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.
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.
SPHL rookie defenseman Dalton Skelly(72) had himself a bit of a career season in his 1st outing scoring a new overall best 3 goals and tying his Holy Cross Crusaders‘ senior year high 13 points.
The 5’10” 175 lbs. d-man skated for a couple of different clubs, starting the split time for Knoxville Ice Bears before eventually finishing up with Huntsville Havoc with 10 assists overall and a tidy overall +9 rating.
He played for three different teams through two campaigns in the NAHL pushing a little offense with good assist numbers, but arriving at Lone Star Brahmas must have been the right fit as he elevated for 7 goals, 20 assists and 27 points with a +11 and 3 more helpers in 4 playoff games.
It’s basically an open shot where the 25-year old goes next.
He would start his 2nd season with Huntsville Havoc and put up 5 assists in 6 games to score a loan to Wichita Thunder that turned into him staying for his ECHL rookie season of 51 games with 3 goals and 8 assists.
Allen Americans see something they want to use on their blue line for 2022/2023 and sign him up to a 1-year deal.
The Keller, TX native scores 11 assists in 54 games last season, then adds another 4 helpers in 6 playoff matchups.
His performance merits a sophomore season in an Americans‘ sweater.
He would do ok, but returned on contract for 2024/2025 with Knoxville that got him a loan up to Rapid City Rush.
For 2025/2026, he signs with the new squad, Greensboro Gargoyles and has 1 assist in 6 games.
Penn State University Nittany Lions‘ graduate defenseman Tanner Palocsik(6) takes a 4th season (no hockey 2020/2021 COVID) of 10+ assists to a real good, 1st pro contract as a rookie with Toledo Walleye in 2024/2025.
The 5’11” 190 lbs. blue liner was very successful in 2 USPHL/NCDC seasons with Jersey Hitmen.
He transferred from 4 years at Dartmouth University Big Green.
From Aliquippa, PA, the 25-year old will likely do well for himself in the ECHL.
In 50 games, he scores just 1 goal and 2 assists and decides he will move on and joins Les Jokers de Cergy-Pontoise of Ligue Magnus for 2025/2026.
Turns out after just 4 games away, he would like to return and re-signs with the Walleye.
Quinnipiac University Bobcats‘ graduate center Jack Ricketts(28) takes some college highs scoring 20 goals to a 1st pro contract with Utah Grizzlies for his rookie season, 2025/2026.
In his 1st 9 ECHL games, he has 4 goals and 1 assist with a 0 rating.
The 6’1″ 194 lbs. forward came over from top scoring at Holy Cross College Crusaders, where he had 35 points in 39 games with a +18 rating.
From Oakville, ON, the 26-year old is off to a great start and looks good for a loan up.
South Carolina Stingrays‘ 2nd year center Jack Adams(24) arrived at the ECHL and did something he didn’t do with the clarity he was doing at college, scoring big.
The 6’6″ 209 lbs. forward scored 27 goals and 35 assists in 71 games.
His best scoring at University Of Notre Dame Fighting Irish came as a senior with 7 goals and 10 assists in his junior year.
The Boxford, MA native also did 3 years at Union College Dutchmen and 1 with Providence College Friars, but played little games at both.
There is little doubt the 27-year old is emerging.
For 2024/2025, he decides to head to the new team in the league and signs with Bloomington Bison and should explode the stat sheet again.
Not even a few days with his new team (we’re not sure he reported) and he gets scooped up by Orlando Solar Bears, who want his stick in their lineup.
He works well in their lineup to the tune of 15 goals and 29 assists through 61 games, then added another 6 points (1-5) in 11 playoff matchups with a +4 rating.
For 2025/2026, the Solar Bears want him back in the lineup.
Merrimack College Warriors‘ senior goaltender Zachary Borgiel(29) will do a year of eligibility at rival Providence College Friars to start a graduate program, 2024/2025.
The 6’2″ 205 lbs. net minder initially started youth hockey through the Honeybaked system before doing a split junior frame and heading north, where his game came together nicely in the BCHL, starting 44 games for Cowichan Valley Capitals.
After 12 Hockey East games with some college best marks, including 2 shutouts he signs a 1st pro contract with Tahoe Knight Monsters for 2025/2026, but we do feel he gets dealt due to the glut in that net.
Undrafted 3rd year center Max Willman(10) has quite the unlikely, surprise hockey story to tell.
Upon finishing up his one year in a graduate program at Boston University Terriers after a transfer from Brown University Bears, he signed an ECHL contract to join Reading Royals.
The 6′ 183 lbs. forward was loaned up to Lehigh Valley Phantoms a couple of months into his rookie run and earned an spc, mostly staying in the AHL, earning 3 goals and 6 assists in 24 games before the season exploded with no playoffs.
He re-signed to stay and in a weirdo season with like 3 constant opponents, he ascended to a career high 9 goals, 7 assists and 16 points with a +7 in just 30 games.
His efforts have earned him an NHL 2-year, 2-way deal with Philadelphia Flyers that starts in the upcoming frame.
The 26-year old is likely all smiles heading into 2021/2022.
And the story continues to take the strangest turns, as the Barnstable, MA native has made the opening night roster of the Broad Street Bullies and skated 13 shifts for 9:30 of total ice with one shot on net, one hit, 2 minutes in the sin bin and left the 5-4 shootout loss a -1 rating.
An unrestricted free agent, he signs a 1-year 2-way deal with New Jersey Devils for 2023/2024.
In 18 games with the big club, he scores 3 goals and 1 assist with a +1 rating and he scores himself another year, another look in a Devils‘ jersey.
After 69 games on reassignment with Utica Comets, scoring 10 goals and 20 assist, he is off for his next venture, signing with Barys Astana of the KHL for 2025/2026.
