Mercyhurst University Lakers‘ graduate left wing Kyler Head(23) has a shoulder injury end his season of eligibility after just 6 games.
The 6’4″ 205 lbs. forward recovers in time to sign a 1st pro deal with Fayettesville Marksmen, where he goes on a bit of a scoring spree with 4 goals and 6 assists in 11 SPHL games with a +1 rating.
He did 2 NAHL junior seasons with New Jersey Titans, blowing up scoring in his 2nd frame.
From Malone, NY, the 25-year old did his freshman year at Robert Morris University Colonels, but left as they went belly up.
He gets an assist in 1 playoff game and will return for his rookie season, 2025/2026 to continue a Marksmen.
5th year center John Stevens(16) has maybe started to find his footing with new team Abbottsford Canucks, scoring 3 goals and 3 assists in 22 AHL games.
He signed a one-year, two-way NHL deal with parent club, Vancouver Canucks after producing well for former affiliate Utica Comets in the weird 2020/2021 frame.
The 6’3″ 204 lbs. forward had his best season as a rookie with 19 points in 66 games for Bridgeport Sound Tigers, while under a 2-year entry level deal to New York Islanders.
He was a 3-time 20+ point player and once, as a junior 30+ for Northeastern University Huskies was maybe some of his highs, but we think the 27-year old is ready to start connecting at a higher clip.
We think the 27-year old scores an oddball recall in 2022 for his chance at the big league.
He may have not grabbed that recall, but he did run up a career best 19 goals and 24 assists with a +11 rating to secure a 2nd season under a major contract for the now 28-year old.
While he didn’t score a recall for his 6 goals and 13 assists in 43 games last season, he was still steady as she goes per usual on his playing style with a +5 rating to earn himself a 2-year minor league deal going forward.
After 4 seasons with Abbotsford Canucks and to win the 2025 Calder Cup, he is finally after 8 pro seasons heading off to try something new, signing in Liiga with Kiekko-Espoo for 2025/2026.
Sacred Heart University Pioneers‘ Belarus-born, graduate left wing Mark Cheremeta(24) signs a 1st pro deal for 2024/2025 with ECHL team, Kalamazoo Wings.
The 5’11” 185 lbs. forward also played 3 years at Ohio State University Buckeyes and as a freshman with Boston University Terriers.
He came over as a teenager and elevated his game as a junior player to connect big in his only UPSHL/NCDC frame before school.
At 25-years old, he should do pretty well in the league.
In his rookie frame, he grabs a 1st goal and 2 assists in 14 games, but is dished to Orlando Solar Bears, where he should strike better for points.
He bounces around as a 1st year player and ultimately ends up with Worcester Railers, where he is able to strike for 3 goals and 1 assist in 9 games with a +3 rating.
For 2025/2026, he going to head home to Belarusian Extraliga and signs with Dinamo Molodechno.
2nd year Norfolk Admirals‘ left wing Danny Katic(12) is flirting with new ECHL career highs or tying marks set as a rookie with 18 goals and 22 assists.
The tower of 6’3″ 220 lbs. forward has 6 goals and 10 assists in 36 games this frame with a +10 rating.
He did 3 years (1 no COVID) in the OHL with Saginaw Spirit, scoring well in his 3rd year.
From Porcupine, ON, the 23-year old did one year at University Of Toronto Varsity Blues after junior with point-per-game stats, but then turned pro.
On reassignment to Bloomington Bison, he scored 13 goals and 8 assists in just 24 games to earn a deal for 2025/2026 with Belleville Senators.
Saint Lawrence University Saints‘ senior captain defenseman Luc Salem(6) skated a college best 38 games last season before signing with Utah Grizzlies upon finishing up ECAC tournament play.
The 5’10” 181 lbs. blue liner had his best college year scoring as a junior, hitting 10 goals and 17 assists in 37 games with a +12 rating.
He was definitely able to load up assists through 2 NAHL junior seasons.
