Category: College Hockey Player

14Jun

Roman Ahcan (37)

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Cleveland Monsters sign unrestricted free agent, University Of Wisconsin Badgers‘ graduating senior, left wing Roman Ahcan(37) to a pto for the remainder of 2022 and an spc for 2022/2023.

The 5’9″ 181 lbs. forward wasn’t the biggest scorer as an assistant captain last season but did post a pair of 20+ point campaigns as a sophomore and junior.

He committed after his final year at Burnsville High USHS-MN, then went onto one session of USHL junior hockey for Cedar Rapids RoughRiders before heading to school.

The 22-year old will hopefully help his new team win some games.

In his 3rd year with the same club, he once again signs a tryout, but after 11 games with 7 goals and 1 assist is quickly snapped up for the full 2024/2025 session with the Monsters.

He had his best season in the minors, scoring 18 goals and 11 assists 67 AHL games with a +4 rating, then added another 3 points (1-2) in 6 playoff matchups with a +2.

His awesome play earns him a 2-year contract to stay in a Monsters‘ jersey.

13Jun

Tyler Welsh (44)

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In his year of eligibility, right wing graduate student Tyler Welsh(44) chose to attend Long Island University Lakers after completing four years at Yale University Bulldogs with a drop season due to COVID.

He made a good choice, because he came away tying his career high 23 points, while managing a career best 16 assists in only 25 NCAA games.

The 5’10” 174 lbs. forward was a point-per-game guy in his 2nd year of BCHL for Victoria Grizzlies, where he first committed to school.

It will be interesting to watch what the 25-year old, Whistler, BC native will do next.

Newfoundland Growlers sign him for the remainder of 2021/2022 and he’s already appeared in one absolute 9-4 ECHL drubbing, so hopefully has that kind of game worked out of his system for a bit.

He would end up with 1 goal and 2 assists in 9 games with a +4 rating, so obviously fortunes changed.

For his official rookie season, he decides to leave for Ligue Magnus, signing for 2022/2023 with Scorpions Mulhouse.

He takes essentially point-per-game numbers (36 points, 12-24 in 36 games) in France to a new adventure, agreeing to 1-year with Nottingham Panthers, which will likely see him to just as good in the EIHL.

After just one season in England, he’s heading back to France, but signs with rivals, Les Jokers de Cergy-Pontoise for 2024/2025.

He scores close to point-per-game totals, but once again next inks with rivals Spartiates de Marseilles for 2025/2026.

13Jun

Chase Dubois (16)

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University Of Alaska-Fairbanks Nanooks‘ senior right wing Chase Dubois(16) didn’t quite throw up the 11 goals and 11 assists he did as a junior, but still managed ok and in his final 2 college seasons, leaves with a +16 rating.

The 5’9″ 174 lbs. forward from Williams Lake, BC is heading over to Ligue Magnus to start his rookie season with Diables Rouges de Briancon.

He did 3 BCHL seasons with West Kelowna Warriors, continuously adding to his junior scoring numbers.

We think the 26-year old scores big in France’s top hockey league.

In 44 games, he gets 17 goals and 19 assists with a +6 rating, then added another 4 points (3-1) in 6 playoff games.

For 2025/2026, he returns, as he is likely already a fan favorite of de Briancon.

12Jun

Mark Friedman (52)

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Pittsburgh Penguins‘ 5th year defenseman Mark Friedman(52) re-ups for another two years after scoring a goal and 4 assists in 26 NHL games with a +1 rating.

The 5’10” 192 lbs. blue liner has appeared in big league games for the last 4 seasons, but seems to have arrived in the current session.

He scored 2 goals and an assist in 5 games, when he arrived via the waiver wire from Philadelphia Flyers.

The Bowling Green State University Falcons blue liner left a year on the table after scoring college career best 8 goals, 18 assist and 26 points.

It looks like the 26-year old is in a good spot with his new team.

He picks up 20+ games in the big league 2 years in a row, but gets himself traded in sort of a minor deal to Vancouver Canucks, where he could find a spot on d with the big club.

In 5 games, he had no points, but got 1 goal and 5 assists in 20 games with a +4 rating for affiliate Abbotsford Canucks.

He finds himself traded to Nashville Predators to help shore up their zone, but initially he will head to Milwaukee Admirals.

In 21 games, he comes away with 2 goals and 11 assists with a +11 rating, which in turn he will take to a new opportunity in his 9th season to go skate for Rogle BK of the SHL for 2025/2026.

12Jun

Derek Barach (19)

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Former two-time Mercyhurst University Lakers‘ center captain Derek Barach(19) signs himself a nice tw0-year deal to head to Finland’s top hockey Liiga, joining Assat starting 2021/2022.

