UMass Minutemen graduate center Matt Koopman(36) came over from 4 decent seasons at Providence College Friars.
His team is eliminated in the opening round of Hockey East playoffs, so he quickly pivots to sign a 1st pro deal with Wheeling Nailers and he’s off and running.
The 5’10” 180 lbs. forward has 3 times scored 5 goals in a college season, including this past one, but always seems like he puts up more points with his style of play.
Considering he left his 2nd season with Waterloo Blackhawks to join his 1st college team, the expectation may have been higher.
The 24-year old Marblehead, MA native could find more opportunities to hit the stat sheet as a pro, but we’ll watch to see.
In 14 ECHL games, he managed a 1st goal and 6 assists with a 0 rating on a non-playoff team.
He likes his experiences as he re-signs to stick for his official rookie season.
16 goals and 18 assists in 71 games with a +4 rating, then 4, 4 and a +4 in 9 playoff matchups and he will be back for another ride in a Nailers‘ jersey for 2024/2025.
He maybe scores a little less in his 2nd frame, but is definitely wanted to continue in Wheeling for 2025/2026.
Utah Grizzles‘ 2nd year right wing Dakota Raabe(22) re-ups after a successful rookie run, scoring 11 goals and 25 assists in 55 ECHL games last season.
He was never really a scorer through school with a sophomore best of 5 goals and 9 assists at University Of Michigan Wolverines and didn’t even do as well in a graduate season at Sacred Heart University Pioneers.
Upon finishing up though, has found the net in his 1st run where he is, connecting for 3 goals and 4 assists in 10 games with a +6 rating, then adding 6 points in 14 playoff matchups.
The 5’9″ 170 lbs. speedy forward from Capistrano Beach, CA has to be on a short list of guys that need a look at a higher level.
He actually gets moved to Iowa Heartlanders to hopefully energize their scoring and could find new energy with a different club.
In 12 games, he grabs 4 goals and 4 assists to earn himself an invite to return in a Heartlanders‘ jersey for 2024/2025.
After a very decent full frame, in 44 games scoring 9 goals and 15 assists, he next decides to head off to Ligue Magnus, signing with Rapaces de Gap for 2025/2026.
RPI Engineers‘ graduate left wing John Beaton(17) signs a 1st pro contract for 2025/2026 with Ringerike Panthers of Norway2 for 2025/2026.
The 6’2″ 190 lbs. forward from Ottawa, ON did 3 years of CCHL junior before 1 USHL prior to college.
We look for the 24-year old to challenge and do well for himself.
Undrafted 5th year defenseman Matt Petgrave(22) takes 200 ECHL games of experience to a new venture for 2021/2022 with HK Spisska Nova Ves of Tipos Extraliga.
The solid 6’1″ 201 lbs. blue liner posted 32 and 26 assists for Brampton Beast, and has definitely shown he can be a big assist guy, like he was dishing 40 helpers in his overage OHL year for Oshawa Generals.
Without a pro team holding his playing rights, he next decided to head to school at University Of New Brunswick Reds, where he won back-to-back CIS, then USports Championships.
The 29-year old will likely take to pro hockey in Slovakia well and could put up new career high stats.
He would put up 9 goals and 20 assists in 34 games with a +11, but decided to leave near the end of the season for the Czech League, signing with HC Dynamo Pardubice.
For 2022/2023, he heads to the EIHL, where he is sure to become a hugely popular player and run the scoresheet with Sheffield Steelers.
9 goals and 39 assists in 54 games with a +41 rating, means he will don the Steelers‘ jersey for a 2nd straight season.
He would only manage 7 games due to injury and then decided to sit 2024/2025 out, but is back for 2025/2026 and signs a 1-year deal with Indy Fuel that should work well.
University Of Vermont Catamounts‘ Russian-born, senior right wing Timofei Spitserov(18) signs an ato with Norfolk Admirals to get his pro game on.
He played 33 games last season, scoring a new best 12 goals and 18 points.
