The transfer market has heated up across all of college athletics in recent years, especially after the NCAA granted student-athletes an additional year of eligibility due to the COVID-19 pandemic and adopted a “free” one-time transfer rule.
Of course, hockey has been no exception.
Nearly every Division 1 team has been impacted by comings and goings from the NCAA Transfer Portal over the past couple of seasons. Even as the effects of the pandemic lessen, this trend is almost certainly here to stay.
More than a month into this season, transfers have had opportunities to make their mark with new programs. Here are some notable transfer performers from the local men’s ranks thus far.
Collin Graf
Quinnipiac (Lincoln, Mass.), 9/21/2002, F, right shot, 6-0/180
After starting his career at ECAC rival Union, Graf has landed at the top of the scoring charts for a 9-1-2 Quinnipiac team that has won seven consecutive games. The sophomore is more than halfway to his point total with the Dutchmen after marking the scoresheet in three straight and six of the last seven contests, including his first collegiate hat trick in the Bobcats’ 4-0 win over Yale a week ago Saturday. That rivalry effort upped Graf’s goal total to six as he is shooting 19.4 percent on the season.
https://twitter.com/QU_MIH/status/1591594342925619200?s=20&t=N3xHGe7PuUjwRhDknGv0_g
Andrew Lucas
Connecticut, 2/5/1999, D, right shot, 5-11/160
It’s no surprise that the Huskies are Hockey East’s early-season leaders thanks to the help of several newcomers with significant college experience. Lucas is the youngest of UConn’s transfers as a junior, meaning that coach Mike Cavanaugh’s (North Andover, Mass.) club could have him for more than one season. The former Vermont captain has been a top-producing defenseman, posting a team-leading 11 assists and an overtime goal at Boston University last month through 15 games. His plus-7 rating is second among UConn blueliners.
Slava Demin
Merrimack, 4/4/2000, D, left shot, 6-2/190
Transfers have been a major part of Merrimack’s last two incoming classes. Even with four veteran transfers up front, Demin has played arguably the biggest role in helping the Warriors to a national ranking after their defense lost the likes of Declan Carlile and Zach Uens to the pros early. After playing at Denver and UMass, Demin has found a home on Scott Borek’s (Waterville, Maine) team, putting up seven points and a plus-8 rating through 12 games. Merrimack has six consecutive wins dating back to Oct. 29, and the Chicago prospect has marked the scoresheet in four of them.
Alex Aslanidis
American International, 1/20/2001, G, catches left, 6-5/205
Goaltenders have been important to the recent transfer trend throughout the Division 1 ranks, but no program dove in this season more than the Yellow Jackets. With just one goaltender (senior Jarrett Fiske) returning, Eric Lang’s club welcomed in three transfer stoppers and Aslanidis emerged from the bunch. The Avon Old Farms product won four of his six starts, posted a .913 save percentage and pitched a shutout in only his third collegiate start.
Ryan Black
New Hampshire (Pomfret, Conn.), 3/24/1999, F, left shot, 6-1/180
Black is a unique transfer competing at the Hockey East level as he arrived at UNH after a standout career at Babson College, where he won the Joe Concannon Award (New England’s top Division 2/3 player) and was a Sid Watson Award (National Player of the Year) finalist last season. This season he has brought skill and versatility on the wings to a struggling UNH team, scoring his second goal and sixth point in 13 games as a Wildcat on Friday against UMass.
Liam McLinskey
Holy Cross, 2/20/2001, RW, right shot, 6-3/165
Though the win-loss results haven’t been there early in coach Bill Riga’s tenure with the Crusaders, McLinskey has provided an offensive spark and familiarity to the second-year coach’s style. The sophomore from Pearl River, N.Y., was one of Riga’s recruits to Quinnipiac and played in just two games last season before arriving at Holy Cross. McLinskey has a co-team-leading five goals, three of which made up his first collegiate hat trick on Oct. 18 at AIC. He has scored twice on the power play and once in a game-winning situation.
