Category: Minor League Deal

14Jul

Luke Rowe (41)

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Air Force Academy Falcons‘ graduate defenseman Luke Rowe(41) takes a college career best 23 assists and 29 points to a 1st pro AHL contract with Ontario Reign.

The fairly big 6’1″ 209 lbs. blue liner from Succasunna, NJ worked his way up from 2 EHL seasons with New Jersey Rockets to sticking with the team as they transitioned a move to the USPHL/NCDC that he did an final impactful frame for with Junior Bruins, as captain striking for 11 goals and 26 assists in 50 games.

He was actually an invite to New Jersey Devils‘ development camp before the start of last season.

An unrestricted free agent, he signs with Bridgeport Islanders for 2025/2026.

For 2026/2027, he stays inside the organization and signs a 1-year deal with the new affiliate, Hamilton Hammers.

14Jul

Matt Stienburg (36)

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Cornell University Big Red junior, center Matt Stienburg(36) is a Colorado Avalanche 3rd round pick in the 2019 draft (#63 overall) and looks to be ready for another breakout session.

In 3 games, he’s got a pair of goals and looks to score many many more in 2021/2022.

The 6’1″ 192 lbs. native of Halifax, NS originally accepted his college in his first season, then was NHL selected in the follow-up frame, where he was almost a point and a half player and served as team captain, while also heading to 3 USHL games with Sioux City Musketeers of a junior hockey career during break.

At 21-years old and one year away from finishing through some tough college hockey times without a 2020/2021 frame, he probably should just continue before signing an entry level deal, but he’s easily the style of power forward the parent club wants.

Smitten by the injury bug, his senior year as assistant captain was limited to 18 appearances with 2 goals and 5 assists.

He plows through though and signs an ato to join Colorado Eagles to hopefully get back to pushing his game forward.

In his 4th AHL game, he records a 1st point, a nice assist for himself.

He appears in 4 more playoff games and gets another helper point for himself.

It looks as though he has made a decent enough impression to score a contract for 2023/2024.

Through 54 games last season, he scores 5 goals and 8 assists with a +2 rating and in the opening 2 games of the 2024/2025 season, he grabs 1 goal and 1 assist with a +2 to earn a 1st NHL recall.

In his debut he skates 9 shifts for 4:36 of ice time, including 3 hits and 1 fight with a -1 rating in a 5-3 loss, then follows it up with 8 shifts for 5:16 ice and 2 shots on net in an overtime win.

He has been absolutely hampered by the injury bug for the past 2 seasons, playing barely 10 games, but Vancouver Canucks have him back to better health and sign him for 2026/2027.

13Jul

Dustin Gazley (10)

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12th year right wing Dustin Gazley(10) signs on for a 3rd season with HC Bolzano Foxes, as he continues to put up numbers (31 points in 38 IceHL games) at 33-years of age.

Not too bad for the 5’8″ 161 lbs. forward that came out of Michigan State University Spartans‘ scorer, who spent most of his 1st two seasons tearing up the scoresheet in the ECHL before signing with Hershey Bears.

He stayed with the team for 5 years before heading off to Europe.

The Novi, MI native has to be happy playing pro hockey for the Italian team in the mostly Austrian league.

After scoring a tidy 17 goals and 31 assists in 47 games with a +19 rating, then potting another 13 points in 18 appearances during the playoffs earns him a 4th season to return.

48 points is his highest point total so far in the league.

For 2026/2027, he signs on for a 7th season with the Foxes after scoring a 2nd 18 goal season.

12Jul

Reed Lebster (13)

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UMass Minutemen senior right wing Reed Lebster(13) is going to extend college for another year and will attend Michigan State University Spartans for the start of a graduate program.

Last season the 6′ 187 lbs. forward had a college career best 14 assists and 22 points.

He was on the team, who won the 2021 NCAA Division 1 Championship.

A Grand Rapids, MI native, he had a strong 2nd frame of USHL junior hockey with Des Moines Buccaneers.

The 24-year old will likely do pretty good in Big Ten Conference play.

He holds his own at his new school, scoring 6 goals and 13 assists with a +11 rating to signing a 1st pro contract with Florida Everblades, where he has only been able to figure in 1 playoff game on the reserved list.

Appearing in 5 playoff games for some experience en route to the team’s 3rd straight Kelly Cup Championship, he is liked enough for his contributions to sign up for his rookie season, 2024/2025.

As he is to get started on a pro career, a pitfall occurs almost immediately, as he is traded to Utah Grizzlies, where he will definitely be a valued team member.

After skating in 67 games as a rookie, scoring 17 goals and 27 assists on a non-playoff team, he is well-liked invite to score a return to the Grizzlies for 2025/2026.

Playing his last season for the team, he scores a big 31 goals and 31 assists, which he takes to a nice new deal in DEL with Schwenninger Wild Wings, 2026/2027.

12Jul

Xander Lamppa (19)

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Maine Mariners‘ rookie left wing Xander Lamppa(19) had a pretty healthy start, signing with the team off 4 years at Penn State University Nittany Lions, where he had 13 assists as a junior and senior.

In that 16 games period, he scored 3 goals and 5 assists.

The 6’1″ 205 lbs. forward did 2 USHL seasons for Waterloo Blackhawks, scoring big in his 2nd frame.

In 22 games, he has 2 goals and 4 assists and will likely post new ECHL bests through the entire session.

From Rochester, MN, the 24-year old is likely happy to get a chance to play pro hockey.

In 65 games, he scores 11 goals and 20 assists to earn a new deal to stay a Mariners for 2025/2026.

