4th year center Ryan Penny(9) finishes a most interesting move to playing hockey.
He swept through 5 seasons of QMJHL before agreeing to terms with Binghamton Senators, coming off a just over point-per-game session as captain for Rouyn-Noranda Huskies.
The 6’2″ 198 lbs. forward played three years, mostly with Reading Royals, but ends up on loan to Binghamton Devils, when he decides next to head to college.
He came to terms with McGill University, where he spent the last couple years, but only played 2019/2020.
It’s very possible he’s completed his studies, because he’s back on the pro side of things, signing for 2021/2022 with Coventry Blaze.
He should adapt to EIHL play well and affect the score sheet with frequency is what we’re looking at.
Rookie forward James Anderson(27) decided to take the COVID infested 2020/2021 off after graduating Mercyhurst University Lakers, but will join Fife Flyers for 2021/2022 to start his pro career.
The 5’9″ 168 lbs. forward spent three years at P.A.L. Junior Islanders in the USPHL Premiere league to score an invite to his D1 school, which is an odd occurrence.
The 25-year old from Kings Park, NY scored 10 goals and 10 assists as a senior and those stats should indicate he can become a standout player in the EIHL.
Undrafted 4th year center Michael McNicholas(16) decides to head back overseas for 2021/2022 signing with Fife Flyers of the EIHL.
He first left to skate for Manglerud, scoring a couple goals and 7 assists in 15 Fjordkraftligaen before coming back, agreeing to terms with Maine Mariners.
As a rookie, he scored a career high 13 goals and 40 assists in 65 ECHL games.
He re-signed and maybe didn’t equal his earlier performance, but at least got close (11-27-38), although his on-ice accountability fell to a critically low -17 rating.
The 5’10” 174 lbs. forward was all set to return for a third campaign in Maine, but was forced to move on as the team shuttered for 2020/2021, so he would end up splitting time with Utah Grizzlies, Indy Fuel, who he skated 3 games with after college, and Tulsa Oilers.
He was a outstanding as a junior at University Of New Hampshire Wildcats, capturing 13 goals and 30 assists in 37 Hockey East games and followed it up with a solid senior year.
The 27-year old from Reno, NV will likely do well in his new hockey league and maybe even move up the ranks over there, which means we may not see him back here for awhile.
Undrafted, 8th year right wing Wade MacLeod(19) decided to sit last season out but comes back into the game with a new contract for 2021/2022 for Manchester Storm.
He last skated in 2019/2020 for Lowen Frankfort and put up 25 goals and 24 assists in 49 DEL2 games.
This was his 2nd foray in the league, having blown up scoring with Starbulls Rosenheim to the tune of 34 goals and 27 assists.
A decent scorer in the AHL, he was a point-per-game guy in the ECHL through 104 games netted 108 points.
The 4-year, former Northeastern University Huskies‘ senior assistant captain was a Hobey Baker Finalist, when he struck for 22 goals and 23 assists in 37 Hockey East games.
At 34-years old, he will likely blow-up the stat sheet in the EIHL much like he’s done in most any league he’s played, but mostly what he has been able to accomplish since falling to the ice in 2013 and being diagnosed with brain cancer is remarkable.
12th year undrafted center Ben Holmstrom(21) comes home from a single season overseas with Lillehammer IK of Fjordkraftligaen, where his scoring and game was equally on par with 6 goals and 13 assists in 23 games with a +12 rating.
The 6’1 203 lbs. forward signs with South Carolina Stingrays, his 2nd foray into the league after spending the recent 2019/2020 with Norfolk Admirals, then Cincinnati Cyclones.
He’s played a monumental 586 AHL games, 7 times serving in a team captain role, mostly with Adirondack Phantoms and Bridgeport Sound Tigers, scoring 79 goals and 132 assists.
The former three-time UMass-Lowell Riverhawks‘ captain, since his sophomore year, was a true leader in college hockey.
He also captained his junior team, Sioux Falls Stampede in his third and final year.
The Colorado Springs, CO native has been signed to 6 NHL contracts with Philadelphia Flyers, Carolina Hurricanes and New York Islanders, but only played 7 games in the big league with his first club, no points.
