University Of Minnesota-Duluth Bulldogs‘ graduate, assistant captain right wing Luke Loheit(16) takes a college best 20 points (10 goals, 10 assists) to a 1st pro deal with Kansas City Mavericks for 2024/2025.
The 6’1″ 194 lbs. forward stuck close to his Minnetoka, MN home for college.
After connecting as a senior in USHS-MN, he went to one BCHL season, where he continued to do pretty well.
The 24-year old is likely very ready for that next step, signing a first ECHL pro contract.
Undrafted rookie left wing Jade Miller(16) signed with South Carolina Stingrays over the summer after COVID busted any form of a 2019/2020 playoff run for his 4-year college team, University Of Minnesota-Duluth, where he won back-to-back NCAA Championships in 2018 and 2019.
In 26 ECHL games, he has a first pro goal and an assist with a -3 rating, which is odd for a player that was very accountable through college.
The Minot, ND native played a pair of seasons for Austin Bruins of the NAHL and fully came out of his shell, busting for 29 goals and 22 assists in 60 games as a 2nd year skater.
Through just another game from when we 1st posted, 27, he was able to grab another goal for 2, but stayed at 1 assist.
The ‘Rays like what they see though and re-sign him to return for 2021/2022.
For 2022/2023 he decides to jump to Idaho Steelheads after posting 11 goals and 20 assists in a full slate of 72 games.
He records a new league best 16 goals and 33 points with a +28 rating, then adds 8 (3-5) points in 20 playoff match ups to cinch an invite to return to Idaho for 2023/2024.
Not quite making the same impression as a year ago, he is still wanted to return to wear a Steelheads‘ jersey for 2024/2025.
After attending Northeastern University Huskies for a graduate season after 4 at the closer to home Michigan State University Spartans, defenseman Tommy Miller(12) signs a 1st pro contract for his rookie season with Toronto Marlies 2022/2023, but will likely start the season with affiliate Newfoundland Growlers.
The 6’2″ 196 lbs. had 8 assists and 9 points in tough Hockey East play last session with a +5 rating.
He mostly played 2 campaigns of USNTDP before committing to school.
The 23-year old from West Blomfield, MI will likely find room to assist goals and keep opponents from scoring in the ECHL.
He splits time between the 2 teams in his rookie season, but does well enough to earn an AHL spot for last season and answers with 1 goal and 4 assists in 44 games with a +2 rating, then had 2 assists with a +2 in a pair of playoff matchups, which easily has him returning to the Marlies.
Miami University-Ohio Redhawks‘ senior center Chase Pletzke(28) is going to take on a graduate year at University of Michigan Wolverines.
The 5’11” 175 lbs. forward is a bit of a perplexing story.
In 20 games last season he had no points, but as a junior grabbed 7 goals only and his best college frame so far as a freshman with 6 goals and 8 assists in 28 appearances.
It will be a bit of a wonder if the close by Bay City, MI native makes the roster regularly.
He would play in 30 games with his new college club and get 1 goal and 1 assist with a +3 rating and he takes that to a 1st pro contract with relatively near to his hometown, Kalamazoo Wings for his rookie year, 2024/2025.
Undrafted 3rd year, former Boston University Terriers senior captain defenseman, Brandon Hickey(44) signs for 2021/2022 with Florida Everblades after spending the first three years of his pro career in the AHL.
The 6’2″ 200 lbs. blue liner signed a 2-year entry level deal with Buffalo Sabres upon completing college and spent two campaigns with affiliate Rochester Americans, but was left unqualified when it expired.
He agreed to terms with Chicago Wolves last season, although skated only 15 games in an almost completely blown 2020/2021.
The Leduc, AB native stayed close for all his youth hockey before joining Spruce Grove Saints, taking it up a notch in his 2nd frame with 4 goals and 19 assists, then another 5 helpers in 13 playoff contests on the way to the 2014 AJHL Championship.
