University Of New Hampshire Wildcats‘ junior transfer from University Of North Dakota Fighting Hawks, Swedish-born goaltender Jakob Hellsten(37) started a college high 28 games, posting a 15-12-1 record with very nice 2.04 GAA and .909 SV%.
The 6′ 185 lbs. net minder will leave a year on the table and sign for 2024/2025 back home in the top league, SHL with Leksands IF.
He heads to the team he last played junior hockey for and even split with half a season in Hockeyettan for Halmstaad Hammers HC and called up for games he didn’t play.
On a decent team, the 24-year old does well.
Bridgeport Sound Tigers‘ rookie center Jake Pivonka(37) was mostly sent down to the ECHL, where he exploded on the stat sheet for Worcester Railers to the tune of 21 goals and 24 assists through 60 games with a +5 rating on a non-playoff team.
A New York Islanders‘ 4th round pick in the 2018 draft (#103 overall), he signed an AHL deal.
The 5’11” 198 lbs. forward from Olathe, KS came up initially through the Chicago Mission program before heading to 2 seasons of USNTDP.
He went to 4 years of University Of Notre Dame Fighting Irish, the final frame as captain before taking on a year of eligibility with University Of Nebraska-Omaha Mavericks, where his scoring came alive with 10 goals and 8 assists in 37 games.
For 2024/2025, he signs with Dusseldorfer EG and will try his hand at DEL hockey.
Quinnipiac University Bobcats‘ Swedish-born, graduate defenseman Jacob Nordqvist(12) sure picked the right school to go to after completing 4 fine years at Lake Superior State University Lakers, as he wins himself a 2023 NCAA Division 1 Championship with his new college club.
He finished 38 games with a college career tying his 3-time low 11 assist mark with a +15 rating.
The 5’9″ 181 lbs. blue liner had 15 assists as a freshman and 12 as a junior, leaving with a +43 on the plus/minus side.
He did most of his junior hockey back home, but came across for a single USHL session with a couple different clubs, amassing yes, 11 assists.
The 25-year old signs a 1st pro contract for 2023/2024 and will skate for Kalamazoo Wings, which we think will lead to some more on ice success.
He does ok scoring 1 goal and 8 assists in 48 games with a 0 rating, but decides to play his hockey maybe a little closer to home, signing with Herning Blue Fox of Metal Ligaen for 2024/2025.
Miami University (Ohio) Redhawks‘ senior defenseman Robby Drazner(7) will take on a year of eligibility, enter the transfer portal and next go tend the blue line for Western Michigan University Broncos, 2024/2025.
The 6’1″ 195 lbs. blue liner from Buffalo Grove, IL did 1 season with Chicago Mission before heading north for juniors and 2 BCHL seasons for Nanaimo Clippers.
He never really got points with his old college club, but the 24-year old could be more accountable with his new team’s schedule.
Undrafted rookie defenseman Jack St. Ivany(3) signs a 2-year NHL entry level deal with Pittsburgh Penguins.
The 6’3″ 195 lbs. blue liner had two solid seasons at Boston College Eagles on transfer from Yale University Bulldogs and put up a college career high 20 assists and 24 points as a senior.
Not exactly known for recording points, he did post 30 assists in his 2nd USHL season for Sioux Falls Stampede.
Originally a Philadelphia Flyers‘ 4th round pick in the 2018 draft (#112 overall), the 23-year old from Manhattan Beach, CA went unsigned.
He should fit right in at the AHL level with affiliate Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins and compete for a spot with the big club.
Through 63 games, he looks to be gaining comfort with 8 assists to his credit and earns a look from the top, skates 20 shifts for 12:28 ice time with 1 block shot and 1 hit dished in a 4-2 Penguins‘ loss.
He stays up for 14 games, recording 1 assist with a 0 rating, and then goes on to record 4 goals and 11 assists in 54 games with a +17 rating.
They are liking what they see and offer him a 3-year deal to stick around Pittsburgh with the 3rd year being on a 1-way deal at $750K.
Boston College Eagles‘ graduate left wing Jamie Armstrong(25) basically mirrored scoring of his senior year at Commonwealth Ave. rival Boston University Terriers, scoring 13 then 12 points with plus ratings.
The 6’2″ 191 lbs. forward from Warwick, RI bounced around juniors, but when he arrived at Junior Bruins, he was able to get on his 1st school’s radar.
Never the biggest scorer earlier, the 24-year old has seemingly come to life some late college years and signs a 1-year, 2-way AHL deal with Charlotte Checkers.
Boston University Terriers‘ sophomore left wing Jeremy Wilmer(16) may fly under the radar, because he is all of 5’8″ 158 lbs.
That is despite him already amassing 13 assists in 13 games and adding his 1st tally of the season in a weekday non-conference battle.
He had 23 helpers and 9 goals as a freshman.
The Rockville Centre, NY native had 73 assists in his only full USHL frame for Tri-City Storm and was named Forward Of The Year.
We think the 20-year old will earn everything he’s able to obtain.
After a new college best 38 games, he scores 30 assists and 36 points for scoring highs and decides to continue school elsewhere at Quinnipiac University Bobcats, 2024/2025 as a junior.
Niagara University Purple Eagles‘ Swedish-born, center Albin Nilsson(9) had a college career, junior year after entering the transfer portal from Providence College Friars, scoring new bests 8 goals and 13 assists.
The 6′ 190 lbs. forward spent most of his junior hockey back home and even played 3 games in HockeyEttan and 3 in Allsvenskan, scoring a goal and an assist for IF Troja-Ljungby, but did come over for a USHL season with Sioux City Musketeers with decent stats before committing to school.
We look for the 23-year old to continue to take up his scoring in his senior season.
He takes a college high scoring 10 goals and 14 assists with a +5 rating in 40 games to a graduate frame at Miami University (Ohio) Redhawks.
Only able to get into 17 games, he still nets 4 goals and 5 assists with his new club.
Upon graduation, he is heading back home to start his pro career, signing with Kalmar HC of HockeyAllsvenskan for 2024/2025.
Providence College Friars‘ sophomore center Brady Berard(10) enters the transfer portal and will next show up in a Boston College Eagles‘ uniform 2024/2025, his junior season.
The 6’1″ 199 lbs. forward scored a best 2 goals and 6 assists last season in 27 games with a +7 rating.
He has the size to connect and I think they think in Hockey East style play, he may find the net with greater frequency.
From just down the road in East Greenwich, RI, the 20-year old will have to bring his fan base a little north for home games.
Northeastern University Huskies‘ sophomore goaltender Grant Riley(37) only had 2 starts in his time with the team, enters the transfer portal and will next tend net for Lake State Superior University Lakers as a junior, 2024/2025.
The 6’4″ 201 lbs. net minder played a shortened USHL COVID infested season, but mostly his only junior session was in the BCHL for Chiliwack Chiefs, going 25-10-2 with a 2.47 GAA and .907 SV%.
From Rochester, NY, the 21-year old will likely get a lot more opportunities to shine at his new school.
