Roanoke Rail Yard Dawgs‘ 2nd year defenseman Benjamin Lindberg(29) was twice loaned up to the ECHL and in 3 games to end the 2025/2026 with Tahoe Lake Monsters scored 1 assist in with a +3 rating.
The 6’3″ 194 lbs. blue liner turned pro, leaving 1 year on the table at Morrisville State College Mustangs, but was also not playing a full slate in any frame.
From East Aurora, NY, the 26-year old we feel will play himself up on a more permanent basis.
12th year left wing Mike Connolly(22) will spend an 8th season in a Straubing Tigers‘ uniform.
The 5’9″ 181 lbs. forward had his best year scoring 19 goals and 53 points in 2021/2022.
He has 5 times put up 30+ assists for this team.
The top scorer in his 3 campaigns at University Of Minnesota-Duluth Bulldogs, hitting 54 points in 42 NCAA Division 1 games as a senior.
He only played 2 sessions in the AHL and did appear in 2 NHL games with Colorado Avalanche after a rookie trade sent him away from San Jose Sharks‘ system.
At 33-years old, the Calgary, AB native has to be pretty happy about how his pro hockey life is still going.
He scores 16 goals and 22 assists in 50 DEL games last season and yup, will return for a 9th season in a Tigers‘ jersey.
2024/2025 will be his 10th season in a Straubing uniform, coming after a 34 assist, 45 point season.
Well, after 11 frames in the same uniform for the Tigers‘, he decides it’s time to stop playing pro hockey and should honestly be absorbed behind the bench where he is.
Franklin Pierce University Ravens‘ senior defenseman, captain Douglas McGuire(2) scores a college best 6 goals and 15 assists last season.
The 5’10” 170 lbs. blue liner did 1 season of juniors before school and won the 2022 EHL Championship.
From Elk Grove Village, IL, the 24-year old signs a 1st pro deal with Monroe Mocassins.
In 8 FPHL games, he has no points, but is a +1 rating and will need a new deal for 2026/2027.
Merrimack College Crusaders‘ senior left wing Mick Messner(10) is having a breakout campaign in his 2nd year with the team since being a portal transfer from 2 seasons at University Of Wisconsin Badgers.
In just 7 NCAA Division 1 games, he has a goal and 4 assists with a +4 rating.
The 5’11” 194 lbs. forward had mostly always connected for points through close to home high school in Madison, WI and 2 and a half USHL seasons for the Capitals.
At still just 22-years old looks poised to post Hockey East college career highs in 2021/2022, making him a nice unrestricted rookie pick up, if he decides to turn pro.
He spends a graduate season at the school and posts 5 goals and 4 assists in 35 games with a +6 rating on the way to a Hockey East Finals bout.
It takes him little time to agree to a pro deal, signing with Utah Grizzlies, where he has no points through 6 games with a +1 rating.
His efforts earn him an ECHL contract for 2023/2024 to wear that Grizzlies‘ jersey as a rookie.
He had a nice full frame, scoring 15 goals and 23 assists in a full slate of 72 games, gets him wanted back to continue wearing that Utah shirt.
As an assistant, he scores a new pro best 16 goals and 24 assists in another complete 72 game schedule and will return for his 3rd season as Grizzlies‘ team captain.
After 3 games, he has a change of attitude, sees an opportunity overseas to sign with HC Banska Bystrica for 2025/2026 in Slovak Extraliga and has an assist in his debut.
With 4 goals and 4 assists in 28 games, we don’t think it’s such a bad showing, but maybe he’s not as happy as he wants to be and shifts his game to sign with Glasgow Clan of the EIHL for the remainder of 2025/2026.
In 17 games, he scores a big 10 goals and 2 assists to gain an easy invite to return a Clan for 2026/2027.
Michigan State University Spartans‘ senior center Daniel Russell(47) scored a college best 28 assists and 39 points last season.
He always been good for scoring, 30 points as a freshman, then 2 20+ seasons to follow.
The 5’10” 161 lbs. forward signed for 2026/2027 with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins and reports to the AHL team on an ato to start.
From Williamsburg, MI, he did 4 years juniors before college.
The 24 year old has 2 assists in 4 games to start.
3rd year left wing Patrick Curry(17) takes a 2-year deal with Grand Rapids Griffins to a new 1-year contract to rivals Iowa Wild for 2022/2023.
The former Boston University Terriers‘ senior captain scored a college career best 19 goals and 33 points before turning pro.
He actually did 8 games in Slovak2 Extraliga on loan to HC Detva before the COVID-cracked 2020/2021 AHL got started.
The 5’10” 185 lbs. 26-year old forward should continue to add to his totals, especially as he plays more games.
He puts up blockbuster ECHL numbers for Kansas City Mavericks with a single season best, scoring 39 goals and 48 assists with a +29 in a full-slate of 72 games.
For 2024/2025, he gets an offer to head to Liiga and sign with Kalpa to continue his game overseas.
After 2 seasons of scoring goals for 1 team, he switches to sign with rivals, Jokerit for 2026/2027 and will likely continue.
9th year left wing Ben Lake(9) had an impressive 18 goals and 27 assists for 45 points in 52 games with a +27 rating on the way to a 2nd straight 2023 EIHL Championship with Belfast Giants.
That’s a no-brainer to re-sign the 33-year old, Calgary, AB native for 2023/2024.
The 5’11” 170 lbs. forward has spent time with 3 different teams in the league after coming over following 2 campaigns for Alaska Aces of the ECHL.
He did 3 AJHL seasons with Fort McMurray Oil Barons before committing to school.
We think the 50% UK native, former Sacred Heart University Pioneers‘ graduate does well in another frame and looks to be setting himself up for a future coaching job.
After a couple league titles and always decent scoring, the 35-year after 6 years with 1 team, retires as a Giants.
University Of Minnesota-Duluth Bulldogs‘ senior left wing Scout Truman(19) grabbed a goal scoring high with 14 and tied the 21 points he recorded in his sophomore year of exact opposite totals at UMass-Lowell Riverhawks.
He transferred as a junior.
The 5’10” 181 lbs. forward did 4 years of juniors, 2 AJHL and 2 USHL, where he scored well in his 2nd season of both.
From Lethbridge, AB, the 23-year signed a 1st pro deal with Savannah Ghost Pirates, getting a 1st ECHL assist in his debut.
He will need a new contract for 2026/2027.
Princeton University Tigers‘ senior center Brendan Gorman(36) takes new college best goals, 13 and 3 seasons of 20+ points to a 1st pro contract, a pto with Ontario Reign.
The 6′ 174 lbs. forward has skated 2 AHL games, but is signed for 2026/2027, so can take the summer off.
From Arlington, MA, the 23-year old went straight from USHS-Prep into college, forgoing any junior hockey.
14th year center Tyler McNeely(94) steps back to re-join Germany3 for 2024/2025, but will switch allegiances, signing with Bietigheim Steelers, who he played for their DEL2 team earlier career with success for a couple of seasons.
The 5’10” 183 lbs. forward has suited up for 3 different German teams over 12 years of his career.
Undrafted, the former twice captain of Northeastern University Huskies, 1st signed with Bridgeport Sound Tigers (Islanders), but quickly moved on after 2 seasons closer to home, Burnaby, BC.
At 37-years old, he must still be having fun, playing pro hockey.
He will spend a 14th season in German pro hockey, but once again ticks it down a level and sign for 2026/2027 with Hannover Indians, where he last scored 24 goals and 60 points in 42 games in the league.
