Quinnipiac University Bobcats‘ senior defenseman Davis Pennington(8) took a couple season of good ECAC numbers to a 1st pro contract with Kalamazoo Wings.
The 6′ 185 lbs. blue liner played 7 games after tournament play was up and scored a 1st ECHL goal and 3 assists with a 0 rating.
His efforts easily earn him a new 1-year deal to play his rookie season with the team.
From Saline, MI, the 24-year old did 2 years originally at University Of Nebraska-Omaha Mavericks.
American International College Yellowjackets‘ graduate transfer, center Dustin Manz(26), as a senior from Lake State Superior University Lakers posts a college best 24 assists and 31 points and takes it to a 1st ECHL contract with Wheeling Nailers.
The 5’10” 194 lbs. forward started juniors in the NAHL, but headed north, hooking up with Prince George Spruce Kings, scoring big and winning the 2019 BCHL Championship in his 2nd year before school.
From Vanderbilt, MI, the 24-year scored 2 goals in his 3rd league game.
He takes that pair of tallies to a contract for his rookie season, 2024/2025 with the Nailers.
In 5 games, he has 1 goal and 1 assist and gets himself traded to a team that brings him closer to home, Rapid City Rush.
Through 20 games with his new team he has 1 goal and 2 assists with a +2 rating, but finds himself on the move again, traded to Bloomington Bison.
For the new season 2025/2026, Indy Fuel step in and offer him a 1-year deal.
Cornell University Big Red senior center Sullivan Mack(13) scored a college best 9 goals and 15 assists in 32 games with a +13 rating.
The 6’1″ 190 lbs. forward did a very short run in juniors after blowing up scoring in USHS-Prep.
He signed with Hartford Wolf Pack upon finishing up tournament play, figuring into only 1 AHL game, but re-signs for his rookie season, 2025/2026.
University Of Maine Black Bears‘ 2nd year, senior captain David Breazeale(56) signs a 1st pro deal with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins as tournament play finishes up for 2 games, no points and a +1 rating, then re-signs for an official AHL contract, his rookie season 2025/2026.
The 6’4″ 205 lbs. blue liner did 3 years of NAHL junior with Shreveport Mudbugs, showing increasing numbers.
From Grandville, MI, the 25-year old should do well as a rookie.
11th year center Louie Caporusso(23) signed for a 2nd season with Cincinnati Cyclones after lighting it up for 22 goals and 44 assists in 67 ECHL games last season.
The 5’9″ 185 lbs. forward has 7 times had 10+ goals, 3 times 20+ assists and once had 30 assists in his 3rd DEL campaign.
He also had three 20+ goals and twice 20+ assists at University Of Michigan Wolverines.
Originally an Ottawa Senators‘ 3rd round pick in 2007 (#90 overall), he was in their system for a couple of sessions, but left unqualified and signed the next year with Reading Royals.
He would last only 24 games before leaving for his 1st of 6 frames in Germany’s top hockey.
At 33-years old, the Toronto, ON native is likely just still having fun.
After 3 seasons of point-per-game scoring with Cincinnati Cyclones, he decides looking back on some 265 ECHL games and 216 in DEL Germany is quite enough and will at now 36-years old ease into a special team coaching role with his former, still current team.
Buffalo native, center Patrick Polino(27) didn’t stray far when he signed his first pro contract, agreeing to a pto with Rochester Americans on the eve of the season opener.
The small-is 5’9″ 72 lbs. forward scored a college best 11 goals, 8 assists for 19 points in his fourth and final year at RPI Engineers.
He committed to college during his best USHL campaign, his first of two with Lincoln Stars, which was his third year in the league, and would even play another over-age sessions, maybe hoping to have a better crack at the school’s starting roster.
At 26-years old, he’s getting a bit of a later start and did initially sign with Greenville Swamp Rabbits of the ECHL but never skated with the team.
With a first AHL goal and 3 assists in 11 games, he is looking to show he’s ready for an spc.
Well, he never got his permanent deal for 2020/2021, but he did manage to score 3 goals and 4 assists in 20 games, and had a pair of 2-game scoring streaks.
For 2021/2022, he decides to sign with Cincinnati Cyclones and should become a pretty dominant player in the ECHL.
He puts up just about point-per-game numbers with 24 in 26 clones’ games with a +2 rating.
