3rd year defenseman Jake Massie(34) signs a 1-year AHL deal with Hershey Bears for 2021/2022 after spending all of last season with Greenville Swamp Rabbits, scoring 3 goals and 8 assists with a +3 rating in 51 ECHL games, while under the 2nd year of his entry level deal with Florida Panthers.
The 6’1″ 179 lbs. blue liner was originally drafted by Carolina Hurricanes in the 6th round of 2015 (#156 overall), but went unsigned after a trade sent his rights to Chicago Blackhawks.
This all basically happened before he was to start his first year of juniors with Omaha Lancers, which is also when he committed to University Of Vermont Catamounts, where he spent the following three years.
The 24-year old will likely do better in his 2nd run of the farm league for the majors.
Rookie center Patrick Kramer(14) signs a 1-year deal with Jacksonville Icemen for 2021/2022 to get his pro career going.
The fairly big 6’1″ 194 lbs. forward was a big scorer at Boston College High, but dropped off in one campaign of juniors with Youngstown Phantoms and wasn’t a huge point-producer through 4 years at Merrimack College Warriors.
We think the ECHL signing of the 24-year old means they think he will be able to connect with the scoresheet in the league.
Undrafted rookie center Andy Brink(18) signs a 1-year ECHL deal with South Carolina Stingrays for 2021/2022 after taking last season off post graduating from Boston University Terriers after transferring from 4 years at Brown University Bears.
The 6′ 201 lbs., Hamilton, NY native played most of his junior hockey with Junior Bruins, first in the EJHL, then switch leagues for two campaigns, where in the first he helped them win 2014 USPHL Premiere, then went on to detonating the scoresheet with 29 goals and 41 assists in 50 games before heading to college.
It wouldn’t be surprising to see the 27-year old, who didn’t connect much through ECAC or Hockey East play, take scoring up a notch as a pro.
Undrafted, 2nd year defenseman Jordan Schneider(12) re-signs to stay with Indy Fuel, who he was with for 12 ECHL games last season, scoring two goals and two assists after a quick trade from initial contract club Orlando Solar Bears in his rookie run.
The big 6’4″ 205 lbs. blue liner played 5 seasons of junior hockey, winning the 2013 OJHL Championship with St. Michaels Buzzers before leaving for two campaigns for Langley Rivermen of the BCHL, where he very close to averaged 20 assists a frame.
He attended four years at Clarkson University Golden Knights, amassing a very reliable +25 rating.
It would be little surprise to see the son of former 1200+ NHL games’ dad, Mathieu Schneider, start to excel in his 2nd go in the league.
Undrafted rookie goaltender Corbin Kaczperski(33) signs a 1-year ECHL contract with Worcester Railers for 2021/2022 upon completing a transfer portal season at University Of Denver Pioneers, where he went after four years at Yale University Bulldogs, but didn’t play as a freshmen, so was likely given eligibility.
The 6’3″ 194 lbs. net minder was a 1-year junior hockey star with Lone Star Brahmas, posting a 1.98 GAA and .912 SV% in 39 NAHL starts and led to his first college’s discovery.
He will likely serve as back-up in his first year of pro hockey, but no doubt will learn a lot about the game from who he is pair with in central MA.
We fully expect the 25-year old to shine every opportunity he’s given.
Big 6’4″ 214 lbs. net minder Michael Lackey(31) heads from a bit of an off-season with Orlando Solar Bears to a new ECHL 1-year deal with Indy Fuel for 2021/2022.
The former Providence College Friars backstop put up some amazing numbers in his one season after coming over as a portal transfer from Harvard University Crimson.
His 16-12-6 record was decent enough, but a 2.18 GAA and .922 SV% with 2 shutouts are solid.
He was maybe a tiny bit inconsistent coming up through the USNTDP program.
The 24-year old Washington, D.C. native should be able to get right back into it with his new club.
Springfield, MA native 2nd year defenseman Jake Ryczek(2) has definitely had an interesting little run prior to turning pro in 2019/2020 with Indy Fuel, but was traded recently a little closer to home to Adirondack Thunder for 2021/2022.
He was going to return to Indiana for 2020/2021 after a pretty successful rookie run, but the team ultimately shuttered, so he decided to not try to pursue a contract elsewhere.
The 5’11” 185 lbs. blue liner played 3 campaigns of junior hockey, ultimately landing with Waterloo Blackhawks, where he scored a best 8 goals and 21 assists with a +29 rating before heading to Providence College Friars.
That last all of 5 Hockey East games before he decided to split for Halifax Mooseheads, where he kind of produced some pretty big points for a couple of QMJHL sessions.
The 23-year old did well as a rookie with 4 goals, 17 assists and a +6 rating in 46 ECHL games, and we kind of expect him to take those numbers up and maybe even earn a loan up.
Undrafted rookie right wing Chase Zieky(12) took 2020/2021 off, but gets to it, signing a 1st pro contract with Idaho Steelheads for 2021/2202.
He was an RPI Engineers transfer from 2 trying seasons at Providence College Friars, and almost like magic when he arrived at ECAC, he was able to connect, leaving as a senior with 7 goals and new bests 16 assists for 23 points with a +4 rating.
The 5’10” 187 lbs. forward scored big in his one junior year, mostly skating with Salmon Arm Silverbacks, getting 28 goals and 26 assists in 55 BCHL games.
Not bad for the 25-year old, Avon, CT native, who it would be little surprise to see him connect in the ECHL.
7th year center Joel Lowry(14) switches it up overseas, heading from Iserlohn Roosters of DEL to Vienna Capitals IceHL for 2021/2022.
The 6’2″ 192 lbs. power forward was originally a Los Angeles Kings‘ 5th round pick in the 2011 draft (#140 overall), spent 2 years in the system, but was left unqualified when his entry level deal expired.
His only other big league contract was a season signed by Florida Panthers, after producing high marks (10 goals, 20 assists) for their affiliate.
The Cornell University Big Red graduate had three 20+ point campaigns in college.
It will be little surprise to see the 29-year old detonate Austria’s collective league.
14th year right wing Chad Costell0(13) returns home after 4 years away (3 in DEL and last season in Get-ligaen with Stavenger Oilers), signing a 1-year ECHL deal to return with Allen Americans, who he left as 2-year captain, consecutive 2015 and 2016 Kelly Cup Champions, most assists and points 3 straight seasons and twice league MVP.
The 5’9″ 185 lbs. forward is an awesome scorer in the league he’s skated 309 games in, grabbing an eye-popping 146 goals and 343 assists with a +92 rating.
At 35-years old it’s maybe a little question as to how much longer the 2-year Northeastern University Huskies plays, but if he continues to put up numbers, there may be no quit in sight for the player, who has appeared with 7 teams that are no longer active.
