RPI Engineers‘ junior portal transfer from Northeastern University, left wing T.J. Walsh(13) has easily made the best hockey decision to switch up schools and join the ECAC.
The 5’9″ 165 lbs. forward has already blown the lid off his previous scoring, tying his college career high 2 goals and new best by lots 8 assists with a +2 rating in 15 games.
He only managed to light up scoring in his final year of juniors at Des Moines Buccaneers, getting 17 goals and 32 assists in 53 USHL games before hitting school.
The Shrewsbury, MA native did have one almost earth shattering session for Shattuck St. Mary’s 14U AAA, grabbing more than goal per game totals, 71 goals and 65 assists in 66 games.
Now that the switch is made and the season is off and running with the results he’s seeing, you got to think there’s a little smile on his face for 2021/2022.
In his senior year, he scored a new college best 7 goals, but his 15 assists as a 3rd year player stood as that category high.
For a graduate session, the undrafted 23-year old is heading to Sacred Heart University Pioneers and will compete some Atlantic Hockey for 2023/2024.
He scores a college best 13 goals and 13 assists for 26 points in his final frame and takes it to a 1st pro deal with Orlando Solar Bears, which should heed him good points in the ECHL.
In 2 games he has an assist.
For his rookie season, 2024/2025 he ultimately decides to sign with Iowa Heartlanders.
Undrafted, Russian-born center Artem Shlaine(8) takes a pair of good seasons at University Of Connecticut Huskies to a new adventure through the transfer portal for his junior season with Northern Michigan University Wildcats.
The 6’1″ 174 lbs. forward scored a college career high 7 goals and 10 assists for 17 points in 36 NCAA Division 1 games, sending his team all the way to the Hockey East Finals before being eliminated in overtime.
Despite being from fairly far away, the New Jersey Devils’ 5th round pick in the 2020 draft (#130 overall) has already spent a good amount of time here through youth hockey and a couple of extraordinary years at Shattuck St. Marys USHS-Prep.
The 20-year old will likely do well in his new hockey home.
After putting up 10+ goals and assists (21 as a junior) in each of his 2 seasons in the midwest, he leaves for a graduate program start at Arizona State University Sun Devils.
University Of New Hampshire Wildcats‘ graduate center Harrison Blaisdell(18) accepts a 1st contract with Fort Wayne Komets for his rookie season, 2024/2025, but as the frame approaches gets shipped to Allen Americans.
The 5’11” 181 lbs. forward had a college high 11 goals last season.
He was a Winnipeg Jets’ 5th round pick in the 2019 draft (#134 overall), but not signed.
From Sheffield, GB, their isn’t a lot of English players selected, but his 2nd BCHL frame for Chilliwack Chiefs with 33 goals and 25 assists put him on radar.
We expect the 25-year old, who initially started school at University Of North Dakota Fighting Hawks for 2 years to do well in the ECHL.
University Of Massachusetts Minutemen sophomore, left wing Taylor Makar(18) is starting to pop scoring with 7 goals and 2 assists in 19 games.
The fairly sizable 6’3″ 220 lbs. forward was a Colorado Avalanche 7th round pick in the 2021 draft (#220 overall), which could very well put him on the same team as his Stanley Cup winning, NHL Best Defenseman brother, Cale Makar.
He has yet to prove he has the same depth, but did take his scoring up in his 3rd season with AJHL junior team, Brooks Bandits before getting selected.
The Calgary, AB native is big and looks to be starting to use his size to his advantage, which will definitely create room for him to score.
For his senior year, he decides to head off to Hockey East rival, University Of Maine Black Bears for 2024/2025 and he’s off to a huge start with 4 goals and 3 assists in 4 games.
Arizona State University Sun Devils‘ graduate left wing Lukas Sillinger(61) has steadily put up better numbers with 37 assists and 48 points last season and already has 3 assists in 6 games this year.
He initially did 2 sessions at Bemidji State University Beavers, where he was a point-per-game player as a sophomore.
The 5’11” 170 lbs. forward was born in Regina, SK and did 3 BCHL campaigns before college.
He’s the 24-year old son of Mike Sillinger, veteran of 1049 NHL games.
RPI Engineers‘ junior transfer from Mercyhurst University Lakers right wing Austin Heidemann(20) kept on pace scoring despite the level of play maybe going up a notch in ECAC from Atlantic Hockey.
His 10 goals and 10 assists closely match the 12 and 15 he posted last season.
The 6′ 190 lbs. forward plays a power style, effective on the net strikes.
From Maple Grove, MN, the 23-year old will likely only get even better as a senior.
He posts a new best scoring totals with 11 goals and 16 assists in 37 games and signs a 1st pro deal with Worcester Railers to get started as a pro and has 1 goal in 7 games.
For his rookie frame, he will return to wear a Railers‘ uniform and look to up his pro game.
After just a single ECHL game, he is released and quickly gets snapped up by Wichita Thunder, who put him under contract.
Sacred Heart University Pioneers‘ graduate net minder Justin Robbins(31) takes 17 games played with a 2.95 GAA and .895 SV% and 6-91 record to a 1st pro contract with Tahoe Knight Monsters for his rookie frame, 2024/2025.
The 5’10” 161 lbs. goalie earlier played 28 games as a junior transfer from Arizona State University Sun Devils.
From Alpine, NJ, the 24-year old did 44 USHL games as part of Chicago Steel, his thus far high water mark.
UMass Minutemen senior center Joshua Nodler(20) will take on a 3rd school, heading to Bowling Green State University Falcons for 2023/2024.
The 5’11” 194 lbs. forward started his college career with 3 seasons at close by Michigan State University Spartans, where he scored his best 7 goals and 8 assists as a junior.
From Oak Park, MI, the Calgary Flames‘ 5th round pick in the 2019 draft (#150 overall) first played the Honeybaked system before ultimately doing 1 USHL season at Fargo Force.
The 22-year old will likely doing ok for his graduate year in the CCHA.
He plays a college tying best 36 games, scoring 5 goals and 10 assists and unsigned by the team that selected him.
An unrestricted free agent, he signs a nice 1-year deal with Toledo Walleye to get started as a rookie, 2024/2025.
Quinnipiac University Bobcats‘ senior center Joey Cipollone(12) helps his team win a 2023 NCAA Division 1 Championship and signs a 1-year AHL deal to join Bridgeport Islanders for 2023/2024.
The 5’11” 185 lbs. forward put together 19 goals and 19 assists 107 games at the ECAC college.
He originally committed to University Of Vermont Catamounts, but left half way through his 2nd year to return to his USHL junior team Tri City Storm.
The 23-year old from Purchase, NY looks to be in a good position to start his pro career.
7 goals and 15 assists in 63 ECHL games and he will re-sign with affiliate Worcester Railers for 2024/2025.
He is actually released, but quickly inks with Atlanta Gladiators and will suit up for them this season.
Anna Maria College Amcats‘ sole graduate student on the 2023/2024 roster is defenseman Cam Tobey(10), as seen in preseason play at the home arena, Horgan.
He had college career highs 8 goals and 10 assists as a senior.
The 6’2″ 210 lbs. blue liner played 1 year junior hockey for Walpole Express, recording 10 goals and 13 assists in 38 EHL games after heading to Westfield State University Owls straight out of strong play at hometown Falmouth High School USHS-MA.
At 24-years old, he’s likely fully settled into his D3 hockey game and we look for him to help the team win.
Visiting him last season as he enters a year of eligibility, which he finishes 23 games with 12 points and a +8 rating, for his next move signs a 1-year deal with Knoxville Ice Bears and in his SPHL debut, he comes away with a goal.