His efforts get him a new deal to return for 2022/2023 and he should almost easily take it up, unless he’s called up for more than 16 games he played in the higher league last frame.
He records a career high 23 goals and 31. assists in a full frame of 72 games and will once again be putting on that Cyclones‘ jersey for 2023/2024.
Maybe a bit out of nowhere, he is traded in a blockbuster minor league deal of goal scorers to Adirondack Thunder for 2024/2025.
His numbers drop and he is dished to Allen Americans to see if he can straighten out the scoring blip he’s facing.
He does ok, but is still off the mark and is recaptured by Cincinnati Cyclones after he was initially heading to Rapid City Rush.
A contract will be necessary for 2025/2026.
He further branches out in the league and signs with Greenville Swamp Rabbits for 2025/2026.
UMass Minutemen junior goaltender Henry Graham(30) enters the transfer portal after a college career high 8 appearances last season for a 1-2-1 record with 2.38 GAA and .912 SV%, but will take his game to Hockey East rival Boston University Terriers for 2023/2024, his senior frame.
The 6’1″ 181 lbs. net minder arrived at his 1st school after a decent USHPL/NCDC showing with P.A.L. Junior Islanders after playing the Honeybaked system.
From Manhattan, NY, the undrafted 22-year old should be offered opportunities to start.
He transfers to Lindenwood University Lions for a graduate frame 2024/2025, but appears in only 2 starts.
Fort Wayne Komets offer him a tryout to make their club for 2025/2026.
University Of Alaska-Fairbanks Nanooks‘ senior goalie transfer Pierce Charleson(34) from 3 years at Michigan State University Spartans, where he played a total of 22 games has been getting the start for his new college club.
Through 9 games, he has a new best 5-2-1 record and the 6’2″ 194 lbs. net minder is looking sharp.
He twice won junior championships and ran up a 42-2-0 mark for Brooks Bandits before winning the BCHL Cup and the previous season for Caledonia Corvairs 18-1 to win the OJHL title.
The 23-year from Aurora, ON may have found the right college fit.
He finishes up with a new college high 29 games, 13-12-3 record and 2.46 GAA.
For a year of eligibility he will enter the transfer portal and head to a 3rd school Niagara University Purple Eagles for 2024/2025.
After finishing up, he signs with Greenville Swamp Rabbits and gets into his 1st 8 ECHL games with only ok results, but they like what they see, so sign him up for his rookie run 2025/2026.
Providence College Friars‘ graduate captain defenseman Cam McDonald(27) takes a new best college 6 assists and tying 7 points to a 1-year AHL deal with Bridgeport Islanders for 2024/2025.
The 5’9″ 174 lbs. Eagle River, AK native started his junior hockey in the NAHL close to home with Kenai River Brown Bears, committed, but moved along to the USHL for Muskegon Lumberjacks before heading to school.
He’s likely at 23-years old itching to turn pro.
In 35 ECHL games on reassignment, he pots 14 assists, but only 1 assist with contract club.
For 2025/2026, his sophomore season, he re-signs to be a Worcester Railers.
4th year right wing Brady Fleurent(94) scored what was the eventual game-winner into an empty net, as Adirondack Thunder clinched the final spot in the ECHL Kelly Cup Playoffs.
The 5’9″ 170 lbs. forward seems to have found his team to hopefully stick with after coming up through the SPHL, where he spent all of 2020/2021 and most of his 1st and 3rd seasons.
This campaign was his first mostly spent up in the higher league and the former University Of New England Nor’easters 3-time 35 assist player looks ready to stick.
From Biddeford, ME, the 28-year old is likely just happy to be given a chance.
He returns for a 5th season with Knoxville Ice Bears, but through 12 games blows up scoring to the tune of 9 goals and 4 assists to grab himself a loan up, is signed to Atlanta Gladiators and just may stick.
Arriving finally on loan a 2nd time to Norfolk Admirals, he plays to stick with 13 goals and 16 assists in 32 games with a +15 rating and he is easily on the short list to return for 2024/2025.
He has easily found his team with a handy team best and league 5th, 30 goals and 47 assists in a full slate of 72 games with a +25 rating and then got 9 points in 11 playoff matchups.
For 2025/2026, he signs for a 2nd full season as an Admirals.
