American International College Yellowjackets‘ senior defenseman Matt Rickard(6) enters the transfer portal to skate the start of a graduate program at University Of Alaska-Fairbanks Nanooks for 2024/2025.
The 6′ 170 lbs. blue liner skated 2 years juniors before college with similar numbers from the BCHL to the NAHL.
From Coventry, RI, the 25-year old should do well playing the schedule his new college team has for the upcoming frame.
Michigan State University Spartans‘ senior right wing Jeremy Davidson(11) had a college best 12 goals and tied his sophomore point mark of 22 last season.
The 5’10” 177 lbs. forward signs with South Carolina Stingrays for his ECHL rookie season in 2024/2025.
He came up through the Honeybaked youth hockey system, then a pair of USHL seasons, scoring pretty well.
UMASS Minutemen was the 1st school he committed to, as a freshman, but maybe Hockey East didn’t work out the way he wanted and shifted college hockey closer to home in Kalamazoo, MI.
The 24-year old should do well.
Providence College‘s undrafted, sophomore net minder Jaxson Stauber(30) picked up his 10th win of the season in a recent game vs. Northeastern University Huskies, 4-2.
The 6’3″ 175 lbs. goalie has posted a 11-7-5 record for 2020/2021 with 4 shutouts.
He spent two years with Sioux Falls Stampede and won the 2019 Clark Cup MVP honors with a 1.46 GAA and .941 SV@ and 11-1-0 record, then committed to Minnesota State University-Mankato started one game, won it, wasn’t getting enough ice time and went back to junior hockey.
After a 3rd stellar year in the USHL, the Wayzata, MN-native committed to attend college east and away from home.
As a still young 21-year old he’s definitely getting the looks and it will be interesting where his choice of school leads him.
He was even more stingy in his junior season than he was the year prior and has decided to sign a 2-year entry level deal with Chicago Blackhawks, foregoing his senior frame.
This does make sense for the now 22-year old.
He goes 5-1 in 6 NHL starts, but plays the lion share with affiliate Rockford Icehogs, then doesn’t receive a qualifying offer to continue.
Utah Hockey Club steps in to offer him a 1-year, 2-way deal for 2024/2025.
Merrimack College Warriors‘ graduate center Will Calverley(36) comes over from 4 years at RIT Tigers, where he managed to score 10+ goals and assists in each of his last three seasons.
The small 5’9″ 174 lbs. firecracker on ice will have to work hard, but could eclipse earlier marks in tougher to play Hockey East competition, but has scored 1 goal and 7 assists in 15 games to get himself going in the right direction.
He played two seasons for Chilliwack Chiefs, running up some big totals in 111 BCHL games.
From Scarborough, ON, this will be an excellent player to watch turn pro.
He finishes up with a very decent 5 goals and 15 assists with a +4 rating in 38 games and a good push to the finals of the Hockey East tournament.
Wasting no time, he signs a 1st deal with Florida Everblades and gets an assist in his ECHL debut, then plants a 1st goal 3 games later.
He would finish the regular frame with the 2 points, then add 5 (3 goals, 2 assists) in 12 games en route to a 2nd straight 2023 Kelly Cup for the team from FLA.
Well, nothing like winning a title to want to return for your sophomore frame in 2023/2024.
He’s probably in a little bit of shock, but he will take place amongst the blue liners with his just traded to team, Iowa Heartlanders.
After a good rookie season with a non-playoff team, scoring 8 goals and 13 assists in 39 games with a -1 rating, he gets a new 1-year deal to return to be a Heartlanders for 2024/2025.
Boston University Terriers‘ senior center Jay O’Brien(18) leaves college hockey scoring a new best 24 assists and 32 points to sign a 1st AHL pro contract for 2023/2024 with Toronto Marlies.
The 5’11” 185 lbs. forward had 10 goals in 24 games as a junior.
He transferred to the school from a freshman year at Providence College Friars that was maybe a little early for the Hingham, MA native to attend, as he had only a few games of junior experience coming out of 2 years at Thayer Academy USHS-Prep, where he would emerge as a Philadelphia Flyers‘ 1st round pick in the 2018 draft (#19 overall)
They elected to not sign him, potentially due to an injury bug that has seemed to follow him through college hockey, despite scoring pretty effectively in each of those frames.
Next he would leave for a session in the BCHL with Penticton Vees that restored his scoring punch, setting him up to return to school.
No doubt, he will have to fight for room to score where he’s heading, but could very well find some light.
The 23-year old is likely just ready to get started and prove himself at the next level, pro, except suffers yet another unqualified injury and sits the entire frame.
For 2024/2025, Charlotte Checkers take the health gamble.
University Of Notre Dame Fighting Irish senior left wing Jesse Lansdell(34) will start a graduate year at University Of Nebraska-Omaha Mavericks for 2023/2024.
The 5’11” 187 lbs. forward has been an ok scorer through college thus far and was a bit uneven through 4 seasons of BCHL.
From Surrey, BC, the 24-year old probably won’t find the NCHC any easier to play in.
