Category: Minor League Deal

07Oct

P.J. Fletcher (26)

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Miami University (Ohio) Redhawks‘ senior center P.J. Fletcher(26) scored a college best 11 goals last season, but had 16 assists and 24 points as a sophomore transfer from Quinnipiac University, where he attended as the ECAC chose to shutdown next session due to COVID and he went to be captain for Dubuque Fighting Saints and scored 16 goals and 18 assist in 44 USHL games before heading to his new school.

The 6’2″ 201 lbs. forward from Dana Point, CA played his original junior hockey in the BCHL, where he really tilting scoring in the playoffs for 14 points in 18 games.

He signed a 1st pro contract, an ato with Florida Everblades and in 3 ECHL games has yet to connect, but could very well be a playoff contributor.

For his rookie season, he signs with Atlanta Gladiators for 2024/2025.

In 18 games, he has a 1st goal and 3 assists, but is a little miserable -9 and gets himself traded to the new Bloomington Bison to see if he can correct it.

After 22 games with a new team, he scores 1 goal and 3 assists with a -1 rating, so does improve there, but still gets moved, this time to Greenville Swamp Rabbits.

He finishes up with 11 games, scoring 2 assists, but will continue to move on and signs with Wichita Thunder for 2025/2026.

07Oct

Colin Bilek (6)

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It’s the no-brainer, unrestricted free agent signing of the 2022 post-college hockey season, in undrafted center, twice captain Colin Bilek(6) at Army West Point Black Knights‘ gets a AHL contract with Manitoba Moose for 2022/2023 and stays on Winnipeg Jets‘ radar.

The 5’11” 195 lbs. forward came away from 2021/2022 with a college career high 20 assists and 31 points in 34 NCAA Division 1 games.

He scored 18 goals as a junior.

The Brighton, MI native also had 18 goals in each of his 2 years of junior hockey with Northeast Generals.

He also posted 22 and 32 assists.

The 25-year old will certainly arrive ready to compete for a roster spot as a rookie.

He skates only a couple of games with the big club before being dispatched to ECHL affiliate Trois-Rivieres Lions, where he has a decent 14 goals and 9 assists in 46 games.

As the trade deadline looms, he gets a new address as Rockford Ice Hogs will adopt his contract, but likely will start with Indy Fuel.

We will see if he can make a bigger difference for a playoff tilted team.

After just 1 game with new contract club and then being reassigned down, he 7 goals and 4 assists in 18 games, then another 2 goals and 1 assist in 4 playoff matchups, he gains their confidence to have him back in an Ice Hogs‘ jersey for 2023/2024.

He would be reassigned down for the entire frame, but got settled and started connecting regularly for 20 goals and 23 assists in 51 games with a +5 rating.

For 2024/2025, he officially signs with the Fuel to try to improve their playoff push.

After 3 seasons in the same jersey, scoring a new best 34 assists, he agrees with Kalamazoo Wings, who seem to be scooping up a lot of the unrestricted free agent prospects for a Cup run.

06Oct

Noah Delmas (24)

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Kansas City Mavericks‘ rookie defenseman Noah Delmas(24) is having a season that maybe exists a little below the radar as he’s on a team that’s still in the hunt but currently at the bottom of their division and he has only tallied a goal and 3 assists through 26 ECHL games.

The 6′ 195 lbs. blue liner was named team captain for Niagara University Purple Eagles, but failed to connect as he did as a sophomore and junior, when he scored 25 assists in both frames and even potted 15 goals in his third year.

He was a 2018 invite to Toronto Maple Leafs‘ development camp.

Playing most of his junior hockey with close to home club Aurora Tigers of the OJHL, the Newmarket, ON native did come down for 17 USHL games with Bloomington Thunder after committing to college, it didn’t last and he headed back for a bit of a playoff push with his former team.

It’s likely the 25-year old will continue in the league he accepted but also wouldn’t be out of the question for him to get a few nods at AHL life.

He signed on for another tour with his 1st pro club and in 32 games, had new best marks of 2 goals and 7 assists with a +2 rating, but he decided to head off to the EIHL, signing for the remainder of 2021/2022 with Manchester Storm.

In 18 games over in England, he grabbed 2 goals and 2 assists, but was a bit of a lowly -8 rating.

He is welcome “home” though, signing a 1-year deal with Worcester Railers for 2022/2023 that will likely see him achieve his best results.

