Category: Minor League Deal

29May

Jacob Hayhurst(15)

Posted in College Hockey Player, Europe, Game View, Juniors, Minor League Deal, Transfers | Leave a comment

3rd year center Jacob Hayhurst(15) is most definitely off to his quickest start, getting 4 goals and 3 assists in 5 ECHL games for a +6 rating for 9-0 Worcester Railers and already has been loaned up to Springfield Thunderbirds for a pair of AHL appearances.

The undrafted 5’10” 180 lbs. forward had a strong 2nd session, scoring easy bests 15 goals and 33 assists in his 1st season with current club.

He also scored very decently in college, especially as a sophomore and junior at RPI Engineers, when he got 23 points in both frames, but did it a 2nd time in 7 less outings.

For his senior year, he maybe looked to take his game up a bit and transferred to University Of Michigan Wolverines with a decent enough showing.

The 25-year old from Mississauga, ON must be smiling pretty big.

He scored the insurance goal last night to secure his team’s historic season start.

After 10 goals and 12 assists in 25 games last season, he gets a look for 2023/2024 from Coachella Valley Firebirds and we believe this is a player who has played himself up.

He is actually reassigned to affiliate Kansas City Mavericks and blows up regular season and playoff scoring to be a single step away from the league championship, but he will take his game elsewhere for the future, signing with Vasteras IK of HockeyAllsvenskan, where he should absolutely blow up on the stat sheet in Sweden’s tier 2.

In 51 games, he scores 20 goals and 26 assists, maybe looks for the next step up and signs with Grizzlys Wolfsburg of DEL and scores respectably.

Looks like he is continue to push and next signs in Liiga with Jukurit, which will no doubt be his being league challenge yet.

29May

Mack Oliphant (27)

Posted in College Hockey Player, Juniors, Minor League Deal | Leave a comment

Holy Cross College Crusaders‘ 2022/2023 commit, Johnstown Tomahawks‘ 1st year defenseman Mack Oliphant(27) has 7 assists in 15 NAHL games to start his run in the league.

The big as a house 6’3″ 205 lbs. blue liner came over from 35 USPHL/NCDC games with Junior Bruins in the unbalanced 2020/2021.

He finished high school with a year at Lawrence Academy, which could have led the Northbrook, IL native to stick around Massachusetts to start his junior hockey.

The 19-year old should be able to step right into Atlantic Hockey play.

He completes a solid 4-year college career, scoring a best 5 goals as a senior and 26 assists in his junior frame.

Upon completing tournament play, he signs an ato with San Jose Barracuda.

After 1 AHL game with no points, but leaves a +1 rating, he is indeed given a deal to be a Barracuda for 2026/2027.

29May

Reid Pabich (23)

Posted in College Hockey Player, Juniors, Minor League Deal | Leave a comment

Sacred Heart University Pioneers‘ senior captain, center Reid Pabich(23) played a college high 40 games, scoring a new best 15 goals and 18 assists with a +3 rating.

The 5’11” 181 lbs. forward transferred from 2 years at University Of Maine Black Bears.

He did most of 5 USHL seasons with Madison Capitals, the team he played youth hockey with.

From Verona, WI, the 24-year old signed a 1st pro contract with Fort Wayne Komets.

In 10 games, he got a 1st ECHL goal and 3 assists, then in the playoffs he has 1 goal and 1 assists in 2 games with +2 rating.

28May

Tyler Stewart (6)

Posted in College Hockey Player, D3, Juniors, Minor League Deal | Leave a comment

UMASS-Dartmouth Corsairs‘ senior left wing Tyler Stewart(6) had a college best 21 goals and 24 assists in 25 games.

The 6′ 181 lbs. forward signed a 1st pro deal with Knoxville Ice Bears, where he scored 2 goals and 3 assists in 7 SPHL games, but was oddly waived and picked up by Macon Mayhem, although wasn’t able to connect.

From Lower Burrell, PA, the 24-year old did 2 NAHL seasons before college and will need a new deal for 2026/2027.

28May

Thomas Freel (20)

Posted in College Hockey Player, Juniors, Minor League Deal | Leave a comment

University Of Maine Black Bears‘ senior UK-born captain, center Thomas Freel(20) 3 times had 10+ points through college and a combined +17 rating.

The 6′ 190 lbs. forward did his youth hockey in Canada before joining the CCHL for 2 years with more than point-per-game scoring in his 2nd.

From Aberdeen, GBR, the 24-year old signed a deal with Iowa Heartlanders, but had no points in 5 ECHL games.

He was waived, so will need a new deal for 2026/2027.

