Sacred Heart University Pioneers‘ junior center Stephane Huard(71) leaves a year on the table and signs a 1st pro contract for his 2026/2027 rookie season with Trois Rivieres Lions.
The 5’8″ 179 lbs. forward did 4 seasons of QMJHL before attending 2 sessions at McGill University Redbirds before entering the transfer portal.
From Blainville, QC, the 24-year old will likely connect ok in the ECHL.
Babson College Beavers‘ senior defenseman Nolan Dion(54) signs a 1st pro deal with Rockford Icehogs for his rookie season, 2026/2027.
The 6’2″ 190 lbs. blue liner had 1 goal and 6 assists in 27 games last season.
From Marshfield, MA, the 22-year old will definitely be playing for a lineup spot.
University Of Alaska-Fairbanks Nanooks‘ senior center Matt Koethe(47) has always recorded 10+ points through college hockey and once the schedule was done signed on, an ato to join Tulsa Oilers.
the 5′ 10″ 190 lbs. forward from Minnetonka, MN scored 1 goal and 2 assists in 7 ECHL games with a +1 rating.
For his rookie season, he is an easy sign to return for a full frame, 2025/2026.
After high school hockey, the now 26-year old did 2 years of junior hockey, right where he was heading to school, Fairbanks Ice Dogs.
He skates 5 games in the new session with 1 assist, but something isn’t equaling and he is released to be pick up by Iowa Heartlanders to see if they can energize the scoring.
In 39 games, he picks up 1 goal and 3 assists and Norfolk Admirals want to have a look for 2026/2027 to see if they can get him going.
University Of New Hampshire Wildcats‘ sophomore goaltender Michael Simpson(31) will look to take full charge of net duties in 2026/2027 for his new club.
The 6’1″ 198 lbs. net minder transferred from only 2 games use last season at Providence College Friars, but that occurred after leaving Savannah Ghost Pirates, where he spent 10 ECHL games.
He actually turned pro in 2024/2025 under contract to Belleville Senators and loaned to affiliate Orlando Solar Bears.
From London, ON, he did 4 years juniors and won the 2024 OHL Championship with London Knights, a team he did youth hockey with.
The 23-year old will likely step back into Hockey East play pretty well, as he gets settled.
UMass Minutemen undrafted freshman defenseman Aaron Bohlinger(25) has 15 assists in the 2020/2021 frame but no goals.
Well, not until the NCAA Championship Final vs. St. Cloud University Huskies, where he nets the opening tally and that might be enough to close the door on the title and also be a game-winner.
The small 5’9″ 165 lbs. blue liner early in his tenure with Waterloo Blackhawks of the USHL but was probably put on the radar after playing a year north in the BCHL for Alberni Valley Bulldogs, where he made a 7 goal and 27 assists in 55 games impression.
The 20-year old may be small but motors and can head man the puck with ease, so might garner some looks as he continues at school.
He becomes captain as a senior, but decides to add a year of eligibility and enters the transfer portal to skate for Quinnipiac University Bobcats, as a graduate.
ECAC was a nice switch up, as he scores a new best 3 goals and 11 assists with a +11 rating in 32 games.
He is set to turn pro and signs a 1st ECHL contract with Cincinnati Cyclones for 2025/2026.
As the new year approaches, Indy Fuel trade to bring him into town for 2026/2027.
University Of Vermont Catamounts‘ senior defenseman Dylan Gratton(25) leaves his 3rd school after 22 games and 1 assist to turn pro, signing a contract for the remainder of 2025/2026 with the team, his captain, brother Tyler plays for, Utah Grizzlies.
The 6′ 185 lbs. forward did 3 USHL seasons of junior hockey with a 2022 Clark Cup Championship before heading to his 1st school, Penn State University Nittany Lions.
He did 2 years there, then transferred to University Of Nebraska-Omaha Mavericks for 1 session.
In 19 games, he scores a 1st ECHL goal and 10 assists with a +10 rating, but his team goes belly up and he is to skate with the new club, but gets traded to Idaho Steelheads for his official rookie season, 2026/2027.
Westfield State University Owls‘ senior center Colin Roe(4) plays a college hockey high 27 games last season, but didn’t quite eke out the 8 points he put up as a freshman.
The 6’1″ 205 lbs. forward signs a 1st pro deal with Blue Ridge Bobcats for his rookie season, 2026/2027.
From Hyde Park, MA, he played his way up the EHL system before school and had 17 goals in 45 games in his last year.
The 23-year old could score better as a pro in the FPHL than he did in college.
Quinnipiac University Bobcats‘ graduate defenseman Brendan Less(23) is definitely glad he added an extra session to his college game after entering the portal transfer from 4 years at Dartmouth College Big Green.
Tying his 2nd most, 31 NCAA Division 1 games played, he has exceedingly good new bests with 2 goals, 14 assists, 16 points and a big +28 rating.
The 5’11” 170 lbs. blue liner committed in his 2nd year at Choate Rosemary Hall without recording a lot of points, so they saw something more in his game they liked.
At 23-years old, it’s tough to say the route he takes after 5 years in the ECAC, but the Kinnelon, NJ native may find some space to grow his game as a pro.
After his team was eliminated from tournament play, the d-man signed an ECHL contract to join Worcester Railers.
He would appear in 6 games, grabbing a first pro point, an assist.
For 2022/2023, he signs with Jacksonville Icemen, a team he should gel well with.
He actually gets released from training camp and quickly inks with Iowa Heartlanders, where he should stick and do nicely.
In 22 games, he notches 4 assists, but Adirondack Thunder see something they can work with and sign him for 2023/2024.
Through a season high 44 games, he scores 2 goals and 11 assists with a +12 rating to easily gain an invite to return to continue wearing a Thunder uniform.
He gets loaned up to Syracuse Crunch for 1 AHL game, while scoring a best 19 assists and 20 points with a +11 rating last season, but gets himself traded to Atlanta Gladiators for 2025/2026 and will need a contract.
Through 57 games, he scores 4 goals and 14 assists with a +26 rating to easily get a new deal to return a Gladiators for 2026/2027.
University Of Wisconsin-Superior Yellowjackets‘ senior defenseman Tyler Ryder(25) takes some new college scoring bests, 4 goals and 7 assists in 26 games with a +13 rating to a 1st pro contract with Peoria Rivermen.
The 6’3″ 201 lbs. blue liner did 2 years NAHL before college.
From Grand Rapid, MI, the 24-year old already has 2 goals and 1 assist in 4 SPHL games.
For 2026/2027, he signs a 2-way ECHL deal with parent club, Norfolk Admirals.
Stonehill College Skyhawks‘ junior defenseman Evan Orr(26) transferred back to where he had success in his 2nd year of junior hockey with Northeast Generals from 2 years at Michigan Tech University Broncos.
That season, the 5’11” 185 scored 5 goals and 22 assists in 25 games with a +11 rating.
From Shelby Township, MI, the 23-year old we think is in his happy place and should do well playing the independent schedule.
The senior captain scores a new college best 13 assists and 18 points, while helping pace his team to a new best record in 2025/2026.
He takes his game to a 1st pro contract with Atlanta Gladiators that should be quite a good view.
In 14 games, he doesn’t grab a point and signs with Kalamazoo Wings for his rookie season, 2026/2027.
