Category: Europe

25Aug

Seth Barton (27)

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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.

23Aug

John Stevens (16)

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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.

23Aug

Mark Cheremeta (24)

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Sacred Heart University Pioneers‘ Belarus-born, graduate left wing Mark Cheremeta(24) signs a 1st pro deal for 2024/2025 with ECHL team, Kalamazoo Wings.

The 5’11” 185 lbs. forward also played 3 years at Ohio State University Buckeyes and as a freshman with Boston University Terriers.

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.

For 2025/2026, he going to head home to Belarusian Extraliga and signs with Dinamo Molodechno.

18Aug

Wayne Simpson (21)

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wayne-simpson

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 2015 Kelly 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.

17Aug

Matt Salhany (2)

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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.

17Aug

Gregor Jennersjo (2)

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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.

16Aug

Alexander Tertyshny (59) with a Twitter interview 5/16-23

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

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

14Aug

Rocco Grimaldi (28)

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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.

11Aug

Reid Irwin (43)

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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.

10Aug

Logan vande Meerakker (46)

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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.