Wentworth Institute Of Technology Leopards‘ freshman left wing Xavier Vaillancourt(15) has 6 goals and 1 assists in 11 games this season.
The 6’2″ 185 lbs. forward did scored pretty big in 2 years of his time in the USPHL/NCDC and helped win a 2024 Dineen Cup with South Shore Kings.
From Pointe-Claire, QC, the 21-year old came down for a couple years USHS-Prep before juniors.
Long Island University Lakers‘ graduate goaltender Vinnie Purpura(33) signs a 1st contract upon completing his 5th year with Adirondack Thunder and gets pressed into play his 1st ECHL game right away.
In his 2nd game, the 6’6″ 194 lbs. backstop pulls off a 1st 6-2 win after losing his debut effort in overtime.
He originally committed to Boston University Terriers , where he was used sparingly in 2 seasons, after a solid 2nd USHL frame with Omaha Lancers.
The 24-year from Lemont, IL may just find his game completely as he’s turned pro.
He would post a 2-0 record in 4 appearances, but he couldn’t have been happy with his numbers, so he signs to return for another look in a Thunder jersey for 2023/2024.
Through 25 starts, he posts a 15-4-4 record, but doesn’t have a new deal, so his rights are claimed by Reading Royals for 2024/2025.
After a decent season stopping pucks, he will returns a Royals for 2025/2026.
And yikes, he goes 3-0 to start with a .099 GAA and .967 SV%, but maybe playing time is a tiny bit of an issue here and he gets moved to Savannah Ghost Pirates, who can use them to bolster their claims.
He continues with his good game, posting a 4-2 record, 1.92 GAA and .939 SV% to score himself a 1-way AHL deal with Charlotte Checkers for the 2nd half of the 2026 season.
Northeastern University Huskies‘ junior center captain Justin Hryckowian(49) takes a college best 30 assists and 43 points in 32 games with a +24 rating to a 2-year entry level deal with Dallas Stars.
Undrafted, the 5’10” 194 lbs. forward from L’lle Bizard, QC came down for a senior year at high school before heading off to 2 USHL years of junior hockey.
The 23-year old will likely report to affiliate Texas Stars to get started, but could warrant a look up in the show.
And he does.
Recalled due to injury and his scoring streak in the minors, he waits, but eventually makes his big league debut before the end of the new year.
He skates 9 shifts for 5:50 ice time in his NHL debut, has 1 hit and 1 giveaway in a 5-1 win. Nice start.
In 43 games this season, he has 6 goals and 7 assists, which is good enough to earn him a nice 2-year extension to stay a Stars.
Western New England University Golden Bears‘ 6’5″ 225 lbs. left wing Nolan Dawson(9) was at Curry College Colonels, playing a rough average of 20 games per frame, but just as he did after his freshman year at Saint Mary’s University Cardinals, he decides to switch things up and arrives for his senior session.
He has 2 goals and 2 assists in 11 games, which could see him turn new college best numbers, assuredly in tallies.
From Airdrie, AB, he played mostly 4 years of junior hockey in 3 different northern leagues, but only twice made it work for extended stays.
We don’t think it out of the question for him to add a year of eligibility, where he is.
As a graduate, he scores a college tying best 6 goals and adds a new high 9 assists and 15 points.
He takes these totals to a 1st pro deal and signs with Evansville Thunderbolts, where his size could help him score as a pro in the SPHL.
Officially signing for his rookie season in the FPHL, he is scoring well, but decides to head for Finland’s tier 3 league, Suomi-sarja signing with Muik Hockey for the rest of 2025/2026.
Castleton University Spartans‘ senior defenseman Logan Dapprich(7) looks to set college high scoring this season with 1 goal and 8 assists puts him on 1 tally away from tying previous bests.
The 6’2″ 181 lbs. blue liner did 2 years juniors before committing to Rivier University Raiders as a freshman.
From Amherst, MA, the 24-year old should continue to do well.
7th year defenseman Nolan Zajac(44) leaves a pair of seasons in the SHL for a new European adventure in 2022/2023, joining DEL‘s Grizzlys Wolfsburg.
He spent only a pair of seasons mostly in the ECHL scoring pretty big after graduating University Of Denver twice ascending to 20+ assists before deciding to head overseas.
The 5’10” 185 lbs. blue liner maybe started a little low in Sweden’s tier 2 Allsvenskan, where he detonated the scoresheet for most assists and most points by a d-man for IK Oskarshamn.
With his new German team, he manages 8 goals and 25 assists in 48 games with a +14 rating, then adds another 7 assists in a playoff run to earn himself another year to stay put.
After 2 good frames with the same team, he looks elsewhere to rivals Augsburger Panthers f0r 2024/2025.
He continues to move along for 2025/2026, signing with HK Spisska Nova Ves, but maybe with only 3 assists in 17 games, he looks for a little more and leaves for Bruleurs De Loups of Ligue Magnus.
Merrimack College Warriors‘ graduate, new captain Antonio Venuto(37) transfer from 4 years at Ferris State University Bulldogs posted a college best 12 goals and 14 assists last season before coming over.
The 6’3″ 201 lbs. forward looks very much like he is ready to put this club on his back and ride.
From Whitmore Lake, MI, he came up through the Compuware system before doing 1 year NAHL, 1 USHL prior to school.
The 24-year old really looks very ready to shoulder the load.
He scores 8 goals and 6 assists in 35 games and very much looks the part of team leader out there, which is an easy score to a 1st pro deal with Kalamazoo Wings.
After 6 ECHL games, scoring 2 assists with a 0 rating, he is easily asked to return for 2025/2026 for his rookie season to stay a Wings.
He is scoring nicely, but Maine Mariners come calling to pick him up as a future consideration from an earlier deal they made.
Nichols College Bison junior right wing Jeremy Tremblay(71) has almost played more games this season than he did in 2 years at Albertus Magnus College Falcons.
In 11 games, he has a college best by a mile 4 goals and 3 assists with a +5 rating.
From Orford, QC, the 23-year old did 2 years of juniors up there before committing to school.
We think he can pop point-per-game numbers.
Fitchburg State University Falcons‘ freshman left wing John Mantone(12) has 2 goals and 2 assists in 10 games this season.
The 6′ 190 lbs. forward plays a power style that should equal bigger totals.
He did 2 seasons with Seacoast Spartans, moving up with the team to a higher level and actually did better with 7 goals and 13 assists in 45 USPHL/NCDC games.
From Nashua, NH, the 22-year old is a good skater to watch.
JYP left wing C.J. Smith(29) quickly signs up for a 1-year extension after 1 goal and 4 assists through 5 games looks like a lock for him to score goals in Liiga after starting the season late with the team.
After 3 years at UMASS-Lowell Riverhawks, the 5’11” 183 lbs. forward signed an NHL entry level deal as an unrestricted free agent with Buffalo Sabres and stayed in their system for 4 years.
The 29-year old from Des Moines, IA is said to be coming back from surgery due to an injury, so this is a nice landing spot for him to re-stake his game.
He comes away with 8 goals and 12 assists in 33 games, which gains interest from Barys Astana of the KHL for 2024/2025.
So much for the tryout in Germany, as he will head home under contract to Charlotte Checkers, where he should do well and help.
He definitely help his new team win games, going into the playoffs, but waits a moment before signing 2025/2026 and agrees to terms with Bridgeport Islanders.
