Neutral Zone’s Juliette Connors recently featured Joe Fleming, who signed with the Vegas Golden Knights as an undrafted free agent after he attended the organization’s development camp on an invite earlier this summer.
Fleming, a punishing 6-foot-1 defenseman, has now signed with the Sherbrooke Phoenix of the QMJHL for next season. Fleming was a Northeastern recruit until he signed with Vegas, which negated his NCAA eligibility.
“Joe always took/takes great tracks to defend,” said head U.S. scout Brian Murphy. “His angles are superb. I actually wondered if he had a football background because of the way he tracked and punished opponents. He has improved his hands, ability to move the puck and his feet dramatically over the last couple years. Here is a kid who never was to a USA Hockey National Development Camp. He was not deterred and just went to work.”
Fleming was drafted in the sixth round of the 2021 USHL Entry Draft by Cedar Rapids. He was originally drafted by Gatineau in the second round of the 2019 QMJHL American Draft.
Last season with Cedar Rapids, Fleming had 16 points (2g, 14a) in 60 games to go with his 202 PIMs. Fleming played for the Boston Jr. Eagles and Proctor Academy before he spent the 2020-21 season with the Northern Cyclones (NCHC) and North Suburban Wings (18U AAA).
In our 2003 National Rankings, which were published this past December, Fleming was ranked No. 64 in the USHL and No. 83 overall.