Bentley University Falcons‘ senior and #1 goal scorer for the past two seasons (tied ’19/20), Jakov Novak(86) entered the college transfer portal to head somewhere new for his final season before he will likely be signed to an entry level deal by draft club (round 7, 2018, #177 overall) Ottawa Senators after a breakout campaign in USHL juniors with Janesville Jets.
His new college team is set to become right down the road Northeastern University Huskies for 2021/2022 and his 6’3″ 216 lbs. frame will be very welcome up front to what was sometimes a bit of a struggling club to score in the last frame.
The 22-year old Canadian hothead on ice will be missed in Waltham, but will fit in perfectly the Boston area playing Hockey East style.
He finished up a graduate year with a tied 8 goals in his 2 campaigns at the new school and 4 assists as assistant captain with a +4 rating.
To turn pro, he signs an ato with Allen Americans, who are the new ECHL affiliate of his draft team and has been turning it up with 7 goals and 5 assists in 14 games, heading into the postseason to hopefully continue to fall under their radar for a contract.
For 2023/2024, he signs a minor league deal with Laval Rocket to officially get started as a rookie.
He spends the majority of 2 seasons with affiliate Trois-Riveries Lions and won the 2025 Kelly Cup last season, as pretty much a point-per-game performer.
Coachella Valley Firebirds have him on their radar and sign him up for 2025/2026.
Colgate University Raiders‘ senior defenseman Nic Belpedio(9) enters the transfer portal to do a year of eligibility as a graduate at Ferris State University Bulldogs.
The 5’10” 194 lbs. blue liner isn’t the biggest scorer, but did have 5 goals and 9 assists as a sophomore.
From Skokie, IL, he did 2 USHL years with Waterloo Blackhawks before college.
The 23-year old will likely fit in nicely with his new school.
Los Angeles Kings‘ 2nd round pick in the 2022 draft (#51 overall), center Jack Hughes(27) is just starting his 2nd season at Northeastern University Huskies, where in 4 games this season already has 2 assists.
He scored decently as a freshman.
The 5’11” 170 lbs. forward played two solid frames with the USNTDP after playing high school at St. Sebastian’s Prep, scoring well enough at both levels.
It’s maybe a bit of a wonder as to why he went so high, but he does play like he always shows tremendous upside and is dad is the General Manager of Montreal Canadiens, Kent Hughes.
For his junior year, he has decided to switch up Hockey East affiliations and will head to Boston University Terriers, starting 2023/2024.
After a third 7 goal outing, to go along with 18 assists and a +9 rating, he signs a 1-year AHL deal with affiliate Ontario Reign for 2025/2026.
Idaho Steelheads‘ center Jack Becker(27) re-signs with the team after posting 12 goals and 21 assists in 49 ECHL games with a +14 rating as a rookie.
The 6’3″ 192 lbs. forward played 4 seasons at University Of Michigan Wolverines, reaching 10+ points in 3 of his years.
Originally a Boston Bruins‘ 7th round pick in the 2015 draft (#195 overall), he performed maybe a little better in 2 frames of USHL junior hockey for Sioux Falls Stampede.
From Dellwood, MN, the 26-year has found his gear and now is settling in.
In 33 games on loan to parent club, Texas Stars, he scores 5 goals and 2 assists and no points in 5 playoff games after virtual point-per-game numbers in the lower league.
He definitely will be back for 2024/2025 to earn more AHL time.
Appearing in 70 games last season, he scores 11 goals and 7 assists with a +2 rating, then adds 4 points (2-2) in 14 playoff matchups.
He is an easy return for 2025/2026 as a Stars.
After three seasons with close to home Kenai River Brown Bears, Alaska-native, big 6’4″ 205 lbs. forward Porter Schachle(79) commits to University Of Vermont but was recently traded closer to his future college home going to Danbury Hat Tricks, where in 6 games he has a goal and two assists.
He’s currently just about a point per game performer with 12 goals and 11 assists in 29 NAHL appearances this season, which goes along with career high marks set in 2019/2020, when he popped 15 goals and 22 assists in 46 games with a +14 and 127 penalty minutes, including more than a few fighting majors.
That number has been taken to a new level in the current calendar with 169 minutes spent in the box already and the season still has a bit of a ways to go.
The 20-year old should fit nicely into Hockey East style of play.
