Connecticut Nor’easter 1st year goaltender Ethan Laplante(30) won a huge 39-save 4-2 away game effort against a team that has played much better this EHLP season.
His 3-8-1 record may not point towards the net minder he looks to become at the junior level.
The 6′ 181 lbs. goalie from Sturbridge, MA was awesome as a senior at Auburn High, posting a 16-3-1 record with a 1.91 GAA and .900 SV% in USHS-MA.
We look for the 18-year old to hook up with the right club to grow to the next level.
Undrafted 2nd year defenseman Ivan Chukarov(13) takes the COVID season off, but decides to get back on the ice and switches allegiance from Worcester Railers, the only team he’s played for since graduating UMass Minutemen to Wheeling Nailers for the 2021/2022 ECHL.
The 6’2″ 203 lbs. forward was a big scorer in his 2nd year of junior with Minnesota Wilderness, scoring 12 goals and 31 assists in 55 NAHL games to get his college commitment.
Originally a Buffalo Sabres‘ 7th round pick in the 2015 draft (#182 overall), it seems like the 26-year old still can be a big contributor, despite what league he eventually lands.
He would actually land at Adirondack Thunder for last season’s play and had 2 goals and 5 assists in 38 games, but a terrible -22 rating.
For 2022/2023, the Des Plaines, IL native will return to continue work on his game, trying to contribute.
He puts up a career best 11 assists with 12 points and was a +12 rating through 58 games last season.
For 2023/2024, he gets traded and signs a 1-year deal with Jacksonville Icemen, his 3rd team in the league.
After 67 games, scoring a new best 7 goals and 26 assists with a +16 rating, he will take his game for a 1st time overseas, joining Coventry Blaze of the EIHL for 2025/2026.
In 23 games, he is scoring ok, but has a bad +/-, so decides to come back and signs with Bloomington Bison for the 2nd half of 2025/2026.
Quinnipiac University Bobcats‘ junior left wing Christophe Fillion(25) looks to have a career season with already 6 goals, needing 1 to tie his high from last year and 4 assists, going for 13 to eclipse that best mark.
The 5’11” 176 lbs. forward left his 2nd USHL season with Muskegon Lumberjacks to join his current college club.
He had a pretty huge 1st frame and previously the Sherbrooke, QC native skated in the BCHL for Wenatchee Wild, putting up decent numbers.
We wouldn’t be surprised to see the 23-year old put up point-per-game numbers in 2o23/2024.
He comes away with a college high 12 goals as a senior and the undrafted player decides to go for a year of eligibility at Miami University Ohio Redhawks.
In 32 games, he scores 4 goals and 6 assists on a tough luck team and as the season wraps up, he signs a 1st pro deal with Idaho Steelheads.
In 8 ECHL games, he has an assist with a 0 rating.
He doesn’t decide to try to stay and instead agrees to terms with Utah Grizzlies for his rookie run, 2025/2026.
In 12 games, he scores 2 goals with a +1 rating, but Wichita Thunder eye something in his game they want and trade for future considerations to acquire him.
Maine Mariners‘ 3rd year defenseman Nate Kallen(26) re-ups to return for a 2nd ECHL season after scoring a career best 6 goals and 16 assists for 22 points in 46 games.
The 6′ 190 lbs. blue liner also received a 3 game AHL loan to Springfield Thunderbirds, where he scored a goal.
After joining his host team for 3 games upon graduating as senior captain for Ferris State University Bulldogs, he had a bit of a trying rookie start first that eventually saw him sign with Macon Mayhem and do very well in 25 SPHL games, scoring 4 goals and 15 assists with a +14 rating that was easily a good part of his pro learning curve.
The 24-year old from San Diego, CA will very likely just continue to take up his game.
He decides to return from a season in the EIHL with Glascow Clan after repairing a late injury and signs a 1-year deal with the new team, Tahoe Knight Monsters for 2024/2025.
After another decent run with the Monsters, he decides to move off for something a bit different and signs with Vienna Capitals of the IceHL, where he will continue to do well.
1st year Maryland Black Bears‘ center Ryan Franks(19) takes 23 goals and 18 assists in 29 NAHL games to a 2026/2027 commit at Canisius College Golden Griffins.
From Roslyn, NY, he did his youth hockey in the close by P.A.L. Jr. Islanders‘ system and went on to skate to successful seasons with the USPHL/NCDC club.
The big 6’4″ 205 lbs. forward will be a welcome Atlantic Hockey addition.
Franklin Pierce University Ravens‘ freshman defenseman Chase Leivian(27) has played 25 games with 1 assist this season.
