Tulsa Oilers recently picked up 3rd year defenseman Connor Fedorek(2) for cash from Norfolk Admirals, where he spot most of his pro time.
In 6 games with his new team, he has an ECHL goal, but is a -7 to work on.
The 6′ 185 lbs. blue liner did 3 years at Ferris State University Bulldogs, but switched it up to go D3 as a senior at Utica University Pioneers and did extremely well with 4 goals and 21 assists.
From Bethel Park, PA, the 27-year old will likely settle with his new club.
He came away with 1 goal and 2 assists in 13 games and is re-signed to return an Oilers for a full frame, 2026/2027.
2nd year defenseman Owen Gallatin(20) got a trade to Maine Mariners at the beginning of 2025/2026 and things really couldn’t have worked out better for the small-ish 5’8″ 168 lbs. blue liner, scoring 2 goals and 15 assists in 42 ECHL games with a +5 rating.
The 4-year University Of Minnesota-Duluth Bulldogs‘ blue liner had college best scoring as a junior, in 37 games got 7 goals and 23 assists.
From Hugo, MN, the 23-year did 2 years of USNTDP before 1 year USHL, then school.
He adds another 7 points in the playoffs and is invited to return for the full 2026/2027 to be a Mariners.
Harvard University Crimson‘ senior defenseman Kyle Aucoin(6) will look to extend a year and head a little closer to home at Miami University (Ohio) Redhawks for a graduate start in 2025/2026.
The 6′ 185 lbs. hard-hitting d-man doesn’t score much, getting a college high 2 goals and 2 assists in 28 games last season.
From Ottawa, ON, the 23-year old is a Detroit Red Wings‘ 6th round pick of 2020 (#156 overall), but his rights were traded to Tampa Bay Lightning.
His dad is Adrian Aucoin.
Left unsigned by draft team, he agrees with Indy Fuel after tournament play concludes.
He gains 1 assist in what is left of the regular frame, then adds another in the playoffs to grab a new 1-year deal for his rookie season 2026/2027 as a Fuel.
Quinnipiac University Bobcats‘ graduate center Jack Ricketts(28) takes some college highs scoring 20 goals to a 1st pro contract with Utah Grizzlies for his rookie season, 2025/2026.
In his 1st 9 ECHL games, he has 4 goals and 1 assist with a 0 rating.
The 6’1″ 194 lbs. forward came over from top scoring at Holy Cross College Crusaders, where he had 35 points in 39 games with a +18 rating.
From Oakville, ON, the 26-year old is off to a great start and looks good for a loan up.
In 31 games, he scores 5 goals and 5 assists with a +4 rating to receive an invite to return a Roadrunners for a 2nd season in 2026/2027.
Lake Superior State University Lakers‘ senior captain, left wing Connor Millburn(91) takes his 6’5″ 212 lbs. frame to a 1st pro deal with Fort Wayne Komets, but after 3 games, 1 assist, he is traded to Greenville Swamp Rabbits.
In 10 ECHL games with his new club, he has 2 assists with a 0 rating on a playoff bound team.
He scored best in college as a sophomore with 16 goals and 19 assists in 34 games.
From Kamloops, BC, the 25-year old did 3 BCHL years, the last as captain with Chilliwack Chiefs.
He would score a 1st goal to add to his assists in 13 games with a +1 rating and is signed to stay a Swamp Rabbits for his rookie season in 2026/2027.
4th year left wing Peter Laviolette(11) got ECHL waived and picked up quick by Savannah Ghost Pirates in hopes to get him producing points the way his size 6’4″ 220 lbs. thinks it should.
He was almost a point-per-game scorer in his graduate year at Plymouth State University Panthers.
Twice did he score 11 points with West Virginia hometown Wheeling Nailers, a team he spent 3 seasons with.
The 28-year old is the son of Coach Laviolette.
After 12 games, he decides for 2026/2027 to head behind of the bench of his old club in Wheeling and serve as an assistant coach.
Long Island University Sharks‘ senior captain, defenseman John Gormley(92) signs a 1st pro contract with San Jose Barracuda, a 2-year, 2-way deal.
The big 6’4″ 225 blue liner played 7 AHL games with 1 assist, but was also reassigned to Wichita Thunder for 6 ECHL games, no points before being recalled.
From the Bronx, NY, the 24-year old did 2 NAHL junior years before college.
We look for his size to help him establish zone and do well.
The big d-man is spotted by Bakersfield Condors, who take a shot on him for 2026/2027.
Boston Bruins‘ sign unrestricted free agent center John Farinacci(26) to a 2-year NHL entry level deal after finishing up his 4th year at Harvard University Crimson as senior captain.
He was originally an Arizona Coyotes‘ 3rd round pick in the 2019 draft (#76 overall), but went oddly unsigned.
The 6’ 190 lbs. forward from Red Bank, NJ came north for his high school hockey, but played little junior hockey before committing to school.
He is the Crimson coach Ted Donato‘s nephew.
In his 2nd season in the minors, he scores 9 goals and a new best 28 assists to earn himself a 1st recall.
He skates 16 shifts for 10:58 ice time with 1 shot that equaled a 1st NHL goal and 3 hits for his debut, a 5-4 overtime loss.
In his 2nd season in the minors, he matches his 1st year totals with 38 points with a +9 rating and plays a 1st game in the big league to score himself a new deal with the Bruins for 2025/2026, as a restricted free agent.
The restricted free agent going into 2026/2027 isn’t re-upped, so signs a 1-year AHL deal with Milwaukee Admirals that we know is under the radar of the parent club.
Merrimack College Warriors‘ junior defenseman Zach Bookman(37) takes his 3 goals and 14 assists in 33 games into the transfer portal to next play at Western Michigan University Broncos as a senior, 2o25/2026.
He had college best numbers in his sophomore frame with 4 goals and 24 assists.
The 5’11” 185 lbs. blue liner from Syracuse, NY did 2 years juniors before school, capturing the 2022 AJHL Championship with most assists (81) and points (102), top defenseman award.
https://echl.com/players/11406/zach-bookmanAt 23-years old, we think Hockey East has taught him well moving forward.
After some good scoring and a +5 rating in his final season, he signs a deal with Fort Wayne Komets to start his pro career, getting 1 assist in 2 ECHL games, then 1 goal in the playoffs.
For 2026/2027, Bakersfield Condors are watching and sign him.
Ohio State University Buckeyes‘ graduate right wing Michael Gildon(18) takes a college best 5 goals in 34 games with a +3 rating last season to a 1st pro deal with Worcester Railers.
The 6’2″ 196 lbs. forward from Plano, TX played 2 seasons USNTDP and wasn’t too bad on the scoresheet.
We think the decently-sized skater finds more room for scoring opportunities in the ECHL.
He signs with Jacksonville Icemen for his rookie season, 2024/2025.
Actually, he ends up with Fort Wayne Komets and things go pretty smoothly with 5 goals and 3 assists with a +2 rating in 23 games, but gets himself traded to Allen Americans, who bring him home.
In his 1st full season with his new team, he scores 21 goals and 34 assists in a full rack of 72 games with a +21 rating that easily gets him re-signed to stay an Americans for 2026/2027.
