Category: Europe

27Jul

Colton Saucerman (23)

Posted in College Hockey Player, Europe, Juniors, Minor League Deal | Leave a comment

7th year defenseman Colton Saucerman(23) returns from a couple successful seasons overseas, 1st in IceHL, then Slovakia Extraliga to sign with Allen Americans for 2022/2023.

He’s a veteran of 191 ECHL games and 41 in the AHL with + numbers in both leagues.

The 5’9″ 194 lbs. blue liner played his college hockey at Northeastern University Huskies, coming over from his home in Colorado Springs, CO.

At 30-years old, it’s a bit of a wonder if he’ll stick around or split for different experiences.

He puts up a 2nd career best 33 assists last frame, but now at 31-years old, eyes another new experience across the board, signing for 2023/2024 with Sheffield Steelers to play in the EIHL.

For a 2nd straight season he will stay put in Sheffield for his 9th campaign of play and signs for 2024/2025.

After 2 seasons of performing well for 1 team, he makes a rival switch for 2025/2026, signing with Coventry Blaze.

27Jul

Connor Welsh (59)

Posted in College Hockey Player, Europe, Juniors, Minor League Deal | Leave a comment

Trois Rivières Lions‘ rookie defenseman Connor Welsh(59) managed to do pretty well for himself despite playing on a non-playoff team with 2 goals and 18 assists.

The 5’11” 164 lbs. blue liner skated 2 years of BCHL junior hockey before heading off to 4 seasons at Dalhousie University Tigers, where he twice amassed 15 assists.

From Halifax, NS, the 25-year old is still getting his legs under him as a pro.

Worcester Railers see something they can use in the small-ish d-man and sign him up for 2023/2024.

He takes a 2nd ECHL season scoring 7 goals and 22 assists and will be back in a Railers‘ jersey for 2024/2025.

As a d-man, he explodes for 49 assists last season, which he is going to take to a new challenge in Slovak Extraliga, signing a 1-year deal with HK Dukla Michalovce for 2025/2026.

25Jul

Justin Danforth (17)

Posted in College Hockey Player, Europe, Free Agent Signing, Juniors, Minor League Deal | Leave a comment

Undrafted fourth year right wing Justin Danforth(17) played with three teams after completing his studies at Sacred Heart University Pioneers on ato’s before signing his first contract with the last club he skated for, Rochester Americans.

The small-ish 5’9″ 185 lbs. forward played most of his rookie campaign for affiliate Cincinnati Cyclones putting up a pile of points (28-31-59 in 44 ECHL games) with a +26 rating and taking home 2017/2018 Rookie Of The Year honors.

He was smart to take these outstanding numbers overseas agreeing with Luuko of Finland’s Liiga for his first trip outside of North American hockey and was able to put up a best 34 assists in a season, then following it up with another campaign as assistant captain for a career and league high 60 points and another +26.

The Oshawa, ON native took that experience to a new venture, heading to the KHL to skate for Vityaz Podolsk and he would go on to score a blazing 23 goals and 32 assists with a +3 rating, which has caught the attention of Columbus Blue Jackets.

They sign the 28-year old to his first NHL deal, a one-way contract for 2021/2022 and he is fully expected to make the opening night roster.

He was actually sent to affiliate Cleveland Monsters to open 2021/2022 and has gone right to work, grabbing 2 goals and 3 assists in 8 AHL games, earning him a first recall from the parent club.

In his debut, he skated a conservative 11 shifts for 7:23 ice time with 2 shots on net in a 5-3 win.

He has found himself some space and is scoring decently for 5 goals and 2 assists in 22 games and a +2 rating to earn himself a nice two-year extension to continue.

In the 1st year of his new deal, he tears his labrum and is reduced to just 6 games in the frame, but he did manage 2 goals and 1 assists with a +4 rating.

His tenacity earns him another year for 2024/2025 in a Blue Jackets‘ sweater worth a tidy $1.1M AAV to add to the kitty.

