Category: Minor League Deal

Ohio State University Buckeyes‘ graduate right wing Michael Gildon(18) takes a college best 5 goals in 34 games with a +3 rating last season to a 1st pro deal with Worcester Railers.

The 6’2″ 196 lbs. forward from Plano, TX played 2 seasons USNTDP and wasn’t too bad on the scoresheet.

We think the decently-sized skater finds more room for scoring opportunities in the ECHL.

He signs with Jacksonville Icemen for his rookie season, 2024/2025.

Actually, he ends up with Fort Wayne Komets and things go pretty smoothly with 5 goals and 3 assists with a +2 rating in 23 games, but gets himself traded to Allen Americans, who bring him home.

Bowling Green State University Falcons‘ graduate right wing Spencer Kersten(41) signs with Orlando Solar Bears upon finishing up and scores 2 goals and 4 assists in 10 ECHL games with a +5 rating, then another 6, 3 in 11 with a +4 in the playoffs to easily get him wanted to return for his rookie frame in 2024/2025.

The 5’10” 185 lbs. forward came over from 4 years of always playing 31 games as senior captain for Princeton University Tigers and scoring decently.

From Waterloo, ON, the 24-year old looks to have found more space to connect for points as a pro.

He explodes scoring with 24 goals and 28 assists in 53 games with a +20 rating to get himself a loan up to Belleville Senators, where we feel he will do well, once he starts to gel.

University Of Connecticut Huskies‘ graduate, captain defenseman Jake Flynn(18) is one of 2 players, who did 5 years at the school.

The 6′ 181 lbs. blue liner played his 4th 30+ game set, and probably would have in 2020/2021, if his team played that many games.

From Weymouth, MA, the 22-year old played no junior hockey before committing.

He becomes a very interesting hockey watch when Hockey East playoffs are done.

We knew this entry wouldn’t wait long before an update: 2 weeks.

He signs a 1st deal with Greenville Swamp Rabbits that proves to be a good landing spot, as he has a 1st ECHL goal and 1 assist with a +3 rating in 6 games to start.

For 2024/2025, he was going to leave to play overseas, but re-signs for his rookie frame to stay a Swamp Rabbits.

In 36 games, he scores 3 goals and 5 assists with a -3 rating  and Bloomington Bison think they can use him, so trade for him.

Lindenwood University Lions‘ senior left wing Mitchell Allard(21) takes a college best 32 games played to signing a 1st pro contract with Kansas City Mavericks, where in 7 games already has an assist.

The 6’1″ 209 lbs. forward wasn’t exactly the biggest scorer through college hockey, since joining D1 hockey in his sophomore year.

From Shelby Township, MI, he did 2 years of juniors in the NAHL for the somewhat local Minnesota Wilderness.

The 25-year old may connect for points better as a pro.

University Of North Dakota Fighting Hawks‘ senior right wing Griffin Ness(11) 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.

Quinnipiac University Bobcats‘ graduate defenseman Griffin Mendel(2) had his best college scoring season with his new school, almost equaling 4 years of totals he had at his initial one, University Of Denver Pioneers.

He takes his game to the pro level upon finishing up a 5th year of school and signs with Chicago Wolves for the rest of the AHL 2021/2022.

The towering 6’6″ 220 lbs. blue liner played a couple years of junior hockey, sort of close to home in Kelowna, BC for Penticton Vees and skated an equal 52 games, en route to a 2017 BCHL Championship in his 2nd session.

We think it’s his NCAA Division 1 +53 rating that gets the 23-year old the most notice.

In 10 games, he gets 2 assists with a +5 rating and then gets into 1 playoff contest, but leaves a +2.

The Kelowna, BC native is staying put for what will be his rookie season, 2022/2023

With 9 goals and 10 assists in his 1st frame, the big d-man earns himself a handsome 1-year NHL entry level deal from parent club Carolina Hurricanes.

He wasn’t really scoring, until he was reassigned down to Norfolk Admirals, where he finally struck for 3 goals and 3 assists in 8 games with a +3 rating

For 2024/2025, he takes his game to Czech Extraliga and signs with Rytiri Kladno.

In 52 games, he gets 1 goal and 5 assists with a -1 rating to get himself a new deal for 2025/2026.

4th year defenseman Christian Hausinger(11) is on the move and traded to Utah Grizzlies, who looked to pick him up from Atlanta Gladiators, where he had 0 goals and 7 assists with a -11 rating.

The 6’1″ 190 lbs. blue liner played last season in Germany 3, picking up a healthy 31 assists in 43 games after coming over from 1 year in the EIHL with Fife Flyers, where he also scored pretty well.

He was coming off a season for Norfolk Admirals with 17 assists to his credit.

The 4-year University Of Wisconsin-River Falls Falcons‘ d-man had a college best 10 goals and 26 assists in 27 games as a junior and his senior year was that COVID-bust affair.

From Anchorage, AK, the 28-year old has to be thinking things are going pretty good.

University Of Guelph Gryphons‘ senior defenseman, captain Tristan De Jong(5) scored a college tying 3 goals and by far best 14 assists for 17 points last season and signs a 1st pro contract with Greenville Swamp Rabbits.

In 7 ECHL games, he has 1 assist.

The 6’2″ 201 lbs. blue liner did 3 years QMJHL and 2 GOJHL before heading to school.

From Breslau, ON, the 24-year old is looking .

Northeastern University Huskies‘ graduate defenseman, Pito Walton(8) is off to a hot start with his new team, getting the 1st goal of the 2023/2024 season and adding another tally the next night.

The 6’2″ 200 lbs. blue liner has come over from Princeton University Tigers and is making an impact, setting up a next move post college for the big man on d.

He had 7 goals and 14 assist in his final ECAC season and scores a darn close 6 goals and 12 assists in the slightly more difficult Hockey East play, but is really a pivotal +8 rating player on this team.

Upon finishing up a 5th year of college, he signs with Florida Everblades that should have him see some good action from the get-go, but unfortunately only played 1 ECHL game before being released, quickly picked up by Savannah Ghost Pirates for a look and has 1 assist in 4 games.

For 2024/2025, he re-signs with the Ghost Pirates for his rookie season.

After 14 games, with his 1st pro goal and 3 assists, he is traded to Idaho Steelheads, where he should see better success.

In 23 games, the Peacock, NJ native has 2 assists with a -4, but is wanted by another team for their back end, so is traded for future considerations to Worcester Railers, bringing him back to where he did his last year of college.