6th year right wing Wade Murphy(6) returns to sign with Idaho Steelheads for 2022/2023 after spending the last 3 seasons of pandemic madness away in Norway, Austria and Slovenia, where he managed to capture that country’s 2022 league championship.
The 6′ 194 lbs. forward has 120 games of ECHL experience with decent scoring, but definitely could flatten that +/-.
Originally a Nashville Predators’ 7th round pick in the 2013 draft (#185 overall), he was never signed after an outstanding junior season based on his early college numbers.
He graduated after a 2 season transfer to Arizona State University Sun Devils from University Of North Dakota Fighting Hawks with a college career best 9 goals and 11 assists.
The 28-year old from Victoria, BC is a big frame that should be able to score goals almost at will we the right team in this league.
He takes a career high by a mile frame, scoring 21 goals and 22 assists in 54 games with a +38 rating to 20 playoff match ups and another 20 point total.
It’s an absolute no brainer that he receives a new contract to continue wearing a Steelheads‘ jersey for 2023/2024.
He is taking career scoring bests goals, assists, points with him for another foray to test his skills overseas in the tough to play Slovak Extraliga and signs with HC Slovan Bratislava for 2024/2025 and we think does very well here.
Limited to only 10 games last season, he scored 6 goals and 2 assists with a +5 rating and will next skate in the same league for HK Poprad in 2024/2025.
He is seemingly doing ok over there for a couple different teams, but has decided to return to strap on an Idaho jersey yet again.
St. Lawrence University Skating Saints‘ senior, captain defenseman Drake Burgin(26) signs a 1st pro contract with Kansas City Mavericks and in 10 ECHL games, nets 2 goals and 2 assists with a +2 rating.
The 6′ 181 lbs. blue liner scored best as a junior with 7 goals and 13 assists.
From Winnipeg, MB, he did 3 seasons of juniors up there.
The 24-year old has yet to appear in the playoffs and may have not made that roster, but will need a deal for 2025/2026.
He does sign and figures nicely in their push to the Kelly Cup Finals and even got loaned up to the AHL for 1 game.
For 2026/2027, he is actually picked up by Savannah Ghost Pirates in a trade.
University Of Massachusetts Minutemen graduate center Liam Gorman(20) may only have 2 assists in 10 games, but you feel the 6’2″ 187 lbs. power forward will strike for some Hockey East points sooner than later.
He had a college career best 12 goals and 10 assists as a senior with Princeton University Tigers.
The 23-year old from Boston, MA is a Pittsburgh Penguins‘ 6th round pick in the 2018 draft (#177 overall), but was traded to Chicago Blackhawks and will need an NHL entry level deal after this frame.
Through 28 games, he only scores 1 goal and 3 assists with a +2 rating, but is not signed, so the free agent agrees to terms with Allen Americans for his ECHL rookie season, 2024/2025.
After 6 goals and 11 assists in 62 games last season, he is traded to Maine Mariners, who look to add him.
He gets 4 goals and 2 assists in 34 games with a 0 rating and is released to Kansas City Mavericks, where his scoring is almost assured to increase.
In only 4 games, he comes away with no points and for 2026/2027 signs with Savannah Ghost Pirates to hopefully help his scoring fortunes.
UMASS-Lowell Riverhawks‘ senior defenseman Brehdan Engum(10) enters the transfer portal to do a graduate frame at Boston University Terriers in 2024/2025.
The 6’3″ 220 lbs. blue liner doesn’t score a lot of points, but is definitely accountable on a good team.
He left the USHL for Waterloo Blackhawks with 2 seasons of 10+ assists and a +36 rating.
From Burnsville, MN, the 24-year continues his Hockey East play another frame.
The big d-man scores only 2 assists in 30 games with a +7 rating last season and signs a 1st pro contract with Norfolk Admirals that should be an awesome pro match for both.
He scored 2 goals and 16 assists in 66 ECHL games with a +8 rating and signs another deal to continue with the Admirals for 2026/2027.
Northeast Generals‘ 1st year net minder, Will Mizenko(31) takes a 41 game NAHL season, posting a 22-15 record with a 2.64 GAA and .916 SV% to a 2026/2027 commit at Endicott College Gulls.
The big 6’5″ 201 lbs. goalie should help them win lots of games in the CNE.
