Providence College goaltender Jake Kucharski has entered the transfer portal. Mark Divver was the first to report the news on Twitter and NZ has confirmed.
Kucharski was selected in the 7th round of the 2018 NHL Draft by the Carolina Hurricanes. He was a freshman with the Friars this past season but didn’t see any action. In 2018-19 he posted a 3.87 GAA and a .861 save percentage with the Omaha Lancers in the USHL, but it was in a very small sample size (8 games). In 2017-18 he appeared in 26 games for the Des Moines Buccaneers and posted a 3.56 GAA and a .881 save percentage.
Prior to the USHL, Kucharski played at Cathedral Prep in Pennsylvania and had one season with the Austin Bruins in the NAHL. In 2017-18 he was the goalie for Team USA at the World Jr. A Challenge and he posted a 1.58 GAA and a .934 save percentage in three games en route to a silver medal at the tournament.
Kucharski has good size (6-foot-4). He played in the 2017 CCM USA Hockey All-American Prospects Game.
Providence had a logjam at goaltender. Jimmy Scannell and Gabe Mollot-Hill will return to the program and Anton Martinsson (grad transfer from Alaska Fairbanks) and Jaxson Stauber (transfer from Minnesota State) are both being added to the roster.
Matt Tugnutt Transfers to Providence
Tugnutt is a grad transfer from Sacred Heart and a big pickup for the Friars, who had a breakout year this past season with 30 points in 31 games (14 goals, 16 assists). Tugnutt has posted 72 points in three seasons for Sacred Heart.
There’s a Providence connection for Tugnutt. He was recruited to Sacred Heart by Joel Beal, who is now on staff with the Friars.
’01 D Mitchell Miller commits to North Dakota for 2020
Miller was already committed to North Dakota, but announced he was moving up to arrive this coming fall. He had a solid season for Tri-City in the USHL, scoring 8 goals and adding 25 assists in 44 games. He also played for Team USA at the World Jr. A Challenge this past season. He’s a Michigan native who has a lot of experience in the USHL.
NZ Scouts on Miller: “Miller had a great tournament for the Americans. His 6 points were tied with fellow countryman Koster for 1st among defensemen, and tied for 5th overall in the tournament. His 2 goals paced D-men as well, tied with Poizl of the Czech team. Miller skates well–carrying for zone entries, and he defended the rush well with his stick and skating ability. He led defensive scoring in the tournament thanks to his hands and ability to move the puck. He had a highlight reel goal against the Czech republic on a breakaway coming out of the penalty box, where he waved his stick above the puck before sliding it five-hole. His point play on the Powerplay was impressive, where he was deceptive with headfakes and moves.”
’99 D Chris Beyer commits to Finlandia for 2020
Beyer is a Wisconsin native who has spent the last two seasons with the Minnesota Moose in the USPHL. He started his junior career in the NA3HL after four varsity seasons at Appleton United in Wisconsin.
In 40 games this season, Beyer posted 5 goals and 19 assists.
’01 D Vaclav Hes commits to Wesleyan for 2020
Hes is from the Czech Republic originally, but he’s been in the U.S. playing prep hockey for Pomfret. He played for the South Florida Hockey Academy in 2018-19. Hes has good size at 6-foot-4 and he had 8 assists in 32 games this season.
NZ Scouts: “Long, raw defender that is constantly involved in the defensive end. He uses his reach and body to close-off forwards. He isn’t flashy but gets the job done in his own end and around his net. He breaks up plays and quickly headman’s the puck to his wingers. Has some touch on his passes and has the strength and ability to stretch the zone.”
’99 F T.J. Dougan commits to New England College for 2020
Dougan is from Illinois and three out of the last four seasons with the Decatur Blaze in the USPHL, with one season sandwiched in there for the Chicago Cougars in the USPHL.
This past season, Dougan totaled 28 goals and 52 assists in 43 games. Over the last four years, he has totaled 106 goals and 134 assists.
