There have been more players than usual transferring in college hockey in recent weeks and the Jets have seen a few prospects take that route. The latest is goaltender Logan Neaton who is heading from UMass-Lowell to Miami (Ohio), reports Ryan Kennedy of The Hockey News (Twitter link).
The 22-year-old was a fifth-round pick of Winnipeg back in 2019 (144th overall) but he has hardly played since then. After playing three games in his freshman year, he was limited to just three again this year as he served as their third-string option while posting a save percentage of just .855. Now halfway through his college eligibility, a chance to go elsewhere and get more playing time certainly makes sense.
Players that transfer typically have to sit out a season first (with some exceptions) but last week, the NCAA Division I Council passed legislation that, if ratified by the Board of Directors next week, would allow players to transfer once without having to miss a year. That certainly is playing a role in the increased number of players in the transfer portal.
Speaking of that, Neaton is the third Jets college prospect to transfer in recent weeks. Jared Moe, a 2018 sixth-rounder, moved from Minnesota to Wisconsin while Harrison Blaisdell, Winnipeg’s other 2019 fifth-round selection, is currently in the transfer portal after spending his first two years with North Dakota.