He skated 31 AHL games last season for Texas Stars, scoring 3 goals and 4 assists.

The small 5’8″ 165 lbs. forward has always been a good scorer and hard player on ice but probably no period was better than when he scored 38 points in 37 Atlantic Hockey games as a junior, then in his senior frame grabbed 37 points in 38 contests.

That’s just math.

The 26-year old native of Glenmont, NY will likely find enough open space to become a big scorer in the league.

In 2 seasons playing the highest hockey in the Finnish culture, he pots 33 goals and 27 assists in 114 games, then adding another 6 in 8 during the playoffs last frame.

He is rewarded for his efforts with a contract to play his game in the KHL with Vityaz Moscow Region for 2023/2024.

Through 68 games he scores 10 goals and 25 assists, yet is a horrible -21 rating, but is wanted back.

After a 2nd solid session of increased scoring even, he decides to switch ranks, joining up with rivals, Metallurg Magnitorgorsk for 2025/2026 and will likely just continue.

12Jun

Tommy Bergsland (25)

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Colgate University Raiders‘ senior defenseman Tommy Bergsland(25) signs a 1st pro deal, an ato to join Texas Stars for their AHL playoff run.

In 6 regular season games, he had no points, but recorded an assist in 5 playoff matchups and had a 0 rating throughout.

The 6’3″ 204 lbs. left college hockey with 2-20+ assist seasons.

From Wyzata, MN, he had a couple really good high school hockey years before heading to the USHL, where he had less luck.

He next went to the NAHL, where he was able to elevate his game nicely before college.

The 24-year will need a contract for his rookie run, 2025/2026.

11Jun

Kaedon Patrick (14)

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Skidmore College Thoroughbreds‘ junior center Kaedon Patrick(14) has a team best 9 goals, 8 assists and 17 points at this early mark in 2023/2024.

The 6’1″ 185 lbs. forward has twice got 10+ goals and very close in the assist marks as well.

We’re thinking he sets up college career highs this season.

The undrafted 23-year old from Vancouver, BC plays a power forward style all the way.

He had 1 BCHL season before committing.

He doesn’t have quite as productive scoring as a senior, but takes it to a 1st pro contract in France2 with Chambry, which should go well for him.

11Jun

J.D. Shoniker (46)

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New Jersey 87’s late coming right wing J.D. Shoniker(46) made an impact, when he arrived at the tail end of 2024/2025 season to help the team with the 2025 EHL Championship.

The 5’9″ 180 lbs. forward transferred from Boston Dogs after they elevated play to USPHL/NCDC, but he maybe wasn’t scoring the way he wanted.

In 5 regular season games, he had 2 goals and 5 assists, then in the playoffs through 10 games, put up 3 goals and 5 assists.

From Kitchener, ON, the 21-year old did 1 season of juniors up north and commits to 1st year D3 program at Beloit College Buccaneers.

10Jun

Luke Santerno (25)

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Undrafted left wing Luke Santerno(25) re-signs to stay with Greenville Swamp Rabbits after joining them upon finishing up his graduate year at Clarkson University Golden Knights.

The big 6’3″ 201 lbs. forward scored only an assist in 5 ECHL games on an ato, but could definitely light up this league, much like he did Atlantic Hockey with assists for Bentley University Falcons.

He scored nicely in his 3rd and final season of junior hockey in the BCHL for Trail Smoke Eaters. as a more than point-per-game scorer.

The 26-year old from Smithers, BC should find some room to pocket points in his official rookie season.

After just 2 games, recording 1 assist, he gets dished to Wheeling Nailers, where in 15 games he scored 2 goals and 3 assists and now is on the move a 2nd time as a 1st year player to Kansas City Mavericks, where he may find better footing to score.

Decently effective with 1 goal and 5 assists in 14 games with a +1 rating, he’s invited to return to Missouri for hopefully a full season with one team.

He’s actually doing pretty decently in a full round with the team, scoring 3 goals and 5 assists in 34 games with a +2 rating on a very good team, but finds himself traded to another good club Florida Everblades to continue.

Once again, he scores well with his new team, 4 goals and 6 assists in 19 games with a +4 rating, but finds himself dealt to Cincinnati Cyclones and continues to score with 2 goals and 1 assist in 7 games with a +2.

He would play for 3 different teams last season and scored decently with good accountability.

For 2024/2025, he is looking for something new to his game and signs with Budapest Jégkorong Akadémia.

He explodes scoring in Erste Liga to the tune of 16 goals and 20 assists in 37 games with a +19 rating.

For 2025/2026, he heads of to Ligue Magnus and signs with Rapaces de Gap.