He has great on-ice accountability with a +18 rating as a pro and +21 through college.
We think the 25-year old will continue find better success in the lower league.
He actually spent all of last season loaned up to Henderson Silver Knights, then Abbotsford Canucks, but will try to return to the sunny state for 2022/2023.
With the Everblades for 22 regular season matchups, good for 3 goals and 4 assists with a +9 rating, then added 3 assists in 22 playoff games on the way to a 2023 Kelly Cup Championship.
He was also back up in Nevada, getting 1 goal and 1 assist with a +3 rating through 17 games.
His efforts pay off and he gets a 1-year deal to play up.
For 2023/2024, he gets a new deal in a Silver Knights‘ sweater to continue.
In 35 games, he raises his point total slightly and is invited to work further and likely increase his load for another contract to stay in Henderson.
Savannah Ghost Pirates swoop in to claim big 6’3″ 194 lbs. defenseman Nick Parody(10) off waivers after being released by Rapid City Rush, where he spent 12 games, recording 1 assist.
He was loaned up from Fayetteville Marksmen of the SPHL.
The Harrisburg, PA native signed with them after his senior year at Elmira College Soaring Eagles.
He spent the 3 previous seasons at Canisius College Golden Griffins.
The 26-year did 2 USPHL/NCDC sessions with Islanders Hockey Club before school.
For 2024/2025, he signs with Fort Wayne Komets on a 2-way deal.
7th year ECHL, 3rd season Maine Mariners‘ captain, defenseman Connor Doherty(28) signs on to stay in upper New England after posting a mammoth +31 rating last season.
From Holden, MA he played all his junior hockey for Junior Bruins before heading off to Sacred Heart University Pioneers.
He left a year of college on the shelf before turning pro with the local Worcester Railers, where he stayed for his 1st 3 sessions.
The 6’2″ 195 lbs. blue liner left in 2020/2021, signing with Kansas City Mavericks, when some teams elected not to play.
When he arrived with his current club, the fit seemed very right and was worth 20 assists just 1 season ago.
For his 8th year of pro hockey, he decides to switch up teams and signs on with 3-time league champs, Florida Everglades for 2024/2025.
Albertus Magnus College Falcons‘ senior transfer from Long Island University Sharks, Swedish-born left wing Gustav Muller(23) has 1 assist in 2 games with a +2 rating, putting on the mark to get career high totals with his new school.
The 6’1″ 207 lbs. forward played 1 USHL year of juniors for Madison Capitals before committing to a college.
He did all of his previous junior play and youth hockey back home in a few pretty famous systems.
The 24-year old is likely pretty happy how things turned out, switching schools.
He would score a college best 4 goals and 7 assists through 22 games and he takes that to signing a 1st pro contract with Roanoke Rail Yard Dawgs of the SPHL for his rookie season, 2024/2025.
Tulsa Oilers just grabbed 5th year left wing scorer Alec Butcher(11) from 2nd year team Reading Royals after tallying 4 goals and 3 assists in 15 ECHL games.
The 5’10” 181 lbs. forward has been putting up pretty great numbers in the league, so that will very likely continue with his new team.
He was a pretty good scorer at Sacred Heart University Pioneers, but seemed to come to life as a senior with University Of Alaska-Anchorage Seawolves.
The Anchorage, AK native did 2 years of NAHL juniors with “local” Kenai River Brown Bears.
As a 29-year old pro, he’s probably just looking for a consistently good team to play for.
He scores 18 goals and 16 assists in 56 games last season to earn another 1-year deal to return to the Oilers for 2024/2025.
Robert Morris University Colonials‘ graduate goaltender Francis Boisvert(31) signs a rookie tryout agreement with Fort Wayne Komets.
The 6’2″ 170 lbs. net minder did 4 years at St. Lawrence University Saints, but was used little after his freshman year.
From Blainville, QC, he played 2 years of CCHL before college.
The 25-year old may be just waiting for this ECHL opportunity to shine.
