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.
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.
12th year center Joey Martin(88) gets back to his team of 6 seasons, Cardiff Devils after a couple COVID years away to play one successful Stavenger Oilers‘ Norway and one Austria’s IceHL Graz 99ers before returning for 2022/2023.
The 5’10” 185 lbs. forward played two seasons for Toledo Walleye, fresh out of 4 years at University Of Nebraska Huskers, where he served as senior captain and was always a solid performer.
He signed for his third season with Stockton Heat and took a ride to the Kelly Cup Finals before bowing out and was a point-per-game performer.
The Thorold, ON native has been loaned up to the AHL in each of his campaigns, probably doing best in his last, skating 9 games with Bridgeport Sound Tigers, tallying 2 goals an 2 assists.
He has always scored big in the league, 20+ goals and just under 40 assists a year and is a 4-time EIHL Champion with the team.
The 33-year is likely just glad to get back to where he knows playing pro hockey at a high level.
As assistant captain, he records yet again another amazing frame, scoring 22 goals and 34 assists, which is still good for only 5th overall points he has scored with the team.
Quite obviously he is offered an 8th year to return to the Devils core for 2023/2024.
RIT Tigers‘ 2023/2024 commit, Czech-born net minder Jakub Krbecek(31) started an outstanding 51 NAHL games for Philadelphia Rebels last season, posting a 25-23-1 record with 2.54 GAA and .927 SV%.
The 6’2″ 180 lbs. goalie did most of his youth and junior hockey back home before coming over for 1 year before school.
We expect the 20-year older will step up his play in Atlantic Hockey.
University Of Alaska-Fairbanks Nanooks‘ 2023/2024 commit, Norwegian-born center Filip Wiberg(41) takes a strong 2nd season with Maine Nordiques, scoring new NAHL junior bests 17 goals and 32 assists in 60 games with a +26 rating, then added another 7 points (2-5) in the playoffs.
He did most of his youth and some juniors, then actually playing a couple pro games for Frisk Asker and in the lower league before coming here.
The 6’2″ 201 lbs. 21-year old forward should do well with his college club’s schedule.
Long Island University Sharks‘ Finnish-born senior center Santeri Hartikainen(26) goes pro for 2023/2024 and signs with Kiekko-Vantaa.
The 6’2″ 195 lbs. forward oddly isn’t much of a goal-scorer with no goals and 3 assists in 22 games last season.
His best stake in college hockey was in his sophomore year at Robert Morris University Colonials, scoring 5 goals and 9 assists in 22 games during the COVID shocked 2020/2021 run.
He had outstanding success in high school and his 1 NAHL session for Corpus Christi IceRays at 24 goals and 29 assists in 59 games.
For his junior year, he played at American International College Yellowjackets, appearing in just 6 games.
We think the 24-year old from Helsinki, FI finds room to move and pocket more points in Finland’s tier 2 league, Mestis.
After two very solid seasons with Allen Americans‘ 3rd year center Joshua Lammon(40) is moving on, signing with Cardiff Devils of the EIHL for 2021/2022.
The 6′ 190 lbs. forward scored 22 goals and 47 assists in 130 ECHL games with a +35 rating.
He was similar through 4 years at Mercyhurst University Lakers, serving as team captain as a senior, grabbing 35 goals and 39 assists with a +24 rating.
Even through a quick 9 games after graduation with Florida Everblades, he struck for a tidy 2 goals and 4 assists.
There’s little doubt the 25-year old from Jackson, MI will find his openings to score points.
In the new overseas league, he was able to essentially strike at the same rate as he did in the previous 2 seasons, getting 9 goals and 7 assists in 35 games with a +3 rating.
He takes that experience and brings his game back, signing with Kansas City Mavericks for 2022/2023.
We’ll see where his game goes.
He is impressive with 11 goals and 20 assists in 63 games with a +13 rating, that he will take with him in the offseason to a new experience, hooking up with the AIHL to suit up for Sydney Bears, which should prove to be a lot of fun.
Miami University (Ohio) Redhawks‘ 2023/2024 commit, Latvian-born center Ray Vitolins(26) took a season away from college and skated a full USHL frame for Green Bay Gamblers, running up the scoresheet with 22 goals and 27 assists in 55 games after two full runs at University Of Vermont Catamounts.
Maybe when the 6′ 187 lbs. player arrived at Hockey East, it was a bit more than he was ready for following just a half season of juniors and some Latvia’s top league with HS Riga.
He will likely be more ready for the NCHC schedule his new team pulls.
