Category: Minor League Deal

08Jul

Neil Shea (38)

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Undrafted, junior left wing Neil Shea(38) has played most of his hockey relatively close to home (Marshfield, MA), but after two underperforming seasons at Northeastern University Huskies, he’s branching out to leave for well, Connecticut, joining Sacred Heart University Pioneers in 2021/2022.

He was a prolific scorer when he committed to college in his 1st year at Lawrence Academy, then took it up a notch in his senior season with 24 goals and 34 assists in 32 USHS-Prep games before taking up with draft club, Cedar Rapids RoughRiders for 11 USHL games (1 goal, 2 assists).

The 6’1″ 205 lbs. forward was once again selected and skated his only full season of juniors for Chicago Steel, scoring 15 goals and 28 assists.

It’s possible the switch to Atlantic Hockey style play will connect with the 22-year old’s ability to amass points.

The Massachusetts’ native has scored big with his switch of schools, amassing decent scoring with 4 goals and 10 assists, blowing away his previous college marks, in 20 NCAA Division 1 games.

He finishes up a 2nd season at his new school with a new college best 14 goals and signs a 1st contract, an ato with Chicago Wolves to test the waters.

No doubt, he will have to step up his game to score in the AHL.

He gets a 1st goal in the league and adds 1 assist in 6 games with a +3 rating as a newly turned pro.

For 2023/2024, Toronto Marlies are liking what they see and sign him to a 1-year minor league deal as an official rookie.

He actually skates 64 ECHL games for affiliate Newfoundland Growlers, scoring 18 goals and 19 assists, but is moving on and signs with Colorado Eagles for 2024/2025.

In 8 contests, he scores 1 goal and 2 assists, but on reassignment to affiliate Utah Grizzlies popped 19 goals and 20 assists in 36 games to earn another year to wear an Eagles‘ jersey more often than not.

08Jul

Terrance Amorosa (2)

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Former Clarkson University Golden Knights‘ defenseman Terrance Amorosa(2) took some time before signing any deal for 2020/2021 and recently hooked up with Laval Rocket on a pto.

The sizable 6’2″ 202 lbs blue liner got in his first career AHL game and left a 3-0 blanking with no points but a +1 rating.

He had signed a pair of deals previously in the league, but was reassigned down to ECHL affiliates and last season had a decent 6 goals and 12 assists for Kansas City Mavericks.

Originally a Philadelphia Flyers‘ draft pick in the 5th round of 2013 (#132 overall), he never signed and was released to unrestricted free agency.

At 26-years old the big d-man could just be getting his footing but we shall see.

The Kirkland, QC native scored a rookie contract with Laval Rocket and wound up with 1 goal and 12 assists with a massive +22 rating in 35 games.

He has decided to head oversea for his 3rd season, signing a 1-year deal with Gherdeina of AlpsHL for 2022/2023.

After putting up 31 assists and 5 goals in 24 games with a +20 rating, he jumps to a higher league, joining HC Bolzano Foxes of IceHL, where he should continue his scoring success.

For 2023/2024, he will roughly stay put, but switch allegiances to rivals Rittner Baum.

He has been on a bit of a tear with assists in his “home” league, but decides after 2 years to switch things up and signs with Coventry Blaze of the EIHL for 2024/2025.

In 54 games, he scores 7 goals and 27 assists with a +3 rating, which he will take to Metal Ligaen, signing for a year with Herning Blue Fox for 2025/2026.

07Jul

Marc Johnstone (26)

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Undrafted rookie right wing Marc Johnstone(26) signs a 1-year ECHL deal with Newfoundland Growlers for 2021/2022.

He only managed to get in 6 games with South Carolina Stingrays, recording 2 assists for 2020/2021’s completely weirdo hockey season before being released.

This came after the former two-time captain of Sacred Heart University Pioneers‘ forward graduated, having potted point-per-game numbers (6-10-16) in 16 Atlantic Hockey games as a senior.

He was always a good scorer at school, coming in after a decent 2nd showing with Chicago Steel that exploded in playoff run for 3 goals and 12 assists in 14 USHL games en route to the 2017 Clark Cup Championship.

The Cranford, NJ native was also captain of this club.

