Merrimack College Warriors‘ sophomore, portal transfer from 1 year at Bentley University Falcons, defenseman Christian Felton(2) has definitely upped his game with his new club, scoring a goal and 2 assists in 13 NCAA Division 1 games with a +4 rating.
In as many games last season, he had no points.
The 6’1″ 185 lbs. blue liner had a pair of solid campaigns for Kimball Union Academy and led the team as captain in his 2nd year for 3 goals and 17 assists, just slightly down from what he was able to accomplish in his 1st year of USHS-Prep.
Committed, he moved onto a deal agreeing to play for Madison Capitals, but after 8 USHL game that went south, though he was ready to move and took off for Vernon Vipers, doing decently with 5 tallies, 10 helpers in 50 BCHL games.
The 21-years old, Medina, OH native looks pretty solid and smart out there, so will just need to continue to develop.
University Of Vermont junior defenseman Cory Babichuk(32) came to the school through the portal transfer from RPI Engineers after missing last season to the pandemic.
The 5’10” 174 lbs. blue liner has a goal and 7 assists in 17 NCAA Division 1 games, which is on pace with the 4 goals and 12 assists he posted as a freshmen.
Through three seasons of junior hockey, he had good runs in his 1st BCHL session for Surrey Eagles, getting 6 goals and 25 assists, then joined Spuce Grove Saints a couple of campaigns later to grab 6 goals and 13 assists in just 26 AJHL games.
The 23-year old from Edmonton, AB seems to be settling into tough Hockey East play pretty well.
American International College Yellowjackets‘ portal transfer, graduate center Brian Rigali(10) is sure glad he added a season and made the switch from four years at University Of Connecticut Huskies, as his scoring has reached new levels with 9 goals and 9 assists with a +2 rating in just 19 NCAA Division 1 games.
The small 5’9″ but stocky 185 lbs. forward had a solid 3rd year of junior hockey with Sioux City Musketeers, which led him to his college commitment.
In 59 USHL games, he scored 10 goals and 20 assists with a +23 rating, then hit for another 3 goals in the playoffs.
The 24-year old, Green Oaks, IL native will be interesting to continue to watch.
RPI Engineers‘ transfer portal, sophomore defenseman Jack Agnew(5) is definitely happy to have made the decision to move to ECAC play, as he has already elevated his game from one season at Boston College Eagles, with 4 assists and a +5 rating in 18 NCAA Division 1 games.
He won a pair of back-to-back 2016 & 2017 CISAA Championships at St. Andrew’s College before heading to skate for Chiliwack Chiefs, doing well potting 3 goals and 19 assists in 52 BCHL games.
The 20-year old from Oakville, ON plays with a lot of pop and is good at keeping offense clear of the zone.
Providence College Friars‘ portal transfer graduate, right wing Alex Esposit0(26) came in for a year of eligibility after spending 4 decently successful enough seasons at University Of Vermont Catamounts.
In 16 games he only has a couple of assists, but seems like the 6′ 185 lbs. forward could have a breakout at any point, if he does.
He had a college best 10 goals and 10 assists as a freshman, but also only grabbed three points in last campaign’s play, don’t play silliness.
The former two-year Youngstown Phantoms‘ had three tremendous runs at Loomis Chaffee School, amassing consecutive more than point-per-game sessions.
It will definitely be a look to see what might be next for the 25-year old
RPI Engineers‘ senior portal transfer from 3 years at Robert Morris University Colonials, where they waved bye bye to hockey last season, huge 6’6′ 249 lbs. French-born right wing Justin Addamo(22) plays a hard skating style for a big man and has 3 goals and 3 assists in 17 games.
He played all of his youth hockey in close to home Rouen and even had 5 games in France3 as a teenager, scoring 5 goals and 2 assists before coming over for a pair of successful runs with Lone Star Brahmas, scoring 12+ goals and 15+ assists and picking up an NAHL Robertson Cup in his first campaign.
It will be interesting to see if the 23-year old turns pro over here or returns home.
Canisius College Golden Griffons‘ junior net minder John Hawthorne(29) isn’t finding a lot of room to take over, but is doing his best in time spent, earning a 1-0-1 record with a 2.90 GAA and .915 SV%.
The 6’2′ 190 lbs. net minder came over after two seasons at Northern Michigan University Wildcats, but didn’t get to tend much last season’s weirdo run.
He spent a couple of junior seasons with Alberni Valley Bulldogs of the BCHL before heading to school.
The 23-year old from Chemainus, BC may agree with Atlantic Hockey style better.
Mercyhurst University Lakers‘ portal transfer, graduate captain Pierce Crawford(26) gets it going with a 1st Atlantic Hockey goal to go along with a pair of assists in 10 games to start the 2021/2022 session.
In 4 years at University Of Notre Dame Fighting Irish, his best was 5 points (2 goals, 3 assists) as a sophomore.
The 5’9″ wide 190 lbs. forward connected for almost equal points, including 18 goals in a pair of junior seasons, first NAHL and later USHL before college.
It will be interesting to see where the 24-year old will take his game next.
Canisius College Golden Griffins‘ junior portal transfer Danny DiGrande(14) is already sort of doing better than any of his previous two sessions with RPI Engineers.
They didn’t play in 2020/2021.
The 5’10” 181 lbs. forward has two goals to start 2021/2022, and only ever scored 3 goals as a sophomore at his former school.
They did not play last season due to COVID restrictions.
The hard-skating, Macomb, MI native had three decent numbered USHL junior campaigns with 4 different teams, mostly through trades and finally with Green Bay Gamblers, before agreeing to school.
He still has an year to continue improving those stats and it will be interesting to see if Atlantic Hockey was the trick to turn that corner.
Canisius College Golden Griffins‘ graduate defenseman Cory Thomas(37) makes a good decision to enter the portal transfer for his year of eligibility coming in from 4 years at University Of Vermont Catamounts.
The sizably huge 6’5″ 219 lbs. blue liner has never been much of a scorer, but has started 2021/2022 with a goal and an assist in 9 games with a +1 rating, so maybe starting something.
He agreed to his first school after his 2nd season of SJHL, near his hometown St. Brieux, SK, with Flin Flon Bombers.
It will be really interesting to see where the 23-year old, big d-man goes next.
