Category: Europe

30Jul

Grant Hebert (93)

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After 8 games into the 2022/2023 as a 2nd year graduate center Grant Hebert(93) at University Of Maine Black Bears, scoring 1 goal and 2 assists has decided to turn pro, signing for the remainder of the session with Allen Americans.

He transferred in after 3 years at Robert Morris University Colonials, where he put up a college best 8 goals and 15 assists as a junior.

The burly 6’3″ 191 lbs. 25-year old forward from St.Andrews West, ON should be able to connect his scoring in the ECHL.

He would get 8 goals and 18 assists in 37 games, then adds another 6 points (2-4) in 11 playoff matchups with a +1 rating as he gains comfort with his new team.

Makes complete sense for him to gain a new 1-year deal to stay in Allen for his sophomore frame.

In 43 games, he grabs 10 goals and 10 assists that he will take with him to his new deal with Manchester Storm of the EIHL, where he should be able to help them.

He scores pretty much bonzo for his overseas team at point-per-game pace, but has decided to return closer to home and sign with Norfolk Admirals for the rest of this term.

In 24 games, he scores 5 goals and 11 assists, then gets 9 points in 11 playoff games with a +2 rating to easily get an invitation to return to Admirals for a full frame, 2025/2026.

30Jul

Bobby Raymond (21)

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14th year defenseman Bobby Raymond(21) is trying his hand at a new league for 2022/2023, signing for 1-year with Grenoble of Ligue Magnus.

The 5’10” 185 lbs. blue liner spent the last 3 seasons in DEL2 last winning the 2022 Championship with Loewen Franfort and DEL the previous two, as captain and assistant for Iserlohn Roosters, his 2nd stint with the team.

Almost oddly, his one title in Germany’s top league came during his one campaign for Adler Mannheim.

He also played 3 seasons for EC Salzburg in the old EBEL, where he ran his best point totals.

The RIT Tigers‘ graduate had a good run there, in his 2nd run with Florida Everblades and helped them capture the 2012 ECHL Kelly Cup trophy.

At 35-years old, he’s likely happy to be playing at the level his is and still contributing big.

He starts the new frame 2023/2024 playing in the OEHL, but gets wooed to enter the fray once again at 38-years old, signing with 2023 Erste Liga Champs, Gyergyoi HK.

In 8 games, he scores 1 goal and 3 assists, then through 10 playoff matchups, he adds another goal and 2 assists with a +3 rating to very much be wanted back in a Bears‘ jersey for 2024/2025.

A 40-year old, Raymond will return to the team he is still connecting with for 2025/2026.

29Jul

Matt Tugnutt (29)

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Rookie right wing Matt Tugnutt(29) signs his first pro contract with Idaho Steelheads 2021/2022.

He played for Providence College Friars in 2020/2021 after transferring from 3 years at Sacred Heart University Pioneers, who did not skate last season.

The 5’10” 185 lbs. forward spent 5 campaigns in junior hockey all with Kemptville 73’s, , who happened to be coach by his dad of 537 NHL games, Ron Tugnutt, running up big points (83-127) in 261 CCHL games.

He’ll have to work for it, but the 25-year old could run up some good numbers in the ECHL.

Traded after 49 games, he winds up with Greenville Swamp Rabbits heading down the stretch, and in 4 games managed to put up 5 assists with a +4 rating, but was unable to find space on the playoff roster before the season came to an end.

The Portland, ME native should easily sign where he wants for 2022/2023.

He decides to head off to see how hockey life will be on the other side of the ocean as a pro and signs a 1-year deal with Chamonix Mont-Blanc Pionneers of Ligue Magnus and should do extremely well in France’s top league.

Through 37 games, he grabs 13 goals and 16 assists with a +5 rating, but will return home to sign a 1-year deal with South Carolina Stingrays for 2023/2024.

After 12 games, recording 2 goals and 1 assist, he decides to head back across the pond and signs in the EIHL with Guildford Flames for the remainder of the season.

In 32 games, he scores 6 goals and 8 assists, but it’s the 3 helpers in 4 playoff matchups with a +3 rating that we were mostly eyeing.

For 2024/2025, he will take his game back to France’s highest Ligue Magnus and it’s an easy choice, who to sign with as he returns to the Pionneers for more.

He is having fun, skating well for this team and will come back for a 3rd season, 2025/2026 in Chamonix.

