SUNY-Potsdam Bears
3rd year EHL, 1st year New Jersey 87’s defenseman Lucas Salas(5) commits to SUNY-Potsdam Bears for 2024/2025.
The 5’9″ 168 lbs. blue liner had his best scoring in his 1st session of juniors.
From Hazlet, NJ, he played all his youth hockey in state.
The 21-year old won’t play college hockey too far from home.
Coventry Blaze
Princeton University Tigers‘ senior defenseman Mike Kennedy(3) played a college high 30 games last season.
The 6’1″ 190 lbs. blue liner played just 1 BCHL frame with Nanaimo Clippers before heading to school.
He did score pretty big at Northfield Mount Hermon School USHS-Prep.
From Holyoke, MA, the 23-year old signs a 1st pro contract with Coventry Blaze for 2024/2025.
Drakkers deย Caen
2nd year right wing Matt Allen(20) is heading to France2 next, signing a 1-year deal with Drakkers deย Caen for 2024/2025.
Upon finishing up a 2nd year at University Of Alaska-Anchorage Seawolves, he signed an ECHL deal with home state team, Tulsa Oilers and would get 1 assist in 3 games.
He initially did 2 years at UMASS-Lowell Riverhawks, but wasn’t the biggest scorer in Hockey East.
The 5’10” 168 lbs. forward from Minco, OK scored very well in his 2nd season of juniors in the NAHLย as captain with Amarillo Bulls.
24-years old, we think he’s likely excited for the new hockey experience.
Grand Rapids Griffins
Swedish-born center Gabriel Seger(11) decides to switch up 3 years at Union College Bobcats, heading to Cornell University Big Red for 2022/2023.
There was no hockey for his college team a couple of seasons ago, but he basically matched his freshman scoring totals with what he reached as a junior (7-14-21).
The towering 6’4″ 216 lbs. forward could easily put up more points with his new club, as he did in his only year of NAHL junior hockey, when he ran up 52 assists for Amarillo Bulls.
It’s quite possible if he can put up some good numbers as a senior, he will become a highly sought unrestricted free agent.
He would erupt on his new team in a graduate frame for 14 goals and 30 assists in 35 games with a +30 rating to sign a 1st pro deal with Grand Rapids Griffins for 2024/2025.
We think he is big enough, he could score right away in the AHL.
Toronto Marlies
Boston College Eagles‘ Swedish-born, senior defenseman Jacob Bengtsson(15) takes a college high 40 games played, 3 goals and 11 assists with a best +21 rating to a 1st pro contract with Toronto Marlies for 2024/2025.
He transferred from 3 years at Lake Superior State University Lakers, where twice he had 20+ assists.
The 6’3″ 203 lbs. blue liner played 2 USHL seasons for Waterloo Blackhawks before school.
His size should definitely help the 25-year old in the AHL.
HK Nitra
Canisius College Golden Griffins‘ graduate right wing Austin Alger(83) signs a 1st pro deal with Idaho Steelheads as he wraps up his Atlantic Hockey career and 5th year of school.
He originally transferred as a sophomore from one season at Miami University (Ohio) Redhawks.
The 6′ 170 lbs. forward did pretty well scoring in his senior season as assistant captain with 11 goals and 10 assists.
He was voted USHS Michigan Mr. Hockey (Best Michigan High School Player) as a senior captain at Cranbrook Kingswood School.
64 points in 31 USHS-MI games might cinch that award.
The 24-year old from Livonia, MI should be able to light it up in the ECHL with this team.
He scored a 1st goal for the league in 5 games, but doesn’t stay around, instead signing a 1-year deal with Kansas City Mavericks for 2022/2023.
Somehow, he never quite dressed for them, but instead was skating for Fayetteville Marksmen lighting it up to become SPHL Rookie Of The Year.
For 2023/2024, he’s branching out and signs in Finland’s tier 2 league, Mestis, agreeing to terms with IPK.
He blows up scoring in the regular frame, then in the playoffs to earn MVP for the 2024 Championshipย and will take those stats to the tougher to play SlovakExtraliga, signing with HK Nitra.
Arizona State University Sun Devils
Providence College Friars‘ sophomore right wing Bennett Schimek(23) takes a pair of good seasons with 19 goals and 18 assists over 73 games with a +15 rating to Arizona State University Sun Devils for his junior year.
The 6′ 186 lbs. forward played 2 successful junior frames for Sioux City Musketeers, winning the 2022 USHL Clark Cup Championship.
From Mendota Height, MN, the 21-year old will likely do well playing the independent schedule.
HC Energie Karlovy Vary
4th year Latvian-born defenseman Janis Jaks(72) signs on for a 2nd season to stay with HC Litvinov of Czechia Extraliga for 2023/2024.
The 6’1″ 190 lbs. blue liner played a lot of his youth hockey and beginnings of juniors before coming over to the NAHLย with Minnesota Wilderness, where he was twice a +10 player fully grounded in his own zone and helped his team with the 2015 Robertson Cup.
After spending 4 fairly strong sessions at American International College Yellowjackets, he signed with Dinamo Riga, but after 17 KHL games, the relationship soured and he agreed next to Bakersfield Condors and things were looking decent with ย 2 goals and 4 assists in 20 AHL games with a +3 rating.
He would return to Russia to skate for HK Sochi, but the results didn’t yield much, so he turned his attention to where he is now with much better results, 8 goals, 17 assists in 47 games with a +3 rating to move forward.
The 27-year old has to have at least a little smile on his face to how things are going, especially after winning Bronze at the recent IIHF Worlds.
After 2 strong seasons with the same team, he was in a pretty good spot for himself, but decides to sign with rivals,ย HC Energie Karlovy Vary.
Hannover Scorpions
10th year center Brett Cameron(91) steps down a notch in German hockey to Germany3, signing with Hannover Scorpions for 2024/2025 at 34-years old.
He did well for the last 2 seasons with EV Landshutย of DEL2 scoring almost 40 points each session.
The 6’2″ 203 lbs. forward has always consistently scored in the ECHL, 2 years in Norway and 2 in Switzerland.
From Edmonton, AB, he skated 5 seasons at University Of Alaska-Anchorage Seawolves.
We think he will absolutely blow up scoring in the upcoming frame.
Oswego State University Lakers ACHA
Norwich Sea Captains‘ 2nd year center Sava Makarenko(10) commits to Oswego State University Lakersย ACHA for 2024/2025 after putting up an NA3HL best 16 goals and 14 assists in 43 games with a +18 rating.
From Yonkers, NY, the 6’2″ 185 lbs., 20-year old will fit right in with his new club.