Category: College Hockey Player

21Sep

Jesse Tucker (17)

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Clarkson University Golden Knights‘ junior center Jesse Tucker(17) transferred in from 2 seasons at Michigan State University Spartans.

The stocky 5’11” 187 lbs. forward played 3 USHL seasons of junior hockey with Green Bay Gamblers, the last as captain and twice 30+ assists, 3 times 10+ goals.

From Longlac, ON, he also did 1 successful frame in the OJHL.

We expect the 24-year old to do best in Atlantic Hockey as a senior.

In his rookie year with Indy Fuel, he scores 12 goals and 26 assists in a full slate of 72 ECHL games with +4 rating and will easily return for 2026/2027.

21Sep

Colin Bilek (66)

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It’s the no-brainer, unrestricted free agent signing of the 2022 post-college hockey season, in undrafted center, twice captain Colin Bilek(66) at Army West Point Black Knights‘ gets a AHL contract with Manitoba Moose for 2022/2023 and stays on Winnipeg Jets‘ radar.

The 5’11” 195 lbs. forward came away from 2021/2022 with a college career high 20 assists and 31 points in 34 NCAA Division 1 games.

He scored 18 goals as a junior.

The Brighton, MI native also had 18 goals in each of his 2 years of junior hockey with Northeast Generals.

He also posted 22 and 32 assists.

The 25-year old will certainly arrive ready to compete for a roster spot as a rookie.

He skates only a couple of games with the big club before being dispatched to ECHL affiliate Trois-Rivieres Lions, where he has a decent 14 goals and 9 assists in 46 games.

As the trade deadline looms, he gets a new address as Rockford Ice Hogs will adopt his contract, but likely will start with Indy Fuel.

We will see if he can make a bigger difference for a playoff tilted team.

After just 1 game with new contract club and then being reassigned down, he 7 goals and 4 assists in 18 games, then another 2 goals and 1 assist in 4 playoff matchups, he gains their confidence to have him back in an Ice Hogs‘ jersey for 2023/2024.

He would be reassigned down for the entire frame, but got settled and started connecting regularly for 20 goals and 23 assists in 51 games with a +5 rating.

For 2024/2025, he officially signs with the Fuel to try to improve their playoff push.

After 3 seasons in the same jersey, scoring a new best 34 assists, he agrees with Kalamazoo Wings, who seem to be scooping up a lot of the unrestricted free agent prospects for a Cup run.

In a career high 71 games played, he scores a new best 22 goals and 18 assists to be asked to return a Wings for 2026/2027.

21Sep

Ian Shane (1)

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Cornell University Big Red senior goaltender Ian Shane(1) signed a 1st pro deal with Norfolk Admirals once tournament play concluded.

He posted a 3-0-2 record with them in 5 ECHL games.

For his rookie season, the 6′ 176 lbs. signs a 1-year deal with Kansas City Mavericks.

From Manhattanville, CA, the 24-year old did 2 years of juniors before college.

He posted a 66-32-16 through college with 11 shutouts, so think he will do pretty well in this league.

Through 8 games, he does ok, but Reading Royals need his help in net, so trade future considerations to grab him.

In 5 games, he does well enough to be asked to return a Royals for a full frame in 2026/2027.

21Sep

Xavier Lapointe (28)

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RIT Tigers‘ senior defenseman Xavier Lapointe(28) signs a 1st pro contract with Orlando Solar Bears.

The 6′ 190 lbs. blue liner only got into 17 games last season, scoring 2 goals and 6 assists.

His best year was as a junior, when he got 5 goals and 10 assists.

From Quebec, QC, the 24-year old scored 2 goals in 8 ECHL games with a +1 rating.

He is sort of an easy invite to play his rookie season in Orlando for 2026/2027.

20Sep

Mike Reilly (6)

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9th year defenseman Mike Reilly(6) signs a 1-year deal with Florida Panthers for 2023/2024 after spending most of the last 2 seasons with Boston Bruins, although he was dished to their affiliate Providence Bruins for most of last season and his contract was eventually bought out and he was waived.

