Category: Europe

Nashville Predators sign their 2017, 3rd round pick (#92 overall) Boston University graduate, defenseman David Farrance(9) to a 2-year entry level contract as he finishes up his 4 session at school scoring another more than point per game performance (5-11 in 11 games).

He had his best season as a junior in ’19/20, when he rocked 14 goals from the “point” to go along with 29 helpers through 34 games.

After a pair of campaigns with USNTDP, in the 2nd he amassed 30 assists to likely get him fully on the NHL club’s radar as well as his future college.

The 6′ 190 lbs. blue liner may report first to affiliate Milwaukee Admirals, but you can beat he will be fighting for a roster spot with the big club as soon as he arrives.

He would play 50 AHL games as a rookie, scoring 1 goal and 13 assists, but would not be given a qualifying offer to stay.

For 2022/2023, he signs a 1-year minor league contract with last year’s champs, Chicago Wolves.

After 14 games, scoring a goal and 4 assists, the d-man finds himself on the move, as Colorado Eagles see something they can use in his game and trade for him.

2 goals and 17 assists in 31 games and he is on the move, signing a 1-year deal with Toronto Marlies for 2023/2024.

He has mostly been loaned to affiliate Newfoundland Growlers, scoring 2 assists, but searching for something better finds it, signing with ERC Ingolstadt of DEL for the remainder of the session.

Coming away with 2 assists in 7 playoff games, he moves on to sign with KooKoo of Liiga for 2024/2025.

After exceeding his 29 assist junior year with a new high 35 in 53 games and a +26 rating, he will move his game up to the KHL, signing with HC Sibir Novosibirsk.

He takes maybe a bit of a slow start in Russia to a new contract back in DEL with Augsburger Panther in hopes of upping his game.

After 2 successful, was supposed to be 3 ECHL seasons with Norfolk Admirals, 4th year center Sean Montgomery(25) leaves for a 2nd time, heading to the Poland hockey league, joining Cracovia Krakow for 2025/2026.

The 5’10” 185 lbs. forward did 5 years with Prince Albert Raiders and won the 2019 WHL Championship before going to 4 years of University Of Western Ontario Mustangs.

From Anchorage, AK, he is 27-years old despite already playing a ton of hockey.

After two seasons suiting up for CSKA Moskva, 7th year defenseman John Gilmour(7) signs with rivals Dinamo Minsk for 2022/2023.

Originally a Calgary Flames‘ 7th round pick in the 2013 (#198 overall), he was never signed and picked up as a free agent and signed to an NHL entry level deal by New York Rangers upon graduating Providence College Friars.

He was an important part of the team, when they won the 2015 NCAA Division 1 Championship.

The 6′ 192 lbs. blue liner spent 3 years in the system, skating 33 big league games, pocketing 2 goals and 3 assists.

He would next sign with Buffalo Sabres on a one-way contract before leaving for the KHL.

At 29-years old, he likely still has a long way to go.

He scores basically the same exact totals for his new team as he did for his old and has decided to move on for something new, signing for 2023/2024 with Adler Mannheim.

We expect him to do very well in Germany’s top league, DEL.

After 3 years of consistent scoring, he is re-up for another 1 year to stay in Adler Mannheim through 2026/2027

11th year defenseman Steven Oleksy(4) elected not to play last season, but returns for 2021/2022 and re-signs with Toledo Walleye, a team he was with for 36 ECHL games (1 goal, 14 assists) in 2019/2020 before leaving for a 1st visit overseas to Black Wingz Linz of EBEL.

At 35-years old, the former 3-year Lake Superior State University Lakers‘ blue liner doesn’t really need to do it for the paycheck.

He’s had quite the interesting career journey starting through a series of minor league deals that even took him to the ill-fated IHL with Port Huron Icehawks as a rookie, but it was time spent with Idaho Steelheads that got him noticed, initially by Bridgeport Sound Tigers to sign him to an AHL deal, then his first NHL contract.

Washington Capitals signed him and for the first two seasons, he play games and contribute all the way to 7 Stanley Cup Playoff appearances.

The solid 6′ 190 lbs. d-man has signed 4 big league deals including 1 one-way deal and would also love it if you bought his coffee, The Elite Coffee Co.

He would get traded midseason to Orlando Solar Bears and finished up decently strong with 1 goal and 6 assists in 28 games.

The Chesterfield Township, MI native seemed to like his hockey experience in Florida and has elected to return for 2022/2023.

He steps back off for a few seasons, but likes the itch and signs at age 39 with local Jacksonville Icemen, where in 3 games, he has 1 assist and is a +1 rating.

