Jan Kern(27) came here for a hopeful successful college career after agreeing late upon finishing 3 years of junior hockey to American International College, but after a crazy COVID stop-and-go 2020/2021 has decided to return home, signing with HC Slavia Praha of Czech2.
The 5’11” 190 lbs. left wing scored well for 2nd USHL team, Omaha Lancers, getting 13 goals and 19 assists in 50 games.
He played all of his youth hockey with the team the now 22-year old has taken up pro ranks with, and is probably almost literally right next to his parent’s house.
4th year center Blaine Byron(12) takes 153 AHL games of playing experience to a new adventure with Eisbaren Berlin of DEL for 2021/2022.
The former University Of Maine Black Bears‘ forward, who went on a scoring splurge in his senior year for 18 goals and 23 assists in 36 Hockey East games, signed three consecutive contracts with Springfield Thunderbirds, and definitely had a breakout frame in his 2nd campaign, grabbing 13 goals and 12 assists.
He would be traded in the middle of the next season to Ontario Reign and once again had 12 goals and this time 22 assists in 54 games.
The 6′ 172 lbs. light pivot stuck on a follow-up deal, and through the bizarre 2020/2021 scored 6 goals and 6 assists in 17 games, which probably put him fully on the radar for the Germany club to grab.
It would be little surprise to see the 25-year old excel in this very solid overseas league.
Buffalo Sabres‘ 3rd round pick in the 2016 draft (#86 overall), defenseman Casey Fitzgerald(5) re-ups for another 2-years as he was set to enter restricted free agent status.
He scored a career tying 2 goals and high 9 assists and 11 points for affiliate Rochester Americans in 2020/2021.
The former two-time Boston College Eagles‘ captain averaged 15 assists per season through college with an overall +26 rating.
He was a 2-year member of the USNTDP for junior hockey.
The 5’11” 181 lbs. blue liner, son of New Jersey Devils‘ General Manager, Tom Fitzgerald could get the nod for some NHL time this season.
4th year center Ryan Penny(9) finishes a most interesting move to playing hockey.
He swept through 5 seasons of QMJHL before agreeing to terms with Binghamton Senators, coming off a just over point-per-game session as captain for Rouyn-Noranda Huskies.
The 6’2″ 198 lbs. forward played three years, mostly with Reading Royals, but ends up on loan to Binghamton Devils, when he decides next to head to college.
He came to terms with McGill University, where he spent the last couple years, but only played 2019/2020.
It’s very possible he’s completed his studies, because he’s back on the pro side of things, signing for 2021/2022 with Coventry Blaze.
He should adapt to EIHL play well and affect the score sheet with frequency is what we’re looking at.
4-year Brown University Bears‘ defenseman Tony Stillwell(6) will take a year of eligibility to a new experience at nearby Quinnipiac University Bobcats for 2021/2022.
Unfortunately neither ECAC team skated last season.
The small 5’9″ 170 lbs. blue liner basically averaged 10 assists a frame with a single goal before his time was up, which was close to what got him spotted in a 2nd full campaign of USHL for his 2nd club, hometown Green Bay Gamblers, where he grabbed all highs, 2 goals, 11 assists, 13 points with a +5 rating in half a session.
The 24-year old from Green Bay, WI will mix well with the talent already at his new school.
Undrafted, Helsinki, Finland native, junior center Santeri Hartikainen(26) enters the transfer portal as his school, Robert Morris University Colonials decides to suspend hockey operations and will show up at American International College Yellowjackets.
The fairly big 6’2″ 190 lbs. forward played all of his youth hockey back home with HIFK but came over for high school hockey, ultimately ending up at Northwood School, continuing on his more than point-per-game play with 22 goals and 30 assists in 51 USHS-Prep games.
He did one year of juniors with Corpus Christi Ice Rays before committing and once again lit the lamp big.
The 22-year old stays in Atlantic Hockey, but enters an exciting new team’s system of playing hockey.
Rookie forward James Anderson(27) decided to take the COVID infested 2020/2021 off after graduating Mercyhurst University Lakers, but will join Fife Flyers for 2021/2022 to start his pro career.
The 5’9″ 168 lbs. forward spent three years at P.A.L. Junior Islanders in the USPHL Premiere league to score an invite to his D1 school, which is an odd occurrence.
The 25-year old from Kings Park, NY scored 10 goals and 10 assists as a senior and those stats should indicate he can become a standout player in the EIHL.
Minnesota Wild 2nd round pick in the 2013 draft (#46 overall), 8th year, Swedish-born defenseman Gustav Olofsson(29) and was signed to a pair of contracts, including the 2nd being his only one-way deal, before being traded to Montreal Canadiens, where he was signed to a pair of one-year deals.
He has just agreed to his latest NHL contract, a two-way shot with Seattle Kracken.
The 1-year Colorado College d-man, who happened to just be over to play with the local Colorado Thunderbirds 16U AA & 18U AA will likely see most of his playing time with affiliate Charlotte Checkers.
He’s played 203 AHL games with a healthy showing of 11 goals and 60 assists and not too untidy -4 rating.
The 6’3″ 200 lbs. blue liner was likely selected for his size and the fact he put up 21 assists for Green Bay Gamblers with a +11 rating, then signed to a three-year entry level deal a year into school.
It wouldn’t be out of the realm to see the 26-year old potentially make the opening night roster for a spot in the show to start 2021/2022.
Undrafted 4th year center Michael McNicholas(16) decides to head back overseas for 2021/2022 signing with Fife Flyers of the EIHL.
He first left to skate for Manglerud, scoring a couple goals and 7 assists in 15 Fjordkraftligaen before coming back, agreeing to terms with Maine Mariners.
As a rookie, he scored a career high 13 goals and 40 assists in 65 ECHL games.
He re-signed and maybe didn’t equal his earlier performance, but at least got close (11-27-38), although his on-ice accountability fell to a critically low -17 rating.
The 5’10” 174 lbs. forward was all set to return for a third campaign in Maine, but was forced to move on as the team shuttered for 2020/2021, so he would end up splitting time with Utah Grizzlies, Indy Fuel, who he skated 3 games with after college, and Tulsa Oilers.
He was a outstanding as a junior at University Of New Hampshire Wildcats, capturing 13 goals and 30 assists in 37 Hockey East games and followed it up with a solid senior year.
The 27-year old from Reno, NV will likely do well in his new hockey league and maybe even move up the ranks over there, which means we may not see him back here for awhile.
Undrafted, 8th year right wing Wade MacLeod(19) decided to sit last season out but comes back into the game with a new contract for 2021/2022 for Manchester Storm.
He last skated in 2019/2020 for Lowen Frankfort and put up 25 goals and 24 assists in 49 DEL2 games.
This was his 2nd foray in the league, having blown up scoring with Starbulls Rosenheim to the tune of 34 goals and 27 assists.
A decent scorer in the AHL, he was a point-per-game guy in the ECHL through 104 games netted 108 points.
The 4-year, former Northeastern University Huskies‘ senior assistant captain was a Hobey Baker Finalist, when he struck for 22 goals and 23 assists in 37 Hockey East games.
At 34-years old, he will likely blow-up the stat sheet in the EIHL much like he’s done in most any league he’s played, but mostly what he has been able to accomplish since falling to the ice in 2013 and being diagnosed with brain cancer is remarkable.
