Category: Europe

26Jan

Hugo Reinhardt (13)

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Rookie center Hugo Reinhardt(13) heads home to Sweden signing for 2020/2021 with Timra IK of Allsvenskan after 4 years at American International College, which follow a single USHL campaign for Fargo Force after undergoing most of his earlier hockey with Frolunda HC.

The 5’11” 201 lbs. forward had 5 goals and 3 assists with a +3 rating in 51 games as a rookie, heading into the qualifiers.

We think it would be almost bizarre if the 24-year didn’t build his game and play himself into a contract in the upper SHL before too long.

For 2022/2023, he leaves Sweden for the EIHL and signs with Dundee Stars.

We think his game will find more success in this league.

He scores a bit of a disappointing 5 goals and 9 assists with a -23 on a team that struggled for wins and will next take his game to Ligue Magnus, agreeing to 2023/2024 with Anglet Hormadi.

After 24 games with only 3 goals and 3 assists and a dreadful -17 rating, he ups and leaves for the new BeNe Liga, joining Liege Bulldogs for the remainder of 2024 on the schedule.

23Jan

Jake Witkowski (83)

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Canisius College Golden Griffins‘ transfer portal, graduate right wing Jake Witkowski(83) has made a good decision trading 4 seasons at Hockey East, Boston University Terriers for Atlantic Hockey.

in 6 games, he almost unbelievably has outpaced anything he did previously, as those became his first college tallies.

The 5’10” 180 lbs. forward played 4 years at Malden Catholic High, which was near to where he was born in Melrose, MA,

He would leave for a year at Avon Old Farms School, lighting it up for 13 goals and 27 assists in 27 games, then head off to the BCHL.

Signed for his only junior campaign with Alberni Valley Bulldogs, he continued to gain notice with 23 goals and 17 assists and agreed to head to his first school.

It will be interesting to see what the 25-year old ends up with and where he looks to take his hockey next.

He scores a college career best 5 goals and 6 assists in 32 games with a +6 rating and signs a rookie contract with Pensacola Ice Flyers just as the season starts.

In 2 SPHL games, he has an assist.

He will likely find room in this league to put the puck in the back of the net.

After 9 games last season, scoring 2 goals and 1 assist, he leaves for the 2nd tier league NIHL, signing with Leeds Knights and putting up a bundle of points, 46 (16-30) in 26 games.

He waits a tiny bit, but re-signs to head back to the small English town team for 2023/2024.

21Jan

Alex Wideman (10)

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7th year pro, right wing Alex Wideman(10) takes a solid season for Denmark’s Rungsted Seier Capital, getting 13 goals and 28 assists in 47 games en route to a 2021 Metal Ligaen Championship to a new opportunity in Ligue Magnus with Bordeaux.

It’s the small 5’8″ 168 lbs. forward third year overseas, producing as he did through 244 ECHL games, potting 76 goals and 128 assists.

The St. Louis, MO native played his college hockey for Miami University (Ohio) Redhawks, and as a 29-year old should continue to be able to take his game higher for at least the next few years.

After a solid frame in France, scoring a career 2nd best 36 assists in 43 games, he decides to return home in 2022/2023 to the team he’s played over 120 games with, Indy Fuel.

He scores a career high 50 assists last season and waits out signing for the new frame a little, before deciding to return to Cincinnati Cyclones to try to get up past 100 games played with that team.

19Jan

Aaron Miller (17)

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3rd year right wing Aaron Miller(17) returned home after 2 years away, first in Finland’s tier 2 Mestis, then in Ligue Magnus, connecting very decently in both spots on the scoresheet.

The 5’9″ 172 lbs. forward initially signed with Wichita Thunder to come back, but was eventually dealt for the last 5 ECHL games to Norfolk Admirals, where he has 1 goal.

He played 4 years at Bemidji State University Beavers, where he twice was a 10+ goal scorer and assists.

The 28-year old from Superior, WI did 2 years of prolific scoring in the NAHL with Minnesota Wilderness.

05Jan

Taylor Brierley (2)

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Defenseman Taylor Brierley(2) decided to enter the transfer portal and leave 4 years at Union College Dutchmen, where he didn’t get to play in 2020/2021 for Wilkes University Colonels.

From a scoring perspective it worked wonders as he struck for 3 goals and 22 assists in 24 D3 games.

The 5’10” 175 lbs. blue liner had 10+ assists through 2 years of USHL juniors, most recently with Dubuque Fighting Saints.

He will take his new scoring prowess to a deal with Chambery of France2.

The 25-year old from East Grand Forks, MN seems to be starting a little low on the pro hockey chain, but look for him to move up quickly.

In 12 games, he scores 3 assists, but decides to head back, closer to home, signing again with Birmingham Bulls, scoring 1 goal and 6 assists in 17 SPHL games with a +19 rating, which gets noticed and loaned up to Fort Wayne Komets, quite a nicely ECHL landing spot.

