Category: Minor League Deal

02Jun

Chris Harpur (96)

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Undrafted defenseman Chris Harpur(96) stuck at Niagara University for a year of eligibility and in his 5th year put up new college bests in assists (14) and points (17) before deciding to turn pro, signing for the remainder of the season with Orlando Solar Bears.

The massively solid 6’3″ 201 lbs. blue liner from Niagara-On-The-Lake, ON played all his junior hockey up north and had an outstanding final year with Cowichan Valley Capitals, putting up 7 goals and 32 assists in 54 BCHL games.

Well, the 25-year old is off to a good start, because he netted his 1st pro point, an assist in his ECHL debut.

He came away from his 1st stint with 2 helpers and a +1 rating to be offered a new contract for 2022/2023 to stay.

Playing a full tilt of 72 games, getting 2 goals and 9 assists for the d-man isn’t so bad, although he could clean up his -8 rating.

His efforts for the big d-man are seen and he’s offered to return to put on that Solar Bears‘ sweater once again for 2023/2024.

Loaned up to Syracuse Crunch, through 17 games he records 4 assists with a +2 rating and the big d-man is fitting right in, so is re-upped for a 2nd AHL season.

After splitting equal time between the 2 leagues last season, he for a 1st time jumps and signs in Liiga for 2026/2027 with Lukko.

01Jun

Isak Walther (22)

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University Of Vermont Catamounts‘ Swedish-born, senior right wing Isak Walther(22) scored decently in college, best as a sophomore with 9 goals and 10 assists in a high 36 games.

The 6’4″ 205 lbs. forward already has 13 goals and 10 assists in 25 games with a +14, as a pro, signed with Atlanta Gladiators.

We do believe he scores himself a loan up for a look.

The 24-year old did all his youth and junior hockey at home before coming over.

He did in fact score a loan up to Milwaukee Admirals for 4 AHL games, scoring 1 assist.

In 62 ECHL games, he had 23 goals and 20 assists with a +8 rating, then added 2 more points in the playoffs.

For 2026/2027, he is stretching back and signs in Liiga with Vaasan Sport.

01Jun

Joshua Burke (7)

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Amherst College Mammoths‘ senior defenseman Joshua Burke(7) scored a seriously high college 12 goals and 14 asssits in 25 games last season with a +6 rating.

The 5’11” 179 lbs. blue liner did have a better 15 assists as a junior.

From Land O’ Lakes, FL, the 24-year old signed a 1st pro deal with Macon Mayhem and got into 2 SPHL playoff games to score 1 assist.

We feel he will need a new deal for 2026/2027.

31May

Kienan Draper (12)

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University Of Michigan Wolverines‘ senior assistant captain, right wing Kienan Draper(12) scored a college best 13 assists and 18 points in his final year.

He had 7 goals as a junior.

The 6’2″ 209 lbs. forward had a really successful BCHL frame before school.

From Royal Oak, MI, the 24-year old is a Detroit Red Wings‘ 7th round pick in the 2020 draft (#187 overall), but signs a 2-year AHL contract with affiliate Grand Rapid Griffins.

He skated 2 regular season games with no points, but didn’t make the playoff roster.

30May

Marcus Joughin (13)

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Sacred Heart University Pioneers‘ senior left wing Marcus Joughin(13) had a 3rd college hockey season scoring 8 goals, but added a clear best 26 assists with a +9 rating in a high 40 games last season.

The 5’11” 181 lbs. forward had 39 assists in the 2nd BCHL campaign before college.

From Tecumseh, ON, the 24-year old signed a 1st pro deal with Indy Fuel and scored 2 goals and 4 assists in 11 ECHL games, then added another 4 markers in 5 playoff matchups.

He will need a new deal for 2026/2027.

29May

Jacob Hayhurst(15)

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3rd year center Jacob Hayhurst(15) is most definitely off to his quickest start, getting 4 goals and 3 assists in 5 ECHL games for a +6 rating for 9-0 Worcester Railers and already has been loaned up to Springfield Thunderbirds for a pair of AHL appearances.

The undrafted 5’10” 180 lbs. forward had a strong 2nd session, scoring easy bests 15 goals and 33 assists in his 1st season with current club.

He also scored very decently in college, especially as a sophomore and junior at RPI Engineers, when he got 23 points in both frames, but did it a 2nd time in 7 less outings.

For his senior year, he maybe looked to take his game up a bit and transferred to University Of Michigan Wolverines with a decent enough showing.

The 25-year old from Mississauga, ON must be smiling pretty big.

He scored the insurance goal last night to secure his team’s historic season start.

After 10 goals and 12 assists in 25 games last season, he gets a look for 2023/2024 from Coachella Valley Firebirds and we believe this is a player who has played himself up.

He is actually reassigned to affiliate Kansas City Mavericks and blows up regular season and playoff scoring to be a single step away from the league championship, but he will take his game elsewhere for the future, signing with Vasteras IK of HockeyAllsvenskan, where he should absolutely blow up on the stat sheet in Sweden’s tier 2.

In 51 games, he scores 20 goals and 26 assists, maybe looks for the next step up and signs with Grizzlys Wolfsburg of DEL and scores respectably.

Looks like he is continue to push and next signs in Liiga with Jukurit, which will no doubt be his being league challenge yet.

29May

Mack Oliphant (27)

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Holy Cross College Crusaders‘ 2022/2023 commit, Johnstown Tomahawks‘ 1st year defenseman Mack Oliphant(27) has 7 assists in 15 NAHL games to start his run in the league.

The big as a house 6’3″ 205 lbs. blue liner came over from 35 USPHL/NCDC games with Junior Bruins in the unbalanced 2020/2021.

