2nd year Merrimack College Warriors‘ graduate center Max Newton(10) looks to be on his way to blowing out any scoring he was able to managed at University Of Alaska-Fairbanks Nanooks having already pocketed 7 goals and 8 assists in 14 games with a +3 rating to start the 2021/2022 session.
He was a good scorer through his first two years at the BCHL, but really popped on a shift to a new team, Cowichan Valley Capitals with 25 goals and 34 assists in 58 games.
The 5’10” 184 lbs. 25-year old will be an interesting watch to see what might materialize for this skater that plays with full-on compete next.
When his team pushed Hockey East playoffs as far as they would go, he quickly turned his attention to signing an spc with Worcester Railers to finish off the 2021/2022 season.
In his debut, he records an assist, then follows it up with his 1st ECHL goal in the next game to match his Merrimack pal he signed contracts with.
After scoring 3 goals and 5 assists in 13 games and getting a 2 game loan up to Providence Bruins, notching an assist, he signs for his official rookie session with rival Reading Royals, where scoring will continue to come for one of the hardest workers out there.
He exploded scoring in the league last season to the tune of 34 goals and 38 assists in 67 games, then added another 10 points in 10 playoff games.
For 2023/2024, the Vancouver, BC will take it up a notch, signing with HK Dukla Michalovce of Slovak Extraliga.
After scoring decently, he leaves for DEL2 and signs with Krefeld Pinguin, where his stats explode beyond goal-per-game numbers and he is doing it again for a 2nd straight season to earn himself a contract to stay 2 more through 2027/2028.
Michigan State University Spartans‘ graduate transfer from 4 years at Clarkson University Golden Knights, defenseman Michael Underwood(3) has always been a plus player on the blue line, but his team is off to a bit of an uneven, close game start and he’s for the first time on the minus side.
We do expect that to change.
The 6’2″ 205 lbs. d-man was a +29 skater leaving junior hockey before entering college.
At 24-years old, the Bloomfields Hill, MI native is playing his college hockey close to home.
After finishing up his 5th session in school, he signed an pto with Colorado Eagles and joined them for 3 AHL games with no points.
They liked what they saw of the fairly big d-man and sign him up for his rookie run 2023/2024.
He played only 3 ECHL games last season and signs with Savannah Ghost Pirates for 2024/2025.
Just before the start of the new year, he finds himself traded to Maine Mariners for the new frame.
He plays 67 games with 5 assists and a horrible -24 rating, but looks to improve on his 2nd visit to the Mariners for 2025/2026.
Undrafted center, captain David Jankowski(14) takes a college career best 12 assists and 16 points to a new school hockey endeavor at Michigan Tech University Huskies from 4 years at St. Lawrence University Saints.
The 6’1″ 175 lbs. forward from Dundas, ON played two seasons of juniors in the CCHL, but he really came alive in his 2nd frame, connecting for most goals (38), most points (90) and league MVP.
We think the 25-year old will find more open room to score in the CCHA and may even get to join his NHL brother Mark Jankowski on a minor league deal.
He somehow would continue to score 4 goals as he did from his sophomore frame on after getting 8 as a freshman, then signed an ato with Wheeling Nailers, striking for 3 goals and 3 assists in 7 games with a +2 rating.
His efforts don’t go unnoticed, as he agrees to stay on for 2023/2024.
Through 69 ECHL games, he puts in a strong performance with 11 goals, 26 assists and a +9 rating.
Little doubt, he’s seeing the light, following his best season and will return for a 2nd.
He run exact totals in his 2 seasons with the team, but is traded to Norfolk Admirals, who will utilize his scoring prowess with great ability.
In 19 games, he scored 1 goal and 7 assists, but gets himself traded Jacksonville Icemen for future considerations.
Curry College Colonels‘ sophomore net minder Thomas Heaney(33) transferred from little work at University Of Connecticut Huskies.
The 6’1″ 170 lbs. goalie has 5/6 start with a 2.37 GAA with maybe a bit of a split record, but is looking really good.
From Oceanport, NJ, the 21-year old did 2 years with Maine Nordiques before heading to school.
Princeton University Tigers‘ senior defenseman Nick Carabin(7) takes on a year of eligibility and will play Hockey East for University Of Connecticut Huskies in 2024/2025 for a graduate session.
The 5’10” 195 lbs. blue liner takes a new college best 5 goals and 12 assists last season to his new school and likely couldn’t be more welcome.
From Mahwah, NJ, he did all of his youth hockey at home before heading off to BCHL for a good season before school.
The 24-year old will do well.
He signs a 1st deal with Reading Royals and records an assist, which is a good look to invite him back for his rookie season, 2025/2026.
And just like that he gets traded ahead of the season opener to Cincinnati Cyclones.
He plays 13 games with his new team, producing 2 assists with a -5 rating, but is once again traded to Tahoe Knight Monsters to play out the season.