21Dec

Jake Fuss (13)

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Rookie right wing Jake Fuss(13) will take 4 SPHL games for Huntsville Havoc, scoring a 1st pro goal off to a new adventure, signing for the remainder of 2023/2024 in BeNeLiga with EG Diez-Limburg Rockets.

The 6′ 170 lbs., former University Of New England Nor’easters‘ twice 10+ goals and high 20+ assists scorer will likely do very well in this Belgium/Netherland-based league.

From Fairfield, CT he blew up scoring in the EHL before getting drafted into the NAHL, where he did also 1 successful 20+ goal and assist year before heading to school.

The 25-year old likely just wants a good spot to play some pro hockey.

30Nov

Andy Welinski (45)

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Calgary Flames‘ 6th year defenseman Andy Welinski(45) has been spending time in 2021/2022 with affiliate Stockton Heat, putting up 2 goals with 12 assists and a +11 rating, helping a very good team win.

The 6’1″ 205 lbs. blue liner could easily score himself an NHL recall.

He played 14 games last season for a 2nd time for original entry level contract club Anaheim Ducks and maybe didn’t get any points, but was a nice +4 rating.

The former University Of Minnesota-Duluth Bulldogs averaged 6 goals and 10+ assists a season.

He also won the 2012 USHL Clark Cup Championship with Green Bay Gamblers before heading to school, so has that in his hockey pedigree.

At 28-years old, he only taking small bites off the apple for contracts and that just could be the way it plays out for him.

For 2022/2023, he signs a new 1-year, lucrative 2-way deal with New York Rangers, but will likely spend the majority of his time working with the youngsters for affiliate Hartford Wolf Pack.

He was a very solid plus player through regular season and playoffs.

Although he never appeared with the main club, he becomes a piece of trade bait at the deadline and is shipped to Chicago Blackhawks, where he could actually play in a game or two.

After 8 games with Utica Comets, he is waived and not long after, for a first time signs overseas with Lowen Frankfort of DEL to continue.

29Nov

Johnny Walker (7)

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Arizona State University 5-year graduate right wing Johnny Walker(7) takes a few solid years of scoring to a 1st pro contract with Utah Grizzlies for the remainder of 2021/2022.

The 6’1″ 185 lbs. forward was a fairly decent scorer through 4 years of junior hockey and won the 2017 Clark Cup Championship with Chicago Steel, stepping things up nicely with 16 goals and 13 assists before adding another 5 points in the playoffs.

From Phoenix, AZ, the 25-year old should be able to connect for points in the ECHL.

After scoring 2 goals and 2 assists in 11 games on an ato with a +3 rating, he becomes almost a no-brainer to sign up for a complete season look.

He scores 12 goals and 6 assists in limited 33 game use as a rookie and decides to pursue more ice time, signing a 1-year deal with Dundee Stars for 2023/2024 and will likely strike pretty well with the scoresheet in the EIHL.

After 8 games with 1 goal and 1 assist, he decides to leave and returns home to sign with Allen Americans.

24Nov

Dominic Cormier (58)

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4th year defenseman Dominic Cormier(58) switches up 15 games in EliteHockey Ligaen with Stjernan Hockey to signing with Sheffield Steelers.

The 5’11” 187 lbs. from Moncton, NB has done 2 strong ECHL sessions with Reading Royals before eventually leaving.

He played 4 years in the QMJHL before heading to University Of Ottawa Gee Gees for only 1 season before turning pro.

The still young 25-year old already has 2 assists in his 1st 2 EIHL games.

24Nov

Travis Oleksuk (13)

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10th year center Travis Oleksuk(13) didn’t last long in the EIHL with Sheffield Steelers (5 games, 2 assists) and has decided to return to IceHL, where he has basically spent the last 5 seasons since coming over from a 1-year AHL deal with Hartford Wolf Pack, signing with rivals Villacher SV.

He spent 2 years with HC Bolzano Foxes and 3 to Graz99ers and won the 2018 EBEL Championship with his initial club.

The 6′ 200 lbs. forward signed an entry level deal with San Jose Sharks to start his pro career after 4 years at University Of Minnesota-Duluth Bulldogs, including a breakout campaign as a senior assistant captain with 21 goals and 32 assists with a +24 rating.

It would not be outlandish to just see the 32-year old retire and then coach in the Austria pro league.

Well, apparently he’s not done yet, after putting up 8 goals and 11 assists in 30 games, he decides to head to Germany3 and signs with Starbulls Rosenheim for 2022/2023.

After scoring quite well, almost to the tune of point-per-game numbers, he waits and finally signs with rivals, Hannover Scorpions and will likely continue to do well.