Bemidji State University Beavers‘ graduate right wing Kaden Pickering(18) signs a 1st pro contract with Iowa Heartlanders.
The 5’9″ 181 lbs. forward did 4 years at St. Lawrence University Saints scoring a college best 6 goals and 13 assistsas a senior captain.
He has yet to hit the stat sheet in 2 ECHL games.
The 24-year old from Madrid, NY only did only BCHL season prior to heading to college.
Mercyhurst University Lakers‘ graduate left wing Eric Esposito(7) exploded the stat sheet in his extra session, good for way beyond a college best 17 goals and 15 assists in 35 games.
The 5’11” 188 lbs. forward has finished up and accepted a contract through the end of the season with Orlando Solar Bears.
A University Of New Hampshire Wildcats‘ 4-year player, he did shine on the scoresheet in his final USHL frame for Youngstown Phantoms before college, but struggled to strike in Hockey East.
The 24-year old from West Haven, CT may find the room he needs to score points in the ECHL.
Canisius College Golden Griffins‘ graduate right wing Nick Bowman(13) made the right decision to come over to Atlantic Hockey from 4 years at RPI Engineers, where he was playing in the ECAC.
In 2022/2023, he blew past his college career high, posting 8 goals and 8 assists and helped his team punch into the NCAA Division Semi-Finals.
He only really took up scoring in his last year of junior hockey, skating the NAHL for Coulee Region Chill, scoring 25 goals and 24 assists in 54 games.
The 25-year old Shelby Township, MI native will be interesting to watch his next step.
Worcester Railers‘ newly signed center Paul Boutoussov(29) agrees for 2023 after finishing up his graduate season at Babson College Beavers, almost nearly a year ago at this point
The Dana Point, CA native played 4 years initially at Salve Regina University Seahawks after coming across to skate two seasons for Valley Jr. Warriors post a very short 5 game stint with Fairbanks Ice Dogs that heeded at least an assist.
The 5’10” 170 lbs. forward really blew up scoring in his 2nd EHL session, grabbing 25 goals and 25 assists in 40 games.
He doesn’t have any points in 4 ECHL games, but it may just be a matter of time before the 26-year old connects like he did for 20 in NCAA Division 3 one campaign.
After 7 games in central MA, he gets released and adopted by Orlando Solar Bears with a contract though the end of the season and in his debut in Florida scores 2 in a 6-3 with a +3 game rating.
Canisius College Golden Griffins‘ senior transfer, right wing Markus Boguslavsky(15) has a career best 6 assists and 9 points after coming over from Boston University Terriers, where he likely felt a bit under utilized.
The very decently sized 6’1″ 190 lbs. forward from Calgary, AB only committed to his 1st school after finishing up a 2nd year for Drumheller Dragons, getting 16 goals and 16 assists in 57 AJHL games.
It will be interesting to see whether or not the 23-year old adds another year to his college career or heads in a different direction.
University Of Connecticut Huskies graduate goaltender Darion Hanson(33) became the starting net minder out of camp and is doing exactly what the team needs, posting a 4-3 record with 2.27 GAA and .925 SV% to fend off hopeful scorers.
The big 6’3″ 181 lbs. net minder came over late 2020/2021, after completing three years at Union College Dutchmen, where he left as captain and went through a down NCAA Transfer Year.
He spent 2 years in juniors in a mess of different leagues, but seemed to really arrive after joining Vernon Vipers and was named Top Goaltender, Best SV% .945 and Best GAA 1.84 in 21 BCHL games with a 14-4 record before heading to college.
The 24-year old have made the nice transition from ECAC to Hockey East.
He turned pro with Reading Royals after finishing up school and in 1 appearance had the win with a 1.00 GAA and .957 SV%, but become the 1st player ever to sign with the new Savannah Ghost Pirates for his official rookie run.
Now, after the midway point of the season, Iowa Heartlanders have a need to fill in net and trade to obtain him.
Undrafted left wing Chris Van Os-Shaw(20) took 3 years at Minnesota State University (Mankato) Mavericks into the transfer portal to play his senior year at American International College Yellowjackets and that easily turned out to be the right move.
The 6’2″ 201 lbs. forward scored a college career high 7 goals and 8 assists for 15 points with a +1 rating in 36 NCAA Division 1 games.
We think he liked Atlantic Hockey.
The Regina, SK native played 3 seasons of junior hockey, two in the SJHL for Humboldt Broncos before signing on for a breakout campaign with Spruce Grove Saints, winning the 2018 AJHL Championship and he came away with most points, most goals and most valuable player nods.
Upon finishing up the playoffs, he signs a 1st pro contract with Indy Fuel and grabs an assist in his debut, then scores a 1st ECHL goal and adds a helper for a 3 point in 3 game start.
The 24-year old has to have a little smile on his face.
He finishes up 2021/2022 scoring 3 goals and 3 assists in 6 games with a +4 rating; good enough to get an early nod to return for 2022/2023 in a Fuel jersey.
As we are pulling into the 2nd half of the season, he finds himself on the end of a deal sending him to another playoff worthy club, Wichita Thunder for the remainder of the year.
University Of Maine Black Bears‘ right wing Cole Hansen(10) came over after just a year at Colgate University Raiders, but was already a wise decision as he’s taken his scoring up to new levels with 6 goals and 3 assists in 23 games.
The 5’11” 174 lbs. forward had a very strong 2nd NAHL frame with New Mexico Ice Wolves, scoring 21 goals and 39 assists in 53 games before heading to school.
From Grand Forks, ND, we’re thinking Hockey East style fits more closely with the style of game the 22-year old plays.
University Of Guelph Gryphons‘ graduate left wing Ted McGeen(11) has decided to leave in the middle of the year to pursue a pro career, signing with Iowa Heartlanders for the balance of 2023.
The 6′ 181 lbs. forward leaves having recorded a college career best 7 assists and 13 points in 19 games.
He originally went to St. Lawrence University Saints for 2 years after winning the 2018 OJHL Championship with one-time team, Wellington Dukes.
A Windsor, ON native, heading to a school in Canada made sense.
The 25-year old may be ready to score some in the ECHL.
University Of Alaska-Anchorage Seawolves‘ graduate left wing Caleb Hite(51) got the game-winner in the 3-2 win over UMass-Lowell Riverhawks in the 2nd of 2 at Tsongas Center.
He has put up numbers this season that will definitely top the 4 goals he had as a sophomore at kind of close by University Of Alaska-Fairbanks Nanooks and the 6 assists he posted last season.
The 5’11” 190 lbs. forward has 3 goals and 4 assists in 16 games in the current frame.
He also played his 2nd NAHL junior hockey campaign for Fairbanks Ice Dogs, so the Grand Blanc, MI native has just about adopted Alaska has his new home state.
Undrafted, the hard playing pivot will be one to watch for an unrestricted free agent deal as he potentially turns pro.
