Category: Europe

14Apr

Dylan Jackson (15)

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Northeastern University Huskies‘ sophomore right wing Dylan Jackson(15) will join his twin brother Ty on University Of Arizona Sun Devils in 2022/2023, as he enters the transfer portal to host his junior year at the new school.

The small 5’9″ 165 lbs. forward spent most of last season injured on the sidelines, but in 8 games managed 3 assists.

An Oakville, ON native, he did one season of junior hockey in the OJHL, but headed to a pair of USHL frames before heading to school.

The 20-year old has a ton of energy out there and if can stay healthy will contribute.

In 3 years, including a graduate session at his new school, he scores decently with 10+ points, but is a +2 rating to leave college hockey.

He signs his 1st deal with his brother to skate for Deggendorfer SC of Germany3, where we expect them to do very well.

09Apr

Evan Buitenhuis (30)

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Wichita Thunder circles back to re-sign 4th year goaltender Evan Buitenhuis(30) after a trade sent him over for most of 2020/2021.

In 21 ECHL starts he went a career best 15-5-1 with a 2.19 GAA and .937 SV%, also league lows.

The 6’2″ 185 lbs. graduate of NCAA Division 3 Hamilton College signed a pair of AHL contracts, but not played any games.

Instead he was reassigned almost immediately upon his rookie season deal with Bridgeport Islanders (Sound Tigers) to affiliate Worcester Railers, where he played 28 games with good numbers.

For his sophomore frame, he simply just agreed to stick with the Central Massachusetts’ club and was credited with a new high 39 games in the cage.

He won the 2014 OJHL Championship with stellar numbers, 1.84 GAA and .943 SV% in his last year of junior hockey for the Burlington, ON native.

The 28-year old will likely see a lot of action in 2021/2022 and could also see his best totals.

He was definitely seeing a lot of time in the crease, playing a 2nd high 31 games recording a 11-15-4 mark with a 2.92 GAA and .919 SV%, which was decently in line where he was last season, but the team had sunk to last place, so have decided to cut ties and go with more youth in the cage for the time being.

The Burlington, ON native has decided to spread his wings and leaves for Storhamar of Fjordkraftligaen.

He returns to Kansas for a 3rd go at net after a good enough, but maybe brief showing in Norway.

After spending a couple of years in US minor league hockey, he is ready to move back overseas for hopefully a more extended run, signing for 2023/2024 with HC Innsbruck of IceHL.

We expect to see good things happen for the still only 29-year old in Austria’s top league.

Well, he does ok in his new league and is off to something better, signing with Jukurit of Liiga.

After a fairly solid performance with maybe not a winning record, he is wanted to return and re-signs to stay Jukurit.

We are sure, he is a fan favorite.

08Apr

Cody Kunyk (37)

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9th year center Cody Kunyk(37) returns to Karpat after a year away in the KHL that actually grabbed hold scoring come playoff time for Barys Nur-Sultan.

The undrafted 5’11” 194 lbs. forward has skated 5 seasons in Liiga, Finland’s top hockey and tossed off a league best 39 assists in 2019/2020.

He signed a 1-year entry level deal as an unrestricted free agent with Tampa Bay Lightning upon graduating University Of Alaska-Fairbanks Nanooks with 20+ goals and assists as a senior and even played 1 NHL game fresh out of school.

The Sherwood Park, AB native skated the AHL his rookie season for affiliate Syracuse Crunch, but left for Denmark’s Metal Ligaen in the next session, running up decent points for Gentofte Stars.

At 32-years old, he still seems to be connecting and is wanted for what he brings, so there’s little reason to put down the skates.

He would move along after a 5th strong year playing Finnish hockey to Germany and signed with Lowen Frankfort in 2023/2024, where he would come away with a pro best 17 goals and some decent point totals, but signs with rivals Augsburger Panther for 2024/2025 and should have continued success.

After a successful 1st season with the team, he re-signs to return a Panther for 2025/2026.

03Apr

Dans Locmelis (10)

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UMASS Minutemen Latvian-born, freshman center Dans Locmelis(10) may only have 2 goals and 1 assist in 10 games, but he is always fully involved in the action, when he’s on the ice.

The 6′ 172 lbs. Boston Bruins‘ 4th round pick in the 2022 draft (#119 overall) played all his youth and junior hockey back home.

We feel we will see the former Lulea HF , Boston Bruins‘ selection will play out the full term of his college career and get himself an education.

The 19-year old is definitely a good watch.

In his sophomore frame, he records a new college best 8 goals and adds a hefty 25 assists with a +16 rating in 40 games to look ready for his NHL entry level contract, which starts immediately with affiliate Providence Bruins.

02Apr

Joel Messner (59)

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Former University Of Nebraska-Omaha Mavericks‘ senior captain, defenseman Joel Messner(59) decides to leave the ship for other waters for his 4th season.

He will skate in Austria’s IceHL for a seemingly favored by Americans’ club, HC Innsbruck.

The solid 6’2″ 200 lbs. d-man was mostly under deals with Providence Bruins, originally scouted by Boston Bruins and in their system for 48 AHL games, but was in a uniform mostly with affiliate Atlanta Gladiators.

In 86 ECHL games, he did alright with 14 goals and 41 assists.

He played 4 more games in the league for Jacksonville Icemen to start 2020/2021 and got a goal and 2 assists.

We think the 27-year old Winnipeg native will like it in his new hockey home but if he does really well will move up.

He played for HKM Zvolen of Slovak Extraliga last season, putting up 4 goals and 9 assists in 50 games with a +7 rating, then added another 6 points in 17 playoff matchups.