Merrimack College Warriors‘ junior right wing Luke Weilandt(44) has seen his playing time slip, so he elects to leave school and sign a pro contract with Deggendorfer SC of Germany3.

The 5’10” 181 lbs. forward had 3 goals as a freshman and 5 assists in his sophomore year, which were both college bests.

From Northbrook, IL, the 23-year old actual is of some German descent, so him heading over here maybe makes sense.

Curry College Colonels‘ center Timmy Kent(10) is currently tied for tops in NCAA Division 3 hockey scoring with 10 goals and 16 assists in 11 games, which has already surpassed his previous helpers’ high, but he still has a ways to go to reach the 21 strikes he had as a junior.

Injury forced him to the sidelines for his entire last frame at school, but he got healthy to sign a 1st pro deal with Roanoke Rail Yard Dawgs that saw him score pretty effectively SPHL to get a loan up to Iowa Heartlanders with a 3 goal and 4 assists showing in 22 ECHL games.

For 2025/2026, he was set to return, but a trade sends him to rivals Fayettesville Marksmen, where we look for him to score well again and move up.

Well, he again scores well in the league, worth 3 goals and 8 assists in 14 games with a +7 rating, but once again is on the move and goes to Birmingham Bulls, who can use him.

He is scoring decently with his new club, but maybe wants something a little more, different and signs with EHC Konigsbrunn of Germany4.

In 2 games, he got an assist.

We did a Twitter interview with him that speaks for the rest:

Question 1: You’re from Parkland, FL, yet somehow decided to attend Lawrence Academy up here in Groton for high school. How did that happen and why?

TK: I decided to look at Prep Schools because the exposure playing in Florida wasn’t great at the time and for Florida players the options to continue playing competitively and be seen by colleges were either AAA or prep schools in New England. I decided education wise and for hockey that would be a good path to take. I decided on Lawrence because of the culture and reputation their program had at the time. I loved my time at Lawrence, we had some great teams and I made a lot of lifetime friends there.

Question 2: You stuck around MA to next play USPHL/NCDC junior hockey for Junior Bruins, but were maybe traded to Syracuse after the first month or so and played a little while with them before…heading to University Of New England Nor’easters. What was up with that? How did that come about? And talk about your experience with that team.

TK: At that time I felt ready to go to school and UNE had a good program and I had some friends there that liked the school and were really enjoying their time there and they kind of swayed me in that direction. My experience there was a good one and I met a lot of great people I still keep in touch with.

Question 3: You would decide to return to junior hockey for another session and signed maybe a slight level up in the NAHL with at least New England-based Maine Nordiques and shot assists out of a cannon for the team. Why did you leave school and what made you head to play in the NAHL. Did they somehow draft you, as you said you wanted to be eligible?

TK: I went back to Juniors because I felt like it was the right move get my confidence back. I enjoyed my time at UNE and met unbelievable people I’m still close with. But hockey wise it didn’t seem like I would get the opportunity there and I still had a year left of junior eligibility. I ended up in Maine because of Matt Pinchevsky who was the assistant Coach for the Nordiques at the time, now he’s the Head Coach. We had a close relationship that stemmed from our Florida roots and I told him the situation I was in and he opened up a spot for me, which I’ll be forever grateful for.

Question 4: After another 3rd frame in juniors, you were ready to head back to school? Why Curry?

TK: I chose Curry because they are a Boston based school who is in the CCC conference which is one of the better leagues in the country at the D3 level. I knew they always had really good teams here and the team culture and cohesiveness was outstanding when I came to visit. Coach Pinchevsky who I spoke about was a Curry graduate and we thought that it was the best fit.

Question 5: You’re currently tied for the scoring lead in D3 hockey. Congratulations on the hard work done paying off. You have a new career high in assists with 15, but do you think you’ll match those 21 goals set last season where you’re at now? I’m thinking it’s possible.

TK: I’m not sure if I’ll match that total but my production is a testament to my line mates and how there good they’ve been this year. My main focus is just helping Curry win however I can. We have a great team this year and a real shot at winning a CCC championship and more so we’re all excited about that challenge and looking for the second half.

Question 6 and our final one: You’re listed as 4 years in college, yet are only considered a sophomore. Can you explain that?

TK: Haha I think I’m listed as a junior, but because I was at UNE for a half a semester credit wise I’m still a Junior. I think eligibility wise I am as well.

Thank you to Timmy Kent for answering our questions. We hope you enjoyed reading our feature.

UMass Minutemen senior, captain Bobby Trivigno(41) had himself a career year, scoring all new bests 17 goals, 26 assists for 43 points with a +20 rating, as his team pushes towards Hockey East playoffs.

