Category: Minor League Deal

Buffalo native, center Patrick Polino(27) didn’t stray far when he signed his first pro contract, agreeing to a pto with Rochester Americans on the eve of the season opener.

The small-is 5’9″ 72 lbs. forward scored a college best 11 goals, 8 assists for 19 points in his fourth and final year at RPI Engineers.

He committed to college during his best USHL campaign, his first of two with Lincoln Stars, which was his third year in the league, and would even play another over-age sessions, maybe hoping to have a better crack at the school’s starting roster.

At 26-years old, he’s getting a bit of a later start and did initially sign with Greenville Swamp Rabbits of the ECHL but never skated with the team.

With a first AHL goal and 3 assists in 11 games, he is looking to show he’s ready for an spc.

Well, he never got his permanent deal for 2020/2021, but he did manage to score 3 goals and 4 assists in 20 games, and had a pair of 2-game scoring streaks.

For 2021/2022, he decides to sign with Cincinnati Cyclones and should become a pretty dominant player in the ECHL.

He puts up just about point-per-game numbers with 24 in 26 clones’ games with a +2 rating.

His efforts get him a new deal to return for 2022/2023 and he should almost easily take it up, unless he’s called up for more than 16 games he played in the higher league last frame.

He records a career high 23 goals and 31. assists in a full frame of 72 games and will once again be putting on that Cyclones‘ jersey for 2023/2024.

Maybe a bit out of nowhere, he is traded in a blockbuster minor league deal of goal scorers to Adirondack Thunder for 2024/2025.

His numbers drop and he is dished to Allen Americans to see if he can straighten out the scoring blip he’s facing.

He does ok, but is still off the mark and is recaptured by Cincinnati Cyclones after he was initially heading to Rapid City Rush.

A contract will be necessary for 2025/2026.

He further branches out in the league and signs with Greenville Swamp Rabbits for 2025/2026.

University Of Alaska-Fairbanks Nanooks‘ senior goalie transfer Pierce Charleson(34) from 3 years at Michigan State University Spartans, where he played a total of 22 games has been getting the start for his new college club.

Through 9 games, he has a new best 5-2-1 record and the 6’2″ 194 lbs. net minder is looking sharp.

He twice won junior championships and ran up a 42-2-0 mark for Brooks Bandits before winning the BCHL Cup and the previous season for Caledonia Corvairs 18-1 to win the OJHL title.

The 23-year from Aurora, ON may have found the right college fit.

He finishes up with a new college high 29 games, 13-12-3 record and 2.46 GAA.

For a year of eligibility he will enter the transfer portal and head to a 3rd school Niagara University Purple Eagles for 2024/2025.

After finishing up, he signs with Greenville Swamp Rabbits and gets into his 1st 8 ECHL games with only ok results, but they like what they see, so sign him up for his rookie run 2025/2026.

Undrafted defenseman Ty Farmer(3) takes 4 years and a 2021 NCAA Division 1 Championship at UMass Minutemen to a new calling and start of a graduate program, maybe a little closer to home with University Of North Dakota Fighting Hawks for 2022/2023.

He doesn’t usually strike for a lot of points, but did have 5 goals and 13 assists as a freshman.

The 5’11” 174 lbs. blue liner had a huge run in his 4th USHL year of juniors scoring 9 goals and 30 assists with Fargo Force and winning his 1st title, the 2018 Clark Cup Championship.

We are  sure the one huge driving asset to come to a new school is his big +45 rating of on ice accountability.

The 24-year old from O’Fallon, MO will be a welcome addition to NCHC action.

After graduation, he signs an ato with Allen Americans, striking for 2 assists in 10 ECHL games with a +1 rating.

He is a good invite to return for his rookie season in 2023/2024 and should continue to do well.

For his rookie frame, he comes away with 5 goals and 5 assists in 48 games with a +9 rating, so he is an easy invite to return and wear an Americans‘ jersey for 2024/2025.

He actually suits up for Indy Fuel in the new frame, where he was quietly traded to, scoring a new best 7 goals and 20 assists with a +11 rating, which he will take to a new contract for 2025/2026 with Aalborg Pirates of Metal Ligaen.

University Of North Dakota Fighting Hawks‘ senior, assistant captain center Cameron Berg(12) signs to a 1-year AHL contract under the guide of draft club (4th round, 2021, #125 overall), New York Islanders.

The 6′ 192 lbs. transferred from 2 years at University Of Nebraska-Omaha Mavericks, where he was a good scorer.

He did 3 years of USHL juniors before college.

From West Fargo, ND, the 23-year old will probably score decently in the AHL with contract club, Bridgeport Islanders.

Detroit Red Wings‘ 3rd round pick in the 2018 draft (#81 overall) defenseman Seth Barton(49) was signed to a 2-year entry level deal after completing his third season at UMass-Lowell Riverhawks in a very COVID cut short 2020/2021.

The very decently sized 6’3″ 185 lbs. blue liner from Kelowna, BC played a year in Canadian juniors for Trail Smoke Eaters of the BCHL putting up 27 assists in 49 games before reporting to college.

