Category: Minor League Deal

21Dec

Blake Humphrey (20)

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Providence College 2021/2022 commit, center Blake Humphrey(20) agreed to head to this college after an outstanding season, playing 106 games for Buffalo Jr. Sabres 15U AAA, scoring 42 goals and 54 assists.

The 5’10” 161 lbs. forward looks to have played some of  the next year at Lawrence Academy, where he also popped the scoring bubble with 7 goals and 29 assists in 27 USHS-Prep games.

He would be selected in both 2020 drafts and reported to Sioux Falls Stampede but lasted just three USHL games with a goal and 2 assists and head to the other club he was selected by New Jersey Jr. Titans, where he played out the remainder of 2020/2021, getting a very decent 16 goals and 15 assists in 38 NAHL games.

The 19-year old will be an excellent addition to Hockey East action.

He actually recommits to Sacred Heart University Pioneers instead and spends 2 largely unspectacular years there, enters the transfer portal and will do his junior session at Lake Superior State University Lakers.

In 30 games as a junior he does reasonably well with 2 goals and 6 assists, but in 6 games in the current frame, he has yet to strike and decides to turn pro, signing a deal with Fayettesville Markmen.

We look for his scoring to take up as a pro in the SPHL 2nd half of 2025/2026.

19Dec

Matt Anderson (9)

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South Carolina Stingrays bring back solid 6″ 194 lbs. defenseman Matt Anderson(9) for his official rookie season 2022/2023 after signing him to an ato after he finished up 5 years at University Of Minnesota-Duluth Bulldogs, twice winning the NCAA Division 1 Championship.

The 6′ 194 lbs. blue liner has never been the biggest point guy from the point, but did pop 2 goals and a college career tying best 7 points in his final frame.

He had a goal and an assist in 11 games to start.

The 23-year old Shakopee, MN native did score pretty well in high school and we think is going to start connecting as a rookie in the ECHL.

He would get it going for 6 goals and 22 assists with a +13 rating in 57 games to earn himself an invite to return to the Stingrays for 2023/2024.

Traded to Toledo Walleye before the start of the session, he settles there pretty nicely, playing a new high 68 games, scoring a new best 13 goals and 34 points with a +26 rating.

His plays earns him a contract from Toronto Marlies for 2024/2025.

He was possibly released, but signs to return to the Walleye for another run.

After a nicely successful run in 27 games with a +14 rating and 2 loans up to the AHL, he gets himself traded and heading to Idaho Steelheads for 2025/2026.

He plays 22 games with 10 assists for his new team, but something is tugging him and he leaves for Allsvenskan, signing with MoDo Hockey, where he should get plenty of opportunities to shine.

19Dec

Patrick Watling (14)

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6th year center Patrick Watling(14) decides to head off and try something new, signing for 2022/2023 with HC Kosice of Slovak Extraliga.

He exploded on the ECHL scoring sheet in 2021/2022 for Wheeling Nailers, scoring new bests 31 goals and 46 assists for 77 points 55 games with a +13 rating.

The 6′ 174 lbs. forward also scored a pair of loans up and managed another AHL goal and 2 assists in 5 appearances.

Undrafted, he signed his first deal after 3 OHL seasons with Toronto Marlies and split time with affiliate Orlando Solar Bears, where he pumped in point-per-game stats.

He skated his next pair of campaigns in Florida before being dished very late to Tulsa Oilers.

In the next frame, he took a break before heading to 2 years at University Of New Brunswick Reds before returning.

The 28-year old from Sault Ste. Marie, ON will definitely put up some big numbers in the new league he’s headed to.

In 11 games, he manages 1 goal and 8 assists, but somehow ends up traded or heading to rivals HC Banska Bystrica for the remainder of ’22/23.

Maybe a little oddly, he takes some very decent play after the trade to a new experience, signing for 2023/2024 with Sheffield Steelers of the EIHL.

After a season, scoring like he did in the minors with 22 goals and 36 assists, then helping his team win the 2024 league title, grabbing 3 assists in 3 games.

He will happily be back in a Steelers‘ sweater for 2024/2025.

After yet another strong scoring season, he waits just a minute to see if he will return to be a Steelers at 32-years old in 2025/2026 and the answer is yes.

