Category: Europe

5th year center Michael Huntebrinker(37) takes his point-per-game numbers for HC Innsbruck through 45 IceHL games with a +6 rating to a new adventure midseason to Switzerland tier 2 SL, joining HC La Chaux-de-Fonds for the remainder of 2021/2022.

The 5’11” 194 lbs. forward is a 4-time 40+ point scorer in the ECHL, ascending to a high last season with Florida Everblades to 46.

He spent four years at Minnesota State University (Mankato) Mavericks, leaving them with a college career high 18 assists and 22 points.

The 29-year old may just play himself up the ladder overseas.

His 34 assists were a league most last season and he helped his 2nd team to a deep playoff run, and for it decides to head to the competitive SlovakExtraliga, signing with HKM Zvolen for 2022/2023.

After a point-per-game season, getting 13 goals and a league high 37 assists in 50 games, he is quickly thought to re-up for 2023/2024 and continue with that scoring putting up career best numbers.

Apparently, the now 30-year is rethinking his path forward and has decided to retire.

University Of Alaska-Anchorage Seawolves‘ graduate net minder Nolan Kent(1) is set to turn pro and signs a 1-year deal with Coventry Blaze for 2023/2024.

The 6′ 191 lbs. goalie tend the cage for 4 seasons at Northern Michigan University Wildcats, posting his best totals as a sophomore, starting 30 games with a 13-11-1 record, a 2.86 GAA and .901 SV%.

From Chestermere, AB, the 24-year old played 2 years for Spruce Grove Saints, really shutting the door in his 2nd frame for a 15-4 record with 1.52 GAA and .933 SV% before going 12-1 to a 2018 AJHL Championship.

He will do well for the famed English club, if he can get some support around him.

13th year center Cory Conacher(10) initially played a couple of games for Belleville Senators, but that was short lived and is likely going to be more comfortable joining Charlotte Checkers for the remainder of 2023.

Undrafted, he was initially signed to a minor league deal and won the fantasy run 2012 Calder Cup for Norfolk Admirals.

The 5’8″ 185 lbs. forward was next signed for a pair of seasons on a 2-way deal with Tampa Bay Lightning, but traded midway through his debut campaign to Ottawa Senators.

They lost him in the 2nd year of his term to Buffalo Sabres, who claimed him off waivers.

He would next sign the 1st of 4 1-way NHL contracts with New York Islanders, but toiled more time in the minors.

The Burlington, ON native would leave for the NL, hooking up with SC Bern, striking for more than point-per-game numbers en route to a 2016 Championship.

He would return on nice deals for the next few runs with the Lightning before again returning to Switzerland to win more titles.

The 33-year old former Canisius College Golden Griffins standout is likely just smiling, still playing hockey.

In 15 games he grabs 4 goals and 5 assists with a +3 rating, then adds another 3 points in 7 playoff matchups.

For 2023/2024, he moves on in the league to sign with Chicago Wolves.

Middlebury College Panthers‘ graduate net minder Adam Wisco(1) goes pro and signs with KHL Sisak of the fairly new Croatian-based IntHL for 2023/2024.

The 6’2″ 190 lbs. goalie got his start after completing school last season with Watertown Wolves of the FPHL and didn’t fare so well on a team that sometimes struggled to win games (20-32-4).

There’s little doubt he was also coming from a school situation, where his team didn’t win nearly as many games as they dropped.

From Whitby, ON, the 24-year old will likely find his footing to get started as a pro in this league.

St. Lawrence University Skating Saints‘ Swedish-born, graduate goaltender Emil Zetterquist(1) takes fairly impressive numbers despite not winning records to a 1st pro contract back home with Vasterviks IK and will play games in HockeyAllsvenskan.

The 6’2″ 190 lbs. net minder played most of his junior hockey back home, but did come over for 1 NAHL season for Coulee Region Chill before committing to college.

From Stockholm, the 24-year old should do pretty well in Sweden’s tier 2 league.