He’s 3 times reached 10+ assists and 4 times 10+ points in a frame.

The 6’1″ 195 lbs. blue liner was originally a Columbus Blue Jackets‘ 4th round pick in the 2011 (#98 overall) draft, but 1st signed his 2-year NHL entry level deal as an unrestricted free agent with Minnesota Wild, then re-upped with them on a 1-way deal for another 2.

A former University Of Minnesota Golden Gophers, he is a veteran of 339 games in the big league and the 30-year old could hang up his skates happy if he wanted to at this point.

He was ready to be reassigned to their AHL affiliate, but in steps New York Islanders to claim him off waivers, as they look to have a need for him to help cover their blue line.

Through a 2nd best 59 games, he scores a new high 6 goals and 24 points to earn himself another 1-year deal to stay on the Isle for 2024/2025.

He misses a chunk of last season due to concussion, which limits his availability to 18 games.

For 2025/2026, he signs a simple 1-year $1.1M AAV deal with Carolina Hurricanes, a team that can use his veteran leadership.

In 42 games, he scores 1 goal and 8 assists with a +11 rating, then adds 2 assists in 2 playoff games with a +2 to easily be asked to return a Canes for his 33rd year on a 2-way deal, so they may have some ideas for his future.

20Sep

Lee Lapid (28)

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Undrafted, Canisius College Golden Griffins‘ graduate center Lee Lapid(28) agrees to a 1st pro deal with Cincinnati Cyclones for 2022/2023.

The 6’1″ 190 lbs. power forward scored a college career tying 11 goals and new best 12 assists and 23 points in 33 NCAA Division 1 games with a +6 rating as a senior.

A Thornhill, ON native, he played 3 seasons in the OJHL, really lighting things up as a 3rd year player.

The 24-year old is going to be a great ECHL rookie.

He scored 13 goals and 29 assists in 59 games with a +33 rating and for his 2nd frame with the club is very much in line with 8 goals, 19 assists in 34 with a +18 and he eyes some better hockey to play, signing with SaiPa of the Finnish elite league Liiga going forward.

in 14 games, he grabs 2 assists and they want him to return for 2024/2025, back in a Sputniks‘ uniform.

He actually reconsiders and elects to sign with a bit closer to home Abbotsford Canucks for the upcoming frame.

Sent to Kalamazoo Wings, he skated 47 games, scoring 10 goals and 17 assists with a +3 rating.

A free agent, heading into 2025/2026, he signs a 1-year deal with Indy Fuel.

In 62 games, he scores a new best 15 goals with a +6 rating, but for 2026/2027, he elects to sign with Idaho Steelheads and could definitely show another scoring increase.

20Sep

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.

As the new captain, he records a best 22 goals and 25 assists in 54 games, then added another 10 in 13 playoff matchups.

For 2025/2026, it’s a easy match for his return 2025/2026 to the Mavericks.

He scores a new best 27 goals and matches his 47 points of last season with a +25 rating, then adds another 12 points in the playoffs that end in the Finals.

For 2026/2027, the 3-time team captain signs on to return to Kansas City.

20Sep

Mike Brown (11)

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Lake Superior State University Lakers‘ graduate defenseman Mike Brown(11) completed his final season with 1 goal and 4 assists in 33 games with a +5 rating that he took to a 1st pro contract with South Carolina Stingrays.

The 6’2″ 223 lbs. blue liner joins Indy Fuel for his official rookie season, 2026/2027.

From Belmont, MA, the 25-year old came up through the local system and should be impressive in the ECHL.

19Sep

Seth Bernard (5)

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Evansville Thunderbolts‘ rookie center Seth Bernard(5) comes in after his school’s tournament play wraps up and plays 10 SPHL games, scoring 1 goal and 1 assist.

The big 6’4″ 190 lbs. forward will return for a full 2026/2027 to see how he can do.

From Braintree, MA, he did 4 years at Milwaukee School Of Engineering Raiders after 1 USPHL/NCDC season with New Hampshire Jr. Monarchs.

The 24-year old will be a good skater to watch, as he was able to connect at college hockey.