Coachella Valley Firebirds‘ 7th year defenseman Eddie Wittchow(20) is with a 1st new team in 3 seasons after spending his first three minor league deals with Hershey Bears.
Originally a Florida Panthers‘ 6th round pick in 2011 (#154 overall), he was in their system for 2 years before being left unqualified after his best AHL season, scoring 5 goals and 10 assists with a +3 rating in 55 games.
The former University Of Wisconsin Badgers‘ senior captain was never the biggest scorer through college.
We do think the 29-year old from Burnsville, MN will bring some accountability to the new club’s blue line.
Allen Americans‘ rookie net minder Francis Marotte(35) is enjoying a very decent first season posting a 6-3-1 record on a club that’s one of the better ranked in the ECHL for 2020/2021.
The former Clarkson University Golden Knights portal transfer from 3 previous years with Robert Morris University Colonials posted huge numbers as a senior for his new team, 23-8-3 record with a measly 1.78 GAA and .938 SV%.
A Quebec native, he did a few years of junior hockey in Canada, starting out in the BCHL, but after one season agreed to a pair of campaigns for Nepean Raiders of the CCHL, where he found his future school.
He did get himself on New York Islanders‘ radar and signed a deal with the team, but it’s thought to possibly be an AHL deal, as he did appear in a pair of dates for affiliate Bridgeport Sound Tigers.
The 26-year old re-signs to finish the job in Texas, as he ended last campaign 8-3-1 with a 2.54 GAA, .917 SV% and 1 shutout.
After ascending to the radar of Anaheim Ducks‘ and scoring an invite to their training camp, he was invited to continue with affiliate San Diego Gulls‘, where he scooped himself a 1-year AHL contract for 2021/2022.
He played a career best 8 games up, but was mostly reassigned to the ECHL with affiliate Allen Americans.
For 2022/2023, he decides to spread his wings a bit signing a 1-year deal with Dundee Stars, where he should be a leading goalie on more than one occasion.
Wheeling Nailers‘ rookie defenseman Matt Foley(24) spent four years at Yale University Bulldogs before arriving to his 1st pro deal.
The decently sized blue liner (6’1″ 194 lbs.) definitely has a more stay-at-home style considering he has just two goals and 16 assists in 88 NCAA games.
Through 33 contests in the ECHL, the defender is credited with 3 helpers and is a -1 on a team that struggles to score and cobble together wins.
The Massachusetts’ native played a pair of seasons at the junior level, heading up to Canada’s BCHL initially for maybe his best outing before agreeing to college and doing another year with Bloomington Thunder of the USHL.
At 26-years old he’s getting going a bit late but has arrived and that’s what’s most important.
For 2022/2023, he decides to leave for Belfast Giants and already has 3 assists in 4 EIHL games with a +3 rating.
Sophomore center Chris Pappas(11) transfers out just a single season at St. Lawrence University Saints for a new opportunity with Long Island University Sharks.
The 5’11” 165 lbs. forward could strike for his new club like he did for Brooks Bandits in 2 AJHL seasons.
After 4 strong seasons of + play for UMass Minutemen, left wing Anthony Del Gaizo(12) signs a 1st pro contract with South Carolina Stingrays for 2022/2023.
We think the 5’10” 194 lbs. rookie forward will find some room in the ECHL format to score some points for his new club.
He had an absolute gang buster 3rd junior frame for Muskegon Lumberjacks, scoring 40 goals and 32 assists in 60 USHL games, named for most goals, points and mvp before heading to school.
The Basking Ridge, NJ native was also part of his college club’s outstanding 2021 NCAA Division 1 Championship run.
Rookie center Eetu Selanne(23) signs a 1st pro deal with Roanoke Rail Yard Dawgs for 2022/2023 after spending 3 seasons at Curry College Colonels, which followed 2 years with Northeastern University Huskies.
He scored decently with 7 goal and 8 assists in 27 NCAA D3 games last season, but hasn’t been exactly the biggest point getter throughout his career.
The 5’10” 170 lbs. forward may find some room in the SPHL to get on the scoring sheet, which wouldn’t be a surprise to see, considering his dad is Teemu Selanne.
Utah Grizzlies‘ sophomore left wing Christian Simeone(24) had quite the interesting little journey prior to turning pro after spending 3 seasons at Merrimack College Warriors, but appearing in less than 30 games during that timeframe.
The 6’1″ 181 lbs. forward scored 5 goals and 10 assists in 55 ECHL as a rookie to earn him another look for 2022/2023.
He started his junior career locally with South Shore Kings in USPHL Premier, but was drafted by Springfield Jr. Blues of the NAHL before heading up north to the BCHL to do a season with Alberni Valley Bulldogs before heading to school.
5th year center Thomas Ebbing(18) makes maybe a bit of a smart decision for his future, signing for 1-year with Toledo Walleye for 2022/2023 after putting up ECHL career scoring numbers last season with Reading Royals.
Undrafted, the 5’11” 185 lbs. did 3-years at Michigan State University Spartans before turning pro on an AHL deal with Laval Rocket.
He has appeared in 187 games in the lower league and run up some nice totals.
The 28-year old from Troy, MI is looking at a career year, where he’s landed.
Right wing Ethan Price(22) re-signs with Worcester Railers, the team he joined after spending two years at Grant MacEwan University Griffins, but only played last season as team captain.
He also did one season at Brock University Badgers and for a Lincoln, NE native had quite an interesting run through junior hockey.
The 5’10” 187 lbs. forward did 4 years of WHL with one season split with time in the USHL, but then returned after his Canadian trek to sign with Omaha Lancers.
At this point, the 25-year old is likely just happy to be playing hockey for a living.
Undrafted center Michael Regush(19) finishes up after three years (one without hockey) at Cornell University Big Red and enters the transfer portal to attend Miami University (Ohio) Redhawks 2021/2022 to pursue a masters degree in accountancy.
He first committed to college after a successful run in youth hockey with Delta Hockey Academy, which was close to his home in Surrey, BC, then moved on to a pair of seasons with Merritt Centennials in the BCHL before one stint for Youngstown Phantoms, where he was able to really elevate his numbers (19-29-48) in 58 USHL games.
The 6’1″ 211 lbs. forward was also a good scorer in college, twice striking for 10+ goals with an overall +11 rating.
There’s little doubt the 22-year old will help his new team excel in the NCHC division.
He would actually only put up 3 goals and 6 assists in 24 games with his new college club, but Abbotsford Canucks like what they see from the sizable forward and sign him to an AHL deal for 2022/2023.
