Category: Europe

13Mar

Rob Hamilton (65)

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6th year defenseman Rob Hamilton(65) trades in the remainder of his 2-year AHL deal with Colorado Eagles to sign a similar pact to Traktor Chelyabinsk through 2024.

The solid 6′ 194 lbs. blue liner played his way up from originally agreeing to ECHL deals, almost literally the same way he is entering his new deal in the KHL.

A former 4-year University Of Vermont Catamounts, he came alive scoring as a senior with 10 goals and 11 assists in 38 games.

The 28-year old from Calgary, AB may just get comfortable in his new hockey environs.

Through 9 games in 2023/2024, he records only 1 assist and is a -4, which must have made his club antsy, as he gets dealt to Dinamo Minsk.

His game curves much the way it did when he 1st arrived, but even better with 4 goals and 19 assists with a +15 rating in 54 games, then another 3 assists in 3 playoff games and he gets re-upped to Minsk for another 2 seasons through 2025/2026.

01Mar

Ben Finkelstein (28)

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Boston College Eagles‘ 2nd year defenseman (transferred from St. Lawrence) Ben Finkelstein(28) is off to a hot start as a rookie with his new club, Greenville Swamp Rabbits.

In 18 ECHL games, he’s grabbed 4 goals from the point and 13 assists with a solid +4 rating on a team that has been somewhat of a discovery mode for this odd season.

The 5’9″ 181 lbs. blue liner could easily gain a look on loan to an AHL team.

Through 35 games as a rookie, he scored 11 goals and 21 assists with a +11 rating, and got signed up by Toronto Marlies, but played the entire 2021/2022 frame with Newfoundland Growlers, where he equaled his 11 goals, but exploded his assists to a league best 51.

His good play has given him a new AHL deal with Iowa Wild for 2022/2023, but we doubt he’ll be assigned lower for his sophomore effort.

After managing his way into only 6 games with his new team, recording 1 assist, he has decided to push off and join Vienna Capitals for the remainder of the season, and we think the d-man’s game will be well-suited for Austria’s top league, the IceHL.

He scores 10 goals and 14 assists in 23 games to earn a new deal with Eisbären Berlin and is heading to Germany to play in DEL.

After 15 assists in 37 games, the 26-year old decides to retire, based on personal reasons that we are sure will surface eventually, but it’s a sad day for the former Eagles.

29Feb

Declan Bronte (21)

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Franklin Pierce University Ravens‘ Australian-born, sophomore defenseman Declan Bronte(21) 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.

21Feb

Matt Tennyson (7)

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10th year defenseman Matt Tennyson(7) has appeared in NHL games now 9 of 10 years playing professional hockey, as he just gets his first summons from new 2-year contract club, Nashville Predators.

In his 2021/2022 debut, he skated 18 shifts for 12:50 of total ice time, with one assist, 2 penalty minutes, 2 hits, 1 giveaway and left a 5-2 win a +1 rating, which he followed up with a 2 assist appearance, giving him 3 helpers and a +2 since his return.

He has appeared in 168 games in the big league.

The 6’2″ 203 lbs. blue liner spent 3 years at Western Michigan University Broncos before signing his entry level deal with San Jose Sharks, where he stayed in the system for 4 campaigns.

He has also played 335 AHL games to his credit, and had a healthy 3 goals and 8 assists in 30 games prior to his recall.

The 31-year old probably has a little smile on his face that he still gets to do this.

For 2022/2023, he signs a minor league deal with Coachella Valley Firebirds, putting him pretty close to where he started his pro career in San Jose Sharks and close to home.

He will be an awesome leader here.

No doubt, he shines in his new role and scores a career high 18 assists, helping take his young squad all the way to the Calder Cup Finals.

He decides to wait a long while before making a new decision, where to turn next and at 33-years old he will test the waters overseas, signing with HC Lugano of NL for the remainder of the 2024.

20Feb

Mike O’Leary (9)

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2nd year left wing Mike O’Leary(9) re-signs to stay with Hartford Wolf Pack for a third overall AHL contract with the team.

He played in roughly 3/4 of the games last season as a rookie, getting a goal and 2 assists in 16 appearances.

The 6’1″ 200 lbs. forward finished 4 years at University Of Notre Dame Fightining Irish with a college high 9 goals and 23 points in 37 games.

Heading into his first season that should seemingly be pulled off unencumbered may see him settle into some scoring.

In 53 games, he was able to notch 6 goals and 5 assists, and will take that to a next opportunity, a 1-year minor league deal with Iowa Wild for 2022/2023.