28Jul

Andrew Poturalski (22)

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Undrafted 6th year center Andrew Poturalski(22) circles back to rejoin his original team, Carolina Hurricanes on a 1-year 2-way contract for 2021/2022.

He spent the last two years away under a pair of contracts to Anaheim Ducks, which saw him only play for their affiliate San Diego Gulls.

The 5’10” 183 lbs. forward was basically a point-per-game guy in 2020/2021, scoring 9 goals and 34 assists in 44 AHL games.

He was an outstanding scorer for then farm club Charlotte Checkers, averaging 20+ goals and 35+ assists in 3 years.

The 2-year University Of New Hampshire Wildcats‘ skater put up big numbers in Hockey East, just like he did in his 2nd year of the USHL with Cedar Rapids RoughRiders.

Although he may have only seen two NHL games as a rookie, we think he may be on a short list for a quick recall in 2021/2022.

Almost oddly, he is recalled for 2 games and grabs 2 assists, but is captain of affiliate Chicago Wolves and absolutely blows up scoring with 28 goals and 73 assists in 71 games, then goes on to win the 2022 Calder Cup Championship.

He is twice the league leading scorer.

As a free agent, he signs a 2-year deal with Seattle Kracken and helps lead their affiliate, Coachella Valley Firebirds to a pair of minor league finals before bowing out.

For 2024/2025, he signs another 2-year pact, but moves on to the rebuilding San Jose Sharks.

He steps away for something different, signing with Avangard Omsk for 2025/2026 and we think will do really well in the KHL.

27Jul

Colton Saucerman (23)

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7th year defenseman Colton Saucerman(23) returns from a couple successful seasons overseas, 1st in IceHL, then Slovakia Extraliga to sign with Allen Americans for 2022/2023.

He’s a veteran of 191 ECHL games and 41 in the AHL with + numbers in both leagues.

The 5’9″ 194 lbs. blue liner played his college hockey at Northeastern University Huskies, coming over from his home in Colorado Springs, CO.

At 30-years old, it’s a bit of a wonder if he’ll stick around or split for different experiences.

He puts up a 2nd career best 33 assists last frame, but now at 31-years old, eyes another new experience across the board, signing for 2023/2024 with Sheffield Steelers to play in the EIHL.

For a 2nd straight season he will stay put in Sheffield for his 9th campaign of play and signs for 2024/2025.

After 2 seasons of performing well for 1 team, he makes a rival switch for 2025/2026, signing with Coventry Blaze.

27Jul

Connor Welsh (59)

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Trois Rivières Lions‘ rookie defenseman Connor Welsh(59) managed to do pretty well for himself despite playing on a non-playoff team with 2 goals and 18 assists.

The 5’11” 164 lbs. blue liner skated 2 years of BCHL junior hockey before heading off to 4 seasons at Dalhousie University Tigers, where he twice amassed 15 assists.

From Halifax, NS, the 25-year old is still getting his legs under him as a pro.

Worcester Railers see something they can use in the small-ish d-man and sign him up for 2023/2024.

He takes a 2nd ECHL season scoring 7 goals and 22 assists and will be back in a Railers‘ jersey for 2024/2025.

As a d-man, he explodes for 49 assists last season, which he is going to take to a new challenge in Slovak Extraliga, signing a 1-year deal with HK Dukla Michalovce for 2025/2026.

26Jul

Jay Dickman (23)

Posted in College Hockey Player, Europe, Juniors, Minor League Deal | 1 Comment

The tower of a skater 6’6″ 231 lbs., undrafted center Jay Dickman(23) takes a pair of good seasons for Wichita Thunder and signs with HC Nove Zamky of Slovakia.

In 2020/2021, he scored an ECHL best 20 goals and 38 assists.

He did 5 years at Bemidji State University Beavers with his best totals as a junior, scoring 15 goals and 8 assists.

The St. Paul, MN native spent 2 years with Austin Bruins, running up point-per-game totals in 114 NAHL games before committing to school.

At 29-years old, he is heading out on a new hockey adventure and should do well.

He actually returned after a short 2 games away and powered in a new best 26 goals and 61 points in 67 games to want to keep him around in Kansas for continued views.

In his 4th overall frame with the team, he posts career bests 29 goals, 40 assists and 69 points to keep on keeping on in Wichita.

