Category: Europe

6th year right wing Matt Salhany(2) returns on a deal with Jacksonville Icemen for 2022/2023 after scoring big for Sonderjyske in 2 years (one shortened) and 41 games in Metal Ligaen.

He left after running up some good totals for Adirondack Thunder, scoring 25 goals and 26 assists in 62 ECHL games.

The 5’10” 179 lbs. forward has mostly come to life as a pro.

He only ever did 7 goals and 13 points in 34 games for University Of Alabama-Huntsville Chargers as a senior captain.

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.

For 2024/2025, he heads to Ligue Magnus, signing with Spartiates de Marseille.

He basically a point-per-game player last season in France and for 2025/2026, he will return home, signing a 1-year deal with Adirondack Thunder.

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.

The 6′ 187 lbs. blue liner commits to Gustavus Adolfus College Golden Gusties for 2025/2026.

He came over early to Canada for high school.

Almost oddly, he appeared in 1 Division3 game back home before juniors.

The 20-year old will do well at his school.

American International College 2021/2022 commit, defenseman Alex Tertyshny(59) will challenge for a roster spot when he arrives for training camp.

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.

Only figuring into 1 game as a freshman, he ups and leaves for Stonehill College Skyhawks.

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.

 

–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.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=q9c7wGmYpqk

9th year right wing Rocco Grimaldi(28) was unable to chase down an NHL deal for 2022/2023, so has decided to sign a 1-year AHL deal with San Diego Gulls to keep his game going.

The small 5’6″ 160 lbs. forward surpasses the 300 games played mark in the league this season and is already on top of scoring with 6 goals and 11 assists in 15 games.

He once scored 30+ goals, once 20+ and 3 times 10+ and also struck for 10 goals in 2 seasons in the upper league and also had 21 assists in his best showing for Nashville Predators, where he spent 4 campaigns.

The 29-year old, 3-year University Of North Dakota Fighting Hawks may not be done, but we’re a little surprised the Anaheim, CA native hasn’t left for some overseas action in say Sweden, instead of playing kind of close to home.

After putting up point-per-game numbers for his current out of playoff contention team, he gets a trade to Rockford Icehogs, who are in a battle for the last spot in their division.

For his 10th season 2023/2024, he signs a 1-year contract with Chicago Wolves, which should be a lot of fun for him.

Despite running up point-per-game numbers with 73 of them, he signs only a pto with Cleveland Monsters for 2024/2025.

Well, after 6 goals and 17 assists in 15 games, as the team leading scorer, they grace the 31-year old with a 1-year contract.

In 66 games, he records a career high 41 assists, but will take his game elsewhere for a 1st time in his pro career, signing a 1-year deal with SKA St. Petersburg for 2025/2026.

Colgate University Raiders‘ graduate, captain defenseman Reid Irwin(43) scored a new college best 6 goals and 17 points in 32 games last season, which he took to a 1st pro contract with Wichita Thunder and scored a 1st ECHL goal and assist in 9 games.

The 6’1″ 198 lbs. blue liner decides to sign with Belfast Giants of the EIHL for his official rookie year, 2025/2026.

From Victoria, BC, the 25-year old transferred from 2-years at University Of Denver Pioneers.

He did 3 years of junior hockey.

Alvernia University Golden Wolves‘ senior defenseman Logan vande Meerakker(46) takes a college best 14 goals and 19 assists in 27 games with a +24 rating to a contract for his rookie season, 2024/2025 with Evansville Thunderbolts.

He joined them upon graduation and didn’t register a point in 3 SPHL games, but then popped for 2 goals and 1 assists in 5 playoff matchups with a +1 rating.

The 6′ 209 lbs. solid blue liner from Dieppe, NB should do well in a full frame and it’s possible the 24-year old gets loaned up.

