Minor League Deal | CollegeHockeyPlayers

10Jul

Tyler Busch (13)

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Former Arizona State University Sun Devils‘ undrafted 2 year team captain Tyler Busch(13) quite possibly was waiting to see where North American pro hockey was going to settle before agreeing to leave the country for his next pursuit and decided to sign on with Sweden’s tier 3 league HockeyEttan joining Tranas AIF.

He did sign with Cincinnati Cyclones during the summer but then decided to forego the 2020/2021 due to COVID restrictions.

The 6’3″ 195 lb. power forward scored a healthy diet of four goals and 5 assists in 17 games before adding an assist in the playoffs.

He put up 21 points in two straight seasons before graduating with a career high 18 assists and +15 rating as a senior.

The Lloydminster, AB native played 3 years in the AJHL for Spruce Grove Saints and arrived at college after his best session as a more than point-per-game performer serving as captain.

What the 25-year old does next is up in the air but he could easily continue where he’s at and likely receive a look from the NL.

For 2021/2022, he was initially signed with the Cyclones return, but switched it up closer to the start of the frame and went with Fort Wayne Komets in 2021/2022, ending up getting 8 goals and 11 assists in 59 games, including a 4 game AHL loan to Henderson Silver Knights.

He re-signs to stay where he played as a rookie and we only see things improving for this young player.

Traded to Iowa Heartlanders early in the season, he managed to connect for 14 goals and 14 assists in 56 games.

He’ll take that ECHL experience to the EIHL next, signing for 2023/2024 with Cardiff Devils.

After 2 seasons, scoring decently, he will switch things up to sign with rivals, Guilford Flames for 2025/2026 and hopes to increase his play.

He would put up a new league best scoring 21 assists and 32 points to easily get another 1-year deal to stay a Flames for 2026/2027.

09Jul

Jake Witkowski (83)

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Canisius College Golden Griffins‘ transfer portal, graduate right wing Jake Witkowski(83) has made a good decision trading 4 seasons at Hockey East, Boston University Terriers for Atlantic Hockey.

in 6 games, he almost unbelievably has outpaced anything he did previously, as those became his first college tallies.

The 5’10” 180 lbs. forward played 4 years at Malden Catholic High, which was near to where he was born in Melrose, MA,

He would leave for a year at Avon Old Farms School, lighting it up for 13 goals and 27 assists in 27 games, then head off to the BCHL.

Signed for his only junior campaign with Alberni Valley Bulldogs, he continued to gain notice with 23 goals and 17 assists and agreed to head to his first school.

It will be interesting to see what the 25-year old ends up with and where he looks to take his hockey next.

He scores a college career best 5 goals and 6 assists in 32 games with a +6 rating and signs a rookie contract with Pensacola Ice Flyers just as the season starts.

In 2 SPHL games, he has an assist.

He will likely find room in this league to put the puck in the back of the net.

After 9 games last season, scoring 2 goals and 1 assist, he leaves for the 2nd tier league NIHL, signing with Leeds Knights and putting up a bundle of points, 46 (16-30) in 26 games.

He waits a tiny bit, but re-signs to head back to the small English town team for 2023/2024.

For 2024/2025, he left for the lower NIHL 1 league and signed with Deeside Dragons.

He’s absolutely blown up scoring and is having a lot of fun to continue for a 3rd & 4th frame through 2027/2028.

09Jul

Chase Yoder (48)

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Providence College Friars‘ senior center Chase Yoder(48) scored what turned out to be the game-winner for the 2023 Mayor’s Cup, Battle of Providence vs. Brown University Bears, 3-0.

The 5’10” 176 lbs. forward is easily threatening college bests with 6 goals and 6 assists in 17 games.

A Pittsburg Penguins‘ 6th round pick in the 2020 draft (#170 overall), the Fairview, TX native did 2 years in the USNTDP system before school.

We think this is the season to see an uptick in the 21 year old’s game, getting him ready to sign an NHL entry level deal.

He goes unsigned by his draft club, but somehow picks up the radar of Winnipeg Jets, who get him signed to an AHL contract with affiliate Manitoba Moose for 2025/2026.

Splitting time with affiliate Norfolk Admirals, where he was close to a point-per-game player and even got 2 goals and 2 assists in 23 games up, he gets another look in a Moose jersey for 2026/2027.

09Jul

Eamon Powell (11)

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Boston College Eagles‘ senior captain defenseman Eamon Powell(11) maybe a little quietly this season amassed a college best 26 assists to go with his 5 goals that match those junior totals in 34 games with a +19 rating.

The 6′ 177 lbs. blue liner had a team high 2 assists in the Hockey East quarterfinals’ win over the weekend to advance to the next round.

A Marcellus, NY native, the young 21-year old is a Tampa Bay Lightning 4th round pick in the 2020 draft (#116 overall) and will be a watch to sign an NHL entry level deal.

The rights to ink are left to expire, so he becomes an unrestricted free agent.

He signs a 1-year AHL deal with Charlotte Checkers to start 2025/2026, but will jump in for the playoffs on an ato, and already has a 1st goal and assist in 5 games.

