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.
Undrafted defenseman Chase Blackmun(5) decides to finish college closer to home entering the transfer portal to head from three years at UMass-Lowell Riverhawks to Notre Dame Fighting Irish.
The 6′ 200 lbs. blue liner was pretty consistent chipping in an average of 5 tallies and 10 or so assists except for last seasons on and off schedule.
He initially committed after an exceptionally strong senior year as captain at Hudson High, then did his single season at juniors with Cedar Rapids RoughRiders, where he had 21 assists in 55 USHL games.
We’d be little surprised to see this 22-year old turn pro once it’s all said and done.
Northeastern University Huskies‘ undrafted, starting goalie of the 2020/2021 frame, Connor Murphy(31) decides to move on entering the transfer portal and comes out on the other side for his junior year to guard cage for the closer to home Union College.
The very big 6’4″ 201 lbs. net minder didn’t exactly have the greatness campaign in the pandemic protocol season at 9-9-3 in 21 NCAA Division 1 Hockey East games but what we found most impressive was his very decently low GAA at 2.72 and .910 SV%.
He also posted a pair of shutouts.
It’s seemingly was a bit of an up and down ride through youth hockey teams to a split first year of juniors in the NAHL and USPHL/NCDC of mixed results before heading north to the CCHL to hook up with Carleton Place Canadiens, where he found his footing to commit to college.
He had a league best 2.07 GAA, .917 SV% with a 31-8-7 record.
The 22-year old, Hudson Falls, NY native shifts hockey to roughly an hour from where he grew up, but switches division to ECAC and will still be awesome.
