Undrafted, 3rd year 6’6″ 195 lbs. defenseman David Drake(8) decided to take 2020/2021 off, as did his team of the past couple seasons, Reading Royals, despite them both being ready to re-up.
For 2021/2022 though, he is set to rejoin them and becomes one of the initial signings.
The former two year University Of Connecticut Huskies assistant captain actually signed for his rookie and sophomore sessions to their parent club, Lehigh Valley Phantoms, but only played 9 AHL games, with 7 being after college graduation, gaining 2 assists.
Never the biggest scorer in college or a couple of years of junior hockey with Des Moines Buccaneers, he actually had 13 assists in ’19/20.
The 26-year old has found himself a nice home for hockey in PA.
He would last only 18 games in 2021/2022 before being sent to Wheeling Nailers, where he spent most of the season, but was also loaned up on a pair of occasions.
In his 4 games for Rochester Americans, he had an assist and was a +3.
For 2022/2023, he heads back to West Virginia, which might lead to his best success.
4 goals and 15 assists (both clearly career bests) and he has to return to continue wearing that Nailers‘ jersey.
He runs a best 18 assists and 20 points with a +18 rating in 65 ECHL games to be welcome back for 2024/2025.