After a decent enough 3rd frame in central MA, scoring 2 goals and 16 assists, but with a horrible plus/minus signs for 2023/2024 with GKS Katowice of Polska Hokej Liga.

In 40 games, he scores 3 goals and 10 assists and will next take that to the EIHL and signs with Fife Flyers for 2024/2025.

He returns “home” after a couple seasons away to sign with the new league team Greensboro Gargoyles and we feel like that will settle his game nicely.

06Oct

Drew Callin (77)

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6th year center Drew Wallin(77) signs on for a 4th straight season with Springfield Thunderbirds, 2024/2025 mostly because he really seems to fit with team mentality well.

His 6’3″ 203 lbs. size definitely has some AHL bearing.

He had 2 20+ assist seasons at Bentley University Falcons.

In 2 junior NAHL sessions with Janesville Jets, he was a 30+ point scorer.

From Madison, WI, we think the 29-year old smiles as he goes.

He has been 3 years with the same team, scoring ok, but will return to Worcester Railers, where he played as a rookie and for a couple seasons and will be back for scoring in 2025/2026.

 

04Oct

Reed Stark (29)

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University Of Wisconsin-Superior Yellowjackets‘ senior left wing Reed Stark(29) signs a 1st pro deal with Utah Grizzlies.

The fairly big 6’2″ 180 lbs. forward scored a college best 14 goals last season and tied his assists from freshman year at 9.

From Suffern, NY, the 25-year old will likely do well in the ECHL once he gets his footing.

For his rookie season, he decides to sign with Dusseldorfer EG of DEL2, where he will definitely be challenged.

01Oct

Roman Kinal (41)

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University Of Connecticut Huskies‘ graduate captain defenseman Roman Kinal(41) signs an ato to start his pro career with San Jose Barracuda.

In 5 AHL games, he has no points.

The 6’2″ 198 lbs. blue liner has never really put up points, three times hitting 7 in a frame.

From Waterford, MI, the 24-year old may just need a little more time to grow into his pro game.

He signs for 2023/2024, but is dispelled to affiliate Wichita Thunder for a good deal of the session.

For 2024/2025, San Diego Gulls are in search of some assistance and agree with him for a look.

He is up for 36 games and reassigned to affiliate Tulsa Oilers for 17 and does well, help guiding both.

It’s an easy call for him to re-sign to stay a Gulls for 2025/2026.

01Oct

Shane Murphy (29 )

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Utica College Pioneers senior left wing Shane Murphy(29) signs a 1st pro contract with Birmingham Bulls and in 2 regular season SPHL games scores 1 goal and 1 assist to get started.

The 5’11” 181 lbs. forward has his best college scoring year as a junior with 13 goals and 15 assists in 30 games with a +27 rating.

He also scored pretty well as a senior.

From Oriskany, NY, the 25-year old played 2 years of NAHL juniors before school.

On their protected list, he will need a new contract for 2025/2026.

He’s an easy sign to return for his rookie season, 2025/2026 to be a Bulls.

30Sep

Blake Bennett (48)

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Rapid City Rush rookie signing, 4 year American International College Yellowjackets‘ left wing Blake Bennett(48) is off to a nice start as a pro, scoring his 1st ECHL goal in his 5th game and adding 3 assists in 6 total sightings.

The small 5’9″ but stocky 195 lbs. forward had a college career best 22 goals and 35 points in 38 games as a senior, his 2nd season with 20+ goals, 10+ assists and 30+ points.

He was a point-per-game player in his only NAHL session for Corpus Christi Ice Rays after playing himself up from a couple of seasons in lower levels and half a one in a Canadian based league before heading to college.

We predict the 24-year old from Grand Island, NY settles in nicely with his new club.

He finishes up from his ato with 1 goal and 4 assists in 15 games with a 0 rating.

This is good enough for the Rush to want to see a full rookie season by him in one of their jerseys.

In a full slate of 72 games, he absolutely blows up scoring with 35 goals and 28 assists, but decides to look elsewhere for his next contract and will head to Metal Ligaen to skate for Odense Bulldogs in 2024/2025.

He skates only 9 games, but scores 6 goals and 3 assists with a +1 rating.

Next, he will head to DEL2 and signs with EV Landshut for 2024/2025.

He does ok with 3 goals and 1 assists in 16 games, but maybe thinks he should be doing better, so eyes a return back to his one team, the Rush for the remainder of the frame.

After scoring a 2nd high numbered frame in the league, worth 50+ points, he signs a 2-way deal with parent club Calgary Wranglers for 2025/2026.