He records a new college high 12 assists with his new team in 39 games with a +1 rating and takes it to a 1st pro contract with Florida Everblades, where he is connecting decent for a 1st 2 ECHL goals in 6 games, then adding an assist through 5 in the playoffs, so far.
4 assists in 23 playoff games with a +6 rating to a 2024 Kelly Cup Championship and he will return for his official rookie season in 2024/2025.
Undrafted defenseman Zach Vinnell(6) will take his game to Bowling Green University Falcons for his senior year, leaving behind 3 seasons and a college career junior season at Merrimack College Warriors, scoring 4 goals and 12 assists in 35 NCAA Division 1 games.
The 6’1″ 185 lbs. blue liner from Cochrane, AB played 3 years of junior hockey in the close by AJHL.
We think the 24-year old scored himself a nice invite to Edmonton Oilers‘ development camp and will likely see some mature ice time in the CCHA.
Although he only scored 1 goal with his new college team, he did manage a best 19 assists.
He will take his recent fortunes to a 1st pro deal with Indy Fuel to finish out the season.
In 16 games to debut his pro game, he scores 1 goal and 9 assists with a 0 rating, then added 1 assist in 2 playoff matchups.
He’s taking his game elsewhere for 2023/2024, as he signs on to strengthen the blue line for 1-year with Glasgow Clan of the EIHL.
After 15 games, 1 goal 4 assists, he seemingly leaves and signs with Sheffield Steelers, who seem very happy to have him in their lineup.
He would do pretty well with 1 goal and 4 assists through 15 games with a +12 rating.
Something isn’t gelling on ice though and the 26-year old decides to retire and as soon as 2024/2025 will take up ranks as an assistant coach with rivals, Coventry Blaze.
Rookie center Todd Burgess(48) signs his first pro contract with Manitoba Moose for 2021/2022.
The big 6’2″ 195 lbs. power forward will likely step right into his game when he gets to the AHL.
He graduated from Minnesota State University (Mankato) Mavericks after doing 4 years at RPI Engineers, connecting for 27 goals and 35 assists in 127 NCAA Division 1 games.
That was nothing compared to what the 25-year old, Phoenix, AZ native did in his last season of juniors for Fairbanks Ice Dogs, wracking up 95 points (38-57) in 60 NAHL games with a +25 ratings, then added another 5 goals and 9 assists in 12 playoff contests.
This output got him on the radar of Ottawa Senators, who drafted him in the 4th round of 2016 (#103 overall) but failed to get him under contract.
We think this could just be the start.
He maybe rounded out last season with some games down with Newfoundland Growlers, where he was very close to being a point-per-game player, but did also nab 7 goals and 6 assists as a rookie.
The big man stays in the league, but moves to a divisional foe for 2022/2023, Milwaukee Admirals.
Mostly reassigned to play with the not so good ECHL affiliate Norfolk Admirals, he still busts out some numbers scoring.
He next looks at something a bit different to skate and signs in Slovak Extraliga with HK Spisska Nova Ves and ran up the scoresheet big with 19 goals and 18 assists in 45 games with a +13 rating.
Not sure why is not continuing, unless he eyes something better by heading to HockeyAllsvenskan for 2024/2025, agreeing to terms with Mora IK and we suspect he will do exceedingly well again.
Vegas Golden Knights‘ 5th round pick in the 2018 draft (#135 overall), left wing Brandon Kruse(78) has taken up residence on a pto with their affiliate Henderson Silver Knights after graduating a 5th year at Boston College Eagles.
He has yet to sign his entry level deal, but is likely making a bit of an argument with an assist in his 2nd AHL game.
The small 5’9″ 158 lbs. forward originally did 4 years at Bowling Green State University Falcons and was always good for 20+ assists, 31 as a sophomore.
He only did a single NAHL season in juniors before heading to school.
The 23-year old from Saline, MI definitely has the skills to gain notice.
For 2022/2023, he scores a new contract with Toronto Marlies.
He plays all of his games with affiliate Newfoundland Growlers, scoring 7 goals and 37 assists with a +8 rating through 69 games.
For 2023/2024, he signs with Toledo Walleye and should find himself a ton of success in the ECHL.
As predicted, he finds all kinds of success with his new team, scoring 18 goals, 36 assists and a +23 rating through 70 games, then another 11 points in 14 playoff matchups.
Well, he’s a fish now and will be in a Walleye uniform 2024/2025.
University Of Wisconsin-River Falls Falcons‘ graduate right wing Mike Gelatt(27) wastes little time signing a pto with Peoria Rivermen to get some pro playing time experience in.
The 6’3″ 205 lbs. forward was good last season, but maybe not quite what he was able to put together as a senior for Skidmore College Thoroughbreds, when he got 11 goals and 12 assists in 25 games before getting eliminated in the NEHC Tournament Final.
He has a 1st SPHL goal in his 6th sighting and 2 assists in 7 total matchups thus far.
The 25-year old from Middletown, NJ could easily play himself up a level.
He comes away with 11 goals and 16 assists in 34 games with a +14 rating, then adds 6 points in 7 playoff matchups.
For 2024/2025, he receives a 2-way ECHL contract with the new Bloomington Bison.
