Undrafted left wing Taylor Best(19) took both 2019/2020 and 2020/2021 off before entering into his first pro contract with Fayettesville Marksmen for 2021/2022.
The former four-year Mercyhurst College Lakers‘ forward averaged 10 goals and 10 assists in each of his seasons.
He initially committed to the school of his choice after a solid 2nd frame for Whitby Fury, then pumped up scoring to 37 goals and 53 assists in 47 OJHL games in his third year and left the program with most points, assists and league valuable player awards.
The 5’10” 187 lbs. forward moved onto a year of American junior hockey, signing with Youngstown Phantoms and kept putting up points (11-23) in 54 USHL games.
We have little doubt the now 27-year old will be lighting the lamp quite frequently in the SPHL.
4th year center Blaine Byron(12) takes 153 AHL games of playing experience to a new adventure with Eisbaren Berlin of DEL for 2021/2022.
The former University Of Maine Black Bears‘ forward, who went on a scoring splurge in his senior year for 18 goals and 23 assists in 36 Hockey East games, signed three consecutive contracts with Springfield Thunderbirds, and definitely had a breakout frame in his 2nd campaign, grabbing 13 goals and 12 assists.
He would be traded in the middle of the next season to Ontario Reign and once again had 12 goals and this time 22 assists in 54 games.
The 6′ 172 lbs. light pivot stuck on a follow-up deal, and through the bizarre 2020/2021 scored 6 goals and 6 assists in 17 games, which probably put him fully on the radar for the Germany club to grab.
It would be little surprise to see the 25-year old excel in this very solid overseas league.
4th year center Ryan Penny(9) finishes a most interesting move to playing hockey.
He swept through 5 seasons of QMJHL before agreeing to terms with Binghamton Senators, coming off a just over point-per-game session as captain for Rouyn-Noranda Huskies.
The 6’2″ 198 lbs. forward played three years, mostly with Reading Royals, but ends up on loan to Binghamton Devils, when he decides next to head to college.
He came to terms with McGill University, where he spent the last couple years, but only played 2019/2020.
It’s very possible he’s completed his studies, because he’s back on the pro side of things, signing for 2021/2022 with Coventry Blaze.
He should adapt to EIHL play well and affect the score sheet with frequency is what we’re looking at.
Undrafted 4th year center Michael McNicholas(16) decides to head back overseas for 2021/2022 signing with Fife Flyers of the EIHL.
He first left to skate for Manglerud, scoring a couple goals and 7 assists in 15 Fjordkraftligaen before coming back, agreeing to terms with Maine Mariners.
As a rookie, he scored a career high 13 goals and 40 assists in 65 ECHL games.
He re-signed and maybe didn’t equal his earlier performance, but at least got close (11-27-38), although his on-ice accountability fell to a critically low -17 rating.
The 5’10” 174 lbs. forward was all set to return for a third campaign in Maine, but was forced to move on as the team shuttered for 2020/2021, so he would end up splitting time with Utah Grizzlies, Indy Fuel, who he skated 3 games with after college, and Tulsa Oilers.
He was a outstanding as a junior at University Of New Hampshire Wildcats, capturing 13 goals and 30 assists in 37 Hockey East games and followed it up with a solid senior year.
The 27-year old from Reno, NV will likely do well in his new hockey league and maybe even move up the ranks over there, which means we may not see him back here for awhile.
Undrafted, 8th year right wing Wade MacLeod(19) decided to sit last season out but comes back into the game with a new contract for 2021/2022 for Manchester Storm.
He last skated in 2019/2020 for Lowen Frankfort and put up 25 goals and 24 assists in 49 DEL2 games.
This was his 2nd foray in the league, having blown up scoring with Starbulls Rosenheim to the tune of 34 goals and 27 assists.
A decent scorer in the AHL, he was a point-per-game guy in the ECHL through 104 games netted 108 points.
The 4-year, former Northeastern University Huskies‘ senior assistant captain was a Hobey Baker Finalist, when he struck for 22 goals and 23 assists in 37 Hockey East games.
At 34-years old, he will likely blow-up the stat sheet in the EIHL much like he’s done in most any league he’s played, but mostly what he has been able to accomplish since falling to the ice in 2013 and being diagnosed with brain cancer is remarkable.
