CollegeHockeyPlayers

10th year center Travis Oleksuk(13) didn’t last long in the EIHL with Sheffield Steelers (5 games, 2 assists) and has decided to return to IceHL, where he has basically spent the last 5 seasons since coming over from a 1-year AHL deal with Hartford Wolf Pack, signing with rivals Villacher SV.

He spent 2 years with HC Bolzano Foxes and 3 to Graz99ers and won the 2018 EBEL Championship with his initial club.

The 6′ 200 lbs. forward signed an entry level deal with San Jose Sharks to start his pro career after 4 years at University Of Minnesota-Duluth Bulldogs, including a breakout campaign as a senior assistant captain with 21 goals and 32 assists with a +24 rating.

It would not be outlandish to just see the 32-year old retire and then coach in the Austria pro league.

Well, apparently he’s not done yet, after putting up 8 goals and 11 assists in 30 games, he decides to head to Germany3 and signs with Starbulls Rosenheim for 2022/2023.

After scoring quite well, almost to the tune of point-per-game numbers, he waits and finally signs with rivals, Hannover Scorpions and will likely continue to do well.

5th year center Adam Johnson(47) gets a new start with Lehigh Valley Phantoms, as he is dished from a 2nd stint for Ontario Reign after a slow start.

He signed with the team last season upon returning from Malmo Redhawks, where he scored 7 goals and 5 assists in 21 SHL games before getting released.

In 14 AHL games in 2020/2021, the 6′ 175 lbs. forward  had 6 goals and 5 assists, so can produce.

Undrafted, he agreed on a 2-year entry level deal with Pittsburgh Penguins, spending most of his time scoring very productively for affiliate Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins, but in his appearances over a pair of campaigns managed 2 assists in his first 6  games, then grabbed a 1st NHL goal and an assist in his next 7.

The 27-year old, former 2-year University Of Minnesota-Duluth Bulldogs‘ sophomore scoring sensation from Hibbing, MN can still produce, but definitely needs to re-energize those jets.

He will take an alright season at the 2nd highest level to a new deal across the pond for 2022/2023 with Augsburger Panther and will likely do pretty well in Germany highest hockey, DEL.

7 goals and 15 assists in 45 games isn’t too shabby, but a -20 rating needs to be addressed, so he heads off to sign a new 1-year deal with Nottingham Panthers for 2023/2024 that should see him do quite well in the EIHL.

Our hearts are literally on our sleeves and sticks outside for a tribute to the hardest skater there is. Rest well. we are crying.

12th year defenseman Mark Louis(4) elects to return on a 1-year ECHL deal with Greenville Swamp Rabbits for 2023/2024.

The very big 6’4″ 224 lbs. blue liner has spent most of the last 6 years with Cardiff Devils of the EIHL, spare one he went to Slovak Extraliga.

He played 5 years of WHL before heading to St. Francis Xavier University Aigles Bleus, but left midway through his 4th year to sign with Portland Pirates of the AHL.

The Ponoka, AB native signed a 1-year NHL deal to join the parent club Arizona Coyotes after skating with them during that season’s playoff run.

At 36-years old, you have to wonder what he is thinking for his next move, but we do think could easily slide back across the pond and become an assistant coach with his long time club.

7th year right wing Matt Lorito(18) decides it’s time to venture off for some new kind of hockey, signing with Djurgardens IF for 2021/2022.

An unrestricted free agent coming off his 2-year deal with New York Islanders, he agreed to terms with San Diego Gulls to play last season.

He arrived after four super strong (47-59 in 118 ECAC games) years, including as senior captain, from Brown University Bears to Albany Devils and immediately picked up 3 goals and 9 assists in 11 AHL games on an ato.

The 5’9″ 171 lbs. forward was immediately signed to a one-year minor league deal and put up a session (18-36-54 with a +16 in 71) that caught the attention of Detroit Red Wings to award him a first NHL contract.

We’re a little unsure how he did it, but the 31-year old former 2017 Calder Cup Champion signed 2 very good major league contracts that will definitely help him enjoy his time in Sweden’s top hockey, SHL.

After getting a couple of goals and 4 assists in 14 games, he gets a new offer from the KHL to join Dinamo Riga and jumps.

In his time playing Russian style hockey he was able to connect for 3 goals and 4 assists in 17 games, but was a little unpolished -9 rating, so was released and the former R.I. heads up the road to Connecticut, signing with Hartford Wolf Pack for the remainder of the season.

His prowess to put up points in the minors is documented and he comes away with 8 goals and 10 assists in 30 games, but looks overseas again to sign a 1-year with Grizzlys Wolfsburg of DEL, where he signs late and appears in only 18 games with 2 goals and 3 assists, but gets 2 goals and 1 assist in 10 playoff games, so holds his own.

8 years is good for the now 33-year old from Oakville, ON to call it a career on.

He’s pocketed a good education and has been hired to be a pro scout for Pittsburgh Penguins starting 2023/2024.

12th year left wing Brandon DeFazio(26) retires after a successful 3rd DEL season, 1st for Schwenninger Wild Wings and will become an amateur scout in the organization he signed his 1st pro contract with after 4 years at Clarkson University Golden Knights, Pittsburgh Penguins.

He signed his 1st contract with affiliate Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins, but would go on to sign NHL deals for the next 4 frames before inking with Texas Stars for his best AHL season, scoring 22 goals and 25 assists.

The 6’2″ 198 lbs. forward would transition over to a pair of KHL campaigns with Kunlun Red Star before heading 1st to Czechia Extraliga, but ultimately Germany.

An Oakville, ON native, the 34-year old will be perfect in his new role.