18Dec

Patrick Grasso (21)

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Undrafted center Patrick Grasso(21) signs his first pro contract with Utica Comets for 2021/2022 after 5 seasons at University Of New Hampshire Wildcats.

Almost oddly his best scoring year was as a freshman, when he struck for 20 goals and 13 assists, which followed up a particularly good 3rd/4th USHL campaign for close-to-home Des Moines Buccaneers.

The small 5’7″ 170 lbs. 25-year old quick pivot will likely do well in the AHL.

He actually had a goal and 3 assists in 9 games, but was mostly sent down to skate with affiliate Adirondack Thunder, where he was stellar scoring 26 goals and 24 assists in 68 ECHL games.

For 2022/2023, he goes a bit of the easy route, signs to stay in Glens Falls, NY and will potentially score some loans up to the higher league.

He comes up with a new league and team best 37 goals and 59 assists in 64 games and is loaned up to 2 teams for 9 games, gaining 2 assists.

The Des Moines, IA native is back for a 3rd run with his favorite team.

He’s taking some good 3rd year stats with him to a new adventure, signing for 2024/2025 with HC Innsbruck Sharks of the IceHL and should do very well in Austria’s top hockey.

In 45 games, he strikes for 21 goals and 14 assists, but is a horrible -25 rating, so looks to explore other pro hockey and signs with Vasteras IK of HockeyAllsvenskan.

For 2025/2026, he starts with Belfast Giants, but after scoring quite decently in 16 EIHL games, decides to head back to where he has scored the most, Adirondack Thunder for the rest of 2025/2026 and will add to their stat sheet.

17Dec

Griffin Ness (77)

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University Of North Dakota Fighting Hawks‘ senior right wing Griffin Ness(77) recorded his 3rd straight college hockey season of 6 points and signs a 1st pro deal with Maine Mariners.

In 2 ECHL, he doesn’t have any points with a -3 rating and didn’t appear in the playoffs.

The 6′ 184 lbs. forward was a big scorer at Wayzata USHS-MN high school, then put up similar stats as 2-time captain for Waterloo Black Hawks before college.

We will see if the 24-year old gets retained for a full pro season look.

He’s actually signed for 2024/2025, but gets traded just before the start of the new year to Toledo Walleye, which is going to be blessing to his point production.

With 11 goals and 11 assists in 59 games, he’s proving he can connect with the net, but gets himself swapped in a player deal to Utah Grizzlies, who may need him a little more.

He scores 3 goals and 7 assists in 14 games with his new team and they are liking what they see to re-sign him to return in Utah for 2025/2026.

In 24 games, he picks up 6 goals and 9 assists, but Kalamazoo Wings eye and want him for future considerations.

15Dec

Hunter Johannes (18)

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University Of North Dakota Fighting Hawks‘ graduate left wing Hunter Johannes(18) had a fairly solid year of eligibility scoring 12 goals and 7 assists in 31 games with a +10 rating.

The big 6’3″ 209 lbs. forward oddly did best scoring as a senior at Lindenwood University Lions with point-per-game numbers, 13 goals and 16 assists in 28 games.

From Eden Prairie, MN, he did his high school hockey right there, finding his edge as a senior.

He seemed to bounce around junior hockey a bit, never quite sticking in one place too long before eventually heading to his 1st school of 3 years, American International College Yellowjackets.

Upon graduating, he signed a 1-year AHL with Grand Rapids Griffins for 2024/2025, but joins them on an ato.

He’s without points in 6 games, but we feel it’s just a matter of time.

An unrestricted free agent, he signs a pto with Florida Panthers that should turn into a 1-year deal, as he reports to affiliate Charlotte Checkers.

After 17 ECHL games on reassignment to Savannah Ghost Pirates, scoring 1 goal and 7 assists, he finds himself traded to Lehigh Valley Phantoms, but reports with affiliate Reading Royals.

In his debut with this club, he scores himself a hat trick to say hello.

13Dec

Matt Koethe(47)

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University Of Alaska-Fairbanks Nanooks‘ senior center Matt Koethe(47) has always recorded 10+ points through college hockey and once the schedule was done signed on, an ato to join Tulsa Oilers.

the 5′ 10″ 190 lbs. forward from Minnetonka, MN scored 1 goal and 2 assists in 7 ECHL games with a +1 rating.

For his rookie season, he is an easy sign to return for a full frame, 2025/2026.

