Category: Minor League Deal

16Jun

Nolan Sargent (3)

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Fitchburg State University Falcons‘ senior defenseman Nolan Sargent(3) wasn’t a big scorer through college hockey with his best season as a sophomore, scoring 1 goal and 8 assists in 27 games, but did conclude a +8 rating player.

Upon tournament completion, the 6’3″ 220 lbs. blue liner signs a 1st pro deal with Monroe Mocassins, but is released after 3 FPHL games and picked up by Pee Dee Ice Cats, where he picks up an assist in 2 appearances and gets into a playoff matchup that went through until the Finals.

From Littleton, CO, the 24-year old will need a new deal for 2026/2027.

14Jun

Jack Collins (5)

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UMASS-Lowell Riverhawks‘ senior center Jack Collins(5) was never a regular in the lineup and had his best season as a sophomore with 3 goals and 2 assists in a high 20 games.

The big 6’4″ 220 lbs. forward did 2 CCHL and 2 NAHL junior sessions, the last one he popped scoring to 15 goals and 22 assists in 58 games with a +19 rating before school.

From Canton, NY, the 24-year old signed a deal with Iowa Heartlanders and scored his 1st ECHL goal in 4 games with a +1 rating.

He will need a new deal for 2026/2027.

14Jun

Ethan Benz (32)

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Union College Dutchmen senior left wing Ethan Benz(32) figured into his most games, 22 scoring 2 goals and 2 assists with a 0 rating.

The 6’2″ 205 lbs. forward signs a 1st pro contract with Tulsa Oilers upon completion of tournament play.

In 11 ECHL games, he scores a 1st goal and 3 assists.

From Shakopee, MN, the 25-year old did 3 NAHL years of juniors, scoring almost point-per-game numbers in his final session.

He will need a contract for 2026/2027.

13Jun

Ryan Smith (28)

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University Of Maine Black Bears‘ graduate, right wing Ryan Smith(28) was never a big goal scorer through his college career or in two years of juniors with Green Bay Gamblers but struck for a quick goal and pair of assists in his debut with Macon Mayhem through 6 SPHL games.

His play earned him a loan up to Tulsa Oilers of the ECHL, where he appeared in three games with no points and was  returned to increase his totals in the lower league to 5-9-14 in 25 appearances.

It seems like the 6′ 195 lbs. forward could start striking the stat sheet with more frequency to possibly, more permanently put him at a higher level of play.

He was actually signed by Adirondack Thunder to start 2020/2021, but they decided to sit it out due to COVID concerns, so he’s on the radar.

The 24-year old does finally sign on with the Glens Falls, NY club and will skate 2021/2022 for them.

He records 11 goals and 16 assists in 70 games as a rookie, but was a bit of a woeful -22 rating.

His play scored him a 2 game AHL loan to Springfield Thunderbirds.

For 2022/2023, he re-signs to stay where he skated his 1st season.

He blows up his scoring last season with 16 goals and 26 assists in another 70 game rack to easily score himself an invite to return yet again to Cool Insuring Arena.

Last season he post more goals, 27 and points, 60 than he has in the past and will stay for a 3rd straight run in a Thunder jersey and maybe get more loans up, where he got a 1st goal in 2023/2024.

He has basically changed the type of player his is since turning pro.

In 18 games, he scores 6 goals and 6 assists, but is heading off to DEL2, signing with Selber Wolfe for the balance of the frame.

He did extremely well and decided to take his game to Belfast Giants for 2025/2026 and continued to score with a +14 rating through 50 EIHL games.

For 2026/2027, he looks to head back and sign with Germany3, agreeing to terms with Hannover Scorpions.

11Jun

Connor Mayer (18)

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Colorado College Tigers‘ graduate defenseman Connor Mayer(18) completes his studies and turns pro, signing a standard player contract with Utah Grizzlies.

The 5’11” 195 lbs. blue liner was never much of a scorer, getting his best 4 goals and 8 assists as a freshman, but maybe more importantly was a +10 rating player.

From Champlin, MN, he did 3 USHL junior sessions before committing.

The 24-year old finds room to score with his 1st ECHL goal and 2 assists on unfortunately a non-playoff team.