It looks as though the 21-year old reports first to affiliate Grand Rapids Griffins, but his play could gain him a look early from a team that has struggled in 2020/2021.

He skates most of his 2nd season in the system up, but gets reassigned late to Toledo Walleye, finishes the season strong with 8 points in 10 ECHL games, then adding another 13 points (1 goal, 12 assists) in 13 games in the playoffs.

With no qualifying offer to stay, he becomes an unrestricted free agent, signing a 1-year AHL deal with Hartford Wolf Pack for 2023/2024.

He starts the new season with Cincinnati Cyclones, but after just 1 game spies a new deal he is going after, a 1-year deal to sign with KooKoo and play his hockey in Liiga for the near future.

In 10 games, the big back liner scores his 1st Finnish goal and adds 5 assists with a +8 rating to earn a +1 next to his contract for 2024/2025.

After 1st full season, in 55 games scoring 6 goals and 13 assists with a +6 rating and next he will head to the SHL and signs with Malmo Redhawks for 2025/2026.

Mercyhurst University Lakers‘ graduate Mickey Burns(10) takes a college best 11 assists and 21 points, 10 goals only off his 11 total as a junior, to a 1st pro contract with Atlanta Gladiators.

The 5’9″ 170 lbs. forward did 1 season at University Of Vermont Catamounts, figuring into only 5 games with no points to transfer.

He was a huge point-getter in 2 seasons of USPHL/NCDC juniors with NJ Titans, grabbing 45 goals in 50 games in his 2nd frame.

From Wayne, NJ, the 25-year old had 1 goal and 2 assists in 13 ECHL games, but needs a contract for 2025/2026.

He quickly agrees to return for his rookie season, 2025/2026 as a Gladiators.

University Of Minnesota-Duluth Bulldogs‘ graduate, assistant captain right wing Luke Loheit(16)  takes a college best 20 points (10 goals, 10 assists) to a 1st pro deal with Kansas City Mavericks for 2024/2025.

The 6’1″ 194 lbs. forward stuck close to his Minnetoka, MN home for college.

After connecting as a senior in USHS-MN, he went to one BCHL season, where he continued to do pretty well.

The 24-year old is likely very ready for that next step, signing a first ECHL pro contract.

15 goals and 19 assists in 64 games with a +6 rating and he is an easy return to be a Mavericks for 2025/2026.

Mercyhurst University Lakers‘ graduate left wing Kyler Head(23) has a shoulder injury end his season of eligibility after just 6 games.

The 6’4″ 205 lbs. forward recovers in time to sign a 1st pro deal with Fayettesville Marksmen, where he goes on a bit of a scoring spree with 4 goals and 6 assists in 11 SPHL games with a +1 rating.

He did 2 NAHL junior seasons with New Jersey Titans, blowing up scoring in his 2nd frame.

From Malone, NY, the 25-year old did his freshman year at Robert Morris University Colonels, but left as they went belly up.

He gets an assist in 1 playoff game and will return for his rookie season, 2025/2026 to continue a Marksmen.

5th year center John Stevens(16) has maybe started to find his footing with new team Abbottsford Canucks, scoring 3 goals and 3 assists in 22 AHL games.

He signed a one-year, two-way NHL deal with parent club, Vancouver Canucks after producing well for former affiliate Utica Comets in the weird 2020/2021 frame.

The 6’3″ 204 lbs. forward had his best season as a rookie with 19 points in 66 games for Bridgeport Sound Tigers, while under a 2-year entry level deal to New York Islanders.

He was a 3-time 20+ point player and once, as a junior 30+ for Northeastern University Huskies was maybe some of his highs, but we think the 27-year old is ready to start connecting at a higher clip.

We think the 27-year old scores an oddball recall in 2022 for his chance at the big league.

He may have not grabbed that recall, but he did run up a career best 19 goals and 24 assists with a +11 rating to secure a 2nd season under a major contract for the now 28-year old.

While he didn’t score a recall for his 6 goals and 13 assists in 43 games last season, he was still steady as she goes per usual on his playing style with a +5 rating to earn himself a 2-year minor league deal going forward.

After 4 seasons with Abbotsford Canucks and to win the 2025 Calder Cup, he is finally after 8 pro seasons heading off to try something new, signing in Liiga with Kiekko-Espoo for 2025/2026.

Sacred Heart University Pioneers‘ Belarus-born, graduate left wing Mark Cheremeta(24) signs a 1st pro deal for 2024/2025 with ECHL team, Kalamazoo Wings.

The 5’11” 185 lbs. forward also played 3 years at Ohio State University Buckeyes and as a freshman with Boston University Terriers.

He came over as a teenager and elevated his game as a junior player to connect big in his only UPSHL/NCDC frame before school.

At 25-years old, he should do pretty well in the league.

In his rookie frame, he grabs a 1st goal and 2 assists in 14 games, but is dished to Orlando Solar Bears, where he should strike better for points.

He bounces around as a 1st year player and ultimately ends up with Worcester Railers, where he is able to strike for 3 goals and 1 assist in 9 games with a +3 rating.

For 2025/2026, he going to head home to Belarusian Extraliga and signs with Dinamo Molodechno.