After 61 games in the division, the always tough to play against, undrafted Wasilla resident has decided to head home and skate for University Of Alaska-Anchorage Seawolves for 2023/2024.
He plays 2 seasons and decides to turn pro, signing a 1-year ECHL deal with Worcester Railers, where he will join his brother Tanner.
Colgate University Raiders‘ graduate, captain defenseman Reid Irwin(43) scored a new college best 6 goals and 17 points in 32 games last season, which he took to a 1st pro contract with Wichita Thunder and scored a 1st ECHL goal and assist in 9 games.
The 6’1″ 198 lbs. blue liner decides to sign with Belfast Giants of the EIHL for his official rookie year, 2025/2026.
From Victoria, BC, the 25-year old transferred from 2-years at University Of Denver Pioneers.
He did 3 years of junior hockey.
Bentley University Falcons‘ senior Ethan Leyh(19) scored a new college best (by a long shot) 13 goals and 16 assists in 35 games last season with a +11 rating.
The 6′ 195 lbs. forward played 3 full slates at Quinnipiac University Bobcats‘ scoring exactly 10 points in each of the sessions.
From Anmore, BC, he did 2 years of BCHL with Langley Rivermen before heading to school.
Having not played in the 2022/2023 campaign, it will be interesting to see what the 22-year old decides next.
As graduate captain a 2nd season, he scores a new college best 17 goals and 25 assists in 37 games to sign a 1st pro deal with the new Greensboro Gargoyles for his rookie frame, 2025/2026.
Colorado College Tigers 2022/2023 commit, right wing Evan Werner(91) is playing his 2nd and final season of juniors with Youngstown Phantoms and in 15 USHL games has no goals yet but 4 assists.
He came over in an effort to take up his play after basically exploding the NAHL stat sheet with New Jersey Titans, scoring 21 goals and 15 assists in 40 games.
The small 5’7″ 164 lbs. forward is likely hoping to step right in and score some NCHC time.
He would do he 2nd college season at University Of Michigan Wolverines, scoring new best 11 goals and 22 points.
For his junior year, he picks up yet again and will skate for University Of Notre Dame Fighting Irish in 2025/2026.
Northeastern University Huskies‘ senior right wing, assistant captain Riley Hughes(19) will take his game into the transfer portal for one more year at Ohio State University Buckeyes before hopefully signing an NHL entry level contract with draft team (7th round, 2018, #216 overall), New York Rangers.
The 6’1″ 172 lbs. forward’s numbers at Hockey East don’t match up with what he was able to do in high school, then one BCHL season with Victoria Grizzlies, notching more than point-per-game numbers in the regular campaign, then playoffs.
While we don’t expect the 22-year old Westwood, MA native to be a scoring machine once he arrives at Big Ten hockey, we do think he’ll connect with better frequency, and continue to play as he always does with a spark plug of energy out there.
He knew as he was entering the new season that he would not be signed, but still goes on after graduating to get a 1st pro deal with Iowa Heartlanders, where we feel once he reaches the ECHL will find the scoresheet with more frequency and came away with 3 goals and 1 assist in 12 games.
Charlotte Checkers are watching and sign him up for a 2-way AHL contract in 2024/2025.
After 31 games with the team and 20 reassigned to the ECHL, where he was a more than point-per-game performer, he receives another 1-year deal to continue being a Checkers.
UMass Minutemen undrafted freshman defenseman Aaron Bohlinger(25) has 15 assists in the 2020/2021 frame but no goals.
Well, not until the NCAA Championship Final vs. St. Cloud University Huskies, where he nets the opening tally and that might be enough to close the door on the title and also be a game-winner.
The small 5’9″ 165 lbs. blue liner early in his tenure with Waterloo Blackhawks of the USHL but was probably put on the radar after playing a year north in the BCHL for Alberni Valley Bulldogs, where he made a 7 goal and 27 assists in 55 games impression.
The 20-year old may be small but motors and can head man the puck with ease, so might garner some looks as he continues at school.
He becomes captain as a senior, but decides to add a year of eligibility and enters the transfer portal to skate for Quinnipiac University Bobcats, as a graduate.
ECAC was a nice switch up, as he scores a new best 3 goals and 11 assists with a +11 rating in 32 games.
He is set to turn pro and signs a 1st ECHL contract with Cincinnati Cyclones for 2025/2026.