Long Island University Lakers‘ graduate goaltender Vinnie Purpura(33) signs a 1st contract upon completing his 5th year with Adirondack Thunder and gets pressed into play his 1st ECHL game right away.
In his 2nd game, the 6’6″ 194 lbs. backstop pulls off a 1st 6-2 win after losing his debut effort in overtime.
He originally committed to Boston University Terriers , where he was used sparingly in 2 seasons, after a solid 2nd USHL frame with Omaha Lancers.
The 24-year from Lemont, IL may just find his game completely as he’s turned pro.
He would post a 2-0 record in 4 appearances, but he couldn’t have been happy with his numbers, so he signs to return for another look in a Thunder jersey for 2023/2024.
Through 25 starts, he posts a 15-4-4 record, but doesn’t have a new deal, so his rights are claimed by Reading Royals for 2024/2025.
After a decent season stopping pucks, he will returns a Royals for 2025/2026.
And yikes, he goes 3-0 to start with a .099 GAA and .967 SV%, but maybe playing time is a tiny bit of an issue here and he gets moved to Savannah Ghost Pirates, who can use them to bolster their claims.
He continues with his good game, posting a 4-2 record, 1.92 GAA and .939 SV% to score himself a 1-way AHL deal with Charlotte Checkers for the 2nd half of the 2026 season.
Western New England University Golden Bears‘ 6’5″ 225 lbs. left wing Nolan Dawson(9) was at Curry College Colonels, playing a rough average of 20 games per frame, but just as he did after his freshman year at Saint Mary’s University Cardinals, he decides to switch things up and arrives for his senior session.
He has 2 goals and 2 assists in 11 games, which could see him turn new college best numbers, assuredly in tallies.
From Airdrie, AB, he played mostly 4 years of junior hockey in 3 different northern leagues, but only twice made it work for extended stays.
We don’t think it out of the question for him to add a year of eligibility, where he is.
As a graduate, he scores a college tying best 6 goals and adds a new high 9 assists and 15 points.
He takes these totals to a 1st pro deal and signs with Evansville Thunderbolts, where his size could help him score as a pro in the SPHL.
Officially signing for his rookie season in the FPHL, he is scoring well, but decides to head for Finland’s tier 3 league, Suomi-sarja signing with Muik Hockey for the rest of 2025/2026.
Merrimack College Warriors‘ graduate, new captain Antonio Venuto(37) transfer from 4 years at Ferris State University Bulldogs posted a college best 12 goals and 14 assists last season before coming over.
The 6’3″ 201 lbs. forward looks very much like he is ready to put this club on his back and ride.
From Whitmore Lake, MI, he came up through the Compuware system before doing 1 year NAHL, 1 USHL prior to school.
The 24-year old really looks very ready to shoulder the load.
He scores 8 goals and 6 assists in 35 games and very much looks the part of team leader out there, which is an easy score to a 1st pro deal with Kalamazoo Wings.
After 6 ECHL games, scoring 2 assists with a 0 rating, he is easily asked to return for 2025/2026 for his rookie season to stay a Wings.
He is scoring nicely, but Maine Mariners come calling to pick him up as a future consideration from an earlier deal they made.
Nichols College Bison junior right wing Jeremy Tremblay(71) has almost played more games this season than he did in 2 years at Albertus Magnus College Falcons.
In 11 games, he has a college best by a mile 4 goals and 3 assists with a +5 rating.
From Orford, QC, the 23-year old did 2 years of juniors up there before committing to school.
We think he can pop point-per-game numbers.
Western Michigan University Broncos‘ senior defenseman Carter Berger(3) was a 3-year transfer from University Of Connecticut Huskies, where he was always a plus player on ice, but didn’t exactly put up a pile of points.
In 5 games with his new college club the 6′ 201 lbs. blue liner has a goal and 3 assists with a +4, which looks to blow the lid off his previous highs.
He definitely has an offensive upside, as seen in his 2nd BCHL season with Victoria Grizzlies, scoring an absolute eye-popping 27 goals and 36 assists in 54 games, earning him top honors for goals and points by a d-man in the league.
A Florida Panthers‘ 4th round pick in the 2019 draft (#106 overall), the North Vancouver, BC native is easily eyeing an NHL entry level deal in a few months time.
He is able to take up his totals quite nicely in 2 years with an additional graduate frame and leaves his new school with a +28 rating.
Unsigned, he returns “home” agreeing to a 1-year AHL deal with Hartford Wolf Pack.
He does pretty well, scoring 8 goals and 25 assists in 67 ECHL games to earn himself a new deal 2-way for 2025/2026 with Lehigh Valley Phantoms.
In 11 games in the lower league, he scores 1 goal and 8 assists, but maybe gets a little antsy looking for another level and signs in the tough to play Tipso Extraliga with HKM Zvolen.
