Undrafted 2nd year defenseman Billy Sweezey(6) takes a decent first year playing through a pandemic mess for Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins, scoring no goals but 4 assists in 22 AHL games with a +2 rating to a new league deal with rival Cleveland Monsters.
The sturdy 6’2″ 205 lbs. blue liner has never been much of a point-getter, except as a junior and senior at Noble & Greenough School USHS-Prep, when he walked away with 20 & 18 assists.
He had an almost opposite one year in USHL juniors with Chicago Steel, scoring 3 goals but only getting one assist.
The Hanson, MA native only scored 3 goals through 4 years at Yale University Bulldogs and on a couple of occasions flirted with 10 assists (9 as a sophomore and 8 senior).
A more stay-at-home style d-man, the 25-year old could become a valuable + player on his new club.
His 4 goals and 6 assists with a +6 rating in 45 games has earned the sturdy d-man a 2-year NHL entry level deal with parent club, Columbus Blue Jackets through 2024.
Atlanta Gladiators‘ 2nd season, 5th year net minder Chris Nell(30) recently appeared in his 100th ECHL game.
Undrafted, he signed a 2-year NHL entry level deal with New York Rangers, fresh off 3 years at Bowling Green State University Falcons.
He spent most of his rookie season with affiliate Hartford Wolf Pack, but was also lent to 3 lower league teams.
The 6’2″ 187 lbs. goalie played 39 games in the follow-up season in the E and even posted some outstanding stats over two appearances in the AHL with a .084 GAA and .973 SV%, but had maybe been already passed over at that point.
It would be little surprise to see the 27-year old, Green Bay, WI native to look outside the box next season for different hockey logistics.
12th year defenseman Cody Goloubef(29) decides for the 1st time in his pro career life to reach out across the seas for some new kind of hockey, signing for the remainder of 2021/2022 with SC Bern.
He only ever played one full season, 2015-2016, the 6th and final season with draft club (round 2, 2008, #37 overall) Columbus Blue Jackets, when he skated 43 NHL games, scoring a goal and best 7 assists and 8 points.
The 6’1″ 195 lbs. blue liner has spent 3 full campaigns in the AHL, including most recently signed to Belleville Senators.
He is credited for appearing in 353 games with 39 goals and 90 assists with a +7 rating and a very decent 160 in the big league, scoring 3 goals and 22 assists with a -7.
The 32-year old, former 3-year University Of Wisconsin Badgers‘ d-man has basically worked pretty hard at his craft to earn what he’s earned, should do well and have fun playing in the NL, Switzerland’s top hockey.
10th year left wing Mike Hoeffel(11) decided to sit out last season, but returns for his 5th year in DEL, signing with his 3rd club, Krefeld Pinguine for the remainder of 2021/2022.
He originally came over and signed a deal with DEL2 club, Eispiraten Crimmitschau after a successful stint in Fjordkraftligaen for Stavenger Oilers, where the won the 2016 Norway Championship.
An undrafted free agent after completing four years at University Of Minnesota Golden Gophers, scoring quite well, he signed a 2-year entry level deal with New Jersey Devils, but skated only with their AHL affiliate Albany Devils.
The 32-year old probably is just happy folks want to pay him to lace up the skates.
Undrafted 2nd year right wing Austin McIlmurray(25) did ok as a rookie, scoring 6 goals and 4 assists in 22 ECHL games for Wichita Thunder after lighting it up as a senior for Sacred Heart University Pioneers, grabbing 18 goals and 14 assists in 34 with a +5 rating Atlantic Hockey contests.
The 5’11” 185 lbs. forward spent only one campaign in juniors, playing for Coquitlam Express and was a point-per-game player in this league (27-34 in 57 BCHL games).
He moves on for 2021/2022, signing a 1-year deal with Florida Everblades.
The 24-year old, Coral Springs, FL native should be able to take up scoring nicely in a new, full season without interruptions.
He lasts all of 2 games in his home state before that experiment leads him to a new opportunity with Toledo Walleye, where he gets 2 goals an 4 assists in 28 contests.
Not finished moving, he traded to Iowa Heartlanders and scores a goal in his debut against his former team for a nice start.
5th year right wing Shane Walsh(7) took all of last season off, and looks as though it took him half a year to figure out he still wanted to skate, signing for the remainder of 2021/2022 with South Carolina Stingrays, who could use some goal scoring.
The former 18-goal scorer as a senior for UMass Minutemen, has definitely put up some decent numbers in the ECHL, most recently for Worcester Railers, getting 14 goals and 16 assists in 44 games.
He had allegedly toyed with retirement at 30-years old, but laces them up for another chance.
7th year right wing Colin Markison(28) leaves a single game for Jacksonville Icemen to join rivals, who he scored an assist in a win against, South Carolina Stingrays.
The 5’10” 185 lbs. forward has skated 267 AHL games, scoring 24 goals and 59 assist with a +14 rating.
He almost oddly reached his high marks for the league in two stints with Texas Stars, getting 27 points in each frame, and did the exact same feat through a pair of USHL years with Omaha Lancers, but 17 was the totals.
Putting together a solid ECHL frame may just serve as the energy to send the former 4-year University Of Vermont Catamounts overseas to experience some different kind of hockey before he retires.
6th year defenseman Ian McCoshen(22) signed his 1-year AHL deal to stick with Henderson Silver Knights after scoring 5 assists with a +3 in 24 games.
The big 6’3″ 218 lbs. Florida Panthers‘ 2nd round pick in 2013 (#31 overall) spent the 1st three years of his pro career in their system and played all of his NHL games, 60, 4 goals, 3 assists with the team before being traded to Chicago Blackhawks very early in his 4th year.
He was next signed late, just before the start of the 2020/2021 season to a new deal with Minnesota Wild and looks to have split time between the taxi squad and affiliate Iowa Wild.
This is the 26-year old from Anaheim, CA, former 3-year Boston College Eagles first minor league contract, but we don’t doubt he plays himself back up or take off for some overseas hockey.
Undrafted 3rd year left wing Ara Nazarian(22) has been lighting up the ECHL since arriving at Adirondack Thunder as a rookie after graduating 4 years at University Of New Hampshire Wildcats.
The small 5’9″ but stocky 185 lbs. forward has 6 goals and 12 assists in 27 games this season, which are consistent with career highs set in 2020/2021 with 2nd year club, Jacksonville Icemen (25-26-51 in 70 games).
His consistent play at the lower level has earned him a loan up to Rochester Americans, and in a few AHL games he has a 1st goal in the league.
The 25-year old from Boxford, MA is doing well playing himself up.
6th year center Matt Lane(21) has himself a decent enough start with new team Nottingham Panthers, scoring 2 goals and 3 assists in 14 EIHL games with a +1 rating.
The 5’11” 187 lbs. forward is coming off ECHL bests for Tulsa Oilers with 20 goals and 23 assists for 43 points as assistant captain.
He had equally strong scoring his first session away with Ritten/Renon, blitzing for 28 goals and 32 assists in 44 AlpsHL games.
The Rochester, NY native has always produced pretty well, consistently taking up his marks through 4 years at Boston University Terriers.
It will be interesting to see if the 27-year old looks elsewhere next or stays around England.
