Category: College Hockey Player

28Jul

Jack Rathbone (51)

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Vancouver Canucks‘ 4th round pick in the 2017 draft (#95 overall) rookie defenseman Jack Rathbone(51) makes his NHL debut after being recalled from affiliate Utica Comets to the taxi squad a half month ago.

He’d scored two goals and 7 assists in 8 AHL games before getting recalled.

In the 5’10” 177 lbs. d-man’s debut he skated 14 shifts for 12:04 total ice time with a shot on net and a 0 rating in a 4-1 loss.

The former Harvard University Crimson blue liner spent two years there, leaving with a tied career high 7 goals and new best 24 assists and 31 points in a COVID cut season of 28 NCAA Division 1 Hockey East games with no playoffs, then no season to play in 2021/2022 for the school, which had to make his decision to turn pro unfortunately easy.

The almost 22-year old has plenty to look forward to.

He works his way into an average of 10 games per frame, but gets himself moved in his 4th season with the team that sends him to Pittsburgh Penguins for 2023/2024, although he already has 1 goal in the minors and that’s likely where he headed first.

An unrestricted free agent, he signs a 1-year, 2-way deal with Buffalo Sabres that could see him mostly reassigned to affiliate Rochester Americans, but also could see him as being given an opportunity with his new team.

In 63 games, he scores 6 goals and 17 assists with a +9 rating, then adds another 3 points in the playoffs, which earns a 2-year contract to continue under the look of Buffalo.

28Jul

Matt Copponi (28) with video feature: 1-question interview

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Merrimack College Warriors‘ sophomore center Matt Copponi(28) gets a maybe little surprising nod on NHL draft day, as he is selected in the 7th round of 2023 (#216 overall) by Edmonton Oilers.

He was actually ranked fairly decent by NHL Scouting.

As a 2nd year college player, he put up a best 13 goals and 14 assists in 37 games last frame with a +8 rating.

The 6″ 179 lbs. forward from Mansfield, MA skipped junior hockey, arriving at college straight from Dexter Southfield School USHS-Prep.

He’s just 20-years old.

For his senior year, he enters the transfer portal to skate for Boston University Terriers.

He posts decent numbers (6-18) in a college high 40 games played with a new best +15 rating.

Upon graduation, he signs an ato with the affiliate Bakersfield Condors and records an assist in his 2nd AHL game, where he was possibly signed to a deal by the parent club, but that seems to only be a rumor so far.

He records 2 assists in 3 games with a +2 rating to earn a new 2-year deal to stay a Condors.

28Jul

Marc Gatcomb (43)

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Undrafted Abbotsford Canucks‘ rookie right wing Marc Gatcomb(43) scores a new contract for 2022/2023 after joining them upon completion of his senior year at University Of Connecticut Huskies.

The 6’2″ 194 lbs. forward had a college career best 8 goals and 13 assists with a +6 rating last season.

In 6 AHL on an ato he had no points.

The Woburn, MA native never played any junior hockey, instead going right from USHS-Prep to college.

Hopefully the 23-year old will be able to step into his game and start to connect.

He plays a pretty solid 1st year and even gets reassigned down to the ECHL for a few games to light it up in that league.

It was likely little thought to have him back for a 2nd look and in 64 games, he scores 9 goals and 11 assists.

He somehow catches the eye of New York Islanders, who sign him to a 1-year, 2-way deal and in 35 games with affiliate Bridgeport Islanders, he has equaled his 9 goals and 8 assists with a +1 rating to score himself a 1st NHL recall.

In his debut, he skated 11 shifts for 7:27 of ice time with 4 hits, 1 shot block, 1 takeaway and he went 100% on the face-off dot in a 2-0 loss.

He returned in a 4-1 win with 16 shifts, 11:23 ice, 3 shots and 7 hits.

In 39 games last season, he gets 8 goals and 1 assist to gain a new contract to remain an Islanders for 2025/2026.

28Jul

Robert Mastrosimone (18)

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Boston University Terriers‘ junior center Robert Mastrosimone(18) has decided to jump ship, enter the transfer portal and will skate for Arizona State University Sun Devils‘ as a senior.

The 5’10” 170 lbs. forward had a college career high 11 goals and 14 assists for 25 points in 34 NCAA Division 1 games last season.

He was also a sniper for Chicago Steel in a pair of USHL sessions.

The 21-year old from Eslip, NY will likely find more open room for scoring in the current club’s schedule.

After 11 goals and 31 assists in 38 games of their independent schedule with a +4 rating, the senior finishes up and signs a 1st pro AHL deal with Toronto Marlies for 2023/2024.

In 45 games as a rookie he comes away with 4 goals and 11 assists with a +2 rating that easily gets him to re-sign back in a Marlies‘ jersey for 2024/2025.

Through 50 games last season, he scored a new best 10 goals that he takes to a new deal with Charlotte Checkers for 2025/2026.

27Jul

Colton Saucerman (23)

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7th year defenseman Colton Saucerman(23) returns from a couple successful seasons overseas, 1st in IceHL, then Slovakia Extraliga to sign with Allen Americans for 2022/2023.

