Category: College Hockey Player

05Aug

Sam Colangelo (64)

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Northeastern University Huskies‘ sophomore right wing Sam Colangelo(64) picks up his 1st NCAA Division 1 goal in the 2021/2022 home opener.

He had 8 Hockey East shots at it as a freshman, but managed only 3 assists.

The 6’2″ 207 lbs. Anaheim Ducks‘ 2nd round pick in the 2020 draft (#36 overall) was selected by his school as an entering junior, then took off to for one round of junior action with Chicago Steel.

In 44 USHL games, he detonated the scoresheet with 28 goals and 30 assists with a +32 rating.

It would be zero surprise to see the 19-year old finish up all four years of college before turning pro.

The Stoneham, MA native will head to Western Michigan University Broncos for his senior year, then we feel will likely be given his NHL contract.

After playing a college career high 39 games, scoring a new double best 24 goals, 3-time 10+ assists (19) and 43 points with +19 rating, he signs a pto to affiliate San Diego Gulls to play out the remainder of the season and scores a 1st AHL goal and adds 3 assists in 4 games.

And just like that, the Ducks step in and ink him to a 2-year entry level deal, starting this season to play out the final games of 2023/2024.

He’s a point-per-game player in the minors and pops in 10 goals in the big league to earn himself a nice new 2-year deal that will be a 1-way contract for 2026/2027 to remain a Ducks.

 

04Aug

Colin Blackwell (43)

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6th year right wing, Colin Blackwell(43) was left unprotected by New York Rangers, where he scored a career high 12 goals and 10 assists in 47 NHL games with a +2 rating on a non-playoff team.

The small-ish 5’9″ but solid 190 lbs. forward was maybe a little surprisingly scooped by Seattle Kracken in the player draft, so the final year of his contract becomes absorbed by his new club.

He was originally drafted by San Jose Sharks in the 7th round of 2011 after an outstanding season at St. John’s Prep, where as the team captain he bounced in 33 goals with 33 assists in 25 USHS-Prep games.

The Lawrence, MA native never signed an entry level deal, but instead inked an AHL agreement with affiliate San Jose Barracuda to stay in the system.

Instead of staying, he branched out for another minor league deal, but instead moved east with Rochester Americans.

This season saw him connect, bagging 17 goals and 28 assists in 57 games with a +15 rating, then adding another 3 points in three playoff contests.

The five year Harvard University Crimson senior standout (6-13-19 in 28) would find his first big league suitor, Nashville Predators signed him to a 2-year contract.

He split for another pair of years with the 2nd being one-way, so finally went for the cash and found himself making the opening night roster for 2020/2021 and sticking with his always hard style play.

The 28-year old will do amazing things for his new club and become a fan favorite, no doubt.

A near end of season trade sent him to Toronto Maple Leafs for the last 19 games of 2021/2022.

His numbers were maybe a little lower than expected, but he is masterful in that role as an on ice pest.

Unsurprisingly, he signs a 2-year, $1.2M AAV deal going forward with Chicago Blackhawks, a team that could use an infusion of energy.

After 2 years with one team, an unrestricted free agent once again, he signs with Dallas Stars, scoring 6 goals and 11 assists in 63 games with a +4 rating, is well-liked to earn a 2-year deal to stay for 2026/2027.

04Aug

Tyler Young (14)

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Merrimack College Warriors 2022/2023 commit Tyler Young(14) is having himself a junior season best for Maryland Black Bears, scoring 7 goals and 11 assists in 22 NAHL games with a +1 rating.

After a solid showing for Islanders HC of USPHL/NCDC last year, he started the current frame with Muskegon Lumberjacks, but that relationship seemed to fizzle after 11 USHL games with just an assist to his credit.

The 6’1″ 180 lbs. 20-year old blue liner from Lancaster, MA will be a nice addition, close to home at Hockey East.

He plays a college high 29 games last season, scoring an easy best 6 goals and 4 assists, but he will travel for his senior year and signs with Univerity Of North Dakota Fighting Hawks, 2025/2026.

04Aug

Cole Schneider (25)

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10th year veteran left wing Cole Schneider(25) re-signs to stay as captain with Milwaukee Admirals for 2022/2023.

The 6’1″ 205 lbs. forward has played 632 AHL games.

He has also skated 6 in the NHL for Buffalo Sabres with one assist.

