Category: Europe

24Oct

Francis Marotte (35)

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Allen Americans‘ rookie net minder Francis Marotte(35) is enjoying a very decent first season posting a 6-3-1 record on a club that’s one of the better ranked in the ECHL for 2020/2021.

The former Clarkson University Golden Knights portal transfer from 3 previous years with Robert Morris University Colonials posted huge numbers as a senior for his new team, 23-8-3 record with a measly 1.78 GAA and .938 SV%.

A Quebec native, he did a few years of junior hockey in Canada, starting out in the BCHL, but after one season agreed to a pair of campaigns for Nepean Raiders of the CCHL, where he found his future school.

He did get himself on New York Islanders‘ radar and signed a deal with the team, but it’s thought to possibly be an AHL deal, as he did appear in a pair of dates for affiliate Bridgeport Sound Tigers.

The 26-year old re-signs to finish the job in Texas, as he ended last campaign 8-3-1 with a 2.54 GAA, .917 SV% and 1 shutout.

After ascending to the radar of Anaheim Ducks‘ and scoring an invite to their training camp, he was invited to continue with affiliate San Diego Gulls‘, where he scooped himself a 1-year AHL contract for 2021/2022.

He played a career best 8 games up, but was mostly reassigned to the ECHL with affiliate Allen Americans.

For 2022/2023, he decides to spread his wings a bit signing a 1-year deal with Dundee Stars, where he should be a leading goalie on more than one occasion.

15Oct

Erkka Vanska (40)

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Finnish-born left wing, Erkka Vanska(40) should easily be commended for heading across the pond at age 16 to first attend school for a pair of years in Quebec before heading to the US to skate a season with Iowa Wild 18U AAA, where he amassed some points to gain the notice of Fairbanks Ice Dogs.

The 5’11” 168 lbs. forward was big in his 2nd NAHL season, scoring 19 goals and 36 assists in 60 games with a +19 rating before committing to Holy Cross College Crusaders.

He would spend 4 seasons at the school, but did not skate games in his final 2 frames.

For 2022/2023, he heads home to sign with Gladiators HT of the tier 2 Il-divisioona.

11Oct

Jachym Kodelik (29)

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Nashville Predators‘ 4th round pick in the 2018 draft (#111 overall), Czechia-based center Jachym Kodelik(29) signs a 2-year NHL  entry level deal after completing his 4th year as senior captain at University Of Connecticut Huskies.

The massive 6’6″ 226 lbs. forward finished up last year with a college career best 12 goals and 21 assists for 33 points with a +6 rating that made it to the Hockey East Final before bowing out in overtime.

He skated 2 AHL games with affiliate Milwaukee Admirals on an ato at the end of last campaign, but didn’t connect.

We think the still super-kind of young to graduate college, 22-year old will be finding ways to score points for 2022/2023.

10Oct

Brendan Walkom (9)

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Bentley University Falcons‘ graduate left wing Brendan Walkom(9) maybe a little conservatively signs for 2022/2023 with Bees IHC of England’s tier 2 league NIHL.

The 6′ 190 lbs. forward scored pretty well in his 1st NAHL junior season and equaled his 14 assists in his 2nd in the USHL for Madison Capitals, but didn’t maintain that in college, but still played a full hard battle game.

From Moon Township, PA, the 24-year old should find some great success in this league.

04Oct

David Warsofsky (55)

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12th year defenseman David Warsofsky(55) switches up a decently good season for ERC Ingolstadt to signing with DEL rivals Augsburger Panther 2022/2023.

The veteran of 55 NHL and 476 AHL games, he wracked up a pretty amazing 195 assists through 11 seasons in the direct affiliate league.

Originally a St. Louis Blues‘ 4th round pick in 2008 (#95 overall), his signing rights were traded to Boston Bruins, where he agreed to a 3-year entry level deal upon leaving Boston University Terriers after 3 sessions and a 2009 NCAA Division 1 Championship.

The 32-year old from Marshfield, MA has to be happy about still playing some amazing hockey and earning a good living from doing so.

30Sep

Peter MacArthur (16)

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Undrafted 13th year center Peter MacArthur(16) hangs up the skates after another good season with close-to-home Clifton Park, NY, Adirondack Thunder to become their fourth head coach for 2022/2023.