27May

Oliver Tarr (23)

Posted in College Hockey Player, Juniors, Minor League Deal | Leave a comment

Canisius College Golden Griffins‘ senior captain, right wing Oliver Tarr(23) tied his college best goals of 8, added next assists highs at 12 and 20 points with a +1 rating in 35 games.

The 6′ 185 lbs. forward blew up OJHL scoring with 70 points in 52 games before college.

From Uxbridge, ON, the 24-year old signed with Wichita Thunder, as tournament play wound down and has scored 4 goals and 4 assists in 20 ECHL games.

He will need a new deal for 2026/2027.

27May

Marek Hejduk (14)

Posted in College Hockey Player, Juniors, Minor League Deal | Leave a comment

Harvard University Crimson senior Marek Hejduk(14) right wing didn’t score in college hockey as hard of a game he played as a power forward.

He had 2 goals and 5 assists in 35 games last season and did best in his freshman frame with 6 goals and 7 assists.

The 6’1″ 190 lbs. point signed a 1st pro deal with Utah Grizzlies, when tournament played finished up.

From Parker, CO, the 22-year old has 4 goals and 2 assists in 8 ECHL games with a +3 rating, but will need a new deal for 2026/2027 with a new team.

26May

Tanner Fritz (16)

Posted in College Hockey Player, Europe, Free Agent Signing, Juniors, Minor League Deal | Leave a comment

Undrafted 7th year right wing Tanner Fritz(16) signs a 2nd straight AHL contract, but will skate for heated CT opponents from where he’s played 198 games, Bridgeport (Sound Tigers) Islanders to Hartford Wolf Pack for 2021/2022.

The 5’11” 192 lbs. forward originally signed a minor league deal after 4 years at Ohio State University Buckeyes , including captain as a senior and junior assistant, to the only team he’s thus far appeared with, but was up to a 2-way NHL contract after his sophomore season in which he popped 19 goals and 23 assists.

He played all of his youth hockey and 4 years of junior hockey close to home with Grand Prairie Storm and won the 2009 AJHL Championship, then was voted most valuable player, scoring 70 points in 60 games, before heading off to college.

The 30-year old signed a pair of contracts with parent club New York Islanders, including a single 1-way deal, and played in 42 games with 3 goals and 5 assists.

It’s likely this could be his last time in the minors, as we’re predicting he leave for some hockey overseas before retirement.

After 2 years of playing up the road in Connecticut, he returns on a 1-year minor league deal with Bridgeport for 2023/2204.

After 20 games, scoring 1 goal and 6 assists, he may be getting a little bored as he closes in on 350 games played in the league.

He decides to leave and signs with Dinamo Minsk of the KHL, which should definitely bring some challenge and excitement back into his game.

Not surprisingly he does ok with 2 goals and 9 assists in 18 games, but decides not to try and return.

He waits a little and signs with SC Rapperswil-Jona Lakers of NL and with 5 goals and 7 assists in 15 games with a +3 rating, there’s little doubt he gets asked to return for 2025/2026.

With 9 goals, 18 assists in 47 games and a +17 rating, his is easily invited back for a 3rd run with the Lakers, 2026/2027.

26May

Carter Berger (3)

Posted in College Hockey Player, Europe, Juniors, Minor League Deal, Transfers | Leave a comment

Western Michigan University Broncos‘ senior defenseman Carter Berger(3) was a 3-year transfer from University Of Connecticut Huskies, where he was always a plus player on ice, but didn’t exactly put up a pile of points.

In 5 games with his new college club the 6′ 201 lbs. blue liner has a goal and 3 assists with a +4, which looks to blow the lid off his previous highs.

He definitely has an offensive upside, as seen in his 2nd BCHL season with Victoria Grizzlies, scoring an absolute eye-popping 27 goals and 36 assists in 54 games, earning him top honors for goals and points by a d-man in the league.

A Florida Panthers‘ 4th round pick in the 2019 draft (#106 overall), the North Vancouver, BC native is easily eyeing an NHL entry level deal in a few months time.

He is able to take up his totals quite nicely in 2 years with an additional graduate frame and leaves his new school with a +28 rating.

Unsigned, he returns “home” agreeing to a 1-year AHL deal with Hartford Wolf Pack.

He does pretty well, scoring 8 goals and 25 assists in 67 ECHL games to earn himself a new deal 2-way for 2025/2026 with Lehigh Valley Phantoms.

In 11 games in the lower league, he scores 1 goal and 8 assists, but maybe gets a little antsy looking for another level and signs in the tough to play Tipso Extraliga with HKM Zvolen.

After 18 games, scoring 5 goals and 12 assists with a +4 rating, he decides to take his game elsewhere for potential further growth possibilities and signs with Leksands IF of HockeyAllsvenskan for 2026/2027.