Originally an Ottawa Senators‘ 3rd round pick in 2007 (#90 overall), he was in their system for a couple of sessions, but left unqualified and signed the next year with Reading Royals.
He would last only 24 games before leaving for his 1st of 6 frames in Germany’s top hockey.
At 33-years old, the Toronto, ON native is likely just still having fun.
After 3 seasons of point-per-game scoring with Cincinnati Cyclones, he decides looking back on some 265 ECHL games and 216 in DEL Germany is quite enough and will at now 36-years old ease into a special team coaching role with his former, still current team.
The 6’4″ 217 lbs. blue liner has never been exactly the biggest point scorer through 4 years at Mercyhurst University Lakers, but did connect for a junior hockey high 19 assists and tying 24 points in 45 CCHL games in his 4th frame before heading to school with Kemptville 73s.
From Metcalfe, ON, the 24-year old should be able to elevate his game in the ECHL.
He will return to South Dakota for 2022/2023 after scoring 2 goals and 8 assists in 43 games with a +3 rating, then adding 4 assists through 11 playoff contests.
Multiple loans up to Tuscon Roadrunners, where he skated 16 games with no points, but was decently enough steady.
We expect everything to go just that much better in his 2nd year.
Through 50 games, he basically mirrors his rookie point production with the same club, but for 2023/2024, he gets himself traded to Wheeling Nailers and we shall see if that changes anything.
We think it might.
After 3 games with no points, he gets himself dished to a perfect location for the big forward, Utah Grizzlies.
In 52 games, his scoring pops some with 2 goals and a new best 14 assists, but he is looking for something new, different, so signs with Nottingham Panthers of the EIHL for 2024/2025.
The 5’11” 187 lbs. forward had 8 assists in 25 games last season.
He actually played 2 SHL games and 8 Hockeyettan before coming over for NAHL junior hockey, where he skated for Fairbanks Ice Dogs, so is returning at his new school.
His old school was taking their program down to the D3 compete level.
We think the 24-year old does well with his new club in familiar surroundings.
Detroit Red Wings‘ 3rd round pick in the 2018 draft (#81 overall) defenseman Seth Barton(49) was signed to a 2-year entry level deal after completing his third season at UMass-Lowell Riverhawks in a very COVID cut short 2020/2021.
The very decently sized 6’3″ 185 lbs. blue liner from Kelowna, BC played a year in Canadian juniors for Trail Smoke Eaters of the BCHL putting up 27 assists in 49 games before reporting to college.
It looks as though the 21-year old reports first to affiliate Grand Rapids Griffins, but his play could gain him a look early from a team that has struggled in 2020/2021.
He skates most of his 2nd season in the system up, but gets reassigned late to Toledo Walleye, finishes the season strong with 8 points in 10 ECHL games, then adding another 13 points (1 goal, 12 assists) in 13 games in the playoffs.
With no qualifying offer to stay, he becomes an unrestricted free agent, signing a 1-year AHL deal with Hartford Wolf Pack for 2023/2024.
He starts the new season with Cincinnati Cyclones, but after just 1 game spies a new deal he is going after, a 1-year deal to sign with KooKoo and play his hockey in Liiga for the near future.
In 10 games, the big back liner scores his 1st Finnish goal and adds 5 assists with a +8 rating to earn a +1 next to his contract for 2024/2025.
After 1st full season, in 55 games scoring 6 goals and 13 assists with a +6 rating and next he will head to the SHL and signs with Malmo Redhawks for 2025/2026.
5th year center John Stevens(16) has maybe started to find his footing with new team Abbottsford Canucks, scoring 3 goals and 3 assists in 22 AHL games.
He signed a one-year, two-way NHL deal with parent club, Vancouver Canucks after producing well for former affiliate Utica Comets in the weird 2020/2021 frame.
The 6’3″ 204 lbs. forward had his best season as a rookie with 19 points in 66 games for Bridgeport Sound Tigers, while under a 2-year entry level deal to New York Islanders.
He was a 3-time 20+ point player and once, as a junior 30+ for Northeastern University Huskies was maybe some of his highs, but we think the 27-year old is ready to start connecting at a higher clip.
We think the 27-year old scores an oddball recall in 2022 for his chance at the big league.
He may have not grabbed that recall, but he did run up a career best 19 goals and 24 assists with a +11 rating to secure a 2nd season under a major contract for the now 28-year old.
While he didn’t score a recall for his 6 goals and 13 assists in 43 games last season, he was still steady as she goes per usual on his playing style with a +5 rating to earn himself a 2-year minor league deal going forward.
After 4 seasons with Abbotsford Canucks and to win the 2025 Calder Cup, he is finally after 8 pro seasons heading off to try something new, signing in Liiga with Kiekko-Espoo for 2025/2026.
He came over as a teenager and elevated his game as a junior player to connect big in his only UPSHL/NCDC frame before school.
At 25-years old, he should do pretty well in the league.
In his rookie frame, he grabs a 1st goal and 2 assists in 14 games, but is dished to Orlando Solar Bears, where he should strike better for points.
