CollegeHockeyPlayers

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.

Colgate University Raiders‘ senior right wing Ross Mitton(47) will take on a year of eligibility in Hockey East, when he suits up for University Of Maine Black Bears for a graduate session, 2024/2025.

The 5’10” 190 lbs. forward was the school’s top scorer last season with his new college best 11 goals and 19 assists in 34 games.

From Manhasset, NY, he went from the Portledge School, scoring to Fargo Force and Lincoln Stars, but didn’t find USHL success until hooking up with Omaha Lancers.

The undrafted 23-year old will be an interesting watch.

In 32 games, he scores 4 goals and 7 assists, while raising his on-ice to a +10 rating.

He finishes up tournament play and signs with Bridgeport Islanders, where he will hopefully get himself into at least a couple AHL games to get his pro game started.

In 1 game, he scores a 1st goal in the league.

It’s an easy bet he is invited to return for his official rookie frame as an Islanders, 2025/2026.

Northeastern University Huskies‘ senior defenseman Jeremie Bucheler(4) will head north to Hockey East rival, University Of Vermont Catamounts to start a graduate year.

The impressively big, undrafted 6’4″ 200 lbs. blue liner had solid junior and senior campaigns with a goal and 10 then 9 assists, but a combined +28 rating.

With a good graduate frame, the 23-year old, Montreal, QC native could easily jump on an NHL teams radar.

He takes a fully breakout season, scoring new bests 6 goals, 12 assists and 18 points in 33 games to signing a 1st pro deal, an ato to join San Jose Barracuda.

In 52 ECHL games on reassignment to Wichita Thunder, he pots 6 goals and 26 assists in 52 games with a +7 rating.

He almost magically takes that to a new deal with Rockford Icehogs, who must have been eyeing him as he was playing close by.

Merrimack College Warriors‘ graduate defenseman Colby Enns(55) already has 1 assist in 1 game with his new team.

The 6’2″ 205 lbs. 4-year Northern Michigan University Wildcats also did 1 year at University Of Nebraska-Omaha Mavericks after a single season each in the NAHL and USHL for junior hockey.

He left his 1st school after 1 game to skate for Lincoln Stars.

From Minot, ND, he played the local USHS-ND high school.

The 25-year old is in a good position as he continues to play.

In his transfer to Hockey East, he picks up 4 assists in scoring.

Upon completion of tournament play, he signs a 1st pro deal with Iowa Heartlanders.

He plays 1 ECHL game to get his feet wet, but decides to sign with Utah Grizzlies for his rookie frame, 2025/2026.

2nd year pro, undrafted right wing Brandon Hawkins(7) has another outstanding ECHL season with contract club Fort Wayne Komets, scoring a new best 23 goals and 39 points in 37 games.

He seemingly really burst the bubble en route to a 2021 Kelly Cup Championship, striking for 6 goals and 5 assists in 13 games, including a hat trick and a 4 point effort.

The former Northeastern University Huskies‘ graduate, transfer from Bowling Green State University Falcons, signed his first deal with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins upon completing school and grabbed a 1st pair of goals in 5 AHL games to earn himself another contract for the next frame.

He was mostly reassigned as a rookie to affiliate Wheeling Nailers, where he began to establish he could score for big numbers in the lower league.

The 5’10” 198 lbs. forward was definitely able to put up points through college hockey, credited with 46 goals and 62 assists in 142 NCAA Division 1 games.

He did receive a loan up in 2020/2021 to Rochester Americans for 10 games, where he got a goal and 3 assists.

We do believe the 27-year old, Michigan native is maybe a bit of a late bloomer and will continue to climb.

He signs for his 2nd season with Toledo Walleye and posts career bests 35 goals and 29 assists for 64 points with a +11 rating in 52 games, but then in the playoffs explodes with a most 15 goals and 18 assists, 33 points.

The now 28-year old likes where he sits and signs on to stay for 2022/2023.

He finished last season with a new career highs 39 goals and 42 assists with a +16 rating, then added another 17 points in 13 playoff matchups.

