Long Island University Sharks‘ commit for 2021/2022 right wing Isaiah Fox(8) gives us the peace nod that his club Maine Nordiques clinched their berth into the upcoming playoffs.
The 5’11” 165 lbs. blue liner has posted similar numbers in his pair of NAHL seasons scoring a pretty phenomenal 16 goals and new best 23 assists and 39 points in 49 games and should be ready for a good showing as a rookie.
After 4 years, with his best scoring season as a junior, 14 goals and 20 assists in a college high 37 games, he is ready to move on and turns pro, signing a standard player contract with Adirondack Thunder.
We think he does well in the ECHL to start.
In his 1st 17 games, he scores 3 goals and 7 assists with a +1 rating to easily grab a new contract for his rookie season, 2025/2026 as a Thunder.
Well, he can’t even get his 1st campaign going and in a bit of a shocker is traded to Iowa Heartlanders, who likely really need him to fill in their blue line.
Salem State University Vikings‘ English-born senior left wing Rais Francis(74) signs a 1st pro contract back home for his rookie season with Manchester Storm, 2025/2026.
In 4 EIHL games, he has yet to register a point.
The very big 6’6″ 220 lbs. forward had a college best 6 goals and tied his junior 11 points as a senior.
He initially committed to Lebanon Valley College Dutchmen after 2 years of cycling through 3 junior leagues and would stay there for 2 years before doing his junior frame at Western New England University Golden Bears.
We look for the 24-year old to settle in an catch on scoring.
Northern Cyclones‘ 1st year left wing Nick Blanchette(21) takes 5 goals and 5 assists in 36 USPHL Premier games to a 2025/2026 commit at Franklin Pierce University Ravens.
The 5’9″ 154 lbs. forward, 20-year old from Kingston, NH may find better footing scoring in college hockey.
Rochester Jr. Americans‘ 3rd year left wing Adam Gionta(12) selects close-ish to home Niagara University Purple Eagles for his commit 2026/2027.
The 5’8″ 170 lbs. forward scored better than point-per-game numbers last season and is likely to repeat similar stats in the current frame.
From Clarence Center, NY, the 19-year is the son of NHL great Brian Gionta , who is the Director Of Player Development at his future college and he did all his youth hockey in the Buffalo Jr. Sabres‘ system.
Misericordia University Cougars graduate goaltender Anthony Shrum(35) played a college best 12 games last season that he took to a 1st pro contract with Blue Ridge Bobcats.
In 3 FPHL games, the 6’2″ 194 lbs. net minder wins 2-0 games with a 1.73 GAA and .947 SV% to start.
He did 4 years at Worcester State University Lancers with only 7 games total played.
From Holland, MI, the 26-year old could easily sign or someone higher may swoop in.
It’s a no-brainer they want him back in a Bobcats‘ uniform for his official rookie season.
Almost on equal terms of barely having to think, he is signed by Cincinnati Cyclones to a 2-way deal for 2025/2026.
7th year right wing Casey Bailey(93) re-signs with Iserlohn Roosters after putting up a 2nd 40+ point season.
The 6’3″ 194 lbs forward has twice earlier hit the 40+ mark, first as a junior at Penn State University Nittany Lions, then as a 3rd year AHL player for Bridgeport Sound Tigers.
At 30-year old, the Anchorage, AK native is definitely still hitting the ice hard.
After a 3rd season with the same club, putting up 39 points in his last frame, he signs for 2023/2024 with DEL rivals ERC Ingolstadt.
He leaves 4 years in the league for some new waters, signing with the famous Graz99ers of IceHL, which should be a good country for him to play in.
Through 46 games, he scores 15 goals and 12 assists, so does alright, but decides to come back and play a little closer to home, signing with Tahoe Knight Monsters for 2025/2026.
Albertus Magnus College Falcons‘ senior defenseman Nick Durajlija(38) signs a 1st pro deal in Finland’s tier 3 Suomi sarja, agreeing to terms for his rookie campaign with JHT Kalajoki, 2025/2026.
The massive 6’6″ 236 lbs. blue liner didn’t exactly burst his scoring slump, but did register 2 assists through 17 games.
From Hamilton, ON, we look for the 26-year old to play himself up over there, if he is looking for that.
6th year German-born center Daniel O’Regan(11) 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.
Through 65 games, he scores pretty well, but lacks some on-ice accountability and next decides to head to DEL, where he signs with Schwenninger Wild Wings for 2025/2026.
Canisius College Golden Griffins‘ senior defenseman Lincoln Erne(24) left school with new modest bests 1 goal and junior year tying 5 points, playing 41 games en route to a 2023 Atlantic Hockey Championship.
The very solid 6’2″ 201 lbs. blue liner, magically ascended to 29 assists in his 2nd NAHL frame as assistant captain for Minot Minotauros.
From Blaine, MN, the 24-year old signs a 1st pro deal with Tulsa Oilers for 2023/2024.
He actually ends up with Newfoundland Growlers and in 23 games has 6 assists, but Idaho Steelheads want him and trade to get him to reunite with a former college player on their team.
3 goals and 8 assists through 27 games is ok, but he once again finds himself on the trading block and is dealt to another team that allegedly want him, Jacksonville Icemen.
No points in 3 games and for 2024/2025 he will go to Iowa Heartlanders.
He has 1 goal and 1 assist in 14 games with a -1 rating and gets traded to Savannah Ghost Pirates to see if he can ignite scoring better.
In just 3 games, he has no points and is a -4 rating, so gets again moved, this time to Utah Grizzlies give him a home.
An unrestricted free agent, he signs with Tahoe Knight Monsters for 2025/2026.
RPI Engineers‘ Latvian-born senior defenseman Arvils Bergmanis(38) played a college most 35 games, scoring a new high 4 goals and 4 assists.
The 6′ 190 lbs. blue liner scored best as a sophomore at University Of Alaska-Fairbanks Nanooks with 17 assists and 19 points.
He did youth hockey at home, but played 3 years of junior hockey in Russia and got into 3 KHL games.
For his rookie season, the former National league played signs a 1st ECHL pro deal with Rapid City Rush, 2025/2026.
