Union College Dutchmen graduate left wing Chaz Smedsrud(26) finishes up and signs an ato with Allen Americans that may get switched quickly.
The 6’2″ 195 lbs. gets a 1st ECHL goal and assist in his debut, a 6-3 losing effort, but somehow comes away with a +1 rating.
He scored a best (by a mile) in his final year at college with 14 goals, 8 assists and new high 22 points.
The Luverne, MN blew up scoring in his high school, then did the same in the AJHL for 2 seasons before coming back to life in the USHL for 1 frame before school.
At 25-years old, he is very much ready to get pro started.
Through 9 games, with 3 goals and 4 assists, he’s looking good for an invite to return for his rookie run in 2024/2025 in an Americans‘ sweater.
After just 3 games into his rookie frame with no points, Rapid City Rush are seeking his services and acquire him in a trade for future considerations.
Part of a new feature we would like to introduce is junior players, so far as of yet committed at a college and highlight some of these skaters as they grow through the ranks.
Long Beach Sharks‘ 1st year Czechian-born left wing Michael Stojka(18) is one to watch to move up from his new NA3HL status.
The 5’10” 170 lbs. forward, sometimes defenseman moves the puck really way and has the abilities to make offensive zone plays with good, swift moving, smart hands.
In 15 games, he has 2 goals and 10 assists with a +1 rating.
The 18-year old should play himself onto higher radar.
RPI Engineers‘ junior portal transfer from Northeastern University, left wing T.J. Walsh(13) has easily made the best hockey decision to switch up schools and join the ECAC.
The 5’9″ 165 lbs. forward has already blown the lid off his previous scoring, tying his college career high 2 goals and new best by lots 8 assists with a +2 rating in 15 games.
He only managed to light up scoring in his final year of juniors at Des Moines Buccaneers, getting 17 goals and 32 assists in 53 USHL games before hitting school.
The Shrewsbury, MA native did have one almost earth shattering session for Shattuck St. Mary’s 14U AAA, grabbing more than goal per game totals, 71 goals and 65 assists in 66 games.
Now that the switch is made and the season is off and running with the results he’s seeing, you got to think there’s a little smile on his face for 2021/2022.
In his senior year, he scored a new college best 7 goals, but his 15 assists as a 3rd year player stood as that category high.
For a graduate session, the undrafted 23-year old is heading to Sacred Heart University Pioneers and will compete some Atlantic Hockey for 2023/2024.
He scores a college best 13 goals and 13 assists for 26 points in his final frame and takes it to a 1st pro deal with Orlando Solar Bears, which should heed him good points in the ECHL.
In 2 games he has an assist.
For his rookie season, 2024/2025 he ultimately decides to sign with Iowa Heartlanders.
Undrafted, Russian-born center Artem Shlaine(8) takes a pair of good seasons at University Of Connecticut Huskies to a new adventure through the transfer portal for his junior season with Northern Michigan University Wildcats.
The 6’1″ 174 lbs. forward scored a college career high 7 goals and 10 assists for 17 points in 36 NCAA Division 1 games, sending his team all the way to the Hockey East Finals before being eliminated in overtime.
Despite being from fairly far away, the New Jersey Devils’ 5th round pick in the 2020 draft (#130 overall) has already spent a good amount of time here through youth hockey and a couple of extraordinary years at Shattuck St. Marys USHS-Prep.
The 20-year old will likely do well in his new hockey home.
After putting up 10+ goals and assists (21 as a junior) in each of his 2 seasons in the midwest, he leaves for a graduate program start at Arizona State University Sun Devils.
Saint Lawrence University Saints‘ graduate left wing Cameron Buhl(24) gets a try-out for 1st pro contract with Kalamazoo Wings in 2024/2025.
Not exactly the most proficient scorer, he did grab 9 goals and 9 assists as a senior.
The 5’10” 174 lbs. forward was maybe a little more prolific in juniors for Minnesota Magicians, scoring 20 goals and 41 assists in his final NAHL frame.
From St. Paul South, MN, he also scored well in high school at South St. Paul MN-USHS.
We think the 25-year old has a good chance at making the opening night roster.
In all eventuality, he signs with Utah Grizzlies to start his pro game.
University Of New Hampshire Wildcats‘ graduate center Harrison Blaisdell(18) accepts a 1st contract with Fort Wayne Komets for his rookie season, 2024/2025, but as the frame approaches gets shipped to Allen Americans.
The 5’11” 181 lbs. forward had a college high 11 goals last season.
He was a Winnipeg Jets’ 5th round pick in the 2019 draft (#134 overall), but not signed.
From Sheffield, GB, their isn’t a lot of English players selected, but his 2nd BCHL frame for Chilliwack Chiefs with 33 goals and 25 assists put him on radar.
We expect the 25-year old, who initially started school at University Of North Dakota Fighting Hawks for 2 years to do well in the ECHL.
University Of Massachusetts Minutemen sophomore, left wing Taylor Makar(18) is starting to pop scoring with 7 goals and 2 assists in 19 games.
The fairly sizable 6’3″ 220 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.
Undrafted rookie center Nick Campoli(19) signs a 1st pro contract with Iowa Heartlanders for 2022/2023 after graduating 4 years at Clarkson University Golden Knights.
He was a solid scorer in his 3rd and final season of OJHL, where he was more than a point-per-game player, but also achieved 20+ assists in each of the frames.
The 5’11” 190 lbs. forward wasn’t as lucky in Atlantic Hockey, getting a best 5 goals as a senior.
We think that the ECHL could be a different story for the 23-year old Toronto, ON native’s scoring fortune.
1 goal and 2 assists in 12 games to start him off and they want another look to return to the new Iowa team for 2023/2024.
Through 30 games, he scores a decent 9 goals and 4 assists, but decides he wants a little more, so splits for AlpsHL and signs with Sterzing/Vipiteno Broncos, 2024/2025.
Fayetteville Marksmen rookie defenseman Daniel Dimon(13) did 4 years at Elmira College Soaring Eagles, posting 10+ assists in 3 of his seasons there.
The small 5’8″ 160 lbs. blue liner did 2 NAHL campaigns before school.
From Elmira, NY, the 25-year old has appeared in his SPHL debut, a 3-2 overtime win.
Arizona State University Sun Devils‘ graduate left wing Lukas Sillinger(61) has steadily put up better numbers with 37 assists and 48 points last season and already has 3 assists in 6 games this year.
He initially did 2 sessions at Bemidji State University Beavers, where he was a point-per-game player as a sophomore.
The 5’11” 170 lbs. forward was born in Regina, SK and did 3 BCHL campaigns before college.
He’s the 24-year old son of Mike Sillinger, veteran of 1049 NHL games.