For 2023/2024, he will head back to Austria, where he had very good luck and agrees to terms with Pustertal/Val Pusteria.

He grabs some decent points, but the -18 is a problem, then performs really well in 13 playoff games to get a want from rivals, Fehervar AV19 for 2024/2025.

Through 48 games, he has 2 goals and 17 assists with a +8 rating, so is becoming a bit of an offensive threat out there and scores himself a new 1-year deal to stay on in this part of Austria.

24Mar

Jake Flynn (16)

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University Of Connecticut Huskies‘ graduate, captain defenseman Jake Flynn(18) is one of 2 players, who did 5 years at the school.

The 6′ 181 lbs. blue liner played his 4th 30+ game set, and probably would have in 2020/2021, if his team played that many games.

From Weymouth, MA, the 22-year old played no junior hockey before committing.

He becomes a very interesting hockey watch when Hockey East playoffs are done.

We knew this entry wouldn’t wait long before an update: 2 weeks.

He signs a 1st deal with Greenville Swamp Rabbits that proves to be a good landing spot, as he has a 1st ECHL goal and 1 assist with a +3 rating in 6 games to start.

For 2024/2025, he was going to leave to play overseas, but re-signs for his rookie frame to stay a Swamp Rabbits.

In 36 games, he scores 3 goals and 5 assists with a -3 rating  and Bloomington Bison think they can use him, so trade for him.

19Mar

Griffin Mendel (2)

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Quinnipiac University Bobcats‘ graduate defenseman Griffin Mendel(2) had his best college scoring season with his new school, almost equaling 4 years of totals he had at his initial one, University Of Denver Pioneers.

He takes his game to the pro level upon finishing up a 5th year of school and signs with Chicago Wolves for the rest of the AHL 2021/2022.

The towering 6’6″ 220 lbs. blue liner played a couple years of junior hockey, sort of close to home in Kelowna, BC for Penticton Vees and skated an equal 52 games, en route to a 2017 BCHL Championship in his 2nd session.

We think it’s his NCAA Division 1 +53 rating that gets the 23-year old the most notice.

In 10 games, he gets 2 assists with a +5 rating and then gets into 1 playoff contest, but leaves a +2.

The Kelowna, BC native is staying put for what will be his rookie season, 2022/2023

With 9 goals and 10 assists in his 1st frame, the big d-man earns himself a handsome 1-year NHL entry level deal from parent club Carolina Hurricanes.

He wasn’t really scoring, until he was reassigned down to Norfolk Admirals, where he finally struck for 3 goals and 3 assists in 8 games with a +3 rating

For 2024/2025, he takes his game to Czech Extraliga and signs with Rytiri Kladno.

In 52 games, he gets 1 goal and 5 assists with a -1 rating to get himself a new deal for 2025/2026.

19Mar

Christian Hausinger (11)

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4th year defenseman Christian Hausinger(11) is on the move and traded to Utah Grizzlies, who looked to pick him up from Atlanta Gladiators, where he had 0 goals and 7 assists with a -11 rating.

The 6’1″ 190 lbs. blue liner played last season in Germany 3, picking up a healthy 31 assists in 43 games after coming over from 1 year in the EIHL with Fife Flyers, where he also scored pretty well.

He was coming off a season for Norfolk Admirals with 17 assists to his credit.

The 4-year University Of Wisconsin-River Falls Falcons‘ d-man had a college best 10 goals and 26 assists in 27 games as a junior and his senior year was that COVID-bust affair.

From Anchorage, AK, the 28-year old has to be thinking things are going pretty good.

13Mar

Noah Kane (86)

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Long Island University Sharks‘ junior center Noah Kane(86) decides he wants a switch it up after 2 years at Mercyhurst University Lakers and commits to the new school for 2022/2023.

The 5’11” 181 lbs. forward played a season high 26 games, scoring new college bests 5 goals and 9 assists for 14 points.

He spent 3 years in juniors, but really came alive when he joined Maine Nordiques before agreeing to school.

As the first team captain ever, he would produce 20 goals and 44 assists in 54 NAHL games.

The 22-year old will likely continue to take his scoring up.

And he did, collecting a 2nd round of 8 goals per frame, but his assists popped to a by-a-mile best 22.

He graduates and signs a 1st pro contract with Cincinnati Cyclones.

In 16 ECHL games, the Buffalo, NY native comes away with 2 goals and 4 assists on a non-playoff team.

For 2024/2025, he steps out to sign with JoKP of Mestis.

He is doing ok overseas with 7 goals and 11 assists in 28 games, but maybe misses home and will return to Cincinnati.

In 12 games, he records only 1 assist and is traded to a team that wants him, Allen Americans, who give up a player to obtain him.

11Mar

Jon Matsumoto (11)

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Almost unreal, 18th year center Jon Matsumoto(11) will do a 2nd DEL2 season with Krefeld Pinguine after scoring 10 goals and 13 assists in 30 games last season.

He had previously played 9 years in the upper German league, DEL and twice won the Championship back-to-back with EHC Munchen.

The 5’11” 185 lbs. forward was a Philadelphia Flyers‘ 3rd round pick in the 2006 NHL draft (#79 overall) and spent his 1st 3 years with the team after leaving Bowling Green University Falcons with a year on the table.

From Ottawa, ON, the 37-year old may hit 20 years as a pro barely blinking.

Exploding for point-per-game numbers in the current frame (20-30-50), he is signed to stay a 3rd year to hopefully build a new championship for the Pinguine,.