Category: Transfers

Plymouth State University Panthers‘ junior defenseman Donte DiPonio(22) spent the last 2 seasons at University Of New England Nor’easters, but figured into only 16 games overall with 1 goal and 2 assists, so entered the transfer portal to arrive at his new college hockey home.

He’s already skated 17 in the current frame, so obviously made a good decision, but he also has 5 goals and 11 assists with a +16 rating in just 17 games.

The small-ish 5’9″ 175 lbs. blue liner did mostly 2 USPHL/NCDC seasons, but never quite struck for any points.

From Trenton, WI, the 23-year old has made a smart choice about where he is playing his hockey.

Canisius College Golden Griffins‘ transfer portal, graduate right wing Jake Witkowski(83) has made a good decision trading 4 seasons at Hockey East, Boston University Terriers for Atlantic Hockey.

in 6 games, he almost unbelievably has outpaced anything he did previously, as those became his first college tallies.

The 5’10” 180 lbs. forward played 4 years at Malden Catholic High, which was near to where he was born in Melrose, MA,

He would leave for a year at Avon Old Farms School, lighting it up for 13 goals and 27 assists in 27 games, then head off to the BCHL.

Signed for his only junior campaign with Alberni Valley Bulldogs, he continued to gain notice with 23 goals and 17 assists and agreed to head to his first school.

It will be interesting to see what the 25-year old ends up with and where he looks to take his hockey next.

He scores a college career best 5 goals and 6 assists in 32 games with a +6 rating and signs a rookie contract with Pensacola Ice Flyers just as the season starts.

In 2 SPHL games, he has an assist.

He will likely find room in this league to put the puck in the back of the net.

After 9 games last season, scoring 2 goals and 1 assist, he leaves for the 2nd tier league NIHL, signing with Leeds Knights and putting up a bundle of points, 46 (16-30) in 26 games.

He waits a tiny bit, but re-signs to head back to the small English town team for 2023/2024.

 

University Of New England Nor’easters‘ senior right wing Dawson Ellis(9) looks to put up new college career bests this season, scoring 2 goals and 2 assists in 14 games with a +2 rating, very close to marks he would need.

The 5’8″ 150 lbs. forward transferred in after 2 years at Adrian College Bulldogs, where he appeared in just 4 games, scoring 4 assists as a sophomore, and was a member of the 2022 NCAA D3 Championship.

He did 3 junior seasons for Wellington Dukes, winning a 2018 OJHL Championship in his 1st year.

From Trent Hills, ON, the 24-year old is a good watch.

Wentworth Institute Of Technology Leopards‘ sophomore defenseman Cade Penney(22) transferred in from no games as a freshman with University Of New Hamphire Wildcats.

The 6′ 170 lbs. blue liner agreed to his 1st school after a monster 2nd NAHL season for New Jersey Titans, scoring 6 goals and 24 assists with a +30 rating.

From White Rock, BC, he came down quickly to develop his hockey sense for school, but also did junior hockey time in the USHL and BCHL before heading to school.

In 15 games with his new team he has a 1st collegiate goal and 3 assists, looks pretty happy, plays the game smart out there in D3.

Simon Fraser University Red Leafs‘ graduate transfer from 4 years at RIT Tigers, goaltender Kolby Matthews(40) may need a nice contract somewhere good, when he’s all done based on what we just witnessed in a 1-1 tie vs. Boston University in an exhibition game that saw the Northwest Canadian college come to Hockey East.

The 6’1″ 170 lbs. backstop left ECAC play with a winning record after 1 BCHL frame with Coquitlam Express, which followed a season at a lower junior level.

From Vancouver, BC, the 24-year old may be a bit of an unlikely future star.

Defenseman Taylor Brierley(2) decided to enter the transfer portal and leave 4 years at Union College Dutchmen, where he didn’t get to play in 2020/2021 for Wilkes University Colonels.

From a scoring perspective it worked wonders as he struck for 3 goals and 22 assists in 24 D3 games.

The 5’10” 175 lbs. blue liner had 10+ assists through 2 years of USHL juniors, most recently with Dubuque Fighting Saints.

He will take his new scoring prowess to a deal with Chambery of France2.

The 25-year old from East Grand Forks, MN seems to be starting a little low on the pro hockey chain, but look for him to move up quickly.

In 12 games, he scores 3 assists, but decides to head back, closer to home, signing again with Birmingham Bulls, scoring 1 goal and 6 assists in 17 SPHL games with a +19 rating, which gets noticed and loaned up to Fort Wayne Komets, quite a nicely ECHL landing spot.

New England College Pilgrims‘ junior right wing Jesper Tarkiainen(88) is from Naperville, IL, but played all of his youth hockey and juniors in Finland with Jokerit before committing to his 1st school of 2 years University Of Vermont Catamounts.

The 6′ 192 lbs. forward managed just 1 goal in 19 games as a freshman, but was listed with no games in his sophomore session.

He has 1 goal through 6 games this season.

The 22-year old is looking pretty good out there and seems to be on the brink of opening up scoring a bit.

Plymouth State University Panthers‘ junior right wing Connor Tait(6) has 6 goals and 9 assists in 12 games with a monster +16 rating.

As a sophomore, he posted college career highs 14 goals and 15 assists in 28 games with a +19.

The 6’2″ 209 lbs. forward transferred from 1 uneventful 2 game freshman year at University Of New England Nor’easters.

From Boyds, MD, he played 4 years of juniors for 1st Jersey Hitmen, then New Jersey Rockets, mostly reaching 10+ goals and assists.

The 22-year old is likely to continue to take up scoring on a good team.

UMASS-Boston Beacons‘ 3rd year, senior defenseman Corey Clifton(10) may not equal his 8 goals and 6 assists as a sophomore, but eats important minutes and is fairly accountable in his zone.

He transferred after his initial commit Quinnipiac University Bobcats did not play the COVID 2020/2021.

The 5’9″ 180 lbs. blue liner played 2 years of juniors, mostly BCHL.

From Matawan, NJ, the 24-year old would not be a surprise to add a year of eligibility.

Endicott College Gulls‘ 2nd year, senior left wing Cassidy Bowes(90) has 4 goals and 1 assist in 11 games.

The 5’10” 185 lbs. forward had a college career best 11 goals and 9 assists in 20 games with a +8 rating as a junior.

He originally did 2 years at University Of Connecticut Huskies, playing 11 games a frame, but only connecting for 1 goal and 2 assists as a freshman.

The Sturgeon County, AB native did 2 full years of BCHL junior hockey with Penctiton Vees, but also managed to help them win the 2017 Championship after finishing Canadian prep school.

He did 1 AJHL campaign, striking for point-per-game stats with Whitecourt Wolverines before heading to his 1st school.