Category: Minor League Deal

14th year goaltender John Muse(40) does the easy thing and re-signs with Worcester Railers for 2024/2025 after a pretty solid season on a non-playoff team.

The 5’11” 185 lbs. has 184 games of AHL experience and 130 in the ECHL with winning records in both leagues.

He did 4 seasons at Boston College Eagles for the East Falmouth, MA native.

The 36-year old also played 4 campaigns overseas, so has definitely been around quite a bit in his pro hockey tour.

Salve Regina University Seahawks‘ senior right wing Mitch Walinski(57) saw his team’s season end in a close game against the club maybe to win the entire D3 hockey this year.

The 6’1″ 180 lbs. forward takes the news in stride and quickly signs a 1st pro deal with Atlanta Gladiators.

He posted an assist in his debut and then a few days later in game 2, grabs a 1st ECHL goal with a 0 rating in some high scoring wins.

From Lincoln, RI, the 24-year old left two seasons with 10+ goals and 10+ assists in college hockey.

He finished his ato with 3 goals and 1 assist and a -5 rating, but they see something they want to continue and sign him up for his official rookie season, 2023/2024.

Scoring ok for his 1st year, he definitely needs to bring up that +/-, but he is wanted to return to wear a Gladiators‘ sweater for 2024/2025.

Hobart College Statesmen senior defenseman Kevin Lassman(55) has not been known to score a lot, but last season got 1 goal with 7 assists in only 24 games with a nice +18 rating.

From Parkland, FL, the 24-year came in from 2 USPHL/NCDC frames, where in 47 games in his 2nd year he had 15 assists.

The 5’8″ 165 lbs. blue liner, who won consecutive NCAA D3 Championships signs a 1st pro deal with Knoxville Ice Bears and will skate SPHL as a rookie 2024/2025.

Macon Mayem rookie defenseman Matt Stief(27) has maybe slightly conservative numbers with a goal and 6 assists with a +6 rating in 34 SPHL games for the number one team in the league.

He took a top scoring senior year, as assistant captain at Canisius College, grabbing new bests 3 goals, 23 assists and 26 points to his new gig.

The 5’10” 180 lbs. blue liner took an interesting route from his oddball hometown of Boca Raton, FL to a pair of campaigns up north in the BCHL before committing to college.

Originally signed to play for Idaho Steelheads in 2020/2021, until they decided they couldn’t go in a pandemic, the 25-year old still may have a good chance to play there next season.

It didn’t take too long for the Steelheads to step back in and re-up to have him enter into the fold for his rookie season.

In his 1st year, he gets no goals but 18 assists in 54 games to score an invite to return for a 2nd ECHL season.

He signs with Adirondack Thunder for 2022/2023 and does even better with 4 goals and 22 assists in 66 games.

Makes sense to have him back to see if he can add some to those numbers.

He was going to take his new best 31 assists and 35 points to a new deal for 2024/2025 with Orlando Solar Bears., but has maybe come away with a better deal to head over to the EIHL and sign with Glasgow Clan.

4th year left wing Ara Nazarian(22) re-signs for a 3rd season with Jacksonville Icemen for 2022/2023.

The 5’9″ 185 lbs. forward is a pretty big scorer, last year hitting for 13 goals and 18 assists in 40 ECHL games with a +12 rating.

He was also loaned up to Rochester Americans, appearing in 14 AHL games for 2 goals and 1 assist.

The Boxford, MA native scored decently through 4 years at University Of New Hampshire Wildcats, striking best as a senior for 12 goals and 11 assists in 33 NCAA Division 1 games.

He was also a strong scorer at Malden Catholic USHS-Prep.

The 26-year old will very likely continue to take his game up.

He left for a year to join Belfast Giants and knocked scoring out of the park in the EIHL, but will return home under a deal to Syracuse Crunch for 2024/2025.

Undrafted rookie net minder Garrett Metcalf(39) originally signed on with Knoxville Ice Bears to start his pro career in the SPHL, but within a week off that occurring his home town Utah Grizzlies had a better offer ready.

After graduating from his third school on record, Long Island University Sharks, he would go 4-4 in his first ECHL stint with a 2.33 GAA and .915 SV%.

These stats proved good enough for them to offer the 6’4″ 195 lbs., former Anaheim Ducks‘ 6th round pick in the 2015 draft (#179 overall), now unrestricted free agent a 1-year deal to return to the crease.

The 25-year old 1st commit to UMASS-Lowell Riverhawks for only 1 year of little usage before pushing off to Mercyhurst University Lakers for 2 for the Salt Lake City, NV native, who will definitely help his team win games.

After going 2-2-1 for his new club with an outstanding 1.84 GAA and .932 SV%, he gets the nod from Lehigh Valley Phantoms and in his AHL debut gets a 2-1 win in overtime with 25 saves, posting a 0.99 GAA and .962 SV%.

He will return to Maverik Center his home state again for 2022/2023, the team he’s spent most of his time with since graduating college.

It will be little surprise to see him compete for the starter’s job.

For 2023/2024, the parent club of the team he spent most of last session with Colorado Eagles sign him to a contract.

He would head back to Utah to start the current frame, but through 4 games it is determined he should have dual hip replacement surgery (we can’t even imagine), so that will wrap up a very short-lived career, but what he turns it into next will be something to watch.

Looks like he is heading back to LIU Sharks and will jump behind the bench as an assistant coach, starting 2024/2025.

Western Michigan University Broncos‘ graduate right wing Cole Gallant(8) takes a college best 18 assists in 39 games to a 1st pro deal with Trois-Rivieres Lions.

In 7 ECHL games, he has 2 goals and 2 assists on a non-playoff team.

The 5’10” 190 lbs. forward scored lots of assists (37) in his 2nd season of USHL juniors for Omaha Lancers and twice popped 15 goals.

From Surrey, BC, the 25-year old appears ready to go.

For 2023/2024, he is actually moved in a trade that sees him heading to Utah Grizzlies, which should turn out just about perfectly for him is how we’re seeing it.

He scores 12 goals and 35 assists in 68 games, but needs to clean up that +/- and will get another chance with a 2nd season for the Grizzlies agreed upon for 2024/2025.

Sacred Heart University Pioneers‘ 3-time captain, graduate right wing Braeden Tuck(23) signs with Norfolk Admirals for his rookie frame, 2024/2025.

He scored best as a junior with 12 goals and 15 assists in 28 games.

The 6’1″ 170 lbs. forward played 3 seasons of BCHL junior hockey, all with Trail Smoke Eaters and scored very well in his final 2 sessions.

From Osoyoos, BC, we expect the 26-year old to connect in the ECHL.

5th year Swedish-born left wing Sebastian Vidmar(8) finds himself traded after 50 ECHL games for Savannah Ghost Pirates to a new start and hopeful playoff berth with Maine Mariners.

He has 1 assist in 3 games.

The 6’3″ 203 lbs. forward came over for 2 years of mostly NAHL, doing extraordinary in his 2nd Lone Star Brahmas‘ season, scoring a most goals (35), points (80), forward and most valuable player awards before heading off to 4 years of Union College Dutchmen.

He had an ok rookie season with Norfolk Admirals, but decided to head home and played one full frame for Vimmerby HC in HockeyEttan, but left there to come back here and joined Adirondack Thunder for 20+ goals and assists.

Already 30-years old, I think he needs to figure out where he wants to wrap things up for his hockey career.

He gets to Maine and starts scoring 8 points in 12 games to work himself in and signs to stay in a Mariners‘ jersey for 2024/2025.