At 25-years old and having seen him play, we feel he may just be getting started for some attention.

Through 46 games as a rookie, he has scored 7 and assisted on 13 for 20 points to earn notice and a recall from parent club, Toronto Marlies.

For 2022/2023, he doesn’t need to look far, as he’s given a new AHL deal to continue.

He scores 9 goals and 13 assists in 69 games and catches the attention of Pittsburgh Penguins, who sign him to a 2-year, 2-way NHL deal through 2024/2025.

In 21 games with the affiliate Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins, he has 2 goals and 3 assists, but mostly we feel it’s his style of play earns him a 1st game in the big league for Christmas 2023.

He skated 10 shifts for 7:19 ice time, dished 2 hits and took 1 face-off successfully in a 3-1 loss.

Reassigned, he scores 3 goals and 6 assists, but is an unrestricted free agent and signs a 2-year minor league deal with Toronto Marlies.

07Jul

Kevin O’Neil (17)

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University Of Connecticut Huskies‘ graduate portal transfer from 4 years at Yale University Bulldogs‘ right wing Kevin O’Neil(17) has definitely chosen right to continue his year of eligibility, scoring a goal and 3 assists in 7 games, but the 5’11” 181 lbs. power forward could step up those totals at any point.

The Latham, NY native only played one year of juniors, splitting time between Madison Capitals and Fargo Force after detonating three years at Albany Academy.

It’s possible this is the type of player that could get them an invite to an NHL camp and be discovered.

The 24-year old finishes up his year of eligibility with totals very much in line with his bests, hovering in the land of 16 and his team presses Hockey East as far as they have ever to fulfill an unreal season.

Deciding to turn pro, he signs a 1st deal with South Carolina Stingrays to hopefully get them pointed in a better scoring direction and has a pair of goals and an assist in 3 ECHL games with a +3 rating.

Nice start.

He finishes up his tryout deal scoring 6 goals and 4 assists in 10 games to be a cinch to stay a Stingray for 2022/2023.

After 2 games loan to Hershey Bears, scoring a 1st AHL goal and a prolific frame for the lower league team, potting 24 goals and 26 assists, he scores a 1-year deal in the upper league for 2023/2024.

He would mostly play in the lower league and blows up scoring to the tune of 16 goals and 47 assists in 63 games with only 4 games up for the contract club.

Utica Comets step right in and offer the close by NYer a 1-year deal for 2024/2025.

He is mostly reassigned to affiliate Adirondack Thunder, where he scores a big 19 goals and 30 assists.

For 2025/2026, he will take his game overseas, signing in Slovak Extraliga with HC Banska Bystrica for 2025/2026.

07Jul

Louie Roehl (4)

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Wheeling Nailers‘ rookie defenseman Louie Roehl(4) skates a full slate of 60 ECHL games, scoring 4 goals and 20 assists with a +4 rating, but with no playoffs, he lucks out and gets loaned up to Hartford Wolf Pack, who are chasing their own Calder Cup trophy.

The 5’11” 185 lbs. blue liner did 5 years at University Of Minnesota-Duluth Bulldogs, maybe not connecting as well as he has in his 1st frame.

He had a very solid 30 assists in his 1 NAHL session for Minnesota Wilderness.

The 25-year old from Eden Prairie, MN likely just wants to get some AHL under his belt.

He actually figures into no games in the upper ranks, but is signed for a 2nd season that doesn’t quite go as good as his 1st, but he is still wanted to return for a 3rd frame in a Nailers‘ jersey.

In his 3rd year with his new club, he scores a new best 5 goals and ties his 20 assists from his 1st season in a full slate of 72 games, but will take it overseas, signing with Pioneers Vorarlberg of IceHL for 2025/2026.

04Jul

Connor Clifton (75)

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7th year defenseman Connor Clifton(75) found himself flipped from the only team he’s known, Boston Bruins to Buffalo Sabres before becoming an unrestricted free agent and signs himself a very handsome 3-year $10M deal to help his new team’s blue line execute their end.

The 5’11” 194 lbs. blue liner was originally a Phoenix Coyotes‘ 5th round pick in the 2013 draft (#133 overall), but failed to sign, so entered into an AHL agreement with Providence Bruins to start his pro career before signing a 2-year NHL entry level deal with the big club.