Well, he goes on to score a new career high 30 goals and 43 assists in a full tilt of 72 games with a +7 rating and he will return for a 6th season as a Thunder.

25Jul

Justin Danforth (17)

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Undrafted fourth year right wing Justin Danforth(17) played with three teams after completing his studies at Sacred Heart University Pioneers on ato’s before signing his first contract with the last club he skated for, Rochester Americans.

The small-ish 5’9″ 185 lbs. forward played most of his rookie campaign for affiliate Cincinnati Cyclones putting up a pile of points (28-31-59 in 44 ECHL games) with a +26 rating and taking home 2017/2018 Rookie Of The Year honors.

He was smart to take these outstanding numbers overseas agreeing with Luuko of Finland’s Liiga for his first trip outside of North American hockey and was able to put up a best 34 assists in a season, then following it up with another campaign as assistant captain for a career and league high 60 points and another +26.

The Oshawa, ON native took that experience to a new venture, heading to the KHL to skate for Vityaz Podolsk and he would go on to score a blazing 23 goals and 32 assists with a +3 rating, which has caught the attention of Columbus Blue Jackets.

They sign the 28-year old to his first NHL deal, a one-way contract for 2021/2022 and he is fully expected to make the opening night roster.

He was actually sent to affiliate Cleveland Monsters to open 2021/2022 and has gone right to work, grabbing 2 goals and 3 assists in 8 AHL games, earning him a first recall from the parent club.

In his debut, he skated a conservative 11 shifts for 7:23 ice time with 2 shots on net in a 5-3 win.

He has found himself some space and is scoring decently for 5 goals and 2 assists in 22 games and a +2 rating to earn himself a nice two-year extension to continue.

In the 1st year of his new deal, he tears his labrum and is reduced to just 6 games in the frame, but he did manage 2 goals and 1 assists with a +4 rating.

His tenacity earns him another year for 2024/2025 in a Blue Jackets‘ sweater worth a tidy $1.1M AAV to add to the kitty.

After 2 seasons of 20+ points scoring, the unrestricted free agent gets a 2-year add at $1.8M AAV with Buffalo Sabres and his head must be spinning a little.

24Jul

Ethan Prow (12)

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After a super strong showing for EHC Munchen, scoring 4 goals and 16 assists in only 26 DEL games with a +18 rating, 6th year defenseman Ethan Prow(12) nets a 1-year NHL deal from Buffalo Sabres for 2021/2022.

It’s the 6′ 185 lbs. blue liner’s first big league deal after 220 AHL games, with his best season coming in his 3rd for Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins, scoring a crazy 18 goals and 32 assists.

He originally left for Germany’s top league with a +32 plus/minus.

The former St. Cloud State University Huskies‘ d-man scored 30 assists to go along with 8 goals and a +29 as a senior.

It’s likely he’s destined for reasignment to affiliate Rochester Americans, but the 28-year old could be ready for a look in the show.

And he does some scoring business in the minors to merit a first game in the show, in which the now 29-year old scores a 1st NHL goal on a 1st shot.

For his 9th season, he simply returns to where he’s been playing his hockey for a 1-year deal with the Amerks.

After 4 years playing hockey in the same place, he for a 1st time jumps to an overseas opportunity, signing with Grizzlys Wolfsburg in DEL for 2025/2026.

23Jul

Ben Sokay (24)

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After taking 2020/2021 off, post graduating from Niagara University Purple Eagles, rookie center Ben Sokay(24) becomes one of the initial signings for new club, Iowa Heartlanders.

He finished up school on a high note, scoring 11 goals and 11 assists in 33 Atlantic Hockey games.

The 6′ 170 lbs. forward committed to college after a decent first frame with Wellington Dukes, which he followed up posting blow away junior numbers 30 goals and 34 assists in 52 OJHL games.

At just 24 years old, he should be able to step it up in the ECHL.

In his 1st season he potted 12 goals and 12 assists in 58 games, but was also a bit of a downside -12 rating.

He will take his game overseas next, joining Dundee Stars for 2022/2023.

Doing very well scoring, despite a bad +/-, he took his game to the Polish Hockey League, signing with GKS Katowice, where he stayed for 2 10+ goals and assists years.

For 2025/2026, he will take leave to Ligue Magnus and comes to terms with Les Jokers de Cergy-Pontoise.