Undrafted, he signed a 2-year entry level deal straight out of 2 years at University Of Connecticut Huskies, where he had a 23 goal, 22 assist in 38 games sophomore season.

At 31-years old, the Williamsville, NY native is likely just still having fun.

After 3.5 years with the same club, he has decided to look for a new avenue and signs for 2023/2024 with Chicago Wolves.

13th year veteran is off to explore new lands for the later part of his hockey career and signs for 2024/2025 with Storhamar of EliteHockey Ligaen.

After a 33 goal and 31 assist in 45 games with a monster +54 rating, he heads to the tougher IceHL and signs with HC Bozen-Bolzano Foxes for 2025/2026.

04Aug

Ben Almquist (12)

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University Of Alaska-Anchorage Seawolves‘ senior left wing Ben Almquist(12) takes a pretty good run at a rookie season with Lillehammer of Norway to head off to try to help Cardiff Devils with their EIHL playoff positioning.

The 6′ 185 lbs. forward actually transferred from 3 seasons of popping in and out of the lineup at University Of Minnesota-Duluth Bulldogs.

He scored and played a college high 34 games, scoring 14 goals and 16 assists.

His results in his 2nd year of NAHL junior, as captain for Austin Bruins was similar and he was wooed to leave and join his 1st college team.

From Victoria, MN, the 25-year old looks to be playing himself up.

Maybe too much heavy lifting with 2 goals and 2 assists in 13 games, he is spotted by rivals Dundee Stars for 2025/2026.

04Aug

Cameron Buhl (18)

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Saint Lawrence University Saints‘ graduate left wing Cameron Buhl(18) 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.

In 28 games, he has 3 goals and 2 assists with a terrible -15 rating and is traded to Savannah Ghost Pirates for hopefully more on ice accountability.

He plays 21 games and scores 1 goal and 2 assists, which Rapid City Rush see and sign him for 2025/2026.

04Aug

Devon Levi (27)

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Despite his 3-3 record, Northeastern University Huskies‘ sophomore goalie Devon Levi(27) gives his team a chance to win each game with 2.01 GAA and .934 SV%.

Brought on board to his school as he was posting a monster junior season with Carleton Place Canadiens, earning a 1.47 GAA and .941 SV% on a 34-2-1 record in 37 CCHL games and basically earning every awarded allotted him.

The 6′ 189 lbs. net minder was spotted by Florida Panthers, who selected him in the 7th round of 2020 (#212 overall), but shipped him to Buffalo Sabres in a recent trade.

At this point, it’s just up to the 19-year old to keep stopping pucks until it feels right to sign an entry level deal, which looks to loom in his future.

After 2 seasons of effectively stopping pucks at college hockey (with 1 COVID season scratched), he decides it’s time to sign a 3-year NHL entry level deal and start doing what he does in the pros now.

With back-to-back excellent frames with the affiliate Rochester Americans and plenty of work as a rookie in the show, he is ready to return on a 2-year deal worth $812.5K AAV to stay a Sabres and continue growth.

04Aug

Zakari Brice (33)

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Arizona State University Sun Devils‘ 2023/2024 commit, goaltender Zakari Brice(33)  is set to come off quite a junior career best with New Jersey Titans, holding down a 19-7-1 record with a 2.36 GAA and .919 SV% in 30 NAHL games that could possibly lead to another Robertson Cup trophy for the team.

The 5’11” 176 lbs. net minder was selected out of the popular Little Caesars 15U AAA program, then moved onto Kimball Union Academy USHS-Prep.

Undrafted, from Fairbanks, AK, the 20-year old should help his new college team win games.

He almost oddly gets no use in his 1st season and probably makes a no-brainer decision to head home to University Of Alaska-Fairbanks Nanooks, as a sophomore.

03Aug

Matt DeMelis (37)

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Northeastern University Huskies‘ graduate left wing, assistant captain Matt DeMelis(37) signs with Worcester Railers for his rookie campaign, 2024/2025.

He missed a stretch of last season with injuries, but in 23 games, scored 2 goals and 6 assists, playing an effective checking forward style.

The 6′ 190 lbs. forward from Hingham, MA played 1 year of NAHL junior hockey local then a similar scoring frame in the USHL before committing to school.

We’re sure the 25-year old is ready to going pro and will be playing in front of a lot of local friends and family.

In his rookie year, he scores 9 goals and 17 assists in 60 games to earn a new 1-year deal to return a Railers for 2025/2026.