Europe | CollegeHockeyPlayers

23Sep

Griffin Mendel (2)

Posted in College Hockey Player, Europe, Juniors, Minor League Deal, Transfers | Leave a comment

Quinnipiac University Bobcats‘ graduate defenseman Griffin Mendel(2) had his best college scoring season with his new school, almost equaling 4 years of totals he had at his initial one, University Of Denver Pioneers.

He takes his game to the pro level upon finishing up a 5th year of school and signs with Chicago Wolves for the rest of the AHL 2021/2022.

The towering 6’6″ 220 lbs. blue liner played a couple years of junior hockey, sort of close to home in Kelowna, BC for Penticton Vees and skated an equal 52 games, en route to a 2017 BCHL Championship in his 2nd session.

We think it’s his NCAA Division 1 +53 rating that gets the 23-year old the most notice.

In 10 games, he gets 2 assists with a +5 rating and then gets into 1 playoff contest, but leaves a +2.

The Kelowna, BC native is staying put for what will be his rookie season, 2022/2023

With 9 goals and 10 assists in his 1st frame, the big d-man earns himself a handsome 1-year NHL entry level deal from parent club Carolina Hurricanes.

He wasn’t really scoring, until he was reassigned down to Norfolk Admirals, where he finally struck for 3 goals and 3 assists in 8 games with a +3 rating

For 2024/2025, he takes his game to Czech Extraliga and signs with Rytiri Kladno.

22Sep

Cole Donhauser (23)

Posted in College Hockey Player, Europe, Juniors | Leave a comment

Yale University Bulldogs‘ senior left wing Cole Donhauser(23) takes a new, modest college best scoring 6 goals and 7 assists in 27 games with a +1 rating on a terrible team to a 1st pro contract with Coventry Blaze for 2023/2024.

The 6′ 195 lbs. forward should find room in the EIHL to score more than he has in school.

From Kenmore, NY, he played only 1 BCHL season for Chilliwack Chiefs.

The 23-year old is likely ready to get started.

Through 7 games, he nets 2 assists, but may be yearning for hockey a little closer to home, so signs for the remainder of 2024 with Idaho Steelheads.

He lasts just 2 games there and is traded to Greenville Swamp Rabbits.

After a not so amazing 2023/2024, he signs on for what he hopes is his rookie season with Worcester Railers, 2024/2025.

20Sep

Kasimir Kaskisuo (31)

Posted in College Hockey Player, Europe, Free Agent Signing | Leave a comment

Toronto Maple Leafs‘ undrafted Finnish-born goaltender Kasimir Kaskisuo(31) signs on for two more years in the prospect system despite being loaned to Chicago Wolves for most of last season due to a logjam in affiliate Toronto Marlies‘ crease.

In 28 AHL games he posted a 13-13 record with 2 shutouts, a 2.38 GAA and .914 SV%.

The big 6’3″ 195 lbs. net minder played only 7 games in the league as a rookie and was 5-1 with a 1.84 GAA and .935 SV% but spent most of the season in the ECHL backstopping for Orlando Solar Bears.

He played most of his junior hockey in his home country and decided to come across in 2013/2014 to join Minnesota Wilderness, where he earned the NAHL best GAA (1.48) and best SV% (.944) in 32 games, then was equal to the task in the playoffs.

His next move took him to University Of Minnesota-Duluth and his numbers continued to be outstanding.

The 24-year old may have to continue to wait for his chance at a shot to tend the cage in the NHL but it would seem like he should get his opportunity sooner than later.

He started 13 games last season with Laval Rocket, posting a 7-4 record with 2.09 GAA and .909 SV% to earn the 8th year net minder a look for Boston Bruins‘ crease, as he earns a tryout in training camp.

17Sep

Steven Kampfer (44)

Posted in College Hockey Player, Europe, Free Agent Signing, Juniors, NHL Draft Pick | Leave a comment

12th year NHL defenseman Steven Kampfer(44) will try something new for 2021/2022, signing a 1-year deal with Ak Bars Kazan of the KHL.

The former University Of Michigan Wolverines blue liner was originally an Anaheim Ducks‘ 4th round 2007 draft pick (#93 overall) but traded to Boston Bruins and agreed to terms upon completing his fourth year at college.

He left the Black & Gold within his entry level deal, traded to Minnesota Wild, where he stayed for two seasons before being dealt to New York Rangers but was again quickly on the move to Florida Panthers, where he stayed for another pair of campaigns.

The 5’11” 198 lbs. d-man started his next frame in the zone for the ‘Cats but after a single game was changing addresses heading back to the Blueshirts.

It seems like this is a player who favors 2 year terms with teams, as he did another here before rejoining his original club in Boston for another two year contract and a solid role as a fill-in guy.

The 32-year old may find continued life in Russia’s top hockey but we would be surprised to see him jump around a bit before deciding to pull the curtain on it.

After putting up a career high 11 goals, 19 assists and 30 points and being named assistant captain of Team USA Olympic squad, the now 33-year old will return home on a 1-year 2-way deal with close to home, Jackson, MI, Detroit Red Wings worth at least $325K in the minors and the league minimum $750 if he stays up.

He would be traded for future considerations to Arizona Coyotes, where he would actually do alright on a non-playoff team with 3 goals and 19 assists that actually gave him a career high 6 goals and 23 assists.

Reassigned to minor league affiliate, he is named team captain for 2023/2024 of Tuscon Roadrunners.

With no quit in site, he will return to Russia for 2024/2025 and signs with Traktor Chelyabinsk.

17Sep

Marshall Murphy (33)

Posted in College Hockey Player, D3, Europe, Juniors | Leave a comment

St. Michael’s College Purple Knights‘ senior goalie Marshall Murphy(33) signs with HK Prizma Riga of Optibet Hokeja Liga for his rookie season, 2024/2025.

