Discover the portal's game-changers: a forward's explosive offense, a defenseman's reignited scoring, and a goalie's surprising leap.
For better or worse, the transfer portal has become an integral part of college hockey. A player departing an institution can cripple the blue line while another's arrival can bring an offense to life. I break down one player from each position (forward, defenseman, goaltender) that had the most impact on their new team.
William Whitelaw: Forward, Western Michigan University
After coming out of the portal a second time last fall, many had reservations about the Columbus prospect. However, Whitelaw's performance this season removed all doubt.
The 2023 3rd Round Blue Jackets' pick nearly doubled his point total from 18 at Wisconsin to 34 for Western Michigan. His 19 goals and 34 points in 39 games put him second and third on the Broncos in respective categories.
Whitelaw told me at the Holiday Face-Off that he "almost went to Western last year," and that being molded by Head Coach Pat Ferschweiler "helped take my game to another level." If this is what Whitelaw can evolve this much in one year under the right system, I am excited to see his progression in 2026-27.
Tyler Dunbar: Defenseman, Union College
Sometimes, it takes a change of scenery and system to reignite a player. That is exactly the case for Tyler Dunbar. Dunbar had good numbers as a puck moving defenseman in the USHL, but wasn't able to translate it, earning just two points through his sophomore season at Colorado College.
However, after joining the Garnet Chargers for the 2025-26 Dunbar had a return to form with exponential improvement. In 37 games, Dunbar led all ECAC defensemen in scoring with 33 points (12 goals + 21 assists) and a team high +17. Those 12 goals set a Union College record for goals by a defenseman. Capping off Dunbar's campaign was being named a Second-Team All-American East Player by the American Hockey Coaches Association.
Having watched Dunbar from the booth in Muskegon, I knew he had this type of production in him. Under Head Coach Josh Hauge's defensive style, I fully expect Dunbar to make further strides this fall.
Lawton Zacher: Goaltender, Northeastern University
It's uncommon for a netminder's numbers to get better after transferring, especially to a faster paced conference. Zacher moved from the Brown in the ECAC to Hockey East's Northeastern. Following that shift, Zacher improved in every statistical category. His wins increased, his save percentage rose by 1.2%, and his goals allowed average fell by 0.28. This doesn't include his tie for Hockey East's shutout leader with five.
However, there are significant defensive changes coming on the Northeastern blueline. Captain Vinny Borgesi and Austen May signed pro deals while Joel Kjellberg and Alex Pineau arrived through the portal. With these modifications on defense, Zacher could be a calming presence for the Huskies