Barracuda get reinforcements to close season

The San Jose Barracuda has added several players to the roster as the season nears its end. We already talked about Filip Bystedt’s callup from Linkoping HC in the SHL. This is likely a sure sign that Bystedt will be playing for the Barracuda to start next season. The Sharks have also added some college players whose seasons have come to an end.

Donavan Villeneuve-Houle signs ATO with Barracuda

On April 1, the Barracuda signed college senior Donavan Villeneuve-Houle on an amateur tryout agreement (ATO).

We've signed forward Donavan Houle to an amateur tryout agreement (ATO).https://t.co/2jipqgRHVg

— SJ Barracuda (@sjbarracuda) April 1, 2024

Villeneuve-Houle most recently played with the University of Maine, where he set a career-high with 24 points. He tied for fourth on the Black Bears with nine goals. He became available after the University of Maine was knocked out of the NCAA Hockey Tournament by Cornell.

Villeneuve-Houle is listed as 6-foot-1 and 195 lbs. He is 24 years old.

Massachusetts’ Lucas Vanroboys signs ATO with Barracuda

Forward Lucas Vanroboys also signed an ATO with the Barracuda on April 1.

We've signed forward Lucas Vanroboys (@LucasVanro) to an amateur tryout agreement (ATO).https://t.co/BbkLFRpNh4

— SJ Barracuda (@sjbarracuda) April 1, 2024

Vanroboys most recently played in the NCAA Hockey Tournament, where his team was knocked out of the playoffs in the first round by the University of Denver. Vanroboys assisted on Massachusetts’ only goal of the game.

He had eight points for UMass this season. He played his previous four seasons at Bentley University.

Vanroboys is listed as 6-foot-2 and 190 lbs.

Amateur tryouts for a pair of Catamounts

Last week, the team announced that it had signed two players from the University of Vermont to amateur tryout agreements.

The #SJBarracuda have signed Goaltender Gabriel Carriere and Defenseman Jeremie Bucheler to amateur tryout agreements (ATO) for the remainder of the 2023-24 season.https://t.co/s2RSV2iNQR

— SJ Barracuda (@sjbarracuda) March 27, 2024

Goaltender Gabriel Carriere had a 13-18-3 record in his senior season with Vermont. He finished the season with a 2.77 goals against average and a .906 save percentage. In every season with the Catamounts, Carriere’s save percentage was above .900. Carriere was invited to the Boston Bruins development camp in 2022, where the Black and Gold Hockey blog observed: “Gabriel Carriere, who saw a ton of rubber in his first Bruins dev camp, definitely did a good job and should garner future looks if his services are needed in the future after his NCAA commitment with Vermont is over.”

As for defenseman Jeremie Bucheler, he’s already stepped on the ice for the Barracuda. Bucheler made his pro debut with San Jose on March 27, the same day he signed his ATO. He has yet to register his first professional point.

Bucheler played four seasons with Northeastern University and then played one season with Vermont as a graduate student. He had 18 points in 33 games this past season and wore an “A” for the University of Vermont. He’s listed as 6-foot-4, 209 lbs.