From Niskayuna, NY, the 21-year will easily be a good watch.
St. Lawrence University Skating Saints‘ graduate defenseman Jack Babbage(72) looks like he is well on his way to scoring college career highs this season with 4 assists in 16 games.
He didn’t play in his 1st year at Quinnipiac University Bobcats before transferring to University Of New Hampshire Wildcats, where got into a decent amount of games, but just didn’t get points.
The 6’1″ 190 lbs. blue liner did 2 USHL sessions with Chicago Steel, winning the Clark Cup Championship in his 2nd frame.
From Tully, NY, the 25-year old seems to be in a good spot.
He takes a college 5 assists high to a 1st pro contract with Jacksonville Icemen.
In 6 games, he comes away with 1 assist and is asked to return for his rookie season as an Icemen in 2026/2027.
Union College Dutchmen graduate left wing Chaz Smedsrud(8) finishes up and signs an ato with Allen Americans that may get switched quickly.
The 6’2″ 195 lbs. gets a 1st ECHL goal and assist in his debut, a 6-3 losing effort, but somehow comes away with a +1 rating.
He scored a best (by a mile) in his final year at college with 14 goals, 8 assists and new high 22 points.
The Luverne, MN blew up scoring in his high school, then did the same in the AJHL for 2 seasons before coming back to life in the USHL for 1 frame before school.
At 25-years old, he is very much ready to get pro started.
Through 9 games, with 3 goals and 4 assists, he’s looking good for an invite to return for his rookie run in 2024/2025 in an Americans‘ sweater.
After just 3 games into his rookie frame with no points, Rapid City Rush are seeking his services and acquire him in a trade for future considerations.
A 2nd good frame with the same club and he decides to try something new and signs with Greenville Swamp Rabbits for 2026/2027.
UMASS-Lowell Riverhawks‘ graduate goaltender Henry Welsch(41) plays a 2nd season of 20+ games that he takes to a 1st pro contract with Adirondack Thunder for his rookie season, 2025/2026.
The 6’2″ 205 lbs. net minder had 1 amazing NAHL season before heading to school.https://echlthunder.com/news/2026/08/henry-welsch-returns-to-glens-falls
From Lakeville, MN, the 25-year old will have to work for the starter’s job.
He only gets into 2 ECHL games last season, but will return for a 2nd season and hopefully more time in 2026/2027 in a Thunder uniform.
Undrafted third year defenseman Charlie Curti(3) somewhat returns home to Adirondack Thunder, where he had a breakthrough rookie campaign, scoring a career high 11 goals and 20 assists for 31 points in 56 ECHL games.
He had to go away as a sophomore skater, signing for 2020/2021 with Rapid City Rush, as his upper state NY club was forced to sit due to COVID restrictions.
The 6′ 191 lbs., 26-year old, former 4-year Yale University Bulldogs‘ blue liner returns to his first year club and could very well set more bests point totals.
Instead of heading back to upper state New York for a 2nd season, the 25-year old has rethought that decision and accepts a contract with Aalborg Pirates of Metal Ligaen.
This may just be the start of his hockey life overseas as he could do very well in Denmark’s top league.
He would return after scoring nicely overseas and sign a 1-year ECHL deal with Toledo Walleye, where he ran up 25 points in 39 games with a +20 rating before adding 8 assists in 12 playoff matchups.
For 2023/2024, he is heading to play with 2-time EIHL Champs Belfast Giants, where he just may help them raise a 3rd straight trophy.
He maybe didn’t capture a title, but did nicely with 2 goals and 17 assists in 39 games with a +11 rating to sign with rivals, Guilford Flames for 2024/2025.
After 2 years oof good play, he decides to head to Metal Ligaen for 2026/2027 and signs with Herlev Eagles.
University Of New Hampshire Wildcats‘ senior captain, center Morgan Winters(27) takes a college best goals with 11 and tying his points at 22 to a 1st pro deal with Idaho Steelheads.
The 5’11” 165 lbs. forward did 2 successful runs through junior hockey.
In 8 ECHL games, he already has 4 goals and 2 assists.
From Osprey, FL, the 24-year old steps into pro life pretty well.
He easily scores a 1st year rookie contract for 2026/2027 as a Steelheads.
