Metro Jets‘ 3rd year defenseman, captain Devon Mastay(11) commits to Calvin University Knights for 2024/2025.
The 6′ 175 lbs. blue liner scored a junior best 7 goals and 24 assists last season.
From Westminster, CO, the 20-year old will be playing his college hockey maybe just a little closer to home.
5th year goaltender Mitch Gillam(30) takes a good, much shortened season for Wichita Thunder, posting a 4-2 record with a 2.47 GAA and .927 SV% to a new deal with Indy Fuel for 2021/2022.
The 6′ 174 lbs., former 4-year Cornell University Big Red backstop put up real solid, good numbers at school (47-28-17) with a 2.15 GAA and .923 SV%.
He’s definitely made a career out of playing in the ECHL with 133 games to his credit, but almost oddly in his only AHL appearance with Bridgeport Sound Tigers left with a 1.54 GAA and .944 SV%, but has received no future looks from the top farm league.
If the 29-year old starts strong, he most definitely should earn another look from the level up, but we think he may set his sights on overseas options after this frame.
He will take what was a pretty good season with a 17-12-1 record to a new adventure, signing for 2022/2023 with Manglerud Star of Fjordkraft-ligaen.
After a bit of a rough go with his initial club, he would be traded to Valerenga, where things would improve dramatically, as he went 8-4 with a 2.08 GAA and .923 SV%, but has decided to push on and sign with Odense Bulldogs for 2023/2024 and skate in Metal Ligaen.
He’s not exactly doing so badly in Denmark, but he’s heading back to EliteHockey Ligaen, signing with his 3rd team, Frisk Asker.
In 6 games, he posts a 4-1 record with a 1.82 GAA and .932 SV%, then appears in 10 playoff games.
We are thinking maybe the job isn’t done here, so he signs on to where an ‘Asker jersey again in 2024/2025.
Wheeling Nailers‘ rookie defenseman Shane Kuzmeski(14) wasn’t exactly the biggest scorer through 4 years at Clarkson University.
He left school with a peak performance of one goal and 5 assists.
In 17 ECHL games, he a new goals scored in a season record with 2 and added 4 assists, which makes it look like turning pro was good for the blue liner to connect on the scoresheet.
He was able to put up a healthy amount of helpers through two years in the NAHL (18, 24) though, so maybe it’s an environment thing.
The Grayslake, IL native played limited games in 2021/2022 for Iowa Heartlanders, then had more luck with Utah Grizzlies, striking for 5 assists in 14 games last season.
For 2022/2023, he signs a new deal with Norfolk Admirals and may just be able to find some better footing.
He actually spends zero time where he signs and instead splits time with Indy Fuel, doing remarkably well before a trade sends him to Trois-Rivieres Lions for the remainder of the session.
Looks like he will lace up the skates for a 6th league team in 2023/2024, as he signs with Fort Wayne Komets, as place he likely hopes he can stick around for awhile.
And before he can even throw on the skates for a home game, he gets dealt to Florida Everblades, where he should be super happy.
He is doing pretty well with 1 goal and 4 assists with a +6 rating, but Wichita Thunder want him for their blue line and trade to get him.
And lookie there, in 3 games he has 2 assists and a +3 rating.
Through 35 games, he scores 1 goal and 7 assists with a +14 rating and is invited to return for the Thunder.
Maryland Black Bears‘ net minder Owen Lepak(33) has a 1st outstanding NAHL frame, posting a 18-8-1 mark with a 2.19 GAA and .913 SV%, which he will take to a Western Michigan University Broncos‘ commit for 2024/2025.
From Clarkston, MI, the 18-year old is definitely getting things moving very quickly for himself.
Toledo Walleye rookie left wing Ryan Cox(41) scored his 1st ECHL goal, the game winner for his new club.
The 5’11” 181 lbs. forward has a very impressive 5 goals and 4 assists in 5 games.
He comes in from 5 seasons at Niagara University Purple Eagles, where he left as a graduate student with a new college best 14 goal and 14 assists in 40 games.
The 24-year old from St. Albert, AB with 3 multi-point games already should be in line to get a new deal to stay fairly quickly.
On his ato he comes away with a tidy 5 goals and 6 assists in 12 games, but somehow doesn’t sign and moves on to a agree to terms with Orlando Solar Bears for 2023/2024.
After 35 games, recording 7 goals and 6 assists, he is traded to Reading Royals.
To complete an earlier trade, he goes to Kalamazoo Wings for 2024/2025.
Boston Jr. Terriers‘ 1st year right wing Gavin Dach(16) commits as a freshman to Assumption University Greyhounds for 2024/2025.
The 6’1″ 201 lbs. forward from Bradford, PA started his junior hockey with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Knights, where he split time between USPHL/NCDC and Premier.
He put up 10 goals and 21 assists last season.
From Bradford, PA, the 21-year old
Boston College Eagles‘ senior center Liam Izyk(26) enters the transfer portal and will lace up the skates in 2023/2024 for a graduate frame at Sacred Heart University Pioneers.
The Blackie, AB native played 3 years in the AJHL for Fort McMurray Oil Barons, scoring quite nicely in each frame before committing to his 1st school, University Of Alabama-Huntsville Chargers.
At 6’1″ 187 lbs., the 24-year old scored best as a freshman, but we’re thinking Atlantic Hockey has more room for him to find the net.
He scores a new by short best 4 goals and 4 assists and will take that to a 1st pro deal with RoKi of Mestis.
Whitecourt Wolverines‘ center Joey Melo(20) commits to Anchorage Alaska-Anchorage Seawolves after a spectular AJHL frame , netting rookie of the year honors.
The 6′ 174 lbs. forward from Georgetown, ON started juniors with a USPHL/NCDC season for South Shore Kings.
He’s still just 19 years old and just may pop up on radar with a little indie schedule play.
Trois Rivières Lions‘ center Cedric Lacroix(19) has finally seemingly arrived at a team he feels comfortable being with, as he’s scoring a decent 5 goals and 5 assists in 18 ECHL games on a non-playoff team.
He’s had forays in the AHL, but only when he 1st arrived and played 1 game with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins, getting 2 goals, but then being reassigned for the rest of the frame to Wheeling Nailers was odd.
His 4 seasons at University Of Maine Black Bears all looked relatively similar.
It’s a little tough to say why the 28-year old from Shefford, QC hasn’t found his hockey home.
In what is a no surprise move, he decides to move on and signs with Pioneers Vorarlberg of IceHL for 2023/2024.
He scores 6 goals and 8 assists in 19 games, but something isn’t right, so he switches to agreeing to the remainder of the frame with Vasterviks IK of Allsvenskan.
For 2024/2025, he heads back to Austria, signing with HC Pusteral Wolfe.
7th year center Evan Jasper(26) signs into his 7th overseas league, the IceHL for 2024/2025, joining Vienna Capitals.
His best scoring across the way has been 2 years in DEL and 1 VHL.
The 5’10” 190 lbs. forward from Whitby, ON lit up 3 years of OJHL for Cobourg Cougars before committing to Sacred Heart University Pioneers.
Already 32-years old, he still appears to be making his mark and playing at a great level.
