Category: Minor League Deal

15Feb

Joseph Nardi (18)

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Reading Royals‘ 2nd year left wing Joseph Nardi(18) is leaving most of his earlier scoring behind with 17 goals and 30 assists in 66 ECHL games.

The 5’10” 179 lbs. forward skated 5 years at Northern Michigan University Wildcats before turning pro.

From Edmonton, ON, he did 3 junior AJHL seasons for Whitecourt Wolverines, running up 30+ assists twice.

The 26-year old was originally signed out of college by Manitoba Moose, but mostly reassigned despite a 1st AHL goal in 4 games.

He would put up bests 17 goals and 33 assists, but wants some different kind of hockey for his 3rd season, 2024/2025 and signs with Pioneers Voralberg of the IceHL.

Through 26 games, he does ok here, but searches for maybe a little higher level and signs with HK Dukla Michalovce, but in 11 games comes away with only 1 goal and a -8 rating.

He is heading back to the Royals, where it seems his point production riches are best, but still has to bring up that +/-.

10Feb

Kevin Clark (32)

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14th year right wing Kevin Clark(32) has carved out a heck of a career for himself playing and scoring in leagues, such as the SHL, KHL (only 1/2 one session), NL and returns to DEL for his 5th season, signing with Düsseldorfer EG for 2023/2024.

Not too crazy bad for a player that skated only 2.5 campaigns in the AHL after 4 years at University Of Alaska-Anchorage Seawolves.

He really blew up scoring in his senior year at school with 23 goals and 14 assists, making him a twice 30+ point guy in college hockey, as he achieved that feat as a junior too.

The 5’9″ 172 lbs. 35-year old from Winnipeg, MB has run up awards where he is in one campaign and last year helped win his 1st title, the 2022 DEL Championship in his 2nd year with Eisbären Berlin, so likely wants more with someone else.

Despite doing decently with 