After 2 seasons of 20+ points scoring, the unrestricted free agent gets a 2-year add at $1.8M AAV with Buffalo Sabres and his head must be spinning a little.

24Jul

Ethan Prow (12)

Posted in College Hockey Player, Europe, Free Agent Signing, Juniors, Minor League Deal | Leave a comment

After a super strong showing for EHC Munchen, scoring 4 goals and 16 assists in only 26 DEL games with a +18 rating, 6th year defenseman Ethan Prow(12) nets a 1-year NHL deal from Buffalo Sabres for 2021/2022.

It’s the 6′ 185 lbs. blue liner’s first big league deal after 220 AHL games, with his best season coming in his 3rd for Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins, scoring a crazy 18 goals and 32 assists.

He originally left for Germany’s top league with a +32 plus/minus.

The former St. Cloud State University Huskies‘ d-man scored 30 assists to go along with 8 goals and a +29 as a senior.

It’s likely he’s destined for reasignment to affiliate Rochester Americans, but the 28-year old could be ready for a look in the show.

And he does some scoring business in the minors to merit a first game in the show, in which the now 29-year old scores a 1st NHL goal on a 1st shot.

For his 9th season, he simply returns to where he’s been playing his hockey for a 1-year deal with the Amerks.

After 4 years playing hockey in the same place, he for a 1st time jumps to an overseas opportunity, signing with Grizzlys Wolfsburg in DEL for 2025/2026.

23Jul

Ben Sokay (24)

Posted in College Hockey Player, Europe, Juniors, Minor League Deal | Leave a comment

After taking 2020/2021 off, post graduating from Niagara University Purple Eagles, rookie center Ben Sokay(24) becomes one of the initial signings for new club, Iowa Heartlanders.

He finished up school on a high note, scoring 11 goals and 11 assists in 33 Atlantic Hockey games.

The 6′ 170 lbs. forward committed to college after a decent first frame with Wellington Dukes, which he followed up posting blow away junior numbers 30 goals and 34 assists in 52 OJHL games.

At just 24 years old, he should be able to step it up in the ECHL.

In his 1st season he potted 12 goals and 12 assists in 58 games, but was also a bit of a downside -12 rating.

He will take his game overseas next, joining Dundee Stars for 2022/2023.

Doing very well scoring, despite a bad +/-, he took his game to the Polish Hockey League, signing with GKS Katowice, where he stayed for 2 10+ goals and assists years.

For 2025/2026, he will take leave to Ligue Magnus and comes to terms with Les Jokers de Cergy-Pontoise.

22Jul

Eamon McAdam (37)

Posted in College Hockey Player, Europe, Juniors, Minor League Deal, NHL Draft Pick | Leave a comment

6th year net minder Eamon McAdam(37) finds a good deal to split for Metal Ligaen, joining Esbjerg Energy in 2021/2022.

Originally a New York Islanders‘ 3rd round pick in the 2013 draft (#70 overall), he signed a three-year entry level deal after completing his 3rd year at Penn State University Nittany Lions and mostly languished through equal time between affiliates Bridgeport Sound Tigers and their ECHL partner putting together ok numbers.

He was traded to Toronto Maple Leafs in the final campaign of his contract and once again did equal time in the pair of minor leagues.

The sturdy 6’3″ 198 lbs. goalie was left unqualified and signed an AHL deal with Binghamton Devils, but was sent for the duration of the session to Adirondack Thunder, starting a career high 40 games.

He almost seemed to come to life more last season with Jacksonville Icemen, going 4-2-2 with a best 2.53 GAA and .915 SV%.

The 27-year old should find more new life in Denmark’s top hockey.

He takes some conservatively good numbers to his next opportunity, signing for 2022/2023 with Guilford Flames of the EIHL.

After 3 seasons with one team in the league, he branches out to join rivals Sheffield Steelers for 2025/2026.

