The Denver commit will return for a third year in the USHL
The Waterloo Black Hawks were eliminated in the first round of the 2024 Clark Cup Playoffs, but they will be getting a big piece of their blueline back next year.
Defenseman Will Felicio confirmed to The Hockey News earlier this week that he is expected to return for his third USHL season in 2024-25.
The Denver commit burst onto the scene last year with the Madison Capitols, scoring four goals with 24 assists. Felicio's 28 points were the most ever by a U16 defenseman in league history.
The Holden, Massachusetts, native had an excellent showing at the Hlinka Gretzky Cup in August, tallying three goals and two assists in five games, making his five points the second-most among defensemen in the showcase.
However, Felicio got off to a challenging year in Year 2 with the Capitols.
After recording four goals and six points in his first six games, the young blueliner had just one goal in 17 games to close out the first half.
Felicio felt a trade would help him get back on track. In early January, the Black Hawks acquired the defenseman.
“I was looking back on the way that I was playing and stuff like that,” Felicio told The Hockey News shortly after the trade. “I just wasn't really happy with my game.
"I loved Madison, I loved the coaching staff there, and I met some of my best friends there that I'll be friends with for the rest of my life. But I just thought that a change of scenery was best for both parties.”
In the second half, Felicio scored five goals and 16 points in 31 games with Waterloo, but it was not quite the jump in offense that he perhaps expected.
As a result, Felicio's draft stock took a hit. He was projected to be a late-round selection in Central Scouting's preliminary watch list in October but fell out of the rankings in April's final list.
Looking ahead to next year, the left-shot defenseman will undoubtedly be one of the leaders on a young Waterloo blueline.
With a full summer to regroup and prepare for another year in the USHL, the 2024-25 season could be a big year for Felicio and the Black Hawks.