He did 4 years at Quinnipiac University Bobcats, including his last as senior captain.

A Long Branch, NJ native, he played his way up through junior hockey finally arriving at a pretty excellent USNTDP frame before heading to school.

The 28-year old may be only first arriving at his 1st big deal.

He has 2 seasons of almost equal decent enough stats to get himself traded to Pittsburgh Penguins with a year remaining on his current deal.

 

03Jul

Mathieu Gosselin (63)

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Clarkson University Golden Knights‘ graduate right wing Mathieu Gosselin(63) was a 3 time 10+ goals and twice 10+ assists and once more than 20 in a frame scorer and will next take his game to the ECHL, joining Newfoundland Growlers for the rest of the season.

The 5’10” 170 lbs. forward on 4 occasions played 30+ games.

From Quebec, QC, he did 2 BCHL sessions with Merritt Centennials, scoring more than point per game numbers in his 2nd year.

The 24-year old will likely find room to score in the league and does with 2 goals and 3 assists, but now has to find himself a new team to play for, as his ceased operations.

Parent club Toronto Marlies step right in and offer him an amateur tryout to see what he might do in the AHL, which turns into a full deal for 2024/2025.

He spends most of his time, running up numbers for affiliate Cincinnati Cyclones that he decides to take across the way to a deal with Guilford Flames, 2025/2026, where we think he will do very well for himself in the EIHL.

02Jul

Anthony Beauregard (92)

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6th year center Anthony Beauregard(92) signs a 1-year deal with Trois-Rivieres Lions after spending most of last season with the team, running new ECHL high totals with 26 goals.

He didn’t quite eclipse the massive 49 assists he put up with Wichita Thunder.

The 5’7″ 165 lbs. forward has twice gone overseas and shot 10+ goals and 20+ assists in seasons with Dundee Stars and HC Sierre.

He has twice earned AHL looks from Laval Rocket, once after completing 2 USports years at Concordia University Stingers.

From St-Damase, QC, the 27-year old would love to likely earn some more looks from the upper level, but in the meantime may just blow the lid off the league he’s in, scoring.

He may have not had quite the season he was hoping for, but is still a point producer and he becomes the 1st league player to re-sign with his club for what will become 3 years in a Lions‘ jersey.

Finishing up his 3rd frame with the team, skating a new best 67 games, scoring point-per-game numbers 25 goals and 42 assists, he will return once again as a team favorite for 2025/2026 after helping them win the 2025 ECHL Championship with 18 points in 21 games.

01Jul

Jackson Kunz (89)

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University Of North Dakota Fighting Hawks‘ senior center Jackson Kunz(89) signs a 1-year AHL deal with draft team Vancouver Canucks (4th round, 2020, #113 overall) affiliate Abbotsford Canucks for 2025/2026.

He joined the team for 1 game and recorded an assist, but play in no playoff games en route to the 2025 Calder Cup Championship.

The 6’3″ 207 lbs. forward blew up USHS-Prep scoring, then took that to 1 off the hook USHL frame before college.

 

29Jun

Jackson Pierson (19)

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University Of Notre Dame Fighting Irish graduate left wing Jackson Pierson(19) signs a 1st pro deal and doesn’t go far from school with Fort Wayne Komets, which should lend him some valuable experience out of the gate.

The 5’9″ 172 lbs. forward only put up 1 goal and 8 assists in 31 games, but managed 4 10+ assist seasons for University Of New Hampshire Wildcats.

From Zionsville, IL, the 23-year old barely played but 2 games of USHL hockey before heading to college.

We think he’s on the right team to find some footing out of the gate.

After 6 ECHL games with no points, he signs for 2023/2024 with Atlanta Gladiators, where he is likely to find his footing to score.

And he does score some points, 17 goals and 26 assists in a full slate of 72 games, the rookie assistant captain will return in a Gladiators‘ jersey to work on that horrible plus/minus, which we are sure happens on a better team.

He is taking 2 seasons of 26 assists to a new adventure for himself, signing with Herforder EV Ice Dragons of Germany3 for 2025/2026.