Category: Europe

23Mar

Denis Smirnov (8)

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Norfolk Admirals‘ 2nd year Russian-born left wing Denis Smirnov(8) is looking to up his totals from his 1st year with the team, when he scored 9 goals and 12 assists in 39 ECHL games.

The 5’9″ 185 lbs. forward already has 7 goals and 9 assists, so things are looking quite positive.

He came over pretty quickly to play youth hockey, displaying amazing numbers to get drafted into juniors and wins the USHL Clark Cup Championship in his 1st of 3 years in the league.

Penn State University Nittany Lions‘ 4-year scorer took a couple of years after college hockey through COVID to establish his game as a pro.

He is an exciting player to watch.

In 51 games, he scores 14 goals and 32 asssists with a +3 rating to earn an easy invite back in an Admirals‘ jersey for 2024/2025.

He’s a high scoring free agent heading into 2025/2026 and a powerhouse team, Toledo Walleye step in to offer him a 1-year deal.

In a league high 54 games, he scores 15 goals and 20 assists, but gets a trade to Greenville Swamp Rabbits, where he will very likely just continue.

20Mar

Caden Villegas (36)

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Union College Dutchmen senior right wing Caden Villegas(36) had a college best 22 assists in his final season.

The 5’8″ 174 lbs. forward from Plano, TX moved through the ranks of youth hockey before heading to juniors, where he moved up before college.

He signed a 1st pro deal with Adirondack Thunder and in 12 ECHL games, recorded 1 goal and 2 assists.

For his rookie run, he will need a contract.

He finally does come around to sign a 1-year deal to remain a Thunder for 2025/2026, but actually changes things up to become a free agent and signs for a 1st year with Maine Mariners instead.

Through 21 games with 1 goal and 5 assists, he leaves for Swindon Wildcats of the NIHL, maybe to prove something for his  game going for the next step forward.

Scoring does blow up for 15 goals and 23 assists in 20 games to re-sign and stay a Wildcats for 2026/2027.

20Mar

Declan Bronte (27)

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Franklin Pierce University Ravens‘ Australian-born, sophomore defenseman Declan Bronte(27) came over from just 2 games use at Salem State University Vikings, as a freshman.

He played only 11 games in 2023/2024, scoring 1 assist.

The 5’10” 160 lbs. blue liner did 2 EHL years with Connecticut Chiefs, and even left to head back home to play some pro hockey in the AIHL with CBR Brave, scoring quite nicely.

He looks to be doing that each season now, which is a great idea.

The 22-year old from Melbourne is a good hockey story.

He actually finished up with 2 years at Fitchburg State University Falcons, scoring best as a senior with 3 goals and 5 assists in a high 26 games and turns pro as tournament play wraps up, signing with Danbury Hat Tricks.

18Mar

TJ Trevelyan (24)

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Augsburger Panther‘ left wing TJ Trevelyan(24) signs on for what must be a record for one player, 15th season with the club.

He has 8 seasons of 10+ goals and 8 of 10+ assists and 7 worth 20+ points.

The 5’9″ 172 lbs. forward did 5 years of the AHL, scoring pretty big after graduating St. Lawrence University Skating Saints.

From Mississauga, ON, the 41-year old doesn’t want to quit.

But after a career low 20 games played for 4 goals and 3 assists, he ticks another year and decides it’s time.

In all likelihood, he should stay with the club he has mostly been with.

08Mar

Brendan Walkom (96)

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Bentley University Falcons‘ graduate left wing Brendan Walkom(96) maybe a little conservatively signs for 2022/2023 with Bees IHC of England’s tier 2 league NIHL.

The 6′ 190 lbs. forward scored pretty well in his 1st NAHL junior season and equaled his 14 assists in his 2nd in the USHL for Madison Capitals, but didn’t maintain that in college, but still played a full hard battle game.

From Moon Township, PA, the 24-year old should find some great success in this league.

He had phenomenal success in this league, scoring 49 goals and 38 assists in 56 games and then headed to New Zealand’s NZIHL during the summer to help Skycity Stampede win the 2023 Championship.

Next he signs with ERSC Amberg and goes on scoring sprees each season to want to continue and will join the team for a 4th Germany4 season in 2026/2027.

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.

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.