St. Lawrence University Skating Saints‘ Finnish-born senior, left wing, captain Aleksi Peltonen(13) got a college career best 6 goals last season, but didn’t equal the 10 assists he recorded as a junior, and signs with HC Davos of NL for 2023/2024.

The 5’10” 179 lbs. forward came over quickly, playing Northwood School USHS-Prep, then 2 junior seasons split between NAHL and USHL.

He should be able to find some room to score in Switzerland’s top league.

11th year right wing Brodie Reid(21) spent last season closer to home pumping the scoresheet for Kansas City Mavericks, scoring 25 goals and 35 assists in 60 ECHL games, returning from 5 years in Austria’s EBEL, skating 2 campaigns with HC Bolzano, then 2 for Dornbirner EC and 1 at Villacher SV.

He was mostly a 40-point player in that league.

The 6′ 187 lbs. forward has decided to switch things up, agreeing to terms for 2021/2022 with Cardiff Devils and he’s just exploded the stat sheet with 9 goals and 1 assists in 6 EIHL games.

After only a year at Northeastern University, he turned pro on a 2-year entry level deal with San Jose Sharks that was extended once, but he was never recalled from affiliate Worcester Sharks, where he was a 20-point performer.

He would next sign late to join Elmira Jackals, but lasted only 9 games before he was loaned up to the AHL for the remainder of the session.

It was after that season, when the now 32-year old left for overseas and has stuck nicely with good success.

He comes off a career year for goals, 31 and points, 59 with his new club and decides to stay put for in Cardiff for 2022/2023.

After 2 successful seasons, he will push off for a new adventure, joining Ducs D’Angers of Ligue Magnus for 2023/2024.

9th year left wing Ben Lake(9) had an impressive 18 goals and 27 assists for 45 points in 52  games with a +27 rating on the way to a 2nd straight 2023 EIHL Championship with Belfast Giants.

That’s a no-brainer to re-sign the 33-year old, Calgary, AB native for 2023/2024.

The 5’11” 170 lbs. forward has spent time with 3 different teams in the league after coming over following 2 campaigns for Alaska Aces of the ECHL.

He did 3 AJHL seasons with Fort McMurray Oil Barons before committing to school.

We think the 50% UK native, former Sacred Heart University Pioneers graduate does well in another frame and looks to be setting himself up for a future coaching job.

7th year, German-born left wing Frederik Tiffels(95) trades DEL teams after a tremendous IIHF World Cup showing, where his country captured an unprecedented silver medal for which he contributed an overtime game-winner and a couple important assists.

The 6′ 201 lbs. forward signs for 2023/2024 with rivals Eisbaren Berlin after spending the last 2 at EHC Red Bull Munchen and Kolner Hale the 3 previous, when he first came over from only a single minor league season.

He started his junior hockey back home, but quickly came over with 2 USHL sessions before attending Western Michigan University Broncos for 3 years before turning pro.

The 28-year old still has lots left in the tank and continues to have good fun with his game.

8th year left wing Stephen MacAulay(81) will spend a 3rd & 4th season with Dusseldorfer EG after putting up a healthy 17 goals and 19 assists in 56 DEL games with a +17 rating.

He originally earned a promotion up from DEL2 after the 2020/2021 silly season with Loewen Frankfurt, but did manage 17 goals and 23 assists in 35  games with a +15, which earned him a look at the higher level.

The 6’2″ 187 lbs. forward originally skated 4 seasons in the QMJHL, mostly with Saint John Sea Dogs, where he won 2 Championships and Memorial Cups before heading to Halifax Mooseheads to win another pair of trophies.

He would next turn pro, but maybe wasn’t loving the results so enrolled in St. Marys University Huskies for the next 3 years.

Originally a St. Louis Blues‘ 6th round pick in the 2010 draft (#164 overall), he never signed, but did ink an AHL deal out of school with affiliate Springfield Thunderbirds.

Despite scoring some, he was sent down to affiliate Florida Everblades, where he would sign for the next frame and blow up scoring.