5th year right wing Tyler Bird(7) signs on for another year with the only team he’s agreed to his last 4 contracts with, Orlando Solar Bears.
He was able to post a new career high 19 goals and 33 points last season.
The 6’2″ 200 lbs. forward has also enjoyed a few loans up to the AHL and has 3 assists in 7 games.
A Brown University Bears‘ graduate, he only played a very brief time in juniors 2 years before heading to school.
The 25-year old, Boston, MA native should continue to do well.
16 goals and 18 assists in 70 ECHL games with a single game loan up to San Jose Barracuda gets him in invite for a 5th year back to Florida.
3rd year left wing Tyson Pelton-Bice(17) re-signs with Idaho Steelheads after exploding his ECHL scoring totals last season with way new bests 19 goals and 27 assists in just 43 games with a +26 rating, then added another 17 points (9, 8) in 20 playoff match ups with a +8.
The 6’2″ 194 lbs. forward from Madison, WI shattered scoring at his high school before committing to 1 season of USHL with Des Moines Buccaneers that was also a big plus to 2 years at Harvard University Crimson.
It took him only a session to blow up scoring at the college level.
Undrafted, he would move on to his junior year at University Of Wisconsin Badgers, where he was well-above a point-per-game player as a senior assistant captain.
Still young at 26-years old, his 1st pair of contracts were with Manitoba Moose and we do see him playing himself up with his numbers moving.
10th year center Corban Knight(9) signs to stay on for a 3rd season with Avangard Omsk Hawks.
Originally a Florida Panthers‘ 5th round pick in the 2008 draft (#135 overall), he eventually signed an entry level deal with Calgary Flames after completing 4 successful years at University Of North Dakota Fighting Hawks.
He would next sign with the team that selected him and play a career high 20 NHL games, scoring 2 goals and 5 assists.
For the 6’2″ 195 lbs. forward final big league contract, he agreed to terms with Philadelphia Flyers and appeared in 23 games before deciding to next leave for the KHL.
The 32-year old from Oliver, BC put up a career best 30 assists and 48 points last season and raised the 2021 Gagarin Cup with his current club and also was credited with the most points in a session by a foreigner.
He didn’t match his totals from the previous campaign, but 15 goals and 19 assists through 58 games with a +14 rating, then adding another 10 points (5-5) in 14 playoff matchups, and easily he would be in good standing.
For 2023/2024, he decides to embark on something different and signs for 1-year with SC Bern of NL.
He should do really well in Switzerland’s top hockey.
Idaho Steelheads‘ rookie defenseman Willie Knierim(29) returns for his 1st official season after skating 16 games with 3 goals and 4 assists on an ato, following 3 years at Arizona State University Sun Devils, which came after 2 at Miami University (Ohio) Redhawks.
The big 6’4″ 225 lbs. forward split his college time for a season back at the USHL with his team Dubuque Fighting Saints.
He only rolled good college numbers as a junior, scoring 15 goals and 9 assists in 36 NCAA Division 1 games, but with that huge frame out there in front of the net in the pro ranks, he will have chances.
The 24-year old from Chicago, IL likely could play his way up a level with some time and luck.
In 53 ECHL games, he strikes for 17 goals and 12 assists with a +23 rating, then adds another 11 (5, 6) in 20 playoff match ups with a +8 to sign to stay on for more in 2023/2024.
University Of Maine Black Bears‘ senior right wing Adam Dawe(24) will take a year of eligibility to a Hockey East rival University Of Connecticut Huskies.
The 5’8″ 161 lbs. forward had his best scoring year as a sophomore, scoring 9 goals and 11 assists, although in the shortened frame of 2020/2021, he was almost a point-per-game player.
A native of Gander, NL he was recruited early before he popped scoring with Notre Dame Hounds of SJHL, then did a USHL junior year for Sioux Falls Stampede and notched 23 goals.
The 23-year old will likely seeing his best success on what is a much better team.
With only a goal in 16 games for his new college club, he has decided to forego his extra year and signs a 1st pro deal with “hometown” team Newfoundland Growlers for 2023.
7 goals and 2 assists in 21 ECHL games leads to a new deal to stay for 2023/2024.
2nd year Bridgeport Islanders‘ defenseman Trevor Cosgrove(42) re-signs for 2023/2024, despite only playing 9 AHL games last season.
He was mostly reassigned to affiliate Worcester Railers, where he was able to get 5 goals and 16 assists in 40 ECHL games.
The 6′ 201 lbs. former 4 year Colgate University Raiders, then a successful graduate session at Northern Michigan University Wildcats, where he was really able to connect for points.
From Exeter, NH, he had 1 good run up in the BCHL for junior hockey before school.
The 26-year old may see his time with his contract club extended some for 2023/2024.
After 4 years at University Of Vermont Catamounts‘ undrafted defenseman Christian Evers(5) decides it’s time to turn pro and signs on the dotted line for his 2021/2022 rookie run with Rapid City Rush.
He played two seasons of USNTDP program before moving onto a pair of campaigns for Lincoln Stars and seemed to thrive more with his 2nd club, scoring a career high 8 goals and tying the point mark at 18 set one frame earlier.
The 24-year old Waukee, IA native will likely post better numbers overall as a pro.
He had 10 assists in 44 games before getting dished to Indy Fuel for the last game of the season, and also scored a 1 game loan up to San Jose Barracuda.
For 2022/2023, he signs with Worcester Railers, where the 6’2″ 205 lbs. blue liner should keep their zone steady.
After 1 goal and 10 assists in 44 ECHL games, he is set to lace them back up in a Railers‘ jersey for a 2nd straight season.
Sacred Heart University Pioneers‘ graduate center Ryan Steele(11) always seemed to hover in the 20-point mark in each of his college hockey seasons.
The 6′ 180 lbs. forward will next take his game to a 1-year ECHL deal with South Carolina Stingrays for 2023/2024.
A Stratford, PE native, the 25-year old may find a little more open ice to put up points.
Providence Bruins‘ 7th year net minder Shane Starrett(95) signed a 1-year AHL deal to join the team for 2023/2024 after spending all but 1 game under contract last season in the ECHL with Kansas City Mavericks.
He started in November, posting a 1.01 GAA and .950 SV% in a 19 save win for Coachella Valley Firebirds.
The very big 6’5″ 195 lbs. goalie had 2 outstanding frames for Air Force Academy Falcons before turning pro.
He spent his 1st 3 seasons with Bakersfield Condors or their affiliate before leaving for a year in the EIHL with Glasgow Clan.
We feel the 29-year old from Bellingham, MA may be just starting to really catch on and will do very well in the upcoming session.
University Of Minnesota-Duluth University Bulldogs‘ graduate right wing Tanner Laderoute(13) gets the nod to join Wheeling Nailers for the remainder of the ECHL season.
In four of 5 frames, he’s put up 10+ points, but isn’t really known as a big point guy.
The 6′ 190 lbs. forward played 4 sessions of AJHL junior hockey and twice got some impressive numbers for Okotoks Oilers.
A 25-year old from Three Hills, AB, he could find room in the league to grab points.
1 goal and 6 assists in 11 games is reason enough to invite him back in a Nailers‘ jersey for his rookie season 2023/2024.