21Jul

Cole Donhauser (23)

Posted in College Hockey Player, Europe, Juniors, Minor League Deal | Leave a comment

Yale University Bulldogs‘ senior left wing Cole Donhauser(23) takes a new, modest college best scoring 6 goals and 7 assists in 27 games with a +1 rating on a terrible team to a 1st pro contract with Coventry Blaze for 2023/2024.

The 6′ 195 lbs. forward should find room in the EIHL to score more than he has in school.

From Kenmore, NY, he played only 1 BCHL season for Chilliwack Chiefs.

The 23-year old is likely ready to get started.

Through 7 games, he nets 2 assists, but may be yearning for hockey a little closer to home, so signs for the remainder of 2024 with Idaho Steelheads.

He lasts just 2 games there and is traded to Greenville Swamp Rabbits.

After a not so amazing 2023/2024, he signs on for what he hopes is his rookie season with Worcester Railers, 2024/2025.

He does come to play with his new club, scoring 10 goals and 19 assists in 71 games and is easily invited to return a Railers for 2025/2026.

21Jul

Ronny Paragallo (19)

Posted in College Hockey Player, D3, Europe, Juniors | Leave a comment

Assumption University Greyhounds‘ senior center Ronny Paragallo(19) takes a 2nd season of 20+ assists to a 1st contract in France2 with Courchevel-Méribel-Pralognan Bouquetins for 2025/2026. 

The 5’10” 176 lbs. forward scored a college best 23 goals and 25 assists in 32 games as a junior with a +19 rating.

From Huntington, NY, the 23-year old went straight from his 2nd USHS-Prep to college.

19Jul

Mathew Bodie (22)

Posted in College Hockey Player, Europe, Free Agent Signing, Juniors | Leave a comment

10th year defenseman Mathew Bodie(22) re-signs to stay on for a 4th season with ERC Ingolstadt after scoring 4 goals and 21 assists in 40 DEL games with a +30 rating.

He had 1 year stints in both the KHL and SHL after coming over from an AHL year for Syracuse Crunch, while under a Tampa Bay Lightning deal scoring a new best 31 assists, which matched his Union College Dutchmen high as a senior.

Undrafted, the 6′ 175 lbs. blue liner was originally signed to 1-year contracts by New York Rangers for 3 campaigns to start his pro career.

From East St. Paul, MB, the 33-year old has to be happy to still be playing his game.

After a 5th season, serving as assistant captain and still producing points, he decides after 208 DEL games, 287 AHL and 154 NCAA, he decides to retire, but we don’t think he will be too far from hockey.

19Jul

Nick Jermain (18)

Posted in College Hockey Player, Europe, Juniors, Minor League Deal | Leave a comment

2nd year right wing Nick Jermain(18) brings his pro game closer to home for 2021/2022, signing with Kalamazoo Wings.

He maybe a little oddly spent 2020/2021 skating for Coventry Blaze, getting a strange 1 goal and 12 assists in 13 EIHL games.

The 6′ 174 lbs. forward skated 4 years for Quinnipiac University Bobcats, scoring a college career high 12 goals and 21 points as a senior.

He was also a solid point getter at the Brunswick School, peppering the net with 30 goals and 60 assists in 80 USHS-Prep games.

The Cos Cob, CT native almost oddly agreed to play for Connecticut Oilers, but detonated the stat sheet with 36 points in 38 games, then added another 13 points in 11 contests en route to the tier 3 junior, 2015 EHL Championship.

He would smartly move onto a campaign with Merritt Centennials pocketing 29 goals and 25 assists in 54 BCHL games before heading to school.

The 25-year old will easily bring some compete to his new club.

He actually doesn’t take up with the team he signed with and instead Fort Wayne Komets have him in a jersey for 28 games until he is traded to Maine Mariners, where he stays for about a year before heading overseas again to Slovak Extraliga.

For the next frame, he would do similar, signing in the ECHL first before leaving to Ligue Magnus.

Last season, he spent an entire campaign in Maine, scoring 6 goals and 10 assists, which for 2025/2026, he will take his game to DEL2, signing with the new team Blue Devils Weiden.