12th year undrafted center Ben Holmstrom(21) comes home from a single season overseas with Lillehammer IK of Fjordkraftligaen, where his scoring and game was equally on par with 6 goals and 13 assists in 23 games with a +12 rating.
The 6’1 203 lbs. forward signs with South Carolina Stingrays, his 2nd foray into the league after spending the recent 2019/2020 with Norfolk Admirals, then Cincinnati Cyclones.
He’s played a monumental 586 AHL games, 7 times serving in a team captain role, mostly with Adirondack Phantoms and Bridgeport Sound Tigers, scoring 79 goals and 132 assists.
The former three-time UMass-Lowell Riverhawks‘ captain, since his sophomore year, was a true leader in college hockey.
He also captained his junior team, Sioux Falls Stampede in his third and final year.
The Colorado Springs, CO native has been signed to 6 NHL contracts with Philadelphia Flyers, Carolina Hurricanes and New York Islanders, but only played 7 games in the big league with his first club, no points.
There’s little doubt, the gosh, now 34-year old will bring experience and lessons into the room for all the younger ECHL players to learn from.
3rd year defenseman Jake Massie(56) signs a 1-year ECHL deal with South Carolina Stingrays for 2021/2022 after not being qualified when his 2-year NHL entry level deal to Florida Panthers expired.
He signed as an unrestricted free agent after leaving after three years at University Of Vermont Catamounts, but completing his degree before he left.
While mostly spending time with then affiliate Springfield Thunderbirds as a rookie, he was only able to get in roughly half the regular season slate of games, despite getting 3 goals and 2 assists in 29 AHL games with a +2 rating.
The 6’1″ 190 lbs. blue liner was reassigned for all of his sophomore campaign to Greenville Swamp Rabbits from Syracuse Crunch, who became the default affiliate during the faulty 2020/2021.
He was originally a Carolina Hurricanes‘ 6th round pick in the 2015 draft (#156 overall), and played only one year of junior hockey with Omaha Lancers, recording 10 points in 44 USHL games.
It seems like the 24-year old from St. Lazare, QC is still playing himself on an upper level radar, but may find better waters elsewhere.
After 10 years of playing 310 AHL with 6 different teams and 71 NHL games for 2 (New York Rangers & Minnesota Wild), Stu Bickel(4) hung up the skates a few years ago and quickly took to coaching.
The extra large 6’4″ 207 lbs. defenseman started with two years as a Undergraduate Assistant Coach with his former college team of only one season University Of Minnesota Golden Gophers.
He moved on from there to become Head Coach, then Assistant General Manager of the Minnesota Magicians, playing in the NAHL.
That lasted for the single 2020/2021 session, and recently he was named assistant coach for Springfield Thunderbirds, a team who is very familiar with him from having to skate against for a great many years.
The 34-year old has elevated himself to a nice new level but we see how long the Chanhassen, MN native stays.
Undrafted, 7th year net minder C.J. Motte(30) circles back to rejoin Coventry Blaze after playing a much smaller 2020/2021 schedule closer to home on return with Allen Americans and on loan to Bridgeport Sound Tigers.
He was last in the EIHL after a somewhat unsuccessful run in EBEL with HC Innsbruck.
The 6′ 185 lbs. has played net in 22 AHL games and 155 ECHL posting very decent numbers in both leagues.
It’s likely the 29-year old, former Ferris State University Bulldogs‘ senior captain, who did very well in four years at school, will be well at home playing in the United Kingdom again.
8th year defenseman Kevin Gravel(25) was no stranger to an AHL contract, having signed his first pro deal with Manchester Monarchs in 2014/2015 that led to a 2015 Calder Cup trophy before agreeing to 2-year entry deal with parent club Los Angeles Kings.
He inked another last season with a club, Bakersfield Condors, he spent 5 games with on loan from Edmonton Oilers and appeared in 37 games, getting a goal and 7 assists, then adding another pair of helpers in 6 playoff contests.
The former, 4 year, senior captain at St. Cloud State University Huskies has caught the eye of Calgary Flames, who put him under contract for 2021/2022, and the veteran could see significant time in the show on a team that has some needs to fill.
