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.
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.
2nd year left wing Christian Sarlo(15) is late start traded to Indy Fuel for 2025/2026.
The 6′ 187 lbs. forward last year skated as a rookie with Maine Mariners, scoring 14 goals and 17 assists in 55 ECHL games.
From Lynbrook, NY, the former Penn State University Nittany Lions 4-year graduate scored best as a junior.
The 24-year old had 2 successful USHL years before school.
10th year defenseman Luke Witkowski(4) returns to Springfield Thunderbirds, where he played 16 regular season games, then 17 in the playoffs after a trade from Detroit Red Wings sent him to St. Louis Blues‘ system.
The sizable 6’2″ 209 lbs. blue liner doesn’t exactly score a lot of points in his 324 AHL games, but does have a nice +38 rating for accountability.
In 132 NHL games, the former Tampa Bay Lightning 6th round pick in the 2008 draft (#160 overall) has 2 goals and 11 assists.
He was a senior captain at Western Michigan University Broncos and 3-time lead guy for Syracuse Crunch.
The 32-year old from Holland, MI is likely smiling with each big contracts he still gets.
For 2023/2024, he has made the decision to try something completely new and heads to Finland to join Tappara and will play his games in Liiga.
Switzerland was good enough fun for the now 34-year old, but will elevate his game a little by signing in the SHL with Skelleftea AIK for 2024/2025.
He waits a minute after skating 25 regular season, then 11 in the playoffs to sign with rivals, Brynas IF for 2025/2026.
13th year center Carter Camper(11) is heading to a new league, Finland’s Liiga for 2023/2024 after 8 games in the Swiss NL and almost 3 SHL seasons with Leksands IF.
He will next skate for Tappara.
The 5’9″ 176 lbs. forward 3 times had 10+ goals and twice 30+ assists in Sweden’s top league.
He was mostly a more than point-per-game scorer through 4 years at Miami University (Ohio) Redhawks before signing as an undrafted, unrestricted free agent with Boston Bruins.
The Rocky River, OH native played 3 NHL games as a rookie and score a 1st goal.
He is a veteran of 558 AHL games.
At 35-years old, it’s hard to believe it’s been that long.
He scores nicely with 17 goals and 31 assists in 60 games with a +19 rating, then adds 7 points on his way to a 2024 Liiga Championship.
For 2024/2025, he eyes another opportunity in HockeyAllsvenskan, signing for 1-year with IK Oskarshamn.
After a solid season in tier 2 Sweden hockey, at 37-years old he has decided to retire with 558 AHL games, 3 NHL appearances with 1 goal and 137 in the SHL to his credit.
Reading Royals‘ 2nd year center Devon Paliani(65) is scoring ECHL bests 16 goals, 25 assists and 41 points, but definitely needs to improve his -33 rating.
The 5’10” 170 lbs. forward from LaSelle, ON played 4 years OHL with a few teams before heading to Ryerson University Rams for 5 seasons, including the 2020/2021 no play COVID busted.
He did have 2 10+ goals and assists’ seasons in college.
The 27-year old show no signs his scoring would pop in his 1st frame with the team, but it did.
Just before the start of the new season, he finds himself involve in a trade that take his scoring to Savannah Ghost Pirates, where he will look to improve that +/-.
He scores a new best 32 goals and 27 assists in a full slate of 72 games, but decides to move on and sign with another 1st year team, Tahoe Knight Monsters for 2025/2026.
In 11 games, he has a moderate 1 goal and 2 assists.
8th year net minder Connor LaCouvee(1) is off to a hot start in his 2nd Tipsport Extraliga season for Vici Zilina, 2025/2026.
The 6’1″ 201 lbs. goalie is 9-3 in 12 games with a 2.03 GAA and .932 SV%.
From Qualicum Beach, BC, he did his senior year at Minnesota State University Mavericks and 3 at Boston University Terriers, going 23-6 in his final year with a 1.80 GAA through 31 games.
The 31-year old has spent the better part of 5 years in the league.
Holy Cross College Crusaders‘ senior goaltender Thomas Gale(33) signs a pro deal with close by Worcester Railers for his rookie season, 2025/2026.
He got a 1st start and looked good in a 4-2 loss.
The 6’1″ 181 lbs. net minder had impressive stats in his final college year with 39 starts, a 24-13-2 record and a 2.14 GAA, .927 SV%.
From Kirkland, QC, the 25-year old is set to do well once he gets situated with a good spot to become a starter.
He runs a 5-6 ECHL record with a 2.62 GAA and .909 SV% that captures the attention of Rockford Icehogs, who sign him up for 2026/2027.
Ohio State University Buckeyes‘ graduate, captain defenseman Will Riedell(24) played a couple of AHL games with Lehigh Valley Phantoms after graduating, but signs for his rookie season 2022/2023 with the brand new Savannah Ghost Pirates.
He didn’t put up many points last season, but was always good for at least getting on the scoring sheet every other game or so, as a junior and senior with Lake Superior State University Lakers.
At 6’2″ 194 lbs., the blue liner plays a shut down style and left college as a +22 player.
The 26-year old from Greensboro, NC should find plenty of room to play his game and contribute points in the ECHL.
After 15 games, recording 4 assists with a +4 rating, the fairly sizable d-man gets loaned up to San Jose Barracuda and in 20 games only grabs 1 tally, but the team likes what they see and recently sign up for the remainder of the frame.
He moved onto Calgary Wranglers in the next frame and split time with Rapid City Rush.
In his 3rd season, he would re-sign with the Ghost Pirates, but leave late, signing with EHC Munchen.
Despite recording no points, he is wanted for the upcoming season, 2025/2026 with Fischtown Pinguins.
He actually decides to play his hockey closer to home and signs with Savannah Ghost Pirates.
3rd year left wing Jared Christy(5) accepts a deal with Monroe Mocassions for 2025/2026.
The University Of New England Nor’easters‘ 5’10” 190 lbs. graduate cycled through a couple pro leagues and 2 in France, only settling for 21 SPHL games last season with Birmingham Bulls.
We think the Cypress, CA native strikes well for points in the FPHL.