The 5’8″ 162 lbs. undrafted fleet foot forward has to be on many a team’s list to have a look at as 2022 unrestricted free agency opens up.

He had solid runs through USHS-Prep, then one season of USHL for Waterloo Blackhawks before committing.

The 23-year old possesses a lot of those skills you can easily see on display and plenty of intangibles that comes from being a team player.

He has a decent pair of AHL frames with Hartford Wolf Pack, while signed to a 2-year NHL entry level deal with New York Rangers, but spies an opportunity in the SHL and signs another 2-year contract with Brynas IF for 2024/2025.

Doing pretty well scoring, he is definitely going well with this club, as they give him a 3-year extension to continue with Brynas IF.

2nd year Merrimack College Warriors‘ graduate center Max Newton(10) looks to be on his way to blowing out any scoring he was able to managed at University Of Alaska-Fairbanks Nanooks having already pocketed 7 goals and 8 assists in 14 games with a +3 rating to start the 2021/2022 session.

He was a good scorer through his first two years at the BCHL, but really popped on a shift to a new team, Cowichan Valley Capitals with 25 goals and 34 assists in 58 games.

The 5’10” 184 lbs. 25-year old will be an interesting watch to see what might materialize for this skater that plays with full-on compete next.

When his team pushed Hockey East playoffs as far as they would go, he quickly turned his attention to signing an spc with Worcester Railers to finish off the 2021/2022 season.

In his debut, he records an assist, then follows it up with his 1st ECHL goal in the next game to match his Merrimack pal he signed contracts with.

After scoring 3 goals and 5 assists in 13 games and getting a 2 game loan up to Providence Bruins, notching an assist, he signs for his official rookie session with rival Reading Royals, where scoring will continue to come for one of the hardest workers out there.

He exploded scoring in the league last season to the tune of 34 goals and 38 assists in 67 games, then added another 10 points in 10 playoff games.

For 2023/2024, the Vancouver, BC will take it up a notch, signing with HK Dukla Michalovce of Slovak Extraliga.

After scoring decently, he leaves for DEL2 and signs with Krefeld Pinguin, where his stats explode beyond goal-per-game numbers and he is doing it again for a 2nd straight season to earn himself a contract to stay 2 more through 2027/2028.

5th year right wing Jake Smith(24) doesn’t seem to be bothered finding the net, regardless of the ECHL team he may be paired with at the moment.

The 5’10” 170 lbs. took a bit of a weird path, starting with 2 QMJHL seasons, then switching to the OHL and heading to a year at Carlton University Ravens before turning pro.

He started as a rookie in the SPHL, but would eventually split for a short run in Germany3 with Starbulls Rosenheim, a team he oddly played a year of youth hockey with, considering his birth place is Pickering, ON.

Returning, he skated the COVID-busted season in the league and would do well enough to score a look in the higher league.

He started with Kansas City Mavericks, but failed to connect and took up with Iowa Heartlanders and the scoring wasn’t immediate, but eventually pulled in for 25 goals and 25 assists in 52 games.

There’s little doubt he can score in the league, but could definitely use more on ice accountability.

The 26-year old seems to have found a good spot with Reading Royals, good for 7 goals and 5 assists in 19 games, but a lowly -12.

It takes a little while, but he signs a 1-year deal to stay in a Royals’ jersey for 2024/2025.

With some good scoring, 16 goals and 21 assists, he decides to head back for another venture and signs with Aalborg Pirates of Metal Ligaen.

He’s a more than point-per-game, so will head to Mestis and signs with JoKP

Norfolk Admirals‘ 3rd year defenseman Lordanthony Grissom(3) won the 2022 SPHL Championship with Peoria Rivermen after completing 4 years, twice as captain at Aurora University Spartans.

He actually scored points in that league, raising his profile to score ECHL contracts moving forward.

The very large 6’4″ 229 lbs. blue liner had a league career best 3 goals and 7 assists last season for Greenville Swamp Rabbits.

From Detroit, MI, the 28-year old has 1 assist in 3 games in the current frame and could find his way to scoring more points when out there.

In 16 games, he only posts 1 assists, but is a +2 rating.

He is released and claimed off waivers by Jacksonville Icemen, who hope to do something with his great size.

Not really with a lot of luck last season, split between a couple of teams, Iowa Heartlanders see something they think they can turn into more of a scoring factor and bring him in for 2025/2026.

Released after 22 games with 3 assists, he is picked back up by Greenville Swamp Rabbits, where he scored his best numbers.