The 5’11” 181 lbs. net minder from Little Canada, MN will definitely look to improve his game on hopefully a better pro team.

He’s 25-year and probably didn’t make the decision to play his next hockey so far away lightly, so has to be ready.

16Sep

Bobby Raymond (21)

Posted in College Hockey Player, Europe, Juniors, Minor League Deal | Leave a comment

14th year defenseman Bobby Raymond(21) is trying his hand at a new league for 2022/2023, signing for 1-year with Grenoble of Ligue Magnus.

The 5’10” 185 lbs. blue liner spent the last 3 seasons in DEL2 last winning the 2022 Championship with Loewen Franfort and DEL the previous two, as captain and assistant for Iserlohn Roosters, his 2nd stint with the team.

Almost oddly, his one title in Germany’s top league came during his one campaign for Adler Mannheim.

He also played 3 seasons for EC Salzburg in the old EBEL, where he ran his best point totals.

The RIT Tigers‘ graduate had a good run there, in his 2nd run with Florida Everblades and helped them capture the 2012 ECHL Kelly Cup trophy.

At 35-years old, he’s likely happy to be playing at the level his is and still contributing big.

He starts the new frame 2023/2024 playing in the OEHL, but gets wooed to enter the fray once again at 38-years old, signing with 2023 Erste Liga Champs, Gyergyoi HK.

In 8 games, he scores 1 goal and 3 assists, then through 10 playoff matchups, he adds another goal and 2 assists with a +3 rating to very much be wanted back in a Bears‘ jersey for 2024/2025.

13Sep

Ara Nazarian (22)

Posted in College Hockey Player, Europe, Juniors, Minor League Deal | Leave a comment

4th year left wing Ara Nazarian(22) re-signs for a 3rd season with Jacksonville Icemen for 2022/2023.

The 5’9″ 185 lbs. forward is a pretty big scorer, last year hitting for 13 goals and 18 assists in 40 ECHL games with a +12 rating.

He was also loaned up to Rochester Americans, appearing in 14 AHL games for 2 goals and 1 assist.

The Boxford, MA native scored decently through 4 years at University Of New Hampshire Wildcats, striking best as a senior for 12 goals and 11 assists in 33 NCAA Division 1 games.

He was also a strong scorer at Malden Catholic USHS-Prep.

The 26-year old will very likely continue to take his game up.

He left for a year to join Belfast Giants and knocked scoring out of the park in the EIHL, but will return home under a deal to Syracuse Crunch for 2024/2025.

05Sep

Trevor Mingoia (11)

Posted in College Hockey Player, Europe, Juniors, Minor League Deal, Transfers | Leave a comment

8th year right wing Trevor Mingoia(11) has bounced through a pair of leagues he’d previously skated, but arrives in a new place for the remainder of 2023/2024 with Valerenga of EliteHockey Ligaen.

Judging by some off ice going ons, he may have been wooed by a good deal, but looks a bit settled back at his 1st team overseas Vasteras IK HockeyAllsvenskan.

The 5’11” 185 lbs. forward played only 2 years ECHL and AHL before leaving.

From Fairport, NY, the 32-year old started at Union College, but left for Providence College Friars as a sophomore.

He may be settling in Sweden quite nicely.

After 6 seasons lighting up the scoreboard overseas, he has decided to return and sign with South Carolina Stingrays for 2024/2025.

04Sep

Philip Beaulieu (25)

Posted in College Hockey Player, Europe, Juniors, Minor League Deal | Leave a comment

4th year defenseman Philip Beaulieu(25) signs with Asiago of IceHL for 2023/2024, which should turn out to be a lot of fun for him.

The 5’11” 194 lbs. blue liner had 2 good seasons for Allen Americans.

He got 8 goals and 30 assists in 1 frame.

The former Northern Michigan University Wildcats‘ captain as a senior was always a good assist man in school.

From Duluth, MN, the 28-year old may just stay over there in Austria.

He plays just 20 games, scoring 1 goal and 4 assists, so maybe that helps with his decision to return and play closer to home with Kalamazoo Wings for 2024/2025.

03Sep

Terrance Amorosa (2)

Posted in College Hockey Player, Europe, Juniors, Minor League Deal | Leave a comment

Former Clarkson University Golden Knights‘ defenseman Terrance Amorosa(2) took some time before signing any deal for 2020/2021 and recently hooked up with Laval Rocket on a pto.

The sizable 6’2″ 202 lbs blue liner got in his first career AHL game and left a 3-0 blanking with no points but a +1 rating.

He had signed a pair of deals previously in the league, but was reassigned down to ECHL affiliates and last season had a decent 6 goals and 12 assists for Kansas City Mavericks.

Originally a Philadelphia Flyers‘ draft pick in the 5th round of 2013 (#132 overall), he never signed and was released to unrestricted free agency.

At 26-years old the big d-man could just be getting his footing but we shall see.

The Kirkland, QC native scored a rookie contract with Laval Rocket and wound up with 1 goal and 12 assists with a massive +22 rating in 35 games.

He has decided to head oversea for his 3rd season, signing a 1-year deal with Gherdeina of AlpsHL for 2022/2023.

After putting up 31 assists and 5 goals in 24 games with a +20 rating, he jumps to a higher league, joining HC Bolzano Foxes of IceHL, where he should continue his scoring success.

For 2023/2024, he will roughly stay put, but switch allegiances to rivals Rittner Baum.

He has been on a bit of a tear with assists in his “home” league, but decides after 2 years to switch things up and signs with Coventry Blaze of the EIHL for 2024/2025.