Princeton University Tigers‘ senior center Brendan Gorman(36) takes new college best goals, 13 and 3 seasons of 20+ points to a 1st pro contract, a pto with Ontario Reign.
The 6′ 174 lbs. forward has skated 2 AHL games, but is signed for 2026/2027, so can take the summer off.
From Arlington, MA, the 23-year old went straight from USHS-Prep into college, forgoing any junior hockey.
14th year center Tyler McNeely(94) steps back to re-join Germany3 for 2024/2025, but will switch allegiances, signing with Bietigheim Steelers, who he played for their DEL2 team earlier career with success for a couple of seasons.
The 5’10” 183 lbs. forward has suited up for 3 different German teams over 12 years of his career.
Undrafted, the former twice captain of Northeastern University Huskies, 1st signed with Bridgeport Sound Tigers (Islanders), but quickly moved on after 2 seasons closer to home, Burnaby, BC.
At 37-years old, he must still be having fun, playing pro hockey.
He will spend a 14th season in German pro hockey, but once again ticks it down a level and sign for 2026/2027 with Hannover Indians, where he last scored 24 goals and 60 points in 42 games in the league.
9th year right wing Shawn O’Donnell(71) takes a couple of seasons of good numbers in Metal Ligaen, most currently for SønderjyskE to a new endeavor with Dornbirner EC of IceHL, Austria.
The 6’2″ 209 lbs. power forward has spent the majority of his playing time in the AHL with Hartford Wolf Pack, but was basically a point-per-game guy in the lower ECHL.
Through junior hockey in the MJAHL, he produced big numbers before heading to college at St. Mary’s University Huskies, where he won the 2010 CIS University Cup Championship as a freshman.
The 33-year old from Cole Harbour, NS is likely to be pretty happy to still be playing pro hockey.
For 2022/2023, he heads back to the 1st league he joined coming over from the US, DEL2 and signs with EHC Freiburg.
After 24 games this season, he has tied his goal mark in the league at 8 and set a new assist high with 19 helpers to earn himself another year of his contract for 2024/2025, which has to be nice for the now 34-year old pivot.
He would captain the team in his 3rd year and stay for a 4th, scoring an equal to his best 15 goals, but decides to move on to team up with rivals, Dusseldorfer EG for 2026/2027.
Trois Rivières Lions‘ 3rd year center James Phelan(14) played almost an entire frame with 1 team for a 1st time in his pro career, skating 62 games, scoring 5 goals and 18 assists with a +3 rating.
He originally signed a 1-year AHL deal with Texas Stars, following 5 sessions in the QMJHL.
The 5’10” 181 lbs. forward would follow that up one an ECHL contract, but split time with 2 teams not figuring into every game.
Next, the Laval, QC native went to 2 years of University Of New Brunswick Reds through the COVID period.
The 26-year old could stick where he’s at, as he seems to fit in nicely, but could go exploring for what’s next.
He takes a pretty good rookie frame scoring 5 goals and 18 assists with a +3 rating on a non-playoff team to his next hockey adventure, heading to the EIHL for 2023/2024, signing a 1-year deal with Dundee Stars.
His numbers aren’t huge, but not bad in his 1st year overseas, but he’s going to explore for 2024/2025 and signs with Gothiques d’Amiens to skate Ligue Magnus.
He would score pretty well in this league, but decides to sign with rivals Dragons de Rouen for 2025/2026.
In a tiny bit less 31 games, he scores an equal to 1st season 27 points.
As the year wraps up, he has decided for a reason not yet released to retire from the game.
RPI Engineers‘ graduate center Dovar Tinling(26) signs a 1st pro deal, an ato with Adirondack Thunder, but we will see if he can make it onto the playoff roster.
In 4 ECHL games, the 5’11” 185 lbs. forward doesn’t have any points yet.
From Point Claire, QC, he commited after lighting up 1 year CCHL and went to University Of Vermont Catamounts for 2 maybe a little lackluster frames.
The 23-year old left mid 2nd season and went back to junior hockey, USHL and went onto score well to decide upon another full year, heading to Penticton Vees and winning the 2023 BCHL Championship with them.
Quinnipiac University‘s 3rd year, assistant captain defenseman Peter DiLiberatore(4) decides to forego his senior campaign in favor of signing a 3-year entry level deal with draft team, Vegas Golden Knights.
The 6′ 180 lbs. blue liner was a 6th round pick in 2018 (#160 overall).
His numbers at college have been pretty consistent.
He tied his 6 goal best in 2020/2021 and averaged 15 helpers through his three years.
There’s little doubt he’ll report immediately, likely hooking up with affiliate Henderson Silver Knights, a stellar AHL club, so breaking that lineup could be a thinker.
After almost 2 full seasons and his entry level contract about to expire, he gets dealt to Pittsburgh Penguins at the trade deadline, who look like they were eyeing him to be obtained and should retain him for at least another year.