His efforts are rewarded with an invite to spend a 3rd season in Ohio’s very decent-sized community.

In his 3rd season with the same club, he comes away with a league best 40 goals and 93 points to win himself the ECHL Most Valuable Player Award for 2023/2024.

Easily he signs on to stay a fish, Walleye for a 4th frame, 2024/2025.

He scores only 89 points, his 2nd highest totals in his 2nd year as assistant captain and will return a fish in Toledo for a 5th season without question.

Wheeling Nailers‘ rookie left wing Matt Quercia(22) arrived from almost finishing up college hockey as a senior at Michigan Tech University Huskies.

The 6’3″ 203 lbs. forward left after playing 14 NCAA Division 1 games, scoring 2 goals and 2 assists.

He was a portal transfer from three seasons at Boston University Terriers.

His best campaign was as a sophomore, scoring 6 goals and 7 assists.

The 24-year old, Andover, MA native has skated 4 ECHL games with no points yet, but that seems imminent to happen.

After suffering an injury during training camp that knocked him out of the upcoming frame, he gets a new deal to stay in West Virginia for what will actually be his rookie season and show everyone what they know he can do in this league.

He does just that, coming away with 11 goals and 22 assists in 64 games with +13 rating, then another 6 points including a huge goal in 7 playoff matchups.

Parent club, WBS Penguins also ask him to loan up for 6 AHL games.

It’s the biggest no brainer that he will be back in a Nailers‘ jersey for 2024/2025.

After playing a new best 68 games, scoring new high 20 goals and tied his 33 points of his rookie frame, he re-signs to stay in Wheeling for a 3rd season.

Texas Stars‘ rookie defenseman Michael Karow(26) re-signs for 2022/2023 following playing 13 AHL games (1 goal, 3 assists with a +3 rating) with the team upon finishing up a year of eligibility, graduate at Michigan Tech Huskies.

The 6’2″ 201 lbs. blue liner has good on ice accountability, leaving 4 years with Boston College Eagles as a +15 player.

His point production came somewhat to life last season with a college best 2 goals and 8 assists.

The 23-year old from Green Bay, WI should have a pretty great 1st season.

He finishes his 1st frame with 1 goal and 8 assists in 36 games with a +8 rating to earn himself another 2-years to stay in Cedar Park.

Playing well, he scores 1 goal and 10 assists through 71 games with a +5 rating, then adds 5 points in 14 playoff matchups and he is set to return a Stars in 2025/2026 for a 4th season, post college.

Northeastern University Huskies‘ junior left wing Nick Rheaume(25) transferred from UMASS-Lowell Riverhawks, where he had a college best 9 goals and 4 assists last season and has 1 goal and 1 assist in 5 games in the current frame.

The 6’3″ 195 lbs. forward did 2 BCHL seasons, scoring really well in his 2nd after attending Cushing Academy USHS-Prep.

From Sherbrooke, QC, the 22-year old continues to play Hockey East.

Undrafted, he decides to leave a year on the table to sign with Toronto Marlies for his rookie frame, 2025/2026.

Quinnipiac University Bobcats‘ senior transfer from 3 years at Boston University Terriers‘ goaltender Vinny Duplessis(37) may have made the right decision, as he’s already started more games at 11 than he’s played in a single frame previous and has maybe equaled his other stats with 2.15 GAA and .910 SV%.

The 6’1″ 170 lbs. net minder from Quebec, QC had his best junior year in the AJHL for Whitecourt Wolverines, right before committing to college.

We think the 24-year old will have some eyes on him as an unrestricted free agent, if he decides to turn pro next.

After a huge overtime playoff loss for his new team in which he was spectacular, he maybe a bit oddly signs with Utah Grizzlies, who are fighting for a playoff spot and have only 2 ECHL games remaining.

He plays the pair of games, with a 0-1-1 count and 3.07 GAA and .905 SV% to secure him a contract for his rookie season, 2024/2025, guarding in a Grizzlies‘ jersey.

After an uneven season with a struggling team, he finds an amazing path, as Trois Rivieres Lions look to add him after winning the 2025 Kelly Cup, so he joins a strong club.