to leave for something different and signs in the EIHL with Dundee Stars.
Michigan State University Spartans‘ senior right wing Jeremy Davidson(11) had a college best 12 goals and tied his sophomore point mark of 22 last season.
The 5’10” 177 lbs. forward signs with South Carolina Stingrays for his ECHL rookie season in 2024/2025.
He came up through the Honeybaked youth hockey system, then a pair of USHL seasons, scoring pretty well.
UMASS Minutemen was the 1st school he committed to, as a freshman, but maybe Hockey East didn’t work out the way he wanted and shifted college hockey closer to home in Kalamazoo, MI.
The 24-year old should do well.
Providence College‘s undrafted, sophomore net minder Jaxson Stauber(30) picked up his 10th win of the season in a recent game vs. Northeastern University Huskies, 4-2.
The 6’3″ 175 lbs. goalie has posted a 11-7-5 record for 2020/2021 with 4 shutouts.
He spent two years with Sioux Falls Stampede and won the 2019 Clark Cup MVP honors with a 1.46 GAA and .941 SV@ and 11-1-0 record, then committed to Minnesota State University-Mankato started one game, won it, wasn’t getting enough ice time and went back to junior hockey.
After a 3rd stellar year in the USHL, the Wayzata, MN-native committed to attend college east and away from home.
As a still young 21-year old he’s definitely getting the looks and it will be interesting where his choice of school leads him.
He was even more stingy in his junior season than he was the year prior and has decided to sign a 2-year entry level deal with Chicago Blackhawks, foregoing his senior frame.
This does make sense for the now 22-year old.
He goes 5-1 in 6 NHL starts, but plays the lion share with affiliate Rockford Icehogs, then doesn’t receive a qualifying offer to continue.
Utah Hockey Club steps in to offer him a 1-year, 2-way deal for 2024/2025.
Northeast Generals‘ 2nd year defenseman Owen Locke(2) will take his game with his brother Michael Locke to a 2024/2025 commit at Manhattanville University Valiants.
The 6′ 185 lbs. blue liner takes 2 NA3HL seasons recording 15 assists with a mighty combined +58 rating with him.
From Wakefield, MA, the 20-year old seems very ready.
Bowling Green State University Falcons‘ senior defenseman Gabriel Chicoine(3) came over after 3 successful seasons at D3 Norwich University Cadets.
The 6′ 181 lbs. blue liner recorded a pretty impressive goal and 18 assists in NCAA Division 1 hockey games.
A native of St. Dominique, QC, he played 4 seasons of junior hockey in the QJHL before heading to school.
Upon finishing up college hockey, the 25-year old agreed to a contract with Maine Mariners and in 10 ECHL games, he has a goal and an assist, but has yet to appear in a playoff matchup.
For 2022/2023, he will return to Maine to play his official rookie season.
Following a solid campaign with 4 goals and 30 assists with a +3 rating in 63 games, he easily signs on to wear a Mariners‘ jersey for a 2nd frame in 2023/2024.
He rolls even better numbers with 16 goals and a massive 45 assists in 66 games and he will take it to the tough to play overseas hockey of Slovak Extraliga and signs with the somewhat famous, HC Banska Bystrica for 2024/2025.
