Hobart College Statesmen senior left wing Matt Iasenza(11) signs a 1st pro contract in France2 with Dogs De Cholet for 2025/2026.
The 5’10” 165 lbs. forward scored best as a freshman with 6 goals and 10 assists in 20 games.
He has been a part of 3 consecutive D3 Championships.
From Montreal, QC, the 25-year old did 2 years of NAHL juniors before college.
Miami University (Ohio) Redhawks‘ Slovakian-born junior left wing Artur Turansky(17) figured into only 11 games last season with 1 assist, so maybe decides to head back home to Slovak Extraliga and start his pro career, signing with HK Spisska Nova Ves for 2025/2026.
The 5’11” 176 lbs. forward did well through 2 years of NAHL juniors.
He has 2 assists in 11 games to start.
Merrimack College Warriors‘ Swedish-born sophomore defenseman Max Wattvil(9) enters the transfer portal to next skate at Roger Morris University Pioneers, as a junior in 2025/2026.
Coming over, he only skated 1 season of juniors before college, but did skate a few pro games in Hockeyettan, scoring a couple goals before heading over.
The 6’2″ 192 lbs. blue liner will likely skate a bit better in Atlantic Hockey.
Salem State University Vikings‘ English-born senior left wing Rais Francis(74) signs a 1st pro contract back home for his rookie season with Manchester Storm, 2025/2026.
In 4 EIHL games, he has yet to register a point.
The very big 6’6″ 220 lbs. forward had a college best 6 goals and tied his junior 11 points as a senior.
He initially committed to Lebanon Valley College Dutchmen after 2 years of cycling through 3 junior leagues and would stay there for 2 years before doing his junior frame at Western New England University Golden Bears.
We look for the 24-year old to settle in an catch on scoring.
7th year right wing Casey Bailey(93) re-signs with Iserlohn Roosters after putting up a 2nd 40+ point season.
The 6’3″ 194 lbs forward has twice earlier hit the 40+ mark, first as a junior at Penn State University Nittany Lions, then as a 3rd year AHL player for Bridgeport Sound Tigers.
At 30-year old, the Anchorage, AK native is definitely still hitting the ice hard.
After a 3rd season with the same club, putting up 39 points in his last frame, he signs for 2023/2024 with DEL rivals ERC Ingolstadt.
He leaves 4 years in the league for some new waters, signing with the famous Graz99ers of IceHL, which should be a good country for him to play in.
Through 46 games, he scores 15 goals and 12 assists, so does alright, but decides to come back and play a little closer to home, signing with Tahoe Knight Monsters for 2025/2026.
Albertus Magnus College Falcons‘ senior defenseman Nick Durajlija(38) signs a 1st pro deal in Finland’s tier 3 Suomi sarja, agreeing to terms for his rookie campaign with JHT Kalajoki, 2025/2026.
The massive 6’6″ 236 lbs. blue liner didn’t exactly burst his scoring slump, but did register 2 assists through 17 games.
From Hamilton, ON, we look for the 26-year old to play himself up over there, if he is looking for that.
6th year German-born center Daniel O’Regan(11) gets a new 1-year, 2-way deal from Anaheim Ducks for 2021/2022.
The unrestricted free agent signed a 1-year deal with Vegas Golden Knights last season and put up point-per-game numbers for affiliate Henderson Silver Knights.
Originally a San Jose Sharks‘ 5th round pick in the 2012 draft (#138 overall), he’s been a prolific scorer since he arrived to ultimate graduate St. Sebastian’s School before committing to 4 years at Boston University Terriers, where he scored 154 points (66-88) in 154 Hockey East games.
His dad Tom O’Regan took a similar path through school.
The 27-year old will likely be pivotal to affiliate San Diego Gulls‘ success.
Mid-season he is moved to Grand Rapids Griffins and his scoring takes flight with 14 goals and 17 assists in 39 games.
For 2023/2024, he will take his 1 NHL goal to a new adventure, signing with MoDo Hockey and we think he finds comfort in scoring in the SHL.
He scores just 4 goals and 8 assists in 34 games with a -9 rating, but Kunlun Red Star see something and sign him to a 1-year KHL deal for 2024/2025.
Through 65 games, he scores pretty well, but lacks some on-ice accountability and next decides to head to DEL, where he signs with Schwenninger Wild Wings for 2025/2026.
RPI Engineers‘ Latvian-born senior defenseman Arvils Bergmanis(38) played a college most 35 games, scoring a new high 4 goals and 4 assists.
The 6′ 190 lbs. blue liner scored best as a sophomore at University Of Alaska-Fairbanks Nanooks with 17 assists and 19 points.
He did youth hockey at home, but played 3 years of junior hockey in Russia and got into 3 KHL games.
For his rookie season, the former National league played signs a 1st ECHL pro deal with Rapid City Rush, 2025/2026.
13th year center Brian O’Neill(91) will skate the SHL for his 1st season, signing with Lulea HF for 2024/2025 after 2 NL frames for EV Zug.
Upon leaving North American pro hockey, the 5’9″ 172 lbs. forward spent 6 years in the KHL for Jokerit.
Undrafted, he played his 1st 3 seasons in Los Angeles Kings‘ system, winning the 2015 Calder Cup with affiliate Manchester Monarchs, getting voted MVP amongst other awards.
He would next be traded to New Jersey Devils, scoring 22 NHL games, getting 2 assists.
The 2-time Yale University Bulldogs‘ 20-goal scorer and 3-time 20+ assists for the former captain did 1 USHL year Chicago Steel before school.
We think the 35-year old still has some hockey to prove.
Off to a hot start in 2025/2026, he is rewarded with a 3-year deal to stay with Lulea HF.
Kansas City Mavericks‘ rookie defenseman Noah Delmas(24) is having a season that maybe exists a little below the radar as he’s on a team that’s still in the hunt but currently at the bottom of their division and he has only tallied a goal and 3 assists through 26 ECHL games.
The 6′ 195 lbs. blue liner was named team captain for Niagara University Purple Eagles, but failed to connect as he did as a sophomore and junior, when he scored 25 assists in both frames and even potted 15 goals in his third year.
He was a 2018 invite to Toronto Maple Leafs‘ development camp.
Playing most of his junior hockey with close to home club Aurora Tigers of the OJHL, the Newmarket, ON native did come down for 17 USHL games with Bloomington Thunder after committing to college, it didn’t last and he headed back for a bit of a playoff push with his former team.
It’s likely the 25-year old will continue in the league he accepted but also wouldn’t be out of the question for him to get a few nods at AHL life.
He signed on for another tour with his 1st pro club and in 32 games, had new best marks of 2 goals and 7 assists with a +2 rating, but he decided to head off to the EIHL, signing for the remainder of 2021/2022 with Manchester Storm.
In 18 games over in England, he grabbed 2 goals and 2 assists, but was a bit of a lowly -8 rating.
He is welcome “home” though, signing a 1-year deal with Worcester Railers for 2022/2023 that will likely see him achieve his best results.
After a decent enough 3rd frame in central MA, scoring 2 goals and 16 assists, but with a horrible plus/minus signs for 2023/2024 with GKS Katowice of Polska Hokej Liga.
In 40 games, he scores 3 goals and 10 assists and will next take that to the EIHL and signs with Fife Flyers for 2024/2025.
He returns “home” after a couple seasons away to sign with the new league team Greensboro Gargoyles and we feel like that will settle his game nicely.
