After 8 years of pro hockey, center Jared Gomes(20) took the 2020/2021 COVID year off, but quickly stepped into coaching and joined up with an under version of the last team he played OHL with, Missisauga.
A veteran of 189 AHL games, scoring 28 goals and 31 assists, he also has 130 games of experience in both German leagues, DEL and DEL2.
It certainly didn’t take him long to solidify a 1st real assistant coaching job, as Georgetown Raiders of the OJHL step in to offer him a contract for 2022/2023.
The 33-year old, former University Of Prince Edward Island Panthers from Brampton, ON will no doubt be great in his new role and jumps in on the 1st rung of the ladder.
4th year defenseman Kevin McKernan(6) re-ups to stay with Greenville Swamp Rabbits for 2021/2022.
In a short 7 ECHL game stint with the team, he picked up 3 assists with a +5 rating.
After 4 years at Quinnipiac University Bobcats, he signed an ato with Fort Wayne Komets, but switched for his rookie season to South Carolina Stingrays, where his scoring bests still stand at 6 goals and 22 assists with a +9 rating.
He followed that season up strong with Kansas City Mavericks. and even had 8 assists in 26 games with Jacksonville Icemen before getting traded to his current team.
The 27-year old from Grafton, MA is likely to continue his assist production that will likely land him a look from an AHL club.
He finishes 2021/2022 with 2 goals and 7 assists in 62 games, but maybe his 1 goal and 1 assist in 5 playoff contests was the factor that gets him a 1-year deal to return for his 5th pro season.
Undrafted 4th year defenseman Kelly Summers(27) takes a good season 2020/2021 with Eispiraten Crimmitschau, scoring 6 goals and 22 assists in 42 DEL2 games, but decided to sit out 2021/2022 and signs for 2022/2023 with Nottingham Panthers of EIHL.
The 6’1″ 191 lbs. blue liner played well in 2 years with Adirondack Thunder, amassing 24 points twice with a combined +33 rating in 93 ECHL games that included a 9 games AHL loan to Binghamton Devils, where he scored a goal.
He also did well at 4 years with Clarkson University Golden Knights, achieving a senior best 6 goals and 24 assists in 40 NCAA Division 1 games with a +19.
The 26-year old from Golden Lake, ON should do well in this league.
American International College Yellowjackets‘ graduate transfer from 4 years at University Of Connecticut Huskies, center Brian Rigali(10) signs a 1st ECHL deal with Worcester Railers for 2022/2023.
The small 5’8″ but stocky 185 lbs. forward had a college career best 12 goals and 14 assists in 32 NCAA Division 1 games.
We think the 25-year old from Green Oaks, Il find his spots to score as a rookie.
5th year defenseman Garrett Johnson(48) is branching out for 2022/2023, signing a 1-year deal with Coventry Blaze of the EIHL.
The very decently sized 6’2″ 194 lbs. blue liner has played his way up from signing his 1st pro deal with Birmingham Bulls, playing 21 games, getting 1 goal and 12 assists with a +5 rating to get loaned up to Newfoundland Growlers.
He would remain with the team, scoring 2 goals and 17 assists in 39 ECHL games, then adding another 7 points with a +6 in 23 games on the way to the 2019 Kelly Cup Championship.
The Winnipeg, MB native would continue to sign, where he won and even score a pair of AHL loans for games.
He did one year at University Of Manitoba Bisons after completing 3 years of QMJHL.
At 27-years old, this league could be a launching pad for further other good overseas endeavors.
Undrafted defenseman Nick Luukko(29) played only 4 years of pro hockey after graduating University Of Vermont Catamounts, mostly for exclusively with close to home (West Chester, PA) Reading Royals for 274 ECHL games.
He transitioned immediately into becoming the assistant coach for the team he played his hockey with for one season.
Forced to the sidelines because of a COVID canceled 2020/2021 for lots of teams, he was next offered the job to take over as head coach/director of operations for Jacksonville Icemen.
The 6’2″ 181 lbs. former d-man had a solid, winning 1st season and is extended 2 more years through 2025.
University Of Wisconsin Badgers‘ 5th year, graduate left wing, captain Tarek Baker(16) signs a 1st pro deal with South Carolina Stingrays for 2022/2023.
The 5’10” 190 lbs. forward spent 3 USHL seasons in junior hockey, mostly with Bloomington Thunder.
He has been inconsistent on the stat sheet, but we’re thinking the 25-year old could find some room in the ECHL.
8th year defenseman Tim Daly(76) will spend his 4th season with Rungsted Seier Capital, where he must like playing, scoring 10+ goals per season and helping them win a pair of Metal Ligaen Championships in 2019 and 2021.
The 5’11” 190 lbs. blue liner was never much of a scorer through 4 years at St. Cloud State University Huskies, then averaged 5 goals and 15 assists in 3 ECHL seasons, which isn’t so bad with one breakout frame for Utah Grizzlies, scoring an almost head scratching 10 goals and 28 assists with a +24 rating.
At 30-years old, the Maple Ridge, BC native must be a bit just happy to be still playing well.
Undrafted 4th year center Josh Dickinson(22) was coming off a three year entry level deal with Colorado Avalanche, signed after completing just one year at Clarkson University Golden Knights.
The 6’2″ 194 lbs. forward was not given a qualifying offer to stick, after his rights were traded to Chicago Blackhawks, where he was sent to Indy Fuel to play out his contract.
He’s easily a point-per-game guy in the ECHL, which is likely why Toledo Walleye stepped in to sign the unrestricted free agent for 2021/2022.
The Georgetown, ON native skated 3 junior hockey seasons for hometown Georgetown Raiders, where he was discovered for college and went on to win the 2017 OJHL Championship before reporting to school.
There’s little doubt the 23-year old will likely step up his game on such a good, offensive team to play for.
After scoring huge numbers in the lower league, he would get loaned up to Grand Rapids Griffins and. actually play more AHL games at 48, grabbing 6 goals and 7 assists with a +4 rating, but returned for the playoffs with similar scoring results.
For 2022/2023, he has decided to branch out, accepting a 1-year deal from MoDo Hockey and will join their Allsvenskan-based team.
18th year center Marco Rosa(91) decides at age 40, he will retire.
It would seem like a complete no-brainer for him to stay with Asiago as a coach, where he has played the last 5 years, winning 2 Italy Cups and 2 AlpsHL Championships.
And he actually accepts a position to become head coach of their junior squad.
The 6′ 185 lbs. forward has skated 353 AHL games with a +29 rating, 122 as a more than point-per-game player in the ECHL and close to 400 overseas.
He has played on 4 teams that no longer exist.
The former Merrimack College Warriors‘ senior captain almost surprisingly never earned an NHL recall.
We’re sure what the Scarborough, ON native is setting himself up for a great hockey after-life.
