Rookie center Brent Beaudoin(12) finally gets a full schedule crack at pro hockey.
After graduating from 4 years at Brown University Bears, he skated 1 ECHL game, signed to an ato by Worcester Railers and he scored a goal and an assist, leaving the game with a +2 rating.
He, like his team decided to sit 2020/2021, and returns, grabbing an assist with a +3 rating in the team’s home opener.
The 5’11” 181 lbs. forward took an interesting route lighting up lower levels of junior hockey before agreeing on a school, and now becoming what looks like a solid skater in one of the top leagues.
Undrafted rookie right wing Jake Coleman(29) took 2020/2021 off after graduating a COVID shortened, no playoff season with Robert Morris University Colonials.
He did initially agree to a deal with Worcester Railers, but then they decided not to play.
The small 5’8″ 165 lbs. forward signs with South Carolina Stingrays for 2021/2022 to get his pro career going.
He got a college career high 9 goals and 12 assists with a +8 rating as a senior.
The Pittsburgh, PA native scored pretty effectively through youth hockey and in his first year of juniors for Keystone Ice Miners with 30 points (5-25) in 55 NAHL games, but wasn’t as effective in the follow-up campaign with Muskegon Lumberjacks of the USHL.
We do expect the 24-year old to connect pretty regularly in the ECHL.
Colorado College Tigers‘ sophomore goaltender Dominic Basse(22) has really only seen limited success since youth hockey with Selects Academy 18U AAA, but scored a huge confidence win over #10 ranked Boston College Eagles in Chestnut Hill Friday night.
This was also a 1st NCAA Division 1 hockey win for new Coach Kris Mayotte.
The monster 6’6″ 187 lbs. net minder is the team’s only NHL draft pick, going in the 6th round of 2019 (#167 overall) to Chicago Blackhawks.
He played one season for Youngstown Phantoms with a 14-12-3 record before arriving at college.
There’s little doubt the 20-year old, Alexandria, VA native will have to continue to step up his game to earn an entry level contract.
12th year right wing Corey Tropp(12) is off to a good start in his 2nd season overseas, this year with Vienna Capitals of IceHL after a good, short stint with Straubing Tigers (8-11-19 in 27 DEL games with a +6 rating).
He could easily see career high totals in this Austria-based league.
The super-solid 6′ 192 lbs. power forward twice hit the 20 goal mark and 2 times had 30+ assists in the AHL.
Originally a Buffalo Sabres’ 3rd round pick in the 2007 (#89 overall), he’s skated 149 NHL games,
He was a full-time fixture in the league for a pair of seasons, first with draft club, then a fairly successful run with Columbus Blue Jackets for most of two sessions.
The 3-year Michigan State University Spartans‘ senior assistant captain, 32-year old is likely just enjoying his hockey at this point.
After 4 seasons at Boston College, Finnish-born defenseman Jesper Mattila(7) didn’t think long about heading home to start his pro career signing for 2020/2021 with Kalpa, and in 51 Liiga games had 3 goals and 6 assists with a +3 rating.
He left after a COVID-shortened 2019/2020 season with a +30 in 34 NCAA games.
It wouldn’t be strange at all to see the 5’11” 183 lbs. 23 old blue liner just stay in his home country to play his hockey and start a nice family (or something that approximates that).
The still young 24-year old signs on for a 2nd season with Kalpa after scoring 3 goals and 7 assists with a +7 rating on 58 games.
He has 1 goal and 2assists in 16 games to start the new frame.
12th year center Rob Bordson(29) was going to spend a 2nd season close to home, even agreeing to terms, but decided a better deal was out there he needed to grab, signing a 1-year deal with Stavenger Oilers of Fjordkraftligaen for 2021/2022.
He came home to skate last year with Kansas City Mavericks and came one point shy of his best league totals, tying a 17 goal high.
The 6’2″ 201 lbs. forward only did better in his 1st campaign away for DEL, getting 8 goals and 30 assists for Fischtown Pinguins with a +10 rating.
He has played 380 AHL games and 106 in the ECHL with more than point-per-game numbers.
The 33-year old, former 3-year University Of Minnesota-Duluth Bulldogs‘ skater is probably just still enjoying the game to stick with it.
Undrafted 3rd year defenseman Ryker Killins(44) decides to go exploring for his new contract, signing a 1-year deal with Esbjerg Energy for 2021/2022.
In 2 ECHL seasons, he’s basically managed to tie his 21 points, but whereas he had a dismal plus/minus with Rapid City Rush, he pulled that up very nicely for Jacksonville Icemen to a +4 on good scoring.
The small 5’9″ 181 lbs. blue liner managed a few games loaned up to Tuscon Roadrunners as a rookie but didn’t connect.
He was probably most impressive in the pros after completing his 4th year at Ferris State University Bulldogs to sign an ato to South Carolina Stingrays and immediately he got to work, floating 3 goals and 6 assists in 14 games with a +7.
We suspect the 25-year old from Wawa, ON destroys Denmark’s top league, Metal Ligean.
3rd year defenseman Jake Massie(34) signs a 1-year AHL deal with Hershey Bears for 2021/2022 after spending all of last season with Greenville Swamp Rabbits, scoring 3 goals and 8 assists with a +3 rating in 51 ECHL games, while under the 2nd year of his entry level deal with Florida Panthers.
The 6’1″ 179 lbs. blue liner was originally drafted by Carolina Hurricanes in the 6th round of 2015 (#156 overall), but went unsigned after a trade sent his rights to Chicago Blackhawks.
This all basically happened before he was to start his first year of juniors with Omaha Lancers, which is also when he committed to University Of Vermont Catamounts, where he spent the following three years.
The 24-year old will likely do better in his 2nd run of the farm league for the majors.
Rookie center Patrick Kramer(14) signs a 1-year deal with Jacksonville Icemen for 2021/2022 to get his pro career going.
The fairly big 6’1″ 194 lbs. forward was a big scorer at Boston College High, but dropped off in one campaign of juniors with Youngstown Phantoms and wasn’t a huge point-producer through 4 years at Merrimack College Warriors.
We think the ECHL signing of the 24-year old means they think he will be able to connect with the scoresheet in the league.
Undrafted rookie center Andy Brink(18) signs a 1-year ECHL deal with South Carolina Stingrays for 2021/2022 after taking last season off post graduating from Boston University Terriers after transferring from 4 years at Brown University Bears.
The 6′ 201 lbs., Hamilton, NY native played most of his junior hockey with Junior Bruins, first in the EJHL, then switch leagues for two campaigns, where in the first he helped them win 2014 USPHL Premiere, then went on to detonating the scoresheet with 29 goals and 41 assists in 50 games before heading to college.
It wouldn’t be surprising to see the 27-year old, who didn’t connect much through ECAC or Hockey East play, take scoring up a notch as a pro.