Invited to Arizona Coyotes‘ training camp on a pto, he is released and looked to sign with affiliate Tuscon Roadrunners for 2023/2024, but has slipped off the radar and will lace them up with South Carolina Stingrays.
He plays 8 ECHL games with his new club, recording 3 assists to get himself loaned up to his former team.
While there he gets 1 goal and 2 assists for a new league best of 3 points and gets himself a deal for the season to stay up.
In 29 games, he scores 1 goal and 8 assists with a +2 rating to earn an invite to return for 2024/2025 in a Roadrunners‘ jersey.
He still struggled to get into games and score with only 2 goals in 19 games, so he decides to leave and see if he can’t find something better for himself elsewhere.
Signing with Kalmar HC of HockeyAllsvenskan, he goes on to find his scoring legs with 8 goals and 28 assists, as a d-man.
This performance earns him a look up and contract with Malmo Redhawks SHL for 2026/2027.
Massive 6’5″ 216 lbs. center Patrick Giles(54) took 4 years, 2 as assistant captain at Boston College Eagles to a 1st pro contract upon elimination from the NCAA Division 1 tournament.
He signs an ato with Charlotte Checkers under the watchful eye of parent club Florida Panthers dictating moves and will skate under an AHL deal for 2022/2023.
In 10 games, he has only an assist, but is likely adjusting to the new style game.
Although playing Hockey East for 4 sessions definitely had to help and in his senior year he scored a college career best 15 goals and 22 points.
The 22-year old from Chevy Chase, MD, who came up through the USNTDP program should be able to find his game, but will have to work for it and look for his spots.
After 10 pro games to end the 2021/2022 session, he had 1 assist, but the big team see something in the towering frame moving forward and sign him up for a 2-year NHL entry level deal through 2023/2024.
He’s had 2 good seasons in the minors without a recall, but is looking closer to ready to earn a 2-year extension to stay with the affiliate, Checkers.
Signed to another 2-year extension, he looks set to make the big club and just a few games in, earns a spot due to the injury bug hitting early and he makes an NHL debut, skates 11 shifts for 7:34 of ice time with 2 shots, 1 block, 2 giveaways and went 75% in the face off dot in a 5-2 loss.
After 9 games with no points, but still lighting it up nicely in the minors, he is traded to San Jose Sharks, where they may have better room to slot the big player.
He spends 67 with affiliate San Jose Barracuda, running up some good points and when called up gets 1 assists in 3 games with a +1 rating.
His numbers are solid enough to merit a 2-year extension through 2027/2028 to stay a Sharks.
RIT Tigers‘ graduate net minder Trent Burnham(1) only played 2 games after a tough senior year, but we’re unsure if it was specifically they were riding another goalie for most of the season.
The 6′ 165 lbs. goaltender signed to be Roanoke Rail Yard Dawgs as emergency back-up goaltender and is sticking through the SPHL playoffs.
He transferred from his junior year at Lindenwood University Lions, where he was unreal playing D3 as a freshman.
From Eagle River, AK, the 26-year old will need a new deal for 2026/2027.
Niagara University Purple Eagles‘ senior center Grayson Dietrich(17) had his best college scoring season as a junior with 5 goals and 6 assists after transferring from his sophomore frame at American International College Yellowjackets.
The 6’2″ 201 lbs. forward signs a 1st pro deal with Port Huron Prowlers upon tournament completion and scores 6 goals and 2 assists in 5 FPHL games with a +10 rating.
From Calgary, AB, the 24-year old did 3 AJHL seasons before colllege.
He looks to sign his way up is how it’s looking for 2026/2027.
Adirondack Thunder 2nd year ECHL defenseman Ryan Orgel(29) scores a loan up to Syracuse Crunch.
In 1 AHL game, he has no stats to report.
The 6′ 190 lbs. blue liner has a career best 5 goals this season, but his 10 assists after moving up from the SPHL Pensacola Ice Flyers stands for now.
He did 2 years of little use at University of Denver Pioneers, only to transfer to University Of Wisconsin-Stevens Point Pointers where his best showing was the ill-fated 2020/2021, where he scored 5 goals and 4 assists in 10 games.
The 27-year old from Los Angeles, CA seems to be pulling his game together at the perfect time.
He actually left his 2nd NAHL season to head to college.
In 40 games, he scores a new best 5 goals and will take that to a contract with the new to the league, Tahoe Knight Monsters for 2024/2025.
He records 2 assists in 9 games with a +3 rating, but gets himself dished to Indy Fuel.
In 16 games, he has 1 goal and 2 assists with a +1 rating, but gets himself dealt again, this time to Fort Wayne Komets.
For 2025/2026, he decides to head down to sign with Knoxville Ice Bears and we are not sure if his age will cause him to not get loaned up, as quickly for good play.
He does go up to the Thunder and in 11 ECHL games scoring 4 assists, he is traded to South Carolina Stingrays for cash considerations and should incorporate into their lineup well.
Continuing to bounce, he ends up with Maine Mariners, where he does his best, but is waived again to join his 4th team of the season, Reading Royals, as playoff time rolls in.
