Category: Juniors

Reading Royals‘ 2nd year center Devon Paliani(65) is scoring ECHL bests 16 goals, 25 assists and 41 points, but definitely needs to improve his -33 rating.

The 5’10” 170 lbs. forward from LaSelle, ON played 4 years OHL with a few teams before heading to Ryerson University Rams for 5 seasons, including the 2020/2021 no play COVID busted.

He did have 2 10+ goals and assists’ seasons in college.

The 27-year old show no signs his scoring would pop in his 1st frame with the team, but it did.

Just before the start of the new season, he finds himself involve in a trade that take his scoring to Savannah Ghost Pirates, where he will look to improve that +/-.

He scores a new best 32 goals and 27 assists in a full slate of 72 games, but decides to move on and sign with another 1st year team, Tahoe Knight Monsters for 2025/2026.

In 11 games, he has a moderate 1 goal and 2 assists.

8th year net minder Connor LaCouvee(1) is off to a hot start in his 2nd Tipsport Extraliga season for Vici Zilina, 2025/2026.

The 6’1″ 201 lbs. goalie is 9-3 in 12 games with a 2.03 GAA and .932 SV%.

From Qualicum Beach, BC, he did his senior year at Minnesota State University Mavericks and 3 at Boston University Terriers, going 23-6 in his final year with a 1.80 GAA through 31 games.

The 31-year old has spent the better part of 5 years in the league.

Holy Cross College Crusaders‘ senior goaltender Thomas Gale(33) signs a pro deal with close by Worcester Railers for his rookie season, 2025/2026.

He got a 1st start and looked good in a 4-2 loss.

The 6’1″ 181 lbs. net minder had impressive stats in his final college year with 39 starts, a 24-13-2 record and a 2.14 GAA, .927 SV%.

From Kirkland, QC, the 25-year old is set to do well once he gets situated with a good spot to become a starter.

University Of Vermont Catamounts‘ senior, Finnish-born captain, center Joel Maata(21) took a college best 9 goals and 18 assists in 37 games with a +5 rating to a 1st pro contract back home in Liiga with TPS.

He has become their assistant captain.

The 6’2″ 205 lbs. forward did 2 years of USHL before college.

In 19 games with his new team, he has 5 goals and 4 assists.

He was an Edmonton Oilers‘ 7th round pick in the 2022 draft (#222 overall), but was left unsigned.

USNTDP‘s 2nd year defenseman Charlie Tretheway(91) commits to Boston University Terriers for 2025/2026.

The 6’2″ 201 lbs. blue liner had just 2 goals and 7 assists in 24 USHL games with a +16 rating.

From Ellicott City, MD, the 18-year old found himself to be a Pittsburgh Penguins‘ 3rd round pick in the 2025 draft (#73 overall).

In 11 games, he has 1 assist with a -1 rating, but all that will improve.

Montreal Canadiens‘ 4th year goalie Cayden Primeau(30) gets re-upped for a nice 3-year NHL contract worth $890,000 AAV as a restricted free agent, possibly after a solid Calder Cup playoff run by affiliate Laval Rocket, where he posted a 9-5 record with a 2.17 GAA and .936 SV%.

The 6’3″ 203 lbs. net minder started a career high 12 games, but didn’t get the results he was looking for, by a mile.

A former 7th round pick in the 2017 draft (#199 overall), he did 2 stellar seasons at Northeastern University Huskies before turning pro.

Almost oddball, he did 1 season at tier 3 junior hockey EHL for Philadelphia Revolution before getting selected in the next frame.

The 23-year old, son of former bruiser Keith Primeau of 909 games played, 1541 penalty minutes, is likely looking to get the nod as starter, if he can earn it.

After 6 years in one system, the unrestricted free agent signs a 1-year deal with Carolina Hurricanes for 2025/2026.

Then he gets waived from training camp and scooped up by Toronto Maple Leafs, which is a bit of a thinker.

After 1 unsuccessful start, he is put on waivers again and Carolina Hurricanes step back in to claim him.

Ohio State University Buckeyes‘ graduate, captain defenseman Will Riedell(24) played a couple of AHL games with Lehigh Valley Phantoms after graduating, but signs for his rookie season 2022/2023 with the brand new Savannah Ghost Pirates.

He didn’t put up many points last season, but was always good for at least getting on the scoring sheet every other game or so, as a junior and senior with Lake Superior State University Lakers.

At 6’2″ 194 lbs., the blue liner plays a shut down style and left college as a +22 player.

The 26-year old from Greensboro, NC should find plenty of room to play his game and contribute points in the ECHL.

After 15 games, recording 4 assists with a +4 rating, the fairly sizable d-man gets loaned up to San Jose Barracuda and in 20  games only grabs 1 tally, but the team likes what they see and recently sign up for the remainder of the frame.

He moved onto Calgary Wranglers in the next frame and split time with Rapid City Rush.

In his 3rd season, he would re-sign with the Ghost Pirates, but leave late, signing with EHC Munchen.

Despite recording no points, he is wanted for the upcoming season, 2025/2026 with Fischtown Pinguins.

He actually decides to play his hockey closer to home and signs with Savannah Ghost Pirates.

SPHL rookie defenseman Dalton Skelly(72) had himself a bit of a career season in his 1st outing scoring a new overall best 3 goals and tying his Holy Cross Crusaders‘ senior year high 13 points.

The 5’10” 175 lbs. d-man skated for a couple of different clubs, starting the split time for Knoxville Ice Bears before eventually finishing up with Huntsville Havoc with 10 assists overall and a tidy overall +9 rating.

He played for three different teams through two campaigns in the NAHL pushing a little offense with good assist numbers, but arriving at Lone Star Brahmas must have been the right fit as he elevated for 7 goals, 20 assists and 27 points with a +11 and 3 more helpers in 4 playoff games.

It’s basically an open shot where the 25-year old goes next.

He would start his 2nd season with Huntsville Havoc and put up 5 assists in 6 games to score a loan to Wichita Thunder that turned into him staying for his ECHL rookie season of 51 games with 3 goals and 8 assists.

Allen Americans see something they want to use on their blue line for 2022/2023 and sign him up to a 1-year deal.

The Keller, TX native scores 11 assists in 54 games last season, then adds another 4 helpers in 6 playoff matchups.

His performance merits a sophomore season in an Americans‘ sweater.

He would do ok, but returned on contract for 2024/2025 with Knoxville that got him a loan up to Rapid City Rush.

For 2025/2026, he signs with the new squad, Greensboro Gargoyles and has 1 assist in 6 games.