He bounces around as a 1st year player and ultimately ends up with Worcester Railers, where he is able to strike for 3 goals and 1 assist in 9 games with a +3 rating.
Providence Bruins‘ undrafted 4th year right wing Wayne Simpson(21) is having himself a career year and that’s after only being with the team on a pto to start.
Signed to an spc one month in, he already has 7 goals and 11 assists with a +10 rating in 22 AHL games, which is only one tally off his season high set last year with Portland Pirates and may even eclipse the 28 helpers he dished in 2015/2016.
The 5’11” 194 lbs. forward was a solid performer on the stat sheet in his final three years at Union College grabbing 30+ points per campaign and a pair of NCAA/ECAC Championships in 2012 and 2013.
He started his pro career with two seasons for South Carolina Stingrays playing 131 ECHL games, scoring 22 goals as a rookie and a best 39 assists, 55 points as a sophomore skater and a +19 rating.
In an almost unprecedented move, when postseason rolled around he blew the lid off the score sheet grabbing a league high 25 assists, 38 points and +20 rating losing the 2015Kelly Cup Championship in game 7.
At 27-years old a guy that’s had to continuously prove himself and earn every inch he’s got looks to just be getting started and may even play his way into a first big league contract for 2017/2018.
After a 6th season with ERC Ingolstadt of continued scoring and some 276 games in DEL, he decides at age 35, it’s time to adopt a new role.
The 29-year old should find some really good scoring footing with his new club and recently competed in the debut 3Ice Hockey Tournament and came out winners on Team Trottier.
From Warwick, RI, he scores big in a 2nd frame for Aalborg Pirates, where he won the 2023 league championship in his 1st year with the team.
South Shore Kings‘ 1st year Swedish-born defenseman Gregor Jennersjo(2) put up a mighty 39 assists last season in the USPHL/NCDC after a largely unsuccessful year scoring in another league.
A former assistant captain with Northeast Generals, he managed to score new career highs 6 goals and 25 assists in 57 NAHL games with a modest +1 rating on a non-playoff club.
The 6′ 170 lbs. d-man did a pair of years in junior hockey over in Russia’s MHL with Belye Medvedi Chelyabinsk and did alright with points but was a nice +13.
He only left near the onset of his 2nd season back at his 2nd home before coming over to skate for Corpus Christi Icerays but that experiment went south, so he got himself a trade and once in MA, things started improving big.
While he gets into 30 games, he scores 4 assists with tough +/- on a team that didn’t win much.
He would only get into 9 games as a junior, but decides to leave 1 year of school on the table to accept a contract back in Russia VHL with Chelmet Chelyabinsk for 2025/2026.
Alex and I did a Twitter interview on May 16, 2023:
–Can you explain what happened with your time at AIC? I think if I have my info right, you got injured in a preseason game during your freshman year. Did that keep you out of the season or did you just have a hard time cracking the lineup at that point?
So yea, freshman year, we had a scrimmage some pro alums came out, got into a battle with one of them, things got heated and I got dragged to the ground twisting my ankle backwards and spraining it pretty bad. Rest of the year was pretty much a wash after that happened, got a bit healthy and was able to get a game in although not 100%. Otherwise, it was a year of soaking it all in, learning from the guys, watching how they carry themselves.
–It lists you as playing one Yellowjackets’ game. Is that correct?
Yes, one game.
–Why did you take a transfer year and not play?
I was at AIC the start of the year and I felt good, worked a lot on my body that summer and got stronger. Felt great in preseason and going into it. However, my mom got sick, my dad is not longer around and I have two younger siblings so it was very hard for her. Elected to comeback home, use the year as a transfer year and be there for my mom and my family as I felt it was just bigger than hockey. Mom is doing well now! Family is good. Honestly just very happy and relieved she is okay.
–What was the reason for wanting to head to Stonehill College Skyhawks?
Main reason is the opportunity, wanted to get a fresh start, although I am very grateful to Coach Lang, he helped me at AIC and he helped me get to Stonehill which I’m very appreciative of. For me I just need to have a great two years here, get back on track. My pro rights are with Traktor Chelyabinsk of the KHL and they want to see me develop and play a significant role where I’m at and I believe this opportunity at Stonehill will allow me to do just that and hopefully join Traktor in the future.
–It’s close to where you played with the Generals, so did you know of the school back then?
I had a couple of friends of Choate (my high school) go to the Stonehill and they said they loved it. So I had heard of it, but them becoming a D1 independent school definitely magnified the school for me as an option as it’ll allow me to work towards my goals.
–That was a year or 2 before they declared D1. I think they’re schedule will really help you get back into your game.
Yes, this years schedule looks exciting, David and Darrel Borges really want to put Stonehill on the map, and I’m very excited to be a part of helping them achieve what they want to achieve along with building on the culture they want to build.
–Do you feel healthy to get started in a few months?
Yes, although I’ve been home, I’ve been working very hard on my body and my game. I know these next two years are very crucial for me and I am beyond grateful for the opportunity David and Darrel Borges have given. Currently just putting myself in the best position to deliver for them and their program.
The 21-year old will definitely look to continue to shine and is the next subject of our video feature: one question interview.