The 37-year old finishes up having played 190 AHL and 265 ECHL games.

He went away to play overseas for a few years, settling for 2 sessions with Augsburger Panther, 2 in EBEL with a couple famous clubs and 2 in Italy.

The 5’10” 185 lbs. former, senior Boston University Terriers‘ captain will make a great coach with all the playing experience he brings to the table.

30Sep

Anthony Peters (30)

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8th year net minder Anthony Peters(30) takes a 2021 Slovak Extraliga Championship, letting just about nothing by him for HC Slovan Bratislava to a new deal in the same league with HK Poprad for 2022/2023.

The 6’1″ 193 lbs. former 3 year OHL, then 4 years at St. Mary’s University Huskies with an outstanding senior year and deep playoff run has appeared in 51 AHL games and 116 ECHL.

He has very good stats in the lower league, 70-35-5, 2.60 GAA and .910 SV%.

The 31-year old from Blyth, ON has played in 4 different leagues overseas, but seems to be settling nicely where he is.

29Sep

John Albert (14)

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12th year center John Albert(14) stays with Toledo Walleye for a 2nd season after scoring an ECHL best 24 goals and 24 assists for 48 points last season.

The one-time Atlanta Thrashers‘ 5th round pick in the 2007 draft (#165 overall) has only played 9 games with original contract club, Winnipeg Jets, scoring his only NHL goal in the process.

He has played in 339 AHL games with 4 different teams.

The senior captain at Ohio State University Buckeyes has twice gone overseas, but only skated a full season once with Karpat of Liiga.

At 33-years old, 5’11” 179 lbs. Cleveland, OH native is home to play his pro hockey nowadays.

27Sep

Andrew Hammond (35)

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Undrafted 9th year goaltender Andrew Hammond(35) was signed last season with Minnesota Wild, but never made it from their taxi squad practices to a game, yet was given another season to rejoin the system.

It’s his 2nd stint with the team, circling back in just a year’s time after signing with Buffalo Sabres.

For his last pair of seasons played, he’s averaged exactly 33 AHL games in net, sporting similar numbers.

The former Bowling Green State University Falcons net minder signed as an unrestricted free agent with Ottawa Senators.

After spending most of his rookie season with affiliate Binghamton Senators, he did earn one tell-tale appearance subbing for the parent club.

The 6’1″ 231 lbs. goalie earned his stripes as a sophomore skater, gets recalled, pressed for duty and comes away with the victory, and it just didn’t stop.

He posted a 20-1-2 record to propel the Sens into the playoffs.

His theatrics earned him a 3-year with a $4+M hit, but his game would start to slip under a rebuilding team.

At 33-years old, the White Rock, BC is likely very happy he’s still able to prove the Hamburglar has still got game.

Well, he was recently traded to Montreal Canadiens and recently got his turn, posting a 3-0 mark, then barely over a month in with his new club is on the move again, dished to New Jersey Devils, another team not looking good for a playoff run.

It’s not a tough decision for the 10th year net minder to head off for 2022/2023, signing a 1-year deal with Traktor Chelyabinsk for 2022/2023 and should find his fortunes in the KHL will be better.

25Sep

Jarrett Burton (36)

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Undrafted 8th year center Jarrett Burton(36) will try his stick far away from Echo Bay, ON signing a one-year deal for 2021/2022 with Stavenger Oilers of Fjordkraftligaen.

The 6′ 185 lbs. forward last skated for Iowa Wild in 2020/2021, scoring 4 goals and 5 assists in 34 AHL games, taking his total up to 253 through 6 years in the league.

His scoring was elevated in the league of his first contract, the ECHL, with his only club Wheeling Nailers, where he was good for 33 goals and 47 assists in 118 games.

The former Clarkson University Golden Knights‘ assistant captain as a senior twice scored 20 points in Atlantic Hockey play.

Already 30-years old, he may just want to go experience other worlds of the sport before heading off the ice.

After putting up a career best 22 goals and 28 assists in 44 games, then hitting for another 12 points in 15 playoff games en route to the 2022 Norwegian Championship, he has decided that is enough pro hockey for him and retires from the game at a nice peak.