Category: Europe

06Mar

Odeen Tufto(26)

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After a four-year career at Quinnipiac University, finishing with a 2020/2021 season NCAA Division 1 best 39 assists, center Odeen Tufto(26) signs a 1-year entry level deal as an unrestricted free agent with Tampa Bay Lightning and will report to affiliate Syracuse Crunch to see if he can add to that helpers stat.

The small 5’7″ 175 lbs. forward has always connected with the scoresheet in college play, 3 times with 30+ assists and 40+ points.

A Minnesota-native he spent a year in the BCHL before heading back “home” to join the USHL and skated with three different club s in a campaign before heading off to school.

He’s small but we have a feeling he will find his space to grab numbers.

Mostly shipped as a rookie to ECHL affiliate Orlando Solar Bears, where he was close to point-per-game player.

In 2022/2023, he was signed by Tuscon Roadrunners, but played 13 games with Atlanta Gladiators before heading to DEL2, signing with Krefeld Pinguin, getting 15 points in 12 games, then 11 in 12 through the playoffs.

He’ll return in 2023/2024, agreeing to terms with Iowa Heartlanders.

Through 29 games, he managed 3 goals and 19 assists, but isn’t great with his plus/minus and maybe gets a little bored, looking elsewhere and signs with EHC Olten of the tier 2 Swiss League, SL.

He will return for 2024/2025 after a successful little run through Switzerland’s hockey and signs with Fort Wayne Komets.

A point-per-game player again during regular season, he returns for 2025/2026 and scores 3 goals and 2 assists in 5 games, but decides to head back to DEL2 and signs with Ravensburg Towerstars.

With 8 goals and 17 assists in 25 games, including a nice +12 rating, he is asked to return for 2026/2027 as a Towerstars.

04Mar

Derek Grant (27)

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After spending the last 6 of his 7 NHL days in an Anaheim Ducks‘ uniform, 13th year right wing Derek Grant(27) will take his game overseas for a 1st time, signing a 1-year deal with ZSC Lions of NL, which should be a lot of fun for the 33-year old.

The 6’3″ 209 lbs. forward tower has 3 times had 10+ goals and twice 10+ assists in a frame.

From Abbotsford, BC, he played 2 BCHL seasons before committing to Michigan State University Spartans, where he stayed for 2 years before turning pro.

Originally an Ottawa Senators‘ 4th round pick in 2008 (#119 overall), he spent the 1st 4 years of his career in their system.

He takes 427 games in the big league and 320 in the AHL over to his new venture, which should keep him smiling out there.

The 35-year old is scoring very well and signs on for a 4th season to continue a Lions for 2026/2027.

04Mar

Janis Jaks (72)

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4th year Latvian-born defenseman Janis Jaks(72) signs on for a 2nd season to stay with HC Litvinov of Czechia Extraliga for 2023/2024.

The 6’1″ 190 lbs. blue liner played a lot of his youth hockey and beginnings of juniors before coming over to the NAHL  with Minnesota Wilderness, where he was twice a +10 player fully grounded in his own zone and helped his team with the 2015 Robertson Cup.

After spending 4 fairly strong sessions at American International College Yellowjackets, he signed with Dinamo Riga, but after 17 KHL games, the relationship soured and he agreed next to Bakersfield Condors and things were looking decent with  2 goals and 4 assists in 20 AHL games with a +3 rating.

He would return to Russia to skate for HK Sochi, but the results didn’t yield much, so he turned his attention to where he is now with much better results, 8 goals, 17 assists in 47 games with a +3 rating to move forward.

The 27-year old has to have at least a little smile on his face to how things are going, especially after winning Bronze at the recent IIHF Worlds.

After 2 strong seasons with the same team, he was in a pretty good spot for himself, but decides to sign with rivals, HC Energie Karlovy Vary.

He apparently has found a good spot in Vary and re-signs for his 3rd upcoming season, 2026/2027.

03Mar

Spencer Berry (3)

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RIT Tigers‘ graduate, assistant captain defenseman Spencer Berry(3) seems to pull a bit of a fast one for a 1st pro deal and will that initially had him heading over to Germany to join DEL2, agreeing EC Kassel Huskies , but has flipped that to now agree with SC Bietigheim Steelers for 2023/2024.

He scored a 1st college career goal and added a new high 6 assists in 37 games with a +4 rating last season.

The 6’1″ 181 lbs. White Rock, BC native played 2 campaigns of BCHL for Langley Rivermen, getting 3 goals and 20 assists in his 2nd frame.

He likely ready to get going and the 24-year old looks good to do well in Germany’s tier 2 league.

Through 50 games, he records 3 goals and 7 assists, but is a terrible -16 rating, so decides to move to the lower league, Germany3 and signs with Hammer Eisbaren that is worth 14 assists and a +13 rating.

For 2025/2026, he agrees with Heilbronner Falken.

In 51 games he has 12 assists with a +11 rating and is elevated to join EHC Freiburg for the balance of the frame.

01Mar

Andy Miele (51)

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13th year center Andy Miele(51) finishes up another decently successful run through the SHL, this time as assistant captain for HV-71.

For 2023/2024, he decides to head off on a new adventure, signing a 1-year deal with Grizzlys Wolfsburg and he will skate his 1st season in Germany’s top league, DEL.

