Boston Bruins General Manager Don Sweeney announced today that the team has signed forward Dans Locmelis to a three year entry level deal. The deal is worth $860,000 AAV. Locmelis will report to the Providence Bruins on an amateur tryout (ATO) agreement.
A Promising College Career at UMass Amherst
Locmelis is 6’0” and 175 pounds. He finished his collegiate season at the University of Massachusetts Amherst. In 2024-25 he played in 40 games, scoring 8 goals and 25 assists for 33 points. He was 2nd on the team in assists and 4th in points. He showed his playmaking ability and hockey IQ.
Over two seasons at UMass Locmelis had 15 goals and 32 assists for 47 points in 70 NCAA games. He was a consistent and leader on the ice and was a big part of the Minutemen’s success and will be an NHL asset in the future.
Impressive International Experience
Before UMass, Locmelis played in Sweden for Lulea HF J20 in the J20 Swedish Hockey League during the 2022-23 season. In 44 games, he had 25 goals and 34 assists for 59 points and was +28. He was a dominant player in junior hockey and showed his offensive and two way abilities.
Locmelis has also played for Latvia on multiple international stages. He played in the World Junior Championships in 2022, 2023 and 2024, with 6 goals and 4 assists in 16 games. He played for Team Latvia in the 2023 and 2024 IIHF World Championships and helped Latvia win bronze in 2023. Most recently, Locmelis played in the 2026 Olympic qualification and had 1 goal and 1 assist in 3 games.
Why the Bruins Are Excited About Locmelis?
The Bruins took Locmelis in the 4th round (119th overall) in the 2022 NHL Entry Draft as a forward who can play both ways. He’s got speed, vision and scoring ability so he’s a nice addition to the org. He’ll start in Providence but his development could have him in Boston sooner than later.
General Manager Don Sweeney on Locmelis: “Dans has a dynamic skill set and a strong work ethic. We’ll see how he develops with our staff in Providence.”
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