After an outstanding frame, scoring 18 goals and 19 assists in 54 games with a +4 rating, then another 7 points (4-3) in 7 playoff matchups, he will take these numbers over to the NIHL and signs with Swindon Wildcats for 2025/2026.

7th year defenseman Sam Jardine(21) leaves for overseas hockey a 2nd time, this time signing with Bratislava Capitals of IceHL for 2021/2022.

Originally a 6th round pick by Chicago Blackhawks in 2011 (#169 overall), he initially signed a one-year minor league deal with affiliate Rockford IceHogs to stay in the system but was sent further down for most of his rookie campaign.

The almost deceptively built 6’2″ 209 lbs. d-man has played 228 ECHL games and won a pair of Kelly Cups: 2017 and most notably 2019 in a great run with Newfoundland Growlers.

He’s also had 4 AHL contracts and played 71 games.

The Lacombe, AB native spent 2019/2020 overseas with Cardiff Devils of the EIHL, not scoring a load of points (15) but was a nice +24 rating for on-ice accountability.

He decided to spend 2020/2021 a little closer to home after confirming a return to England, and, inked with Greenville Swamp Rabbits, where he exploded for a personal best 41 assists and 44 points in 67 games.

The 29-year old, former 3-year, 10+ assist man at Ohio State University Buckeyes will likely do well in Austria’s 6 nation league.

As said, he excelled pretty well with a pair of goals and 4 assists in 14 games with a +2 rating to gain a look from HIFK of Liiga, so will head to Finland.

For 2022/2023, he went to skate in England’s top league for another spell with Cardiff Devils and although he may have not scored a ton of points, was an accountable +7.

He decides to return to the states for 2023/2024 and will come back to the Swamp Rabbits, where he recorded his greatest assist total.

Spending a bit more time on loan to Calgary Wranglers, he finishes up the year and has decided to return to Austria to sign with Fehervar AV19 for 2024/2025.

He actually has a change of attitude and signs in the Senior AAA Alberta league with Lacombe Generals, probably to just play some hockey somewhere to keep in shape.

For 2025/2026, he’s making a big return and signs with Idaho Steelheads.

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.

He would go to IceHL last season, but he maybe would do quite as well as he wanted and will head to a team, where he will likely be very useful, Belfast Giants for 2025/2026.

7th year left wing Daniel Ciampini(12) started the season in Czech Extraliga, but failed to connect and split after 8 games with only a single goal and heads to IceHL, joining HC Bolzano for the remainder of 2021/2022.

In 7 games, he has 3 goals and 2 assists.

The 5’11” 185 lbs. forward has played 116 AHL games for 4 different clubs, scoring 13 goals and 18 assists with a +8 rating.

In the ECHL, he’s almost a point-per-game playing with 46 goals and 87 assists in 142 games.

The former Union College, 2014 NCAA Division 1 Champion, was a great scorer, especially as a junior and senior before turning pro with Worcester Sharks.

At 31-years old, he’s likely still just happy to be playing hockey at a high level.

After a decent little frame in Austria, he leaves to sign with Sheffield Steelers, which proves to be great landing ground, as he stays for 3 seasons, signing on 2024/2025, winning the 2024 EIHL Championships and walking away with a career high 34 assists last frame.

He plays a 3rd successful frame scoring in the league, but maybe at 34-years old, he thinks it’s time to move on from the ice, so retires a Steelers.

 

3rd year center Mason Emoff(17) will take his game over to Italy2, signing with Pergine Sapiens for 2025/2026.

The 5’10” 171 lbs. forward did pretty well, intially with Fayetteville Marksmen before loans called him up most successfully with Greenville Swamp Rabbits, where he had 2 goals and 4 assists in 10 ECHL games.

He went back to SPHL for playoffs.

After successful climbing the EHL junior program, he would head to Mahattanville College Valiants, where he struck for a best 11 goals and 13 assists in 26 games as a senior captain.

From Orangeville, ON, we think the 27-year old excels where he is heading.