The college hockey off-season is nearly two months old now, but there’s plenty of news to report this week when it comes to coaching moves and players leaving school early or transferring.
Vermont junior defenseman Jake Massie, arguably the top player for the Catamounts, has withdrawn from school and will not be back for his senior season. The Saint-Lazare, Québec, native had four goals and five assists last winter.
A Kimball Union alum who played a season with the USHL’s Omaha Lancers prior to matriculating to Vermont, Massie was originally drafted in the sixth round of the 2015 NHL Draft by the Carolina Hurricanes. His rights have since been traded to the Chicago Blackhawks.
Possible options for Massie’s next move is to sign with Chicago, likely on an AHL deal, or go the free agency route as he is entitled to do within the collective bargaining agreement terms due to being drafted four years ago.