The small 5’9″ 170 lbs. forward started overseas in Sweden after 15 NHL games (2 assists, +2 rating) and 478 AHL and won himself a 2018 Championship with Vaxjo Lakers.

His biggest success was likely the 3 seasons he spent in the KHL with Torpedo Nizhny Novgorod.

The 35-year old, former Miami University (Ohio) Redhawks is likely to continue to do well.

Scoring 44 assists 3 straight seasons in the league below the show indicates he can score and as he’s getting older he shows little signs of slowing, grabbing 14 goals and 32 assists in 52 games to earn the now 36-year old another look in Germany with the Grizzlys.

He grabs 16 goals and 16 assists in 52 games as a now 37-year old and continues to want to skate and signs with rivals, Fischtown Pinguins for 2025/2026.

With another productive season, 7 goals and 20 assists, he is asked to return to be a Pinguins for 2026/2027.

28Feb

C.J. Smith (29)

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JYP left wing C.J. Smith(29) quickly signs up for a 1-year extension after 1 goal and 4 assists through 5 games looks like a lock for him to score goals in Liiga after starting the season late with the team.

After 3 years at UMASS-Lowell Riverhawks, the 5’11” 183 lbs. forward signed an NHL entry level deal as an unrestricted free agent with Buffalo Sabres and stayed in their system for 4 years.

The 29-year old from Des Moines, IA is said to be coming back from surgery due to an injury, so this is a nice landing spot for him to re-stake his game.

He comes away with 8 goals and 12 assists in 33 games, which gains interest from Barys Astana of the KHL for 2024/2025.

So much for the tryout in Germany, as he will head home under contract to Charlotte Checkers, where he should do well and help.

He definitely help his new team win games, going into the playoffs, but waits a moment before signing 2025/2026 and agrees to terms with Bridgeport Islanders.

After 17 AHL games with 8 assists, he decides to head of to DEL and signs with Fischtown Pinguins for the 2nd half of 2025/2026.

28Feb

Matt Allen (20)

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2nd year right wing Matt Allen(20) is heading to France2 next, signing a 1-year deal with Drakkers de Caen for 2024/2025.

Upon finishing up a 2nd year at University Of Alaska-Anchorage Seawolves, he signed an ECHL deal with home state team, Tulsa Oilers and would get 1 assist in 3 games.

He initially did 2 years at UMASS-Lowell Riverhawks, but wasn’t the biggest scorer in Hockey East.

The 5’10” 168 lbs. forward from Minco, OK scored very well in his 2nd season of juniors in the NAHL as captain with Amarillo Bulls.

24-years old, we think he’s likely excited for the new hockey experience.

He actually rethinks his decision and signs with Huntsville Havoc and amasses SPHL scoring to be loaned up to Maine Mariners.

For 2025/2026, he re-signs, but despite continuing to score gets traded to Pensacola Ice Flyers.

24Feb

Filip Sitar (49)

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RPI Engineers‘ Slovakian-born, sophomore center Filip Sitar(49) has a college best scoring with 8 goals and 9 assists in 32 games this season.

The 6′ 187 lbs. forward transferred from a 31 game appearance at University Of Connecticut Huskies, scoring 1 goal and 2 assists.

He did all his youth hockey in Sweden and even posted 1 HockeyAllsvenskan and 11 in the SHL before coming over for college hockey.

The 20-year old is in a good place to pick up notice.

19Feb

Will Weber (78)

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Schwenninger Wild Wings‘ 3rd year defenseman Will Weber(78) will hang around for a 4th frame, as he signs a 1-year extension through 2024/2025.

The big 6’4″ 227 lbs. blue liner doesn’t necessarily put up a lot of points, but is a fairly accountable, very large presence out there.

Originally a Columbus Blue Jackets‘ 2nd round pick in the 2007 draft (#57 overall), he only twice had 10+ assists.

The first time was his sophomore season at Miami University (Ohio) Redhawks and the 2nd was his 1st session of DEL for Fischtown Pinguins.

At 35-years old, he has to be glad he’s still pulling down good contracts to play pro hockey.

Add another season, as he will skate for a 6th frame in a Wild Wings‘ jersey that he is looking mighty comfortable in lately.

And yup, he may not be playing as many games as a 37-year old, 23, but will return for more Wild Wings in 2026/2027.

19Feb

Lauri Sertti (5)

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American International College Yellowjackets‘ Finnish-born graduate defenseman Lauri Sertti(5) signs a contract to return home for his rookie season, Liiga with HPK 2025/2026.

The 6’1″ 190 lbs. blue liner scored 1 goal and 6 assists in 37 games with a +1 rating last season.

His best scoring in college came as a junior at RPI Engineers, where he had 4 goals and 11 assists in 40 games.

He did most of his youth hockey and juniors at home until coming over for a single NAHL frame before school.

We look for the 25-year old to do pretty well in his home league.

Through 35 games, he has 1 goal and 5 assists with a -2 rating, but maybe wants to reach out to see what else there is in the pro field of hockey for him and signs in the tricky Tipsport Extraliga with HK Dukla Michalovce for the 2nd half of 2025/2026.