There’s little doubt, the gosh, now 34-year old will bring experience and lessons into the room for all the younger ECHL players to learn from.
Undrafted defenseman Brett Orr(18) was originally to start his pro career last season with Cardiff Devils, though maybe last minute decided to stay closer to home, signed a deal with South Carolina Stingrays but was released with the plethora of more experienced players needing a place to play.
Well, it’s a new year and just as the summer is heating up, the 5’10” 181 lbs. blue liner re-ups what he left to get things started.
The former Bentley University Falcons‘ captain was always able to come up with assists in scoring, but his +18 rating through school means accountability.
He stayed close to home for his junior hockey, playing three campaigns for the MJHL Portage Terriers.
The 25-year old is likely to make a good impression as soon as his skates hit the ice.
Undrafted 6th year center Nick Saracino(13) decides it’s time to head off for a great, new option, signing a 1-year deal with HKM Zvolen of Slovakia Extraliga.
After 4 very good years at Providence College Friars (46-70) in 145 Hockey East games with a mammoth +43 rating, he played his first 7 games for Iowa Wild, pocketing a 1st AHL goal and assist and then signing for his rookie campaign.
He only appeared in 33 games in his first season, so went unsigned and agreed to terms with a young Worcester Railers‘ club for a first full ECHL affair.
The 5’11” 185 lbs. always plays full throttle finds his scoring footing in the lower league and would next move onto a one-year deal on a trade to Wheeling Nailers and really popped the bubble with 17 goals and 20 assists in 27 games with a +17 rating.
This show would earn him a contract from Binghamton Devils, where he looked to make more sense, grabbing 6 goals and 4 assists in 38 games.
He returned to become captain of his PA club for a 2nd run, and although only good to go for 31 games, still scored at a great pace (8-15-23).
During the COVID stunted 2020/2021, he first was to play for South Carolina Stingrays, but they suspended, so decided to head to FL for a run with Jacksonville Icemen, and as it turned out, playing the somewhat weirdo schedule was his best production yet with a career high 18 goals and 27 assists for 43 points, the 29-year old says later on, going to find some Slovak hockey for myself.
6th year defenseman Reece Wilcox(44) leaves after spending most of 2020/2021 on loan from contract club Florida Everblades of the ECHL to Hershey Bears.
The big 6’4″ 205 lbs. blue liner has played 259 AHL games, recording 12 goals and 59 assists, 3 times having 10+ helper seasons.
Originally a Philadelphia Flyers‘ 5th round pick in the 2012 draft (#141 overall), the Surrey, BC native played his junior hockey in the BCHL, spending two years with Merritt Centennials before committing to Cornell University Big Red.
He was team captain as a senior and upon graduation took up with affiliate Lehigh Valley Phantoms, skating his first 6 pro games, scoring a first goal and 2 assists.
The 27-year old will next embark on a new adventure, signing with HC Pustertal of IceHL and could do exceedingly well in this Austrian league.
8th year, undrafted center Allan McPherson(91) wins his 1st league title, the 2021 Slovakian Extraliga Championship, recording a Playoffs Most Points nod for the 20 he got with HKM Zvolen to a new league contract with rivals HC Kosice for 2021/2022.
He averaged 10+ goals and 15+ assists through 150 NCAA Division 1 Atlantic Hockey games with Clarkson University Golden Knights and was a point-per-game guy in three years of the CCHL.
The 5’10” 185 lbs. forward was also scored big in the ECHL with 134 points through 128 games with a +35 rating.
He’s easily as prolific where he currently is and there’s little doubt the 30-year old will not be for his new club.
Undrafted 3rd year defenseman Eric Israel(6) decides to go exploring after two seasons in uniform for Rapid City Rush.
He played 90 ECHL games, grabbing 2 goals and 24 assists.
The former Robert Morris University d-man was mostly good for a decent amount of points, averaging 5 goals and 16 assists with a +7 rating through 4 years.
He had more than similar success in two years of Canadian juniors with Brockville Braves of the CCHL, where he twice popped 3o assists and came close to 10 goals a frame.
The 26-year old leaves for Sweden’s tier 3 HockeyEttan, joining Kalmar HC for 2021/2022 and we think it will be an exciting signing.
