Undrafted 4th year defenseman Garrett Cecere(29) circles back to re-sign with Reading Royals after a year away in which they had to decide not to play hockey in 2020/2021 due to COVID restrictions, but was scheduled to re-join them, ended up taking residence for a decent enough 25 ECHL game season with Tulsa Oilers with no goals but a new high 8 assists.
He once posted 20 assists in 24 games for Sioux City Stampede during his 2nd year of juniors.
The small 5’8″ 165 lbs. d-man first attended Colorado College prior to his first year with Janesville Jets, potting a healthy 24 assists in 52 NAHL games.
He would leave college early in his 2nd season to hook back up with his USHL team from SD.
The 26-year old Wes Demoines, IA native was also super solid for helpers in Shattuck St. Mary’s 14U and 16U AAA.
We’re thinking the eventual Northeastern University Huskies blue liner should see his best pro numbers in a campaign that’s hopefully just 100% straight ahead.
Undrafted defenseman Anthony Baxter(19) completes 4 seasons with UMass-Lowell Riverhawks, enters the transfer portal in another year of eligibility and comes out as a graduate student at RPI Engineers.
Not exactly the biggest point-getter, he’s at least consistent with his +21 overall rating in 116 Hockey East games.
The 6′ 185 lbs. blue liner may not find much more room in ECAC style of play to score but should keep a sound defensive zone.
We could see the Oakville, ON native, former OJHL Burlington Cougars‘ standout sign a pro deal after completing another year.
Undrafted defenseman Logan Britt(24) switches up two years at Quinnipiac University Bobcats to a new adventure with Sacred Heart University Pioneers.
Not really an amazing scorer, he did put up 22 assists in his 2nd frame of juniors with Aberdeen Wings in 52 NAHL games, then had a career high 5 goals and 16 helpers in a split USHL session.
The fairly big 6’2″ 190 lbs. d-man hasn’t had nearly the success in college hockey, but did notch an impressive +13 rating with 5 points (2-3) in 27 ECAC games for 2020/2021’s oddball run.
He moves onto NCAA Division 1 Atlantic Hockey, but it still won’t be any picnic for him to grab points.
We’re thinking the 22-year old will find new scoring life.
RPI Engineers‘ graduate student, portal transfer from 4 years at Dartmouth College, left wing Shane Sellar(26) missed a pair of seasons, last year after arriving at upper state NY due to COVID restrictions, but is doing ok in his return with 4 goals and 2 assists in 21 NCAA Division 1 games.
The big 6’3″ 201 lbs. forward may not get a lot of points, but he’s very decently accountable on ice.
After finishing up three years at Canterbury School with outstanding numbers, he spent only one season split between the USHL and NAHL before heading to school.
He’s still only 24-years old and it will be very interesting to watch what happens with the Carlisle, PA native after the current session plays out.
In his rookie season with Reading Royals, he basically went a little crazy with 18 goals and 21 assists in 70 ECHL games.
For his efforts, he gets to continue playing pro hockey in his home state for 2023/2024.
Undrafted, 2-time Merrimack College Warriors captain, right wing Chase Gresock(13) will take his game home through the transfer portal to Miami (Ohio) University RedHawks for his senior year 2021/2022.
The 6’1″ 211 lbs. power forward takes 26 goals and 28 assists through 78 Hockey East games to his new school, where he’ll almost 100% assume a leadership role on the team.
It’s barely even not a surprise move, as the Powell, OH native played all of his youth hockey with Ohio Blue Jackets 14-18U AAA before signing with nearby Youngstown Phantoms for USHL juniors, where he committed to college before a breakout second year.
The 22-year old will hope to bring some of that 26 goals, 20 assist season to his new school to help them get on the positive side of winning.
Undrafted right wing Cameron Hebert(20) leaves a couple of years at Robert Morris University Colonials for St. Francis Xavier University after his former school announces they are looking to abandon their programs.
In 2 seasons, the 6’1″ 185 lbs. forward was able to pick up his scoring a bit with 3 goals and 3 assists with a +4 rating in a paltry 15 NCAA Division 1 games.
After 2 seasons in Canadian juniors in the CCHL, scoring decently for a couple teams, he was drafted in the 1st round (#10) to join Johnstown Tomahawks before college, and exploded on the scoresheet for 26 goals and 52 assists with a +18.
The ON native will likely feel a little better up in Nova Scotia to continue school and will likely find his scoring touch once again.
After winning an NCAA Division 1 Championship as a UMass Minutemen senior, undrafted center Philip Lagunov(17) will exercise another year of eligibility to head to a graduate program at University Of Vermont Catamounts.
The 6′ 188 lbs. power forward isn’t exactly the biggest scorer, but does have 16 goals and 22 assists with a +8 in 129 games, and did just earn himself the Hockey East The Top Play Of The 2020/2021 Season (in the link).
He was a pretty exceptional scorer in his year and a half of junior hockey with close-to-home Burlington Cougars where he was a point-per-game player (78) in 74 OJHL contests.
The 22-year old will definitely add some needed energy to his new school’s hockey program.
Undrafted, senior defenseman Brady Ferner(6) is heading closer to home for his final year of college.
The 5’10” 190 lbs. forward spent the last three seasons playing for RPI Engineers, but through the portal transfer will go to University Of North Dakota Fighting Hawks for 2021/2022.
He played most of his 4 years of junior hockey for nearby Sioux City Musketeers and even served as a volunteer assistant coach/captain in his final USHL season.
The Dakota Dunes, SD native will be right at home in his new school and looking to make an impact in NCHC style play.
Undrafted, right wing Kevin O’Neil(17) had no hockey to play last season as Yale University Bulldogs shut down their program due to COVID, but he still continued with his studies to graduate and will continue with the extra season on ice after entering the transfer portal to University Of Connecticut Huskies.
The 5’11” 180 lbs. forward was a decent scorer for his now old school, twice potting 5 goals, 10+ assists and 15+ points, but was on another level through his junior/senior, as captain, years at Albany Academy, scoring 41 goals and 79 assists in 63 USHS-Prep games.
He also did well split for a couple of squads for his one year of junior hockey, getting 14 goals and 21 assists in 57 USHL games.
The 23-year old, Latham, NY native will do in the tougher to play, Hockey East.
Undrafted, senior goaltender Evan DeBrouwer(60) decides to head east through the transfer portal, leaving three seasons with Arizona State University Sun Devils for Bentley University Falcons.
The very big 6’3″ 190 lbs. net minder was solid as a sophomore, posting a 19-11-3 record with a 2.52 GAA, .915 SV% and 4 shutouts in 34 games.
He played a massive amount of games in Canadian juniors, agreeing to attend college in his 2nd BCHL campaign for Prince George Spruce Kings, when he started 45 games, going 26-14 with 3 blankings, a 2.24 GAA and .920 SV%.
The 24-year old, Bleinham, ON native will have to step up his game on a young team, but as he did through school in Canada, can definitely be a difference maker.