He takes his scoring up to a new level with 12 goals and 15 assists in 66 games, but in the current frame only has 3 assists in 40 contests.

Likely feeling pretty agitated, he moves on for a completely new experience, signing with Ilves of Liiga in hopes of finding that scoring touch once again, in Finland.

07Feb

Garrett McFadden (27)

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Reading Royals 2nd year captain, defenseman Garrett McFadden has decided to take his game to SlovakExtraliga for 2023/2024, signing a 1-year deal with HK Poprad.

He had 6 goals and 35 assists in 71 ECHL games with a +13 rating last season.

The 5’11’ 181 lbs. blue liner skated 5 years in the OHL, 2 as captain of Guelph Storm and even signed an ato with Laval Rocket, grabbing an AHL assist.

He would next head off to a degree program at Acadia University Axemen, where he stayed for the next 4 years.

With 1 goal and 18 assists, he decides to leave for Czech Extraliga, joining HC Energie Karlovy Vary.

03Feb

Hayden Shaw (82)

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Undrafted 4th year defenseman Hayden Shaw(82) takes 3 AHL contracts for Manitoba Moose and solid play in the ECHL for Trois-Riveries Lions last season, scoring 6 goals and 17 assists with a +5 in 33 games, then added another 5 points in 7 playoff contests to a 1-year deal with Nurnberg Ice Tigers of DEL for 2022/2023.

The 5’11” 194 lbs. blue liner is an accountable force, maintaining a +33 rating through 4 years at University Of North Dakota Fighting Hawks.

A Woodbury, MN native, the26-year old should do well in Germany’s top league.

In 46 games, he puts in 7 goals and 11 assists, which is good enough to secure him another year for the Ice Tigers.

He is liked in the town of Germany and signs up to stay through 2024/2025 and be an Ice Tigers.

03Feb

Stevie O’Connor (17)

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2nd year left wing Stevie O’Connor(17) switches up teams, going over and maybe up slightly, signing with Kalix HC of Hockeyettan after starting a 2nd season for JHT Kalajoki in Suomi-sarja, the 3rd tier league in Finland.

He heads to Sweden’s similar level league.

The 6′ 190 lbs. forward from Marshfield, MA did 4 years at Wesleyan University Cardinals, only scoring decently as a senior assistant captain.

He did 1 season juniors with Boston Jr. Bruins USPHL/NCDC after graduating high school at Milton Academy.

The 25-year old is out there exploring pro hockey options quite nicely.

02Feb

Nolan Vesey (11)

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3rd year center Nolan Vesey(11) is off to his best start with a pair of goals and an assist in 5 ECHL games with new contract club, Worcester Railers.

The North Reading, MA native sort came home to a degree, signing with the close to home team for 2021/2022.

A one-time Toronto Maple Leafs‘ 6th round pick in the 2014 draft (#158 overall), he was chosen after an exceptional one year of junior hockey for South Shore Kings USPHL Premiere team, and then went on to attend University Of Maine Black Bears for 4 seasons, but never signed.

He was three times a 10+ goals and 10+ assists player in Hockey East.

The 6′ 185 lbs., 26-year old forward seems to be a bit of an underachiever, considering his brother Jimmy is a full-time NHL skater.

After throwing in a career high by a long shot 12 goals and 28 assists with a +13 rating in 62 games as assistant captain last season and a 3-game loan up to Springfield Thunderbirds, he decides to stick around in central MA for a 2nd run.

He posts a career best 13 goals last season in the lower league, but his eyes are open for opportunities leading in his next stage and he maybe a tiny bit oddly late signs with DVTK Jegesmedvek of Erste Liga for the remainder of the frame.

31Jan

Tyler Hinam (20)

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2nd year right wing Tyler Hinam(20) re-signs to stay with Maine Mariners for 2022/2023 after a decent successful rookie season, scoring 8 goals and 13 assists in 31 ECHL games with a +7 rating.

The Cole Harbour, NS native played 4 successful season with Rouyn-Noranda Huskies winning both the 2019 QMJHL and Memorial Cup Championships.

At 6’1″ 194 lbs., he’s a bit of a power forward.

For the next two seasons, while COVID loomed, he decided to attend Arcadia University Axemen, but only managed to skate 3 USports‘ games.

The 23-year old should see some loans up to the AHL in his future if he can continue scoring.

He did get loaned up to Belleville Senators for 4 games, scoring 1 assist.

For 2023/2024, he branches out and signs with Manchester Storm of the EIHL, where he should see his game reach new heights.

He has wracked up 12 goals and 13 assists in 29 games with a +3 and is a fan favorite to earn him a new deal to stay in Manch through 2025/2026.