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.
Albertus Magnus College Falcons‘ senior defenseman Connor Bertamini(6) takes some college best scoring with a third frame of 3 goals and 19 assists in 26 games with a +8 rating to a 1st pro contract with Roanoke Rail Yard Dawgs, but was recently placed on 14-day ir.
From Calgary, AB, the 25-year did almost 4 years of AJHL junior with Calgary Canucks before school.
In 6 SPHL games, he has 0 points with a 0 rating, which is still good.
Stonehill College Skyhawks‘ freshman center Frankie Ireland(6) had quite a first campaign, recording a career best 27 assists to go along with 17 goals and 44 points in 25 games.
The 5’11” 185 lbs. forward was a more than point-per-game player, serving as captain for Junior Bruins in 42 NCDC/USPHL games.
He would leave for a run with Lone Star Brahmas that gave him 11 goals and 12 assists in 41 NAHL games, but the Longmeadow, MA native would return to his “home” team before leaving for college.
For his junior and senior seasons, he becomes team captain and very much has the team on his back most of the time.
Finishing up a little indie tournament play, he signs a 1st pro deal with Knoxville Ice Bears.
In 3 SPHL games, he has 3 assists and is a +2 rating.
5th year center Scott Pooley(12) trades in a 1st good season overseas for Lukko, scoring 18 goals and 16 assists in 55 Liiga games for a new experience with HockeyAllsvenskan, signing for 2022/2023 to IF Bjorkloven.
The 6’2″ 201 lbs. forward has signed 3 times with Toronto Marlies and played 63 AHL games, while being reassigned down to the ECHL Newfoundland Growlers, where he was a point-per-game player and helped them win the 2019 Kellly Cup.
He had 34 points in 36 NCAA Division 1 games as a senior at Holy Cross College Crusaders and 20+ points each previous frame.
The 28-year old from Granger, IN was never much of a point getter in 2 years of junior, one north in the AJHL, but definitely figured out how to connect at the higher levels.
He would spend 2 years scoring for his tier 2 Swedish hockey team and decides to trade it in for a contract with rivals AIK for 2024/2025.
After another very successful season with the most league points, 59, he signs on for another 2 seasons to stay AIK through 2027/2028 and we’d say is pretty happy.
Long Island University Sharks‘ junior center Noah Kane(92) decides he wants a switch it up after 2 years at Mercyhurst University Lakers and commits to the new school for 2022/2023.
The 5’11” 181 lbs. forward played a season high 26 games, scoring new college bests 5 goals and 9 assists for 14 points.
He spent 3 years in juniors, but really came alive when he joined Maine Nordiques before agreeing to school.
As the first team captain ever, he would produce 20 goals and 44 assists in 54 NAHL games.
The 22-year old will likely continue to take his scoring up.
And he did, collecting a 2nd round of 8 goals per frame, but his assists popped to a by-a-mile best 22.
He graduates and signs a 1st pro contract with Cincinnati Cyclones.
In 16 ECHL games, the Buffalo, NY native comes away with 2 goals and 4 assists on a non-playoff team.
For 2024/2025, he steps out to sign with JoKP of Mestis.
He is doing ok overseas with 7 goals and 11 assists in 28 games, but maybe misses home and will return to Cincinnati.
In 12 games, he records only 1 assist and is traded to a team that wants him, Allen Americans, who give up a player to obtain him.
He plays 19 game with his new team, scoring 2 goals and 8 assists, but signs with Bloomington Bison, who trade him to Kalamazoo Wings after just 1 skate.
Not skating much, he sees an opportunity with Lindau Islanders of Germany3 and explodes scoring for 11 goals and 21 assists in 30 games with a +7 rating, then adds another 5 points in the playoffs.
His play earns him a new contract for 2026/2027.
University Of Maine Black Bears‘ sophomore left wing Felix Trudeau(77) enters the transfer portal to next skate at Sacred Heart University Pioneers as a junior in 2024/2025.
The 6’2″ 190 lbs. Terrebonne, QC native will likely better connect for scoring in Atlantic Hockey.
He scored huge at Northwood School USHS-Prep and 1 BCHL junior frame for West Kelowna Warriors before school.
We’re not so sure he will double his scoring totals, but we think he will find his better footing.
In his 2 seasons of Atlantic Hockey play, he absolutely blows up scoring with a senior year of 25 goals and a 2nd season of 23 assists with a +10 rating through 39 games all the way to a Finals‘ game before bowing out.