After scoring a new best 16 goals in 68 games last season, he decides to head off and search for a bit of a different style game in the EIHL, agreeing with Fife Flyers for 2026/2027.

12Jul

Lachlan Getz (2)

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Boston University Terriers‘ freshman defenseman Lachlan Getz(2) enters the transfer portal and will next skate for Michigan Tech University Huskies in 2023/2024.

In 16 games, he didn’t record a point, but was a +2 rating.

The 6’3″ 190 lbs. was able to dish assists in high school hockey and had 19 a couple years ago in the BCHL with Chilliwack Chiefs.

From Northfield, IL, the 21-year old will likely do well in the CCHA.

He plays 28 games, but something isn’t adding up, so he next heads to Holy Cross College Crusaders, as a junior.

Seemingly in a good spot, he scores a new best 8 assists and leaves from his senior frame with a +10 rating.

Upon completion of tournament play, he signs with Springfield Thunderbirds, but is waived after 1 appearance.

For his rookie season, 2026/2027, he agrees to a 1-year AHL deal with Rockford Icehogs.

12Jul

Jeremy Wilmer (16)

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Boston University Terriers‘ sophomore left wing Jeremy Wilmer(16) may fly under the radar, because he is all of 5’8″ 158 lbs.

That is despite him already amassing 13 assists in 13 games and adding his 1st tally of the season in a weekday non-conference battle.

He had 23 helpers and 9 goals as a freshman.

The Rockville Centre, NY native had 73 assists in his only full USHL frame for Tri-City Storm and was named Forward Of The Year.

We think the 20-year old will earn everything he’s able to obtain.

After a new college best 38 games, he scores 30 assists and 36 points for scoring highs and decides to continue school elsewhere at Quinnipiac University Bobcats, 2024/2025 as a junior.

In his 1st year, he scores a new college best 15 goals and 41 points in 38 games, then as senior assistant captain, appeared in only 15 games, recording 13 points.

For his rookie season, he signs a 1st pro contract with Utica Comets, 2026/2027.

12Jul

Jake Stevens (44)

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Long Island University Lakers‘ graduate defenseman Jake Stevens(44) has college career high 4 goals, tied his 13 assists as a freshman and a new best 17 points in 29 games.

The 6’2″ 205 lbs. committed after his first BCHL season for Victoria Grizzlies, then in his follow-up went on to score junior best 8 goals and 45 assists in 58 games.

He transferred for 2021/2022 from 4 years at St. Lawrence University Saints.

The undrafted, 25 year old is definitely a good player to see what develops.

Upon completing his 5th year, the native of Naperville, IL signs a 1st pro deal with Iowa Heartlanders and has a 1st ECHL goal and 2 assists in 6 games with a +1 rating on a team that has been losing.

He would conclude his short spell with 1 goal and 7 assists in 11 games with a +1 rating.

For 2023/2024, he signs with Orlando Solar Bears and should be able to help their blue line not give up goals and score points.

He gets released after 2 goals and 2 assists in 24 games and quickly picked up by Greenville Swamp Rabbits, who think they can add to those totals.

In 10 games, he records 1 goal and 4 assists with a +5 rating, but decides to sign with Maine Mariners to start 2024/2025.

9 game played without any points, Tahoe Knight Monsters want him to join their team.

In 3 games with his new club has 2 assists with a +4 rating, so things are looking up.

Worcester Railers see something in him they can you and sign him up for 2025/2026, where his size should fit in nicely with the team’s game style.

He would leave for 2025/2026 for Slovakia2, doing pretty well.

For 2026/2027, he heads of to Hockeyettan and signs with Bodens HF.

11Jul

Zach Uens (7)

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Charlotte Checkers‘ rookie defenseman Zach Uens(7) has a 1st AHL goal in his 5th of 6 games played.

The 6’1″ 185 lbs. blue liner appears to have started his 1st season a bit late, but has appeared in each contest since.

A Florida Panthers‘ 4th round pick in 2020 (#65 overall), he left 1 year at Merrimack College Warriors on the table to turn pro with a 3-year NHL entry level contract.

The Belleville, ON native twice put up 10+ assists in three seasons at college and had similar marks in 2 years of OJHL juniors.

At the still young age of 21 years old, we do believe he is just getting started.

Reassigned to affiliate Florida Everblades, he did especially well scoring in his 2nd frame and won 2 2023 & 2024 Kelly Cup Championships.

An unrestricted free agent, he signed with Savannah Ghost Pirates, where he did pretty well as assistant captain to score a deal with Coachella Valley Firebirds and leads to strong performances with Kansas City Mavericks that rode all the way into the finals.

Syracuse Crunch are watching and sign him up for 2026/2027.

11Jul

Harrison Rees (27)

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University Of Connecticut Huskies‘ graduate defenseman Harrison Rees(27) signs a 1st pro contract with Fort Wayne Komets and nets a 1st ECHL goal in his debut and has a +1 rating.

The 6’2″ 175 lbs. blue liner from Mississauga, ON wasn’t a huge scorer in college hockey, but was a reliable +23 player.

He took 2 successful OJHL campaigns with North York Rangers to his college commit.

The undrafted 24-year old was likely looking forward to the moment he could lace up a pair of pro game skates for awhile.

In 8 games, he scores 2 goals and 2 assists with a +2 rating to gain a 1 AHL game loan up to Hartford Wolf Pack.

He will return to the Komets for his official rookie season, 2024/2025.

The entire of 2025/2026 was spent in the lower league, where he played well deep into a playoff run, but for 2026/2027, he is looking elsewhere and signs with HK Dukla Michalovce of Tipsport Extraliga.