Category: Europe

4th year defenseman Willie Raskob(15) decides to leave again after a successful 2019/2020 in Metal Ligaen with Rungsted Seier Capital.

He’ll head to join HK Nitra of Tipos Extraliga for 2021/2022.

The 5’10” 185 lbs. blue liner started his pro career with 1 game for Worcester Railers, but got traded immediately afterwards to Quad City Mallards, where he struck for 3 goals and 34 assists.

Kind of maybe obvious, he would sign for his sophomore frame with Stockton Heat, but only managed to get into one dreadful game before being reassigned to Kansas City Mavericks, where he once again took it up a level to score a new best 9 goals and 40 assists in 69 ECHL games.

This would have him searching for a new endeavor, sending him to Denmark for a season.

He returned closer to home for the COVID staggered 2020/2021 and signed with Indy Fuel.

The 4-year University Of Minnesota-Duluth Bulldogs‘ d-man, who always had 10+ assists per frame, struck for a new best 13 goals and 25 assists in 67 games, then added another 3 points in 4 playoff contests.

At 26-years old, he sure to find good game in Slovakia’s top league in the upcoming frame.

He completes a successful frame, getting 8 goals and 31 assists for 39 points, good enough for most by a d-man in the league and moves over to Czechia, signing with HK Vitkovice for 2022/2023 and once again finds good scoring fortune with 5 goals and 23 assists and a +8 rating to decide to stay put and re-sign for 2023/2024.

After a couple of successful years, he is 29-years old and leaves for an excellent opportunity with Vienna Capitals of IceHL.

Undrafted 4th year right wing Nick Jones(8) is coming off a career AHL season, scoring 12 goals and 22 assists in 60 games to add a 3rd season with Manitoba Moose to his resume.

The 5’11” 186 lbs. forward had an interesting two year run through the AJHL before committing to Ohio State University Buckeyes for 2 years, after which he decided on a pair of BCHL sessions, scoring almost equal 60+ point totals and winning the 2017 Championship with Penticton Vees and then heading to University Of North Dakota Fighting Hawks for a junior and senior frame.

From Edmonton, AB, the 26-year old may be off to a bit of a late start connecting with the net.

In 47 games last season, he scores 6 goals and 10 assists with a +4 rating, but wants more and eyes an opportunity in the tough to play Tipos Extraliga, signs with Vlci Zilina for 2024/2025.

Undrafted left wing Luke Santerno(25) re-signs to stay with Greenville Swamp Rabbits after joining them upon finishing up his graduate year at Clarkson University Golden Knights.

The big 6’3″ 201 lbs. forward scored only an assist in 5 ECHL games on an ato, but could definitely light up this league, much like he did Atlantic Hockey with assists for Bentley University Falcons.

He scored nicely in his 3rd and final season of junior hockey in the BCHL for Trail Smoke Eaters. as a more than point-per-game scorer.

The 26-year old from Smithers, BC should find some room to pocket points in his official rookie season.

After just 2 games, recording 1 assist, he gets dished to Wheeling Nailers, where in 15 games he scored 2 goals and 3 assists and now is on the move a 2nd time as a 1st year player to Kansas City Mavericks, where he may find better footing to score.

Decently effective with 1 goal and 5 assists in 14 games with a +1 rating, he’s invited to return to Missouri for hopefully a full season with one team.

He’s actually doing pretty decently in a full round with the team, scoring 3 goals and 5 assists in 34 games with a +2 rating on a very good team, but finds himself traded to another good club Florida Everblades to continue.

Once again, he scores well with his new team, 4 goals and 6 assists in 19 games with a +4 rating, but finds himself dealt to Cincinnati Cyclones and continues to score with 2 goals and 1 assist in 7 games with a +2.

He would play for 3 different teams last season and scored decently with good accountability.

For 2024/2025, he is looking for something new to his game and signs with MAC HKB Újbuda.

5th year defenseman Blake Thompson(8) is taking his game overseas for 2022/2023, signing with Cardiff Devils.

The 6’1″ 205 lbs. blue liner is coming off a career year, scoring a new best 20 assists and 25 points.

He even scored a 1 AHL game loan up to Hartford Wolf Pack.

The former St. Norbert College Green Knights‘ d-man twice had close to 20 assists in a frame.

We think the 29-year old is going to find good room in the EIHL to continue to elevate his game.

He returns home from a pair of decent frames overseas and signs a 1-year ECHL deal with South Carolina Stingrays for 2024/2025.

Sheffield Steelers‘ 2nd. year defenseman Brien Diffley(65) re-signs to stay for 2024/2025 after a very decent 52 game frame, scoring 2 goals and 14 assists with a +17 rating.

