St. Lawrence University Skating Saints‘ senior, captain defenseman Drake Burgin(26) signs a 1st pro contract with Kansas City Mavericks and in 10 ECHL games, nets 2 goals and 2 assists with a +2 rating.
The 6′ 181 lbs. blue liner scored best as a junior with 7 goals and 13 assists.
From Winnipeg, MB, he did 3 seasons of juniors up there.
The 24-year old has yet to appear in the playoffs and may have not made that roster, but will need a deal for 2025/2026.
He does sign and figures nicely in their push to the Kelly Cup Finals and even got loaned up to the AHL for 1 game.
For 2026/2027, he is actually picked up by Savannah Ghost Pirates in a trade.
UMASS-Lowell Riverhawks‘ senior defenseman Brehdan Engum(10) enters the transfer portal to do a graduate frame at Boston University Terriers in 2024/2025.
The 6’3″ 220 lbs. blue liner doesn’t score a lot of points, but is definitely accountable on a good team.
He left the USHL for Waterloo Blackhawks with 2 seasons of 10+ assists and a +36 rating.
From Burnsville, MN, the 24-year continues his Hockey East play another frame.
The big d-man scores only 2 assists in 30 games with a +7 rating last season and signs a 1st pro contract with Norfolk Admirals that should be an awesome pro match for both.
He scored 2 goals and 16 assists in 66 ECHL games with a +8 rating and signs another deal to continue with the Admirals for 2026/2027.
Union College Dutchmen graduate left wing Chaz Smedsrud(8) finishes up and signs an ato with Allen Americans that may get switched quickly.
The 6’2″ 195 lbs. gets a 1st ECHL goal and assist in his debut, a 6-3 losing effort, but somehow comes away with a +1 rating.
He scored a best (by a mile) in his final year at college with 14 goals, 8 assists and new high 22 points.
The Luverne, MN blew up scoring in his high school, then did the same in the AJHL for 2 seasons before coming back to life in the USHL for 1 frame before school.
At 25-years old, he is very much ready to get pro started.
Through 9 games, with 3 goals and 4 assists, he’s looking good for an invite to return for his rookie run in 2024/2025 in an Americans‘ sweater.
After just 3 games into his rookie frame with no points, Rapid City Rush are seeking his services and acquire him in a trade for future considerations.
A 2nd good frame with the same club and he decides to try something new and signs with Greenville Swamp Rabbits for 2026/2027.
UMASS-Lowell Riverhawks‘ graduate goaltender Henry Welsch(41) plays a 2nd season of 20+ games that he takes to a 1st pro contract with Adirondack Thunder for his rookie season, 2025/2026.
The 6’2″ 205 lbs. net minder had 1 amazing NAHL season before heading to school.https://echlthunder.com/news/2026/08/henry-welsch-returns-to-glens-falls
From Lakeville, MN, the 25-year old will have to work for the starter’s job.
He only gets into 2 ECHL games last season, but will return for a 2nd season and hopefully more time in 2026/2027 in a Thunder uniform.
Undrafted third year defenseman Charlie Curti(3) somewhat returns home to Adirondack Thunder, where he had a breakthrough rookie campaign, scoring a career high 11 goals and 20 assists for 31 points in 56 ECHL games.
He had to go away as a sophomore skater, signing for 2020/2021 with Rapid City Rush, as his upper state NY club was forced to sit due to COVID restrictions.
The 6′ 191 lbs., 26-year old, former 4-year Yale University Bulldogs‘ blue liner returns to his first year club and could very well set more bests point totals.
Instead of heading back to upper state New York for a 2nd season, the 25-year old has rethought that decision and accepts a contract with Aalborg Pirates of Metal Ligaen.
This may just be the start of his hockey life overseas as he could do very well in Denmark’s top league.
He would return after scoring nicely overseas and sign a 1-year ECHL deal with Toledo Walleye, where he ran up 25 points in 39 games with a +20 rating before adding 8 assists in 12 playoff matchups.
For 2023/2024, he is heading to play with 2-time EIHL Champs Belfast Giants, where he just may help them raise a 3rd straight trophy.
He maybe didn’t capture a title, but did nicely with 2 goals and 17 assists in 39 games with a +11 rating to sign with rivals, Guilford Flames for 2024/2025.
After 2 years oof good play, he decides to head to Metal Ligaen for 2026/2027 and signs with Herlev Eagles.
University Of New Hampshire Wildcats‘ senior captain, center Morgan Winters(27) takes a college best goals with 11 and tying his points at 22 to a 1st pro deal with Idaho Steelheads.
The 5’11” 165 lbs. forward did 2 successful runs through junior hockey.
In 8 ECHL games, he already has 4 goals and 2 assists.
From Osprey, FL, the 24-year old steps into pro life pretty well.
He easily scores a 1st year rookie contract for 2026/2027 as a Steelheads.
University Of Notre Dame Fighting Irish left wing senior, captain Justin Janicke(68) takes a college career best scoring 15 goals and 19 assists in 38 games last season to a 1st pro contract for 2025/2026 with Coachella Valley Firebirds, where he grabs a 1st AHL assist in his debut on an ato and only appearance.
He did 2 seasons of USNTDP juniors with good results before school.
The 6′ 187 lbs. forward is a Seattle Kracken 7th round pick in the 2021 draft (#195 overall).
From Maple Grove, MN, we expect the super-young college graduate, 21-year old to pick up the pace.
Reassigned to affiliate Kansas City Mavericks, he helps them push to the ECHL finals and it’s good enough for a new deal to return a Firebirds for 2026/2027.
University Of New Hampshire Wildcats‘ senior left wing Liam Devlin(12) signed with Reading Royals for his rookie season, 2025/2026 and has a 1st ECHL goal and 3 assists in 27 games.
The 5’11” 192 lbs. forward had a college best 14 assists in his final year.
From Needham, MA, the 25-year old did 2 seasons of USHL before his college commit.
In 59 games, he scores 8 goals and 7 assists and gains a new deal for his 2nd frame in 2026/2027 as a Royals.
Canisius College Golden Griffins‘ graduate left wing Kyle Haskins(8) put up college career best numbers, 11 goals and 12 assists in 37 games last season.
The 6′ 185 lbs. forward transferred as a senior from Michigan State University Spartans.
He did 2 USHL sessions of juniors for Waterloo Blackhawks before college.
From Huntington, VT, the 25-year old initially signed with Orlando Solar Bears, but was traded with no points to Greenville Swamp Rabbits and grabbed 3 goals and 4 assists in 9 games.
We think he picks up a contract for 2025/2026.
Almost a little hard to believe, he gets picked up in free agency by Reading Royals for his rookie season, 2025/2026.
In 63 games, he puts away 11 goals and 17 assists to easily earn an invite to be a Royals for a 2nd year in 2026/2027.
RPI Engineers‘ senior goalie Noah Giesbrecht(31) had 30 starts last season with a 11-19 record on an under .500 team.
The 6’3″ 194 lbs. net minder came over from 3 years at Ferris State University Bulldogs, but started out of juniors with 8 games in a session for University Of Windsor Lancers, posting a 7-1 record to move to a US school.
From South Surrey, BC, the 26-year old signs a 1st pro try-out with Rapid City Rush, we think will stick.
He would end up with Knoxville Ice Bears for his rookie season and is loaned up to the ECHL on a couple of occasions.
For the offseason, he heads to the AIHL and signs with Melbourne Mustangs.
Returning, he agrees to terms for 2026/2027 with Baton Rouge Kingfish and should find his game in the FPHL.
