5th year Fife Flyers‘ defenseman Justin Bean(26) has 7 assists in 7 EIHL games to start the 2025/2026 season.
He recorded an ECHL best 7 goals and 28 assists last season with Maine Mariners.
The 6’3″ 205 lbs. blue liner from Pickering, ON did 4 years in juniors, then 5 at York University Lions, taking the COVID 2020/2021 off.
At 29-years old, he seemingly has found a good league to play in.
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.
Quinnipiac University Bobcats‘ junior left wing Christophe Fillion(10) looks to have a career season with already 6 goals, needing 1 to tie his high from last year and 4 assists, going for 13 to eclipse that best mark.
The 5’11” 176 lbs. forward left his 2nd USHL season with Muskegon Lumberjacks to join his current college club.
He had a pretty huge 1st frame and previously the Sherbrooke, QC native skated in the BCHL for Wenatchee Wild, putting up decent numbers.
We wouldn’t be surprised to see the 23-year old put up point-per-game numbers in 2o23/2024.
He comes away with a college high 12 goals as a senior and the undrafted player decides to go for a year of eligibility at Miami University Ohio Redhawks.
In 32 games, he scores 4 goals and 6 assists on a tough luck team and as the season wraps up, he signs a 1st pro deal with Idaho Steelheads.
In 8 ECHL games, he has an assist with a 0 rating.
He doesn’t decide to try to stay and instead agrees to terms with Utah Grizzlies for his rookie run, 2025/2026.
Worcester Railers‘ 6’3″ 214 lbs. right wing Tyler Kobryn(20) skates 5 ECHL games of his 2nd season with the team, but gets traded to Indy Fuel after recording no points.
He had 9 goals in 25 games last year.
From Hillsborough, NJ, the Wesleyan University Cardinals‘ graduate 28-year old may look elsewhere, if this stops doesn’t pan out.
Northern Michigan University Wildcats‘ graduate defenseman Bo Hanson(3) is set to turn pro and signs a 1-year 2022/2023 ECHL deal to skate for Jacksonville Icemen.
He played 9 games on an ato for Wheeling Nailers after graduating last season, scoring 2 assists with a +3 rating.
The 6’2″ 205 lbs. blue liner has hit 10+ assists three times, twice while at St. Lawrence University Saints.
He also did his senior year on the interim at University Of Denver Pioneers.
The 24-year old from Boise, ID will likely have a fantastic rookie season.
After a decent enough 1st year playing pro hockey, he’s off and gone to Metal Ligaen, signing up with Aalborg Pirates to play Danish-style in 2023/2024.
He has an outstanding season in Denmark, scoring 7 goals and 20 assists in 45 games with a +26 rating, then adds another 5 assists in 14 playoff matchups.
For 2024/2025, it looks like he wants to go with a championship, as he signs with Belfast Giants of the EIHL.
After 51 games, he scores 2 goals and 28 assists with a +35 rating and goes on to help the team win the 2025 Championship, so he is an easy ask to return to be a Giants for 2025/2026.
8th year goaltender Michael Garteig(34) signs on for a 2nd DEL season with ERC Ingolstadt after appearing in 42 games, posting a 25-15 record with a 2.22 GAA and .914 SV%.
A bit oddly, it’s the 1st time he has signed twice with a team.
The undrafted 6’1″ 190 lbs. net minder originally signed a 1-year NHL entry level deal with Vancouver Canucks after an outstanding 4-year run at Quinnipiac University Bobcats.
For his 3rd season he signed an ECHL contract to tend net for Newfoundland Growlers, a team on the other end of Canada from where he was born, Prince George, BC.
With a 23-14-6 record in the regular frame, then 16-6-1 in the playoffs, he backstopped the team to the 2019 Kelly Cup Championship.
He left a storybook career at BCHL juniors with awards in his name, so it’s almost mystical to see the 31-year old settle down for a 1st time.
After spending a 4th season with the same club, he moves on to rivals, Augsburger Panther in 2025/2026.
Curry College Colonels‘ senior defenseman Jacob Crespo(5) signs a 1st pro deal with Twin City Thunderbirds after he was traded for his rookie run, 2025/2026.
The 5’8″ 165 lbs. blue liner from Red Bank, NJ cycled decently through a couple of junior leagues before college.
He had his best season as a junior with 1 goal and 4 assists in 24 games.
The 25-year old has played 1 FPHL game to start.
5th year, former Boston College Eagles‘ 2-time captain, center Christopher Brown(10) signs a 1-year AHL contract for 2023/2024 to Rochester Americans after posting ECHL career highs 24 goals and 40 assists for 64 points with Jacksonville Icemen.
Originally a Buffalo Sabres‘ 6th round pick in the 2014 draft (#151 overall), he never signed and his 1st deal was with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins as a rookie, so it’s interesting he’s come back around with their affiliate.
He was mostly reassigned and then signed in Florida with good results to start and then a 2nd season split time between on loan to Hershey Bears.
We believe the bet is the 27-year old from Bloomfield Hills, MI and son of former NHL veteran Doug Brown is set to sparking the higher level.
He actually continues as captain down in Florida and cobbles together a 2nd best point total (59), so for 2024/2025, he is easily re-signed to continue in upper state with the Amerks, when needed.
For his 6th season, 5th as team captain, he returns to the Icemen for 2025/2026 and already has 6 goals and 4 assists in 12 games.
Curry College Colonels‘ graduate defenseman Billy Roche(18) signed upon graduation with Roanoke Rail Yard Dawgs, scoring a 1st SPHL goal for himself in 3 games with a +1 rating.
This has earned the 6’2″ 205 lbs. blue liner a 1-year 2-way ECHL deal with Rapid City Rush for 2023/2024.
He played his 1st 4 college hockey years at Suffolk University Rams and had his best scoring season as a senior captain with 3 goals and 13 assists in 20 games.
A Braintree, MA native, he played at BC High USHS-Prep before heading to a year of tier 3 juniors, then up to USPHL/NCDC with South Shore Kings before heading to school.
The 26-year old is likely very ready for his rookie season of pro hockey.
In 53 games, he scores 7 goals and 10 assists with a +9 rating to earn another look in a Yard Dawgs‘ jersey for 2024/2025.
As the new season approaches, he is traded before a 3rd year with the same team to rivals Knoxville Ice Bears.
Arizona State University Sun Devils‘ senior captain defenseman Ethan Szmagaj(3) signs a pro deal for his rookie season, 2025/2026 with Reading Royals after being picked up on a trade.
The 6′ 194 lbs. blue liner had his best scoring season as a sophomore with 10 assists and then in his junior frame had 3 goals and was a +6 performer.
From Canton, MI, the 24-year has 2 assists in 2 ECHL games to start his pro career.
He plays 8 games and gets himself traded to Orlando Solar Bears.
