Princeton University Tigers‘ senior defenseman Pito Walton(21) is going to take on a graduate season, heads into the transfer portal and will skate for Northeastern University Huskies in 2023/2024.
He played a college best 32 games last season, scoring new highs 7 goals and 14 assists.
The 6’2″ 192 lbs. blue liner from Peapack, NJ only did 1 year of BCHL junior hockey for Coquitlam Express before heading to school.
Undrafted at 23-years of age, he heads into Hockey East action, a place where he’s likely a bit familiar from matchups.
Ohio State University Buckeyes‘ freshman defenseman Tyler Duke(5) maybe goes for a bit of a surprising move, entering the transfer portal to come out as a sophomore to play at University Of Michigan Wolverines, taking him out of his home state, Strongsville, OH.
He had 4 goals and 8 assists with a +9 rating in 40 games.
The 5’9″ 179 lbs. blue liner played 2 years of USNTDP and build up an almost unthinkable +95 rating between the 2 clubs last season.
He stays Big Ten, but think the 18-year old may find the schedule and playing with his brother, Dylan Duke more to his liking.
Providence College Friars‘ freshman left wing Chase Dafoe(14) is off to try another school to play his game after appearing in only 8 last season.
The 6’3″ 201 lbs. forward signs on with University Of Alaska-Fairbanks Nanooks for his sophomore session and from all accounts is excited for a new start all the way across the country.
Born in Beverly, MA, when his dad, Byron Dafoe(34) was tending net for Boston Bruins, the 21-year old should find a new lease on hockey life.
Boston University Terriers‘ senior center Ethan Phillips(28) will head closer to draft team, Detroit Red Wings (4th round, 2019, #97 overall) to start a graduate program at Western Michigan University Broncos for 2023/2024.
His best season was as a junior, scoring 6 goals and 11 assists in 28 games.
The 5’9″ 165 lbs. forward played only one junior session with Sioux Falls Stampede, where they pushed their luck to win the 2019 USHL Clark Cup Championship and he had a tidy 43 points in 50 games through the regular frame, then added 5 point in 6 in the playoffs.
From Dartmouth South, NS, we think the 21-year old needs an NHL entry level deal soon.
Quinnipiac University Bobcats‘ graduate right wing, assistant captain Ethan De Jong(10) signs a 1st pro deal with Bakersfield Condors that will be for 2023/2024 and run 2 seasons.
The 5’11” 181 lbs. forward had a college best 19 goals and 40 points, tying his senior 21 assists last frame.
He has 4 times had 10+ goals and on 2 occasions posts 20+ assists.
The North Vancouver, BC native had a hugely successful 2nd BCHL session with Prince George Spruce Kings, getting 63 points in 50 games.
At just 23-years old, he’s likely ready to get started.
Northeastern University Huskies‘ senior defenseman Tyler Spott(18) is going to add another year onto his college plate and signs on with Sacred Heart University Pioneers for 2023/2024.
The5’11” 175 lbs. blue liner is mostly a stay-at-home style with just 8 goals and 8 assists in his 4 years, but was a commendable +8 rating.
He did have 2 USHL sessions with Green Bay Gamblers, where he ran up 21 assists in his 2nd frame with the team.
The undrafted 22-year old from Toronto, ON will likely flourish in Atlantic Hockey.
Boston College Eagles‘ 6’7″ 216 lbs. defenseman Cade Alami(6) played an almost full slate of 29 games last season, scoring a modest new best 3 assists as a sophomore, but has decided he needs to play elsewhere, enters the transfer portal and will skate for University Of Arizona Sun Devils in 2023/2024.
The Bedford, NY native played his 1st junior round up north, scoring decently for Surrey Eagles of the BCHL, but returned closed to home for his 2nd frame, skating with New Jersey Hitmen and would win the 2021 USPHL/NCDC Championship.
He should have better luck all around playing an independent schedule.
Holy Cross College Crusaders‘ senior assistant captain, left wing Alex Peterson(19) will follow up a college career best 14 assists and 19 points with a transfer to UMass-Lowell Riverhawks‘ for the start of a graduate program and some Hockey East action.
He leaves with a new college best 14 assists and 19 points.
The 5’10” 172 lbs. forward was a huge point-per-game scorer in his 2nd frame of NAHL juniors for Amarillo Bulls.
From Lansdale, PA, he came up through the pay junior leagues to arrive where he is at, so that’s all good on the 25-year old to keep climbing.
Tampa Bay Lightning 1st round pick in the 2022 draft (#31 overall), left wing Isaac Howard(3) has been a scoring machine in his 2 years in the USNTDP program.
In 55 USHL games, he has 27 goals and 43 assists and popped it even further in the USDP leg of it with 65 goals and 90 assists in 111 games.
He selected University Of Minnesota-Duluth Bulldogs as his college commit and through 4 games, has his 1st NCAA Division 1 goal.
Just 18 years old, the Hudson, WI native will be a bit of a wonder if he connect with the scoresheet in NCHC play as he always has.
He gets 6 goals and 11 assists through 35 games, but is antsy and will take up his sophomore season 2023/2024 at Michigan State University Spartans and play some Big Ten hockey going forward.
Miami-Ohio University Redhawks‘ Swedish-born junior net minder Ludvig Persson(32) will do his senior year at University Of North Dakota Fighting Hawks, where he hopes to be on a bit of a deeper team to help elevate his play.
He started with games for his home country’s 3rd tier league Hockeyettan before coming here for a remarkable, successful NAHL junior season for Lone Star Brahmas, where he posted a 22-4 record with a .1.56 GAA and .932 SV%.
He has shouldered a lot of net minding through the past couple campaigns with 32 starts in each.
We expect the 6’1″ 183 lbs. 23-year old will continue to shine more brightly in NCHC play.