He scores 1 goal and 2 assists in 5 games and the parent club and the team from his college town signs him, Colorado Eagles for 2024/2025.

He produces decently in the AHL, but doesn’t stick a 2nd go and is signed by Hershey Bears, where even a 1st goal in his debut still gets him reassigned for the remainder of the frame to affiliate South Carolina Stingrays.

For 2026/2027, he is looking elsewhere and signs with HC Innsbruck Sharks of IceHL, where we think he will do really well.

11Jun

Cole Kodsi (67)

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2nd year left wing Cole Kodsi(67) has a decent 1st year showing in the ECHL with Orlando Solar Bears, but is eyeing something different and signs with Glasgow Clan of the EIHL for 2026/2027.

The 6’2″ 201 lbs. former Canisius College Golden Griffins‘ graduate student scored best as a sophomore at Bentley University Falcons and also did a senior session at Union College Dutchmen.

From Boca Raton, FL, the 25-year old will likely find some space in this league.

10Jun

Nicholas Abruzzese (26)

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In his NHL debut, center Nick Abruzzese(26) skates 15 shifts for 9:05 ice time in a 6-3 Toronto Maple Leafs‘ win.

The 5’9″ 160 lbs. forward was a 4th round pick in the 2019 (#124 overall).

He was signed to a 2-year entry level after skating his junior season for Harvard University Crimson.

The Slate Hill, NY native had a very good 2nd USHL season for Chicago Steel, scoring a league high assists (51) and points (80).

At 22-years old, he may spend a little time in the AHL to see how that develops.

He has been playing up in the show since he started and pots a 1st goal in his 9th appearance.

After 69 games with 16 goals and 32 assists, then 7 points in 7 playoff games and 2 assists in 2 games in the big league, he is retained for 2023/2024.

The restricted free agent gets a new, 2-year 2-way deal and will likely continue with affiliate Toronto Marlies, and it’s very likely he will continue to see time in the show.

Coming off a 2nd successful run in the minors, he is an unrestricted free agent and signs for 1-year with Tampa Bay Lightning.

In 56 games with the affiliate Syracuse Crunch, he earns a 2nd 50+ scoring season to score another 1-year contract.

09Jun

Reid Stefanson (14)

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University Of Lowell Riverhawks‘ undrafted junior center Reid Stefanson(14) catches maximum air in their first of two vs. Northeastern University Huskies.

The Winnipeg-born 6′ 185 lbs. forward was not able to connect with the scoresheet in the game but was a full part of a sound 4-1 win.

He did two years of junior hockey starting with a season in the NAHL but finished up skating for Sioux Falls Stampede of the USHL.

The senior graduated with exact totals of 8 goals and 12 assists he posted as a rookie, but always skated hard and was tough to play against.

Upon getting beaten in Hockey East tournament play, he signs a 1st pro contract with somewhat local Maine Mariners.

He didn’t connect in his debut, but got on the score sheet in game 2 and followed it up with another and a two-game point streak.

The 25-year old is finding his footing quickly in the ECHL.

He will return to Maine for his rookie season after scoring a pair of goals and assists in 9 games on an ato, and another 2 points in 6 playoff appearances.

The power forward should be able to take his game up nicely in his first official season and could even score a loan up.

After a 22 goal and 25 assist performance with a +22 rating in 69 games, he is an easy re-sign to stay in a Mariners‘ jersey for 2023/2024.

He’s an easy point-per-game player as a full 2nd year player in the league and looks elsewhere to find a nice deal with Vienna Capitals to continue in IceHL, where he will likely do very well for himself and become something of a star on skates.

In 13 games, he comes away with 2 goals and 6 assists and maybe doesn’t feel like he is quite catching on, so heads to the EIHL, where he signs with Nottingham Panthers for 2024/2025.

He does pretty well scoring here, but may likes hockey a little better in Central Europe and signs Meran/Merano of AlpsHL, where he should do exceedingly well.

In just 23 games, he scores 12 goals and 23 assists with a +8 rating, then adds another 20 points (a league high 17 assists) in the playoffs.

He decides to continue moving along and spots a deal in Germany3 with KSW IceFighters Leipzig for 2026/2027.