He signs a 2-year NHL entry level deal with St. Louis Blues that starts in 2026/2027, but will join affiliate Springfield Thunderbirds on a pto to start.
Boston College Eagles‘ sophomore center James Hagens(10) has blown out 1st year goals with a new best 16 this season and his 16 assists is 10 off the mark from the previous year, but points may improve with his overall game and leadership qualities out there.
A Boston Bruins‘ 1st round draft pick in 2025 (#7 overall), he was uncertain to return, but gladly did for more.
The 5’11” 194 lbs. forward did 2 explosive USHL seasons with USNTDP before school.
From Hauppauge, NY, the 19-year old is just getting started really.
He finishes up with 23 goals and 24 assists in 34 games with a +10 rating and signs an ato to join Providence Bruins, which is just the 1st tick to his full-on NHL entry level deal that will need to follow soon we think.
Arizona State University Sun Devils‘ 3rd year graduate left wing Chris Grando(6) signed with Jacksonville Icemen upon finishing up the current college frame.
The 5’10” 172 lbs. forward got an assist in his debut, then 4 ECHL games later scored a 1st goal.
His best college season was as a freshman at Boston College Eagles.
He has 3 times struck for 6 goals in a session.
The 24-year old from Islip, NY could possibly find more room to score in the pro league.
He had finished up his time after school with 4 goals and 5 assists in 15 games with a +5 rating, then as a rookie through 69 games, scored 15 goals and 31 assists with a +28 rating.
For 2024/2025, he will be back in an Icemen jersey.
After a league and team best 21 goals and 33 assists in 71 games played, he easily re-signs for a 3rd full season in a Jacksonville jersey.
Through only 28 games, he has scored 3 goals and 7 assists, but gets himself a trade for a potential new start to Indy Fuel.
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.
With only 1 assist in 8 games and a not so hot +/-, Savannah Ghost Pirates see something they can use in his game and acquire him for future considerations.
Undrafted 3rd year right wing Patrick Newell(14) will next take his game to Stjernen Hockey of Fjordkraftligaen for 2021/2022, and we think will find some excellent results, as his 2-year entry level deal with New York Rangers doesn’t net a qualifying offer.
The 5’10” 170 lbs. forward was signed upon completing 4 years at St. Cloud State University Huskies, pocketing 21 goals and 26 assists for 47 points in 39 NCHC games with a highly impressive +35 rating and a Hobey Baker Finalist nod.
From Thousand Oaks, CA he quickly moved to play a split frame of juniors, both successful, with Fairbanks Ice Dogs of the NAHL and USHL‘s Indiana Ice, where he stayed to play a follow-up frame.
He would help them win the 2014 Clark Cup Championship, scoring 13 goals and 30 assists in regular season, then another 4 and 3 in 12 playoff contests to the title.
Next he would move up to a year with Penticton Vees before committing to college and yup, his 16 goals and 31 assists in the natural frame, then 3 tallies and 11 helpers in 22 playoff games led to a 2015 BCHL Championship.
The 25-year old small spark should light up Norway hockey.
Exactly what we thought would happen, happened, as he struck for 21 goals and 30 assists with a +15 rating in 42 games, then added another 8 points in 12 playoff contests.
This performance got him looking and he signs for 2022/2023 with Fehervar AV19 of IceHL, and no doubt he will be more challenged in this top Austrian league.
He actually leaves after 17 games with decent scoring for HockeyAllsvenskan, signing for the rest of the frame with Sodertalje SK and does ok with 15 points in 30 games.
Something has changed his mind though and he is returning for 2023/2024 on a 1-year ECHL deal with Orlando Solar Bears.
Through 18 games, he has 4 goals and 10 assists, which is maybe a little easy pickins’, so decides to head to Slovakia Extraliga joining HK Nitra and has 1 goal in 2 games.
He does quite well here, scoring 3 goals and 7 assists in 16 games with a +9 rating, then adds another 9 points in 21 playoff games with a +6 to win the 2024 Slovakian Extraliga Championship. , but has decided he’ll return to playing pro hockey closer to home, signing with Tahoe Knight Monsters for 2024/2025.
Through a career high 67 games, he scored a new best by a mile 10 goals and 28 assists with a +7 rating, then added more in the playoffs.
For 2025/2026, he heads off to sign with another new team to the league, Greensboro Gargoyles.
He would become assistant captain and in 46 games scored a tidy 8 goals and 21 assists, but Kalamazoo Wings look to add him to their roster.