He has been very good, accountable in 5 years playing overseas hockey.

The 4-year Boston University Terriers‘ blue liner did 2 ECHL seasons before looking for something a bit different.

From Burlington, MA, the 6’2″ 185 lbs., 29-year old d-man is really settling into his game.

8th year center Philippe Maillet(61) returned last season to Laval Rocket under a 1-year NHL deal with Montreal Canadiens and scored quite well with a new AHL best 21 goals.

The 5’10” 185 lbs. forward is leaving again, this time he joins NL and signs with HC Ambri-Piotta for 2024/2025.

He came back from 2 very strong sessions in the KHL for Metallurg Magnitogorsk.

From Lachenaie, QC, the 31-year old played 4 years of QMJHL, then went to University Of New Brunswick Reds for another 4.

He will do really well in Switzerland.

Four year and consecutive NCAA Champion defenseman with University Of Minnesota-Duluth BulldogsJarod Hilderman(3) knew before the 2019/2020 season came to a crashing halt during the playoffs that he would be heading to Birmingham Bulls for 2020/2021 and spend his rookie season in the SPHL.

Well, a pandemic didn’t sideline those plans, as he reported and played basically a full slate of 36/42 game schedule, unable to grab a goal but he did produce 6 assists.

The 6’1″ 210 lbs. Calgary, AB native started his junior hockey closer to home with 2 seasons for Penticton Vees, where he won his first title, a 2015 BCHL Championship, which is when he committed to college, but then moved south to do a season with Fargo Force of the USHL before reporting to school.

At 24-years old and the leagues opening up to full service, it wouldn’t be surprising to see him elevate his game to the next level.https://www.sandiegogulls.com/players/detail/hilderman

He would spend his 2020/2021 under contract to Tulsa Oilers and ended a 48 ECHL game “rookie” season with a goal and 15 assists, then added 3 assists in 6 playoff matchups.

For 2022/2023, he will return, but we also feel may earn a 1st AHL loan to San Diego Gulls, who have him on their radar.

He puts up some decent enough numbers with a pair of visits up, but needs better on ice accountability.

Despite the parts of his game to work on he gets an invite to return for a 2nd chance in an Oilers‘ jersey.

He has a solid 3rd frame, scoring 35 assists to seemingly rebound hard and will take his game over to Ligue Magnus, signing with Les Bruleurs De Loups for 2024/2025.

 

6th year center Patrick Watling(28) decides to head off and try something new, signing for 2022/2023 with HC Kosice of Slovak Extraliga.

He exploded on the ECHL scoring sheet in 2021/2022 for Wheeling Nailers, scoring new bests 31 goals and 46 assists for 77 points 55 games with a +13 rating.

The 6′ 174 lbs. forward also scored a pair of loans up and managed another AHL goal and 2 assists in 5 appearances.

Undrafted, he signed his first deal after 3 OHL seasons with Toronto Marlies and split time with affiliate Orlando Solar Bears, where he pumped in point-per-game stats.

He skated his next pair of campaigns in Florida before being dished very late to Tulsa Oilers.

In the next frame, he took a break before heading to 2 years at University Of New Brunswick Reds before returning.

The 28-year old from Sault Ste. Marie, ON will definitely put up some big numbers in the new league he’s headed to.

In 11 games, he manages 1 goal and 8 assists, but somehow ends up traded or heading to rivals HC Banska Bystrica for the remainder of ’22/23.

Maybe a little oddly, he takes some very decent play after the trade to a new experience, signing for 2023/2024 with Sheffield Steelers of the EIHL.

After a season, scoring like he did in the minors with 22 goals and 36 assists, then helping his team win the 2024 league title, grabbing 3 assists in 3 games.

He will happily be back in a Steelers‘ sweater for 2024/2025.

6th year German-born center Daniel O’Regan(21) 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.

Hobart College Statesmen senior captain, center Zach Tyson(16) helped his team to the NCAA Division 3 Championship and will head to France2, signing a 1st pro deal with Mont Blanc for 2023/2024.

The 5’8″ 165 lbs. forward had a college high 11 goals last season with his 2 best frames coming as a freshman and junior, where he scored 27 points.

He played 3 sessions of juniors, winning the 2016 USPHL Premier and having his most productive run in his final campaign for South Shore Kings of the USPHL/NCDC.

We see the 25-year old from Dublin, OH playing his way up overseas.

After 18 games, worth 2 goals and 15 assists, he decides to return and signs with Huntsville Havoc of the SPHL for 2024/2025 and we expect him to see scoring success.