Category: Europe

8th year goaltender Michael Garteig(34) signs on for a 2nd DEL season with ERC Ingolstadt after appearing in 42 games, posting a 25-15 record with a 2.22 GAA and .914 SV%.

A bit oddly, it’s the 1st time he has signed twice with a team.

The undrafted 6’1″ 190 lbs. net minder originally signed a 1-year NHL entry level deal with Vancouver Canucks after an outstanding 4-year run at Quinnipiac University Bobcats.

For his 3rd season he signed an ECHL contract to tend net for Newfoundland Growlers, a team on the other end of Canada from where he was born, Prince George, BC.

With a 23-14-6 record in the regular frame, then 16-6-1 in the playoffs, he backstopped the team to the 2019 Kelly Cup Championship.

He left a storybook career at BCHL juniors with awards in his name, so it’s almost mystical to see the 31-year old settle down for a 1st time.

After spending a 4th season with the same club, he moves on to rivals, Augsburger Panther in 2025/2026.

Bentley University Falcons‘ senior defenseman, assistant captain Tanner Main(28) signs a 1st pro contract for his rookie season in France2 with Strasbourg.

The 5’11” 175 lbs. blue liner had a college best 2 goals and 7 assists in his last frame.

From Welland, ON, the 25-year old already has 1 goal and 7 assists in 5 games with a +5 rating, making us think he gets looked at for a higher level contract.

13th year center Carter Camper(11) is heading to a new league, Finland’s Liiga for 2023/2024 after 8 games in the Swiss NL and almost 3 SHL seasons with Leksands IF.

He will next skate for Tappara.

The 5’9″ 176 lbs. forward 3 times had 10+ goals and twice 30+ assists in Sweden’s top league.

He was mostly a more than point-per-game scorer through 4 years at Miami University (Ohio) Redhawks before signing as an undrafted, unrestricted free agent with Boston Bruins.

The Rocky River, OH native played 3 NHL games as a rookie and score a 1st goal.

He is a veteran of 558 AHL games.

At 35-years old, it’s hard to believe it’s been that long.

He scores nicely with 17 goals and 31 assists in 60 games with a +19 rating, then adds 7 points on his way to a 2024 Liiga Championship.

For 2024/2025, he eyes another opportunity in HockeyAllsvenskan, signing for 1-year with IK Oskarshamn.

After a solid season in tier 2 Sweden hockey, at 37-years old he has decided to retire with 558 AHL games, 3 NHL appearances with 1 goal and 137 in the SHL to his credit.

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.

Montreal Canadiens‘ 7th round pick in the 2018 draft (#190 overall), 2022 NCAA Division 1 University Of Denver Pioneers’ Champion center Brett Stapley(7) signs a 1-year AHL deal with affiliate Laval Rocket for 2022/2023.

The 5’10” 172 lbs. forward scored a college best 18 goals and tying 25 assists in 41 games with a +22 rating.

He was also a solid scorer in his 2nd and 3rd BCHL seasons with Vernon Vipers.

The 23-year old from Campbell River, BC may be an immediate impact player.

For his rookie season, he was shipped down to Trois-Rivieres Lions and has a tidy 9 goals and 36 assists in 49 ECHL games, playing a real energy role on the team.

He ends with 41 helpers, which gains the notice of Colorado Eagles, who sign him to bring him “home” to an AHL deal for 2023/2024.

For the entire season, he is sent to play for affiliate Utah Grizzlies and blows up scoring as a 2nd year league player with 24 goals and a monster 47 assists in 67 games.

He’s stretching and signs with HK Ducla Trencin of Slovak Extraliga to try his hand at a higher rung of hockey, just overseas.

In maybe a bit of a surprise decision, he decides to head to HockeyAllsvenskan and signs with Sodertalje SK for 2025/2026 after recording very close to point-per-game numbers last season.

After 13 games with 1 goal and 5 assists, he is wooed by Pelicans of Liiga to come skate maybe a little more aggressively.

Augustus Magnus College Falcons‘ senior defenseman Charlie Risk(44) will take his game to France2 and signs with Mont Blanc for 2023/2024.

He had a college hockey best 5 goals last season, but had his best totals as a junior with 19 assists and 23 points.

The 5’9″ 165 lbs. blue liner from Medicine Hat, AB did a couple of junior seasons up north with some decent results.

At 24-years old, he may be ready for the next pro adventure and should do ok where he is heading.

He scores 1 goal and 10 assists in 23 games and decides to return to hockey a little closer to home, signing with Huntsville Havoc for 2024/2025.

With 5 goals and 33 assists in 53 games with a +3 rating, he earns the eyes of Maine Mariners, who sign him to a 2-way ECHL deal for 2025/2026.

He is reassigned back down and scores 3 assists in 5 SPHL games with a +7 rating and he eyes a new opportunity for maybe some better hockey overseas he wants to explore and signs with SC Riessersee of Germany3.

8th year net minder Connor LaCouvee(1) is off to a hot start in his 2nd Tipsport Extraliga season for Vici Zilina, 2025/2026.

The 6’1″ 201 lbs. goalie is 9-3 in 12 games with a 2.03 GAA and .932 SV%.

From Qualicum Beach, BC, he did his senior year at Minnesota State University Mavericks and 3 at Boston University Terriers, going 23-6 in his final year with a 1.80 GAA through 31 games.

The 31-year old has spent the better part of 5 years in the league.

University Of Vermont Catamounts‘ senior, Finnish-born captain, center Joel Maata(21) took a college best 9 goals and 18 assists in 37 games with a +5 rating to a 1st pro contract back home in Liiga with TPS.

He has become their assistant captain.

The 6’2″ 205 lbs. forward did 2 years of USHL before college.

In 19 games with his new team, he has 5 goals and 4 assists.

He was an Edmonton Oilers‘ 7th round pick in the 2022 draft (#222 overall), but was left unsigned.

Ohio State University Buckeyes‘ graduate, captain defenseman Will Riedell(24) played a couple of AHL games with Lehigh Valley Phantoms after graduating, but signs for his rookie season 2022/2023 with the brand new Savannah Ghost Pirates.

He didn’t put up many points last season, but was always good for at least getting on the scoring sheet every other game or so, as a junior and senior with Lake Superior State University Lakers.

At 6’2″ 194 lbs., the blue liner plays a shut down style and left college as a +22 player.

The 26-year old from Greensboro, NC should find plenty of room to play his game and contribute points in the ECHL.

After 15 games, recording 4 assists with a +4 rating, the fairly sizable d-man gets loaned up to San Jose Barracuda and in 20  games only grabs 1 tally, but the team likes what they see and recently sign up for the remainder of the frame.

He moved onto Calgary Wranglers in the next frame and split time with Rapid City Rush.

In his 3rd season, he would re-sign with the Ghost Pirates, but leave late, signing with EHC Munchen.

Despite recording no points, he is wanted for the upcoming season, 2025/2026 with Fischtown Pinguins.

He actually decides to play his hockey closer to home and signs with Savannah Ghost Pirates.