The 6′ 191 lbs. blue liner did have 20+ assists and 10+ goals in 2 NA3HL years with Norwich Sea Captains.
From Arvada, CO, the 21-year old will likely grow into his college game with this club.
Niagara University Purple Eagles‘ senior right wing Ryan Naumovski(39) takes a new college best, scoring 9 goals and 17 assists for a new journey through the transfer portal to Augustana College Vikings for 2023/2024.
The 6′ light 160 lbs. forward was a point-per-game player for New Jersey Junior Titans in his 2nd NAHL season.
Undrafted from Shelby Township, MI, the 23-year old will likely have some fun playing that tough D1 schedule the 1st year team is taking on.
He basically equals his scoring from his senior frame perfectly in slightly less games, as a graduate player.
Upon finishing up their independent schedule, he signs with Kalamazoo Wings.
He appears in just 3 ECHL games to round out the season, getting 1 assist.
For 2024/2025, he signs on for a full year in a Wings‘ uniform.
He waits a minute after a decent first full frame with a pro team and signs with Florida Everblades for his 2nd season.
For the 2nd half of 2025/2026, he returns to the Everblades and has 1 assist in 5 games.
Salve Regina University Seahawks‘ senior right wing Mitch Walinski(27) saw his team’s season end in a close game against the club maybe to win the entire D3 hockey this year.
The 6’1″ 180 lbs. forward takes the news in stride and quickly signs a 1st pro deal with Atlanta Gladiators.
He posted an assist in his debut and then a few days later in game 2, grabs a 1st ECHL goal with a 0 rating in some high scoring wins.
From Lincoln, RI, the 24-year old left two seasons with 10+ goals and 10+ assists in college hockey.
He finished his ato with 3 goals and 1 assist and a -5 rating, but they see something they want to continue and sign him up for his official rookie season, 2023/2024.
Scoring ok for his 1st year, he definitely needs to bring up that +/-, but he is wanted to return to wear a Gladiators‘ sweater for 2024/2025.
He grabs 7 goals and 5 assists last season, but hadn’t figured into a game yet this season, so gets dished to Adirondack Thunder to see if they can turn the magic.
After 4 games with no points he gets waived and quickly scooped by the new Bloomington Bison.
He gets picked up after 5 games, no points by Wheeling Nailers on an earlier future considerations deal, but in 9 outings has yet to hit the score sheet, almost surprisingly.
With things not improving done the line in the league, he opts to leave and sign in the secondary British, NIHL with Bristol Pitbulls in hopes of regaining some scoring confidence.
After a successful 16 game run, scoring 17 goals and 7 assists, he leaves for a shot at Germany4, signing 2025/2026 with EV Dingolfing and has completely exploded scoring with 33 goals and 24 assists in 30 games.
University Of Denver Pioneers‘ graduate defenseman Kyle Mayhew(27) signs a 1st pro deal to stay right at home joining Colorado Eagles on a 2-way deal to get going, meaning he could get shipped down the road to Utah Grizzlies.
The small-is 5’9″ 165 lbs. blue liner had a career tying 2 goals, best 11 assists and 13 points with a +20 rating last season.
He has been known to throw up helpers, as he did in his 2nd run with Fairbanks Ice Dogs, getting 31 assists in a campaign, where he also notched an NAHL high 8 goals.
The 25-year old will likely play hard for all the space he’s able to make.
Well, after scoring 15 goals and 42 assists, he is deciding to move on and signs with Fort Wayne Komets for 2024/2025.
He puts up another 11 goals and 41 assists in 60 ECHL games, then adds another 9 points in 11 playoff matchups and was named Defensive Player Of The Year.
Loaned up to Bakersfield Condors, he scored 1 goals and 8 assists in 11 games.
For 2025/2026, he decides to leave for DEL and signs with Augsburger Panther.
In 44 games, he scores 5 goals and 16 assists and is asks to return to be a Panther for 2026/2027.
Quinnipiac University Bobcats‘ freshman defenseman Graham Sward(15) came to the school after playing a 1st pro season under contract to Manitoba Moose, but spent most of his playing time in Norfolk Admirals.
He had 2 goals and 11 assists in 47 ECHL games with a +13 rating.
The big 6’4″ 192 lbs. blue liner has 4 goals and 9 assists in 30 games with another +13 for his college team.
From Langley, BC, the 22-year old did 5 years in the WHL, scoring fairly big assists (66 in 66 games in his final frame).
A Nashville Predators’ 5th round pick in the 2022 draft (#146 overall), we think the 22-year old has become an unrestricted free agent.