He’s a veteran of 191 ECHL games and 41 in the AHL with + numbers in both leagues.

The 5’9″ 194 lbs. blue liner played his college hockey at Northeastern University Huskies, coming over from his home in Colorado Springs, CO.

At 30-years old, it’s a bit of a wonder if he’ll stick around or split for different experiences.

He puts up a 2nd career best 33 assists last frame, but now at 31-years old, eyes another new experience across the board, signing for 2023/2024 with Sheffield Steelers to play in the EIHL.

For a 2nd straight season he will stay put in Sheffield for his 9th campaign of play and signs for 2024/2025.

After 2 seasons of performing well for 1 team, he makes a rival switch for 2025/2026, signing with Coventry Blaze.

27Jul

Brandon Hickey (44)

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Undrafted 3rd year, former Boston University Terriers senior captain defenseman, Brandon Hickey(44) signs for 2021/2022 with Florida Everblades after spending the first three years of his pro career in the AHL.

The 6’2″ 200 lbs. blue liner signed a 2-year entry level deal with Buffalo Sabres upon completing college and spent two campaigns with affiliate Rochester Americans, but was left unqualified when it expired.

He agreed to terms with Chicago Wolves last season, although skated only 15 games in an almost completely blown 2020/2021.

The Leduc, AB native stayed close for all his youth hockey before joining Spruce Grove Saints, taking it up a notch in his 2nd frame with 4 goals and 19 assists, then another 5 helpers in 13 playoff contests on the way to the 2014 AJHL Championship.

He has great on-ice accountability with a +18 rating as a pro and +21 through college.

We think the 25-year old will continue find better success in the lower league.

He actually spent all of last season loaned up to Henderson Silver Knights, then Abbotsford Canucks, but will try to return to the sunny state for 2022/2023.

With the Everblades for 22 regular season matchups, good for 3 goals and 4 assists with a +9 rating, then added 3 assists in 22 playoff games on the way to a 2023 Kelly Cup Championship.

He was also back up in Nevada, getting 1 goal and 1 assist with a +3 rating through 17 games.

His efforts pay off and he gets a 1-year deal to play up.

For 2023/2024, he gets a new deal in a Silver Knights‘ sweater to continue.

In 35 games, he raises his point total slightly and is invited to work further and likely increase his load for another contract to stay in Henderson.

He still seems to be playing a bit of a reduced role with the team, but they seem to like having him around, so he is signed up for a 5th season in a Silver Knights‘ jersey.

27Jul

Tyler Weiss (86)

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2nd year left wing Tyler Weiss(86) agrees to a 1-year AHL deal with Hershey Bears for 2024/2025 after scoring well last season in the ECHL with Newfoundland Growlers.

The 5’10” 154 lbs. forward was actually signed by Toronto Marlies after twice putting up 20+ assists’ campaigns at University Of Nebraska-Omaha Mavericks.

From Raleigh, NC, the 24-year old did 2 sessions with USNTDP before heading to school.

After scoring a handy 22 goals and 34 assists in 63 games last season with South Carolina Stingrays with a +20 mark, he gets himself a contract with Chicago Wolves for 2025/2026 in a nice job of playing yourself up.

27Jul

Connor Welsh (59)

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Trois Rivières Lions‘ rookie defenseman Connor Welsh(59) managed to do pretty well for himself despite playing on a non-playoff team with 2 goals and 18 assists.

The 5’11” 164 lbs. blue liner skated 2 years of BCHL junior hockey before heading off to 4 seasons at Dalhousie University Tigers, where he twice amassed 15 assists.

From Halifax, NS, the 25-year old is still getting his legs under him as a pro.

Worcester Railers see something they can use in the small-ish d-man and sign him up for 2023/2024.

He takes a 2nd ECHL season scoring 7 goals and 22 assists and will be back in a Railers‘ jersey for 2024/2025.

As a d-man, he explodes for 49 assists last season, which he is going to take to a new challenge in Slovak Extraliga, signing a 1-year deal with HK Dukla Michalovce for 2025/2026.

27Jul

Brendon Michaelian (11)

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Undrafted defenseman Brendon Michaelian(11) finishes up at his 3rd school, Mercyhurst University Lakers and signs a 1st pro contract with Fort Wayne Komets for 2023/2024.

The 6′ 172 lbs. blue liner 1st went to Robert Morris University Pioneers after a decent enough 2-year NAHL run with Amarillo Bulls, but they stopped fielding a team after his sophomore year, so switched to Ferris State University Bulldogs.

From Wixom, MI, the 25-year old is likely ready to get started in one place after his college hockey journey.

He in all eventuality, actually signs with Fayetteville Marksmen for his rookie season and did pretty well to get loaned up to Toledo Walleye, where he played a very steady, accountable game.

For 2024/2025, he re-signs to stay in the ECHL.

He plays a full 72 games, scoring 5 goals and 10 assists with a +9 rating, then adds 1 assist in 19 playoff matchups.

For 2025/2026, he is liked and will return for another season as a Walleye.