In 23 games, he scores 1 goal and 5 assists, but is an unrestricted free agent and signs with Utica Comets for 2026/2027.

07Jul

Josh Atkinson (22)

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Undrafted 2nd year defenseman Josh Atkinson(22) had himself quite a rookie season with Atlanta Gladiators.

The 6′ 194 lbs. blue liner scored 10 goals and had a team leading 40 assists in 66 ECHL games, which was equal to all his helper marks through 4 years at University of Alaska-Fairbanks and his single season tallies were slightly better than he achieve in all of college hockey.

He received a 1-game loan up to Chicago Wolves of the AHL but was unable to connect for any points.

Moving along, he signs with Iowa Wild for the next 2 seasons before heading overseas for 3 campaigns in the IceHL with Fehervar AV19.

He returned with success, but decides to move back, joining Les Ducs d’Angers for 2026/2027.

07Jul

Carter Wilkie (16)

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University Of North Dakota Fighting Hawks‘ senior center Carter Wilkie(16) signs a 1st pro deal, an ato with Calgary Wranglers and goes on to score 2 goals and 1 assist in 9 AHL games with a +3 rating.

The 6’1″ 190 lbs. forward did 3 high scoring seasons at RIT Tigers.

From Calgary, AB, the 21-year old did 3 years of BCHL juniors before heading to school.

He splits his rookie frame with ECHL affiliate Rapid City Rush, where he puts up point-per-game numbers and the team feels he can still ignite up top to sign him up to continue with the hometown Wranglers in 2026/2027.

06Jul

Bryan Yoon (71)

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3rd year defenseman Bryan Yoon(71) has been loaned up to the AHL twice, last year even playing in 7 playoff games, worth 3 assists and a +2 rating.

For 2025/2026, he is set to start with Savannah Ghost Pirates, but has been signed by his team of 22 regular season games for 5 assists and another +2 rating, Colorado Eagles.

The 6’1″ 187 lbs. blue liner was graduate captain with Colorado College Tigers, where he once scored 20+ points, but was good for 10+ for 3 seasons.

From Parker, CO, the 27-year old looks to be playing himself up on a permanent basis

He split time between his contract club and the ECHL affiliate Utah Grizzlies, but when up was a successful 5 assists in 22 games with a +2 rating, then in 7 from playoffs, scored 3 assists with another +2.

For 2025/2026, he starts in the upper league and through 11 games has 2 assists with a 0 rating to look like he’s staying with the Eagles for 2025/2026.

In 42 games, he scores 3 goals and 5 assists with a +6 rating, then gets another tally in the playoffs that end in the Western Conference Finals.

For 2026/2027, he looks to try something new and signs in Allsvenskan with MoDo Hockey, which should provide him room to grow his game further.

06Jul

Jack Pascucci (28)

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University Of Connecticut Huskies‘ junior defenseman Jack Pascucci(28) enters the transfer portal after maybe a slack 10 games played to skate at Canisius College Golden Griffins as a senior.

The 6’2″ 194 lbs. blue liner from Andover, MA skated Boston Jr. Bruins before 1 USHL junior season prior to college.

He will likely excel much better in Atlantic Hockey.

After a college career high 6 assists scoring, he turns pro as tournament play concludes and signs a deal with Norfolk Admirals to bring his frame to them.

He would score 3 goals and 4 assists in 20 ECHL games to get started and earns a new deal with the Admirals for his rookie frame in 2026/2027.

06Jul

Jack Malone (13)

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Boston College Eagles‘ senior right wing Jack Malone(13) transferred from 3 successful years at Cornell University Big Red to play a college best 41 games, scoring new highs 12 goals and 13 assists.

He really seemed to use that 6’1″ 190 lbs. frame to his scoring advantage last season.

The Danville, CA native played 3 USHL campaigns for Youngstown Phantoms, including 1 when the ECAC took the year off due to COVID.

He graduates and signs a 1st pro deal with Utica Comets to join the team on an ato, but will be under AHL contract through 2025/2026 and very much the watchful eye of parent club Vancouver Canucks, who selected him in the 6th round of 2019 (#180 overall).

In 45 games through his 2nd season, he scored 1 goal and 8 assists with a 0 rating and is easily wanted back for a 3rd run with the Comets in 2026/2027.

05Jul

Nathan Todd (29)

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9th year center Nathan Todd(29) is doing well in the KHL with Spartak Moskva, but finds himself on the trade block and dealt to Ak Bars Kazan for what remains of 2025/2026.

He is scoring in the Russian league with 38 assists last season.

The good sized 6’1″ 190 lbs. forward had 55 points with San Jose Barracuda , while under contract to San Jose Sharks before splitting.

After 2 OHL years of juniors he finished up a 2nd whack at turning pro by heading to Carleton University Ravens to potentially finish up some school work.

He is a point-per-game player after the trade, but decides to sign with yet another league team, agreeing to terms with Metallurg Magnitogorsk for 2026/2027.