After high school hockey, the now 26-year old did 2 years of junior hockey, right where he was heading to school, Fairbanks Ice Dogs.

He skates 5 games in the new session with 1 assist, but something isn’t equaling and he is released to be pick up by Iowa Heartlanders to see if they can energize the scoring.

13Dec

Brendahn Brawley (1)

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Plymouth State University Panthers‘ senior goalie Brendahn Brawley(1) goes pro, maybe a bit conservatively signing for 2023/2024 with Knoxville Ice Bears of the SPHL.

For the last 3 seasons, his team has won the D3 MASCAC Division and he has been stellar in net the last campaign going 22-3-1 with a 2.02 GAA and .932 SV%.

The 6’2″ 194 lbs. net minder from Morton, PA did 2 sessions with Philadelphia Little Flyers, getting voted Goaltender Of The Year and coming away with the best SV% in his 2nd frame.

He at 24-years old is likely ready to get started.

Not exactly sure what occurred, but he reported to Peoria Icemen before being released after 10 games and picked up by Evansville Thunderbirds for his rookie season.

He would next head off to France2, signing with Les Elephants de Chambery for 2024/2025, but didn’t seem to catch on.

Heading back for 2025/2026, he re-signs with the Thunderbolts, but after 1 appearance will go to France3 this time, agreeing with Toulous-Blagnac Les Belougas.

12Dec

Patrick Moynihan (19)

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Providence College Friars‘ senior right wing Patrick Moynihan(19) is a New Jersey Devils‘ 6th round pick in 2019 (#158 overall) and has decided, likely with the club’s oversight to extend school and head to University Of Notre Dame Fighting Irish for a graduate year.

He maybe didn’t have the season he wanted to after scoring college bests as a junior (11 goals, 14 assists) in 38 games.

We do think the 22-year old, Millis, MA native could see his game improve in the Big Ten, but will have to skate for it, no doubt.

Upon losing the signing rights for him, he agrees on an ato with Chicago Wolves to get started as a pro.

He only appears in 1 AHL game with no points and for his rookie season, 2024/2025 signs with Greenville Swamp Rabbits.

We think the 5’11” 183 lbs. forward will score in the ECHL.

He grabs a 1st goal and 14 assists in 27 games, but is eyed by a team out west, who claim him in a trade to head to Idaho Steelheads.

He actually does pretty well with this team, but is a free agent at the end of the frame and signs with Reading Royals for 2025/2026.

Through 11 games, he has 2 goals and 2 assists with a 0 rating, but gets himself traded to Allen Americans.

11Dec

Carter Turnbull (98)

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Undrafted senior center Carter Turnbull(98) takes a solid year as team captain, pushing his University Of Connecticut Huskies to its deepest Hockey East climb to the Finals and a loss in overtime to a 1st pro contract with South Carolina Stingrays.

The 5’8″ 181 lbs. forward took a few games to get situated, but finally popped in his 1st ECHL goal and a 2nd one a couple nights later to sit at 2 tallies in 6 games.

He had 30 goals and assists throughout his 3 years with Powell River Kings in 155 BCHL games.

The 23-year old from Nanaimo, BC should be able to light up the league and climb, if he sticks.

He would finish his first pro contract with 2 goals and 3 assists in 11 games to warrant a full look in North Charleston for his rookie season 2022/2023.

After lighting things up to the tune of 24 goals and 18 assists in 41 games, he decides to head off for an opportunity overseas, joining HKM Zvolen for their Slovak Extraliga playoff run.

He appears in 6 games during the end of the regular frame, then skates 7 in the postseason, scoring 1 goal and 1 assist in 7 games.

Slovak rivals HC Banska Bystrica swoop in an sign him up for 2023/2024, and we should see his numbers improve.

He is well over a point-per-game player in the tough to play Slovak hockey, equaling 25 goals and 31 assists in 41 games, but heads of to IceHL for a new experience with Asiago Hockey that could put him back on the radar for a better deal back home.

While scoring isn’t an issue with his new club, on ice accountability is faltering, so he up and moves back to Slovakia, signing once again with HC Banska Bystrica to hopefully regain some glory.

He gets on board and is invited to return to the tune of 20 goals and 17 assists in just 22 games with a +17 rating and there is a desire to keep him around long-term on a 2-year extension through 2026/2027 with HC Banska.