Category: College Hockey Player

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.

Canisius College Golden Griffins‘ senior right wing Randy Hernandez(20) takes 2 seasons of almost identical 8 goals and 13/14 assists to a rookie ECHL contract with Fort Wayne Komets.

The 6′ 190 lbs. forward did his freshman season at Robert Morris University Colonials, until their hockey program went belly up.

He played almost 3 years of USHL junior hockey before transferring to almost 2 seasons AJHL before college.

From Miami, FL, the 25-year old is a leader on ice and we’re sure will be a great teammate where he is going.

He wouldn’t play any games after school with his new contract club, so for his rookie season, 2024/2025 he elects to sign with Orlando Solar Bears, where he will likely do well.

Before his 1st run even gets started, he is traded to Atlanta Gladiators.

He scores a tidy 11 goals and 9 assists in 65 games with a 0 rating and is set to return, but instead gets traded to Wheeling Nailers for 2025/2026.

Anna Maria College AMCATS‘ senior 3-time captain defenseman Derek Raposo(21) signs a 1st pro contract with Knoxville Ice Bears.

He squeezed into 5 regular season SPHL games and has skated 3 in the playoffs, but no points yet.

The always big guy, D3 d-man at 6’3″ 200 lbs. scored a college best 26 assists and 31 points with a +16 rating in 27 games last season.

From Hannon, ON, the 25-year old skated a couple Canadian junior leagues before college.

He would notch 2 points in 8 playoff games and will take it overseas to a rookie season with Bisons Les Neuilly-sur-Marne of France2, 2025/2026.

Los Angeles Kings‘ 3rd round pick in the 2020 draft (#83 overall), right wing Alex Laferriere(14) signs a 3-year NHL entry level deal after completing a hugely successful sophomore season with Harvard University Crimson, scoring a new best 21 goals and 21 assists with a +13 rating in 34 games.

To start his pro career he signs a ato with affiliate Ontario Reign, scoring a 1st AHL goal in 4 games before exiting.

Look for the 6′ 172 lbs. to maybe add some weight over the summer and compete for a roster spot at 1st official camp.

After two seasons up, scoring a new career best 19 goals and 23 assists with a +22 rating last season, the restricted free agent signs a new 3-year deal to stay a Kings‘ scorer for $4.1M AAV.

Undrafted 3rd year, center Robert “Bobo” Carpenter(14) signs a 1-year AHL deal with Milwaukee Admirals for 2021/2022.

He was originally inked to a 2-year entry level deal by New York Islanders after graduating as captain of Boston University Terriers.

Almost oddly, the 5’11” 200 lbs. forward was a breakout scorer as a junior, recording 20 goals and 15 assists in 40 Hockey East games, but maybe played a slightly more reserved style as team leader.

The North Reading, MA native took an interesting path through Austin Prep USHS-Prep to local youth and junior premiere before arriving at Sioux City Musketeers upon graduation, where he pumped in point-per-game stats for his short spell in the USHL.

We think the 25-year old will do well within his new club’s system and potentially gain notice from the parent club Nashville Predators.

After suffering a mid-season injury after putting up point-per-game numbers in the ECHL, he will return to Florida Everblades, signing a 1-year deal for 2022/2023.

He absolutely destroys scoring on the team’s way to a 3rd straight Kelly Cup trophy, but he’s set to move on and we are sure Belfast Giants of the EIHL really want him in their uniform for 2024/2025.

In 47 games, he scores 18 goals and 17 assists, then adds 5 points in the playoffs to win a 2nd straight trophy, but decides to return closer to home for 2025/2026 and signs with Kansas City Mavericks.

Quinnipiac University BobcatsNCAA Division 1 Championship winning, junior goaltender Yaniv Perets(60) signs a 2-year entry level deal with Carolina Hurricanes.

The 6’1″ 181 lbs. net minder ran a 34-4-3 record last season with a 1.49 GAA and .931 SV% and 10 shutouts.

It’s a bit of a wonder why the 23-year old from Dollard-des-Ormeaux, QC was never drafted, despite winning the 2019 USPHL/NCDC Championship with Junior Bruins.

He should do well now that he’s decided to turn pro with a year left in college.

Recalled from the ECHL to the backup for a 2nd time, in this outing he is put into net to face 1 shot in 12:46 net time that he turned away and he has a 1st NHL appearance.

Nice backup.

After playing in all three leagues last season, he is an unrestricted free agent and signs a 1-year AHL deal with Lehigh Valley Phantoms.

Maine Mariners‘ rookie left wing Xander Lamppa(19) had a pretty healthy start, signing with the team off 4 years at Penn State University Nittany Lions, where he had 13 assists as a junior and senior.

In that 16 games period, he scored 3 goals and 5 assists.

The 6’1″ 205 lbs. forward did 2 USHL seasons for Waterloo Blackhawks, scoring big in his 2nd frame.

In 22 games, he has 2 goals and 4 assists and will likely post new ECHL bests through the entire session.

From Rochester, MN, the 24-year old is likely happy to get a chance to play pro hockey.

In 65 games, he scores 11 goals and 20 assists to earn a new deal to stay a Mariners for 2025/2026.

6’6″ 216 lbs. defenseman Jacob Modry(2) signs a 1st pro deal with Savannah Ghost Pirates, where in 3 ECHL games he’s like having a lot of fun, but also has a 1st assist.

He finished up college with 2 years at SUNY-Plattsburgh State Cardinals after maybe two underwhelming frames with Merrimack College Warriors.

As a senior, he tied his best 4 goals and got a new high 19 assists, 23 points in 28 D3 games with a +21 rating.

The 24-year old from El Segundo, CA will need maybe just settle a bit to find his team.

He started 2023/2024 with Newfoundland Growlers, but after 20 ECHL games with 2 goals and 2 assists, he gets shipped to Greenville Swamp Rabbits, which is probably the best landing spot possible for the big man on wheels.

No points after 22 games, but he maintains a nice +6 rating on accountability and they easily see something there to continue working with and sign him up to stay in a Swamp Rabbits‘ sweater for 2024/2025.

Boston University Terriers‘ graduate left wing Sam Stevens(25) signs a 1-year AHL deal with Toronto Marlies, effective 2024/2025.

He was able to slip in 1 game on an ato.

The 6’1″ 183 lbs. forward scored a college hockey best 10 goals last season.

He left a +34 rating player.

From Montreal, QC, the 24-year old played 2 USHL seasons of junior hockey before school.

He only appears in 21 games, but scores 2 goals and 2 assists with a +3 rating to earn his way back on a 1-year deal for 2025/2026 to return as a Marlies.