The 6′ 176 lbs. forward played only 2 games of USHL juniors before heading to college right after blowing up scoring at USHS-Prep.
He played 2 ECHL games and will need a new contract for 2025/2026.
It’s getting close to the start of the new season and I think most folks knew, he would be returning for his rookie frame as an Admirals.
Nichols College Bison graduate defenseman Joey Allegrini(39) scored a best by a mile 3 goals and 7 assists in 26 games last season.
The small 5’6″ 180 lbs. blue liner signs a 1st pro deal for 2025/2026 with KHL Medvescak Admiral of IntHL.
From Valencia, CA, the 25-year old did 4 years of juniors before college.
Undrafted, center Justin Young(21) finished up a 2nd, graduate year with American International College Yellowjackets, scoring a college career high 12 goals and 19 assists for 31 points with a +18 rating in 36 NCAA Division 1 games and took it to a 1st pro contract with Allen Americans.
In 7 ECHL games, the 6′ 183 lbs. forward has an assist with a +2 rating.
He has yet to appear in a Kelly Cup Playoff game.
The Leduc, AB native played 3 seasons in the local AJHL, scoring very decent numbers.
At 24-years old, we’re sure the one-time University Of Alaska-Fairbanks Nanooks pivot can turn his start into a full year’s contract, if he wants one.
He would actually skate in 5 playoff games, grabbing an assist and was a +1 rating.
For his efforts on an ato, he is given a 1-year contract to stay in Texas.
In 2023/2024, he decides to change sweaters and signs a 1-year deal with Norfolk Admirals, which he’ll have to work harder for, almost certainly.
He would take off for Germany3, signing with Herner EV 2007 and do fairly well in 14 games scoring, but for 2024/2025 wants to come back, so re-signs with the Admirals.
After scoring 12 goals and 16 assists in 54 games with a +11 rating, he is invited back for a 2nd season as an Admirals in 2025/2026.
Niagara University Purple Eagles‘ senior left wing Shane Ott(27) ran up a college high 25 goals and 34 points.
The 6’1″ 181 lbs. forward did 3 years of junior hockey with his last in the NAHL.
From Centennial, CO, the 25-year old signed with Bloomington Bison and scored 12 assists in 14 ECHL games, but needs a new contract to return.
It’s an absolute no-brainer for him to return for his rookie slate in a Bison jersey.
New Hampshire Mountain Kings‘ 1st year left wing Frank D’Ancona(15) scored 6 goals and 2 assists in 31 NAHL games with a +2 rating after a trade sent him over.
The 5’10” 170 lbs. forward did 4 years of junior hockey, cycling through a few leagues.
From St. James, NY, the 21-year old commits to Norwich University Cadets for 2025/2026.
Merrimack College Warriors‘ graduate center Ryan Leibold(16) signs a 1st pro deal with South Carolina Stingrays.
He transferred from 4 solid seasons at Holy Cross College Crusaders, where he had a college career high as a senior, 10 goals and 16 assists in 35 games with a +3 rating in Atlantic Hockey play.
The looks smaller 5’10” 194 lbs. forward is a spark plug on the ice and despite maybe not always getting points is right in the play at all times.
From Ashburn, VA, the 24-year old with 5 years of extra school under his belt should be able to assimilate himself nicely into the pro ranks.
He even got himself a pair of assists in a crushing 11-0 win against another top ranked ECHL team.
In 9 games, he scores a 1st league goal and adds 3 assists to earn himself a full look for his rookie season 2023/2024.
After a successful 1st pro frame, scoring 14 goals and 16 assists in 65 games with a +1 rating, he re-signs to stay with the Stingrays for 2024/2025.
He plays 5 games into his 2nd season scoring 2 assists and gets traded to Reading Royals, where he has 1 helper in 2 games.
Through 62 games, he had 12 goals and 8 assists, but Jacksonville Icemen see more of a use for him, so trade to get him.