From Los Angeles, CA, the 24-year will need a new deal moving forward.
He signs with Indy Fuel for his rookie season, 2024/2025, where we think he will have good success.
With 3 assists in 16 games with a -3, he finds himself twice traded but is wanted by Kalamazoo Wings to help their d corps.
He doesn’t stay long, as he is dealt to Utah Grizzlies for 2025/2026.
5th year right wing Matt Marcinew(8) makes a decision he maybe should have made earlier in his career, heads off to Europe after a career year, scoring 23 goals and 25 assists in 57 ECHL games for Indy Fuel.
The 5’10” 190 lbs. forward signs with HPK of Liiga for 2021/2022.
While the former 4-year University Of Denver assistant captain as a senior consistently been a great scorer at the lower level (59-82-141 in 184 games with a +15 rating), but almost oddly has been given much opportunity in the AHL with only 1/2 season on the books.
Finland’s top hockey will be very competitive for the 27-year old that could excel his game and start a great career away from home in Calgary, AB.
He finds limited success in Finnish hockey, so decides to sign with Sodertalje SK, scoring 7 goals and 8 assists in 35 Allsvenskan games.
For 2022/2023, he returns to sign a 2-way deal with the brand new Calgary Wranglers.
After spending all of last season running up the scoresheet for Rapid City Rush to the tune of a career high 30 goals and 38 assists for 68 points in 64 ECHL games.
For 2023/2024, he signs with Allen Americans, where those scoring talents are once again very likely to flourish.
He scores 8 goals and 13 assists in 18 games to start the new session and might be looking for another step, so signs for the rest of the year with Krefeld Pinguine of DEL2.
In a full frame, he is essentially a point-per-game performer, but decides to look for another league to conquer and signs in the EIHL with Nottingham Panthers for 2025/2026.
Quinnipiac University Bobcats‘ graduate right wing T.J. Friedmann(19) signs a 1st pro deal, an ato for the remainder of 2023 with Utica Comets.
In 2 AHL games, he has no points, as they head into the 1st round of the Calder Cup playoffs.
He scored a college career best 11 goals last season and twice had 20+ points.
The 6’2″ 180 lbs. forward from St. Louis, MO had a pair of solid junior campaigns in the BCHL for Victoria Grizzlies before committing to school.
He spent most of his rookie frame with affiliate Adirondack Thunder, scoring pretty well and signs with them for 2024/2025.
In his 2nd frame with the team, he scores 12 goals and 10 assists in 58 games, which is good enough to keep around and continue to develop as a Thunder.
Clarkson University Golden Knights‘ graduate, captain defenseman Kaelan Taylor(5) signs a 1st pro deal with Tahoe Knight Monsters, which he extends to a full 1-year ECHL contract for his rookie frame, 2025/2026.
The 6’2″ 195 lbs. blue liner was never a big scorer with a college best 1 goal and 6 assists in 39 games last season with a +15 rating.
From Oceanside, CA, the 26-year old played 3 years of juniors before college and went through Los Angeles Jr. Kings‘ system.
Michigan State University Spartans‘ junior right wing Joey Larson(17) leaves a year on the table to as an unrestricted free agent signs a 1-year NHL entry level deal with New York Islanders and went to affiliate Bridgeport Islanders on an ato to score 2 AHL goals and 1 assist in 6 games.
The 6’1″ 196 lbs. forward had 3 seasons of 10+ goals and assists scoring, including as a freshman at Northern Michigan University Wildcats.
From Brighton, MI, he was a point-per-game player in his final USHL campaign before college.
University Of Maine Black Bears‘ graduate right wing Nolan Renwick(62) signs a 1st pro contract with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins for his rookie season, 2025/2026.
The fairly big 6’3″ 212 lbs. forward scored a college best 9 goals and 15 assists last season.
From Milestone, SK, the 24-year old did 2 USHL years before college.