He finished high school with a year at Lawrence Academy, which could have led the Northbrook, IL native to stick around Massachusetts to start his junior hockey.

The 19-year old should be able to step right into Atlantic Hockey play.

He completes a solid 4-year college career, scoring a best 5 goals as a senior and 26 assists in his junior frame.

Upon completing tournament play, he signs an ato with San Jose Barracuda.

After 1 AHL game with no points, but leaves a +1 rating, he is indeed given a deal to be a Barracuda for 2026/2027.

26May

Tanner Fritz (16)

Posted in College Hockey Player, Europe, Free Agent Signing, Juniors, Minor League Deal | Leave a comment

Undrafted 7th year right wing Tanner Fritz(16) signs a 2nd straight AHL contract, but will skate for heated CT opponents from where he’s played 198 games, Bridgeport (Sound Tigers) Islanders to Hartford Wolf Pack for 2021/2022.

The 5’11” 192 lbs. forward originally signed a minor league deal after 4 years at Ohio State University Buckeyes , including captain as a senior and junior assistant, to the only team he’s thus far appeared with, but was up to a 2-way NHL contract after his sophomore season in which he popped 19 goals and 23 assists.

He played all of his youth hockey and 4 years of junior hockey close to home with Grand Prairie Storm and won the 2009 AJHL Championship, then was voted most valuable player, scoring 70 points in 60 games, before heading off to college.

The 30-year old signed a pair of contracts with parent club New York Islanders, including a single 1-way deal, and played in 42 games with 3 goals and 5 assists.

It’s likely this could be his last time in the minors, as we’re predicting he leave for some hockey overseas before retirement.

After 2 years of playing up the road in Connecticut, he returns on a 1-year minor league deal with Bridgeport for 2023/2204.

After 20 games, scoring 1 goal and 6 assists, he may be getting a little bored as he closes in on 350 games played in the league.

He decides to leave and signs with Dinamo Minsk of the KHL, which should definitely bring some challenge and excitement back into his game.

Not surprisingly he does ok with 2 goals and 9 assists in 18 games, but decides not to try and return.

He waits a little and signs with SC Rapperswil-Jona Lakers of NL and with 5 goals and 7 assists in 15 games with a +3 rating, there’s little doubt he gets asked to return for 2025/2026.

With 9 goals, 18 assists in 47 games and a +17 rating, his is easily invited back for a 3rd run with the Lakers, 2026/2027.

26May

Carter Berger (3)

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Western Michigan University Broncos‘ senior defenseman Carter Berger(3) was a 3-year transfer from University Of Connecticut Huskies, where he was always a plus player on ice, but didn’t exactly put up a pile of points.

In 5 games with his new college club the 6′ 201 lbs. blue liner has a goal and 3 assists with a +4, which looks to blow the lid off his previous highs.

He definitely has an offensive upside, as seen in his 2nd BCHL season with Victoria Grizzlies, scoring an absolute eye-popping 27 goals and 36 assists in 54 games, earning him top honors for goals and points by a d-man in the league.

A Florida Panthers‘ 4th round pick in the 2019 draft (#106 overall), the North Vancouver, BC native is easily eyeing an NHL entry level deal in a few months time.

He is able to take up his totals quite nicely in 2 years with an additional graduate frame and leaves his new school with a +28 rating.

Unsigned, he returns “home” agreeing to a 1-year AHL deal with Hartford Wolf Pack.

He does pretty well, scoring 8 goals and 25 assists in 67 ECHL games to earn himself a new deal 2-way for 2025/2026 with Lehigh Valley Phantoms.

In 11 games in the lower league, he scores 1 goal and 8 assists, but maybe gets a little antsy looking for another level and signs in the tough to play Tipso Extraliga with HKM Zvolen.

After 18 games, scoring 5 goals and 12 assists with a +4 rating, he decides to take his game elsewhere for potential further growth possibilities and signs with Leksands IF of HockeyAllsvenskan for 2026/2027.

25May

Sean Giles (28)

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Undrafted 2nd year defenseman Sean Giles(28) gets a nice lift playing for Knoxville Ice Bears as a rookie, scoring 4 assists in 35 SPHL games with a +1 rating, to earn himself a contract with Cincinnati Cyclones for 2021/2022.

The 4-year Robert Morris University Colonials blue liner was pretty much always good for 5 assists a campaign in college.

He’s only ever had one scoring breakout, in his 2nd season as captain of Lone Star Brahmas, the 6’2″ 190 d-man had a pair of goals and 16 helpers with a +13 rating for his best showing and when he committed to college.

We feel the 25-year old Colorado Springs, CO native only has better things to add to his game in the ECHL.

Just before the new season starts, he gets traded to Jacksonville Icemen.

He takes a very decent session, scoring 6 goals and 6 assists in 56 games to a new, tough adventure, signing for 2022/2023 in Slovakia Extraliga with HC Presov Penguins.

For 2023/2024, he signs with Fife Flyers.

He was actually decently impressive in the allegedly tough to play league he was in before making the jump to the EIHL.

Seemingly looking for the right fit, he leaves England for Germany, signing Del2 with last year’s champs, Eisbaren Regensburg 2024/2025.

He does ok during the regular frame, but is not great on ice accountability until the postseason and comes away with 1 goal and 5 assists in 9 games with a +9 rating.

There’s little doubt he is asked to return to see if they can’t come away with a title for Eisbaren.

After 2 seasons with the same club, scoring 1 goal and 11 assists in 50 games with a +7 rating, he decides to sign with rivals, Starbulls Rosenheim for 2026/2027.