Category: Europe

27May

Jake Stella (28)

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Swedish-born senior left wing Jake Stella(28) leaves 3 years at American International College Yellowjackets for something maybe a bit more challenging in the 2022/2023 schedule of UMass-Lowell Riverhawks.

The 5’11” 185 lbs. forward skated his youth hockey and some juniors at home, but came over initially playing with South Shore Kings for a season before switching to Corpus Christi Ice Rays of the NAHL as assistant captain, where he picked up his college commit and some solid scoring (21-17-38).

He posted college career high marks in 2021/2022, potting 12 goals and 16 assists with a +10 rating in 37 NCAA Division 1 games.

The 23-year old should continue to improve, even with some very tough ice ahead of him.

He actually scored decently as a senior with 4 goals and 9 assists, playing Hockey East schedule and added a graduate session, as team captain.

Finishing up playoff hockey, he signs a pro contract with Rapid City Rush, where in 8 ECHL games he has 1 assist with a +1 rating.

He thanks for east for the hockey experiences, but is heading back home to sign Tingsryds AIF of HockeyAllsvenskan for 2024/2025.

For 52 games, he struggles with on-ice accountability, but rebounds nicely in the playoffs with 3 goals in 7 games and a +4 rating.

He will take this success to a new opportunity in Ligue Magnus, where he signs with Jokers de Cergy-Pontoise for 2025/2026.

24May

Nick Hutchinson (12)

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5th year center, Nick Hutchinson(12) maybe pulls a surprising move, leaving the captaincy at Wheeling Nailers to head back to Europe, signing with EV Landshut of DEL2.

He leaves after 9 ECHL games, scoring 1 goal and 2 assists with a +4 rating.

The pretty big 6’3″ 210 lbs. forward always had 10+ goals and assists through 4 years at Canisius College Golden Griffins.

His best scoring season was his 1st with his recent former team, where he was well over a point per game player.

It’s possibly he goes into the tier 2 league and gets elevated to the top level.

He takes an amazing frame of 12 goals and 13 assists in 22 games to a new opportunity in IceHL, signing with Villacher SV for 2025/2026.

22May

Corey Mackin (81)

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4th year left wing Corey Mackin(81) trades in a decent 1st season overseas for HC Vita Hasten, skating 51 Allsvenskan games, scoring 13 goals and 18 assists for a new look in IceHL with HC Innsbruck.

The twice former Ferris State University Bulldogs‘ captain, who scored exactly 10 goals and 15 assists 3 of his 4 college seasons, had two solid ECHL campaigns, originally with close-to-home Reading Royals before leaving.

He’s not big at 5’8″ 165 lbs., but gets involved in all plays and won a 2014 BCHL Championship with Coquitlam Express in his 1st session after arriving from home in Philadelphia, PA.

The 27-year old should light up Austria’s top hockey nicely.

After scoring 11 goals and 29 assists in 44 games with a +4 rating, he is invited to for a 3rd season, don a Sharks‘ jersey.

In 40 games, he has 20 points, but is a miserable -20 rating, so decides to leave and try DEL2, signing with Eispiraten Crimmitschau for the remainder of the frame.

After coming over for 14 games in the regular frame for point-per-game play, then better in the playoffs, he will be retained by Eispiraten with a new contract for 2025/2026.

20May

Tyler Carpenter (28)

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University Of Notre Dame Fighting Irish senior left wing Tyler Carpenter(28) scored only 1 goal and 1 assist last season in 38 games with a -14 rating.

The 5’11” 185 lbs. forward had his best college scoring year as a junior with 5 goals and 4 assists.

He did 3 campaigns of USHL juniors before schools.

From Palatine, IL, the 24-year old started in the Chicago Mission program.

For his rookie season, he signs with Yetis du Mont-Blanc of France2.

18May

Justin Richards (14)

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New York Rangers signed undrafted, unrestricted free agent center Justin Richards(14) to a two-year entry level deal after he completed his third season at University Of Minnesota-Duluth, where he helped the team win consecutive NCAA Championships in 2018 and 2019.

He scored a career high 14 goals in 24 games in 2020/2021.

The 5’10” 188 lbs. forward was originally reassigned to affiliate Hartford Wolf Pack.

In his AHL debut, he introduced himself to his new club with a pair of assists and went on to grab 4 goals and 7 assists in 24 appearances with a +3 rating before his recall.

He was little different in his first game up posting a 1st NHL point, an assist after winning a face-off, through 18 shifts for 10:11 total ice time in a 5-4 win to close out the season with no playoff push.

For his rookie season, he would spent it entirely in the minors.

Left without a qualifying offer, he next signs with Cleveland Monsters on a minor league deal that gets boosted by agreeing to terms with parent club, Columbus Blue Jackets.

He appears in a pair of games and grabs a 2nd assist.

Next up, he would head to Rochester Americans for 2023/2024.

For 2024/2025, he’s made probably one of his best decisions, moving forward, signing a 1-year deal with Dusseldorfer EG of DEL.

He’s maybe a little light on the scoresheet through 44 games, but has a terrible minus rating that has him looking elsewhere for his next pro hockey and he signs Fehervar AV19 of IceHL, which is a great landing spot.

18May

Lars Rodne (10)

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Niagara University Purple Eagles‘ Norwegian-born senior left wing Lars Rodne(10) signed with Adirondack Thunder, scoring 1 goal and 1 assist in 4 games, but is released as they have no playoffs.

The 6′ 181 lbs. forward gets signed to an ato with Wheeling Nailers to help their playoff push.

He did most of his youth hockey and some juniors back home, but came across for 2 NAHL sessions, scoring well.

We look for the 24-year old to do decently.

In 2 regular season games, he records 1 assist, but has no points in 2 playoff matchups.

For his rookie season 2025/2026, he actually returns to Stavenger Oilers, a team he played 19 games for before coming over for juniors.

15May

Evan Stella (7)

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American International College Yellowjackets‘ Swedish-born, senior defenseman Evan Stella(7) signed with Bloomington Bison for 4 ECHL games, no points to end 2024/2025.

For his official rookie season he decides to head to Czech Extraliga, inking with HC Olomouc for 2025/2026.

He did his youth hockey back home and started junior before transferring to the USHL for 2 frames with Dubuque Fighting Saints.

We think the 24-year old does well in this tough to play in league.

10May

Adam Nedelka (14)

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Fitchburg State University Falcons‘ Czech-born, freshman defenseman Adam Nedelka(14) has 2 goals and 2 assists in 9 games to start 2023/2024.

The pretty big 6’3″ 216 lbs. blue liner switched up not really playing much in the NAHL to signing on with Boston Jr. Rangers, playing out the regular season, then 9 games with a goal in the playoffs to claim the 2023 EHL Championship.

At 21-years old, he is likely to settle nicely into his college career, and then might head back to play in the Czech Extraliga.

After just 1 college season, he is turning pro back home, just as we thought, signing with HC Dynamo Pardubice B of Czech2.

Looks like he will turn his attention to his 3rd league team, signing with HC Banik Sokolov for 2025/2026.