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.
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.
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.
University Of New Hampshire Wildcats‘ graduate center Harrison Blaisdell(24) 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.
Through 50 games, he scores 4 goals and 6 assists and is asked to return a 2nd year to be an Americans again.
Clarkson University Golden Knights‘ sophomore defenseman Carter Rose(8) takes a college best played 25 games with 2 assists into the transfer portal to skate as a junior at Union College Dutchmen, 2025/2026.
The 6’2″ 194 lbs. blue liner was a big scorer through high school hockey.
He played 3 seasons of USHL juniors before committing to his 1st school.
From Brasher Falls, NY, we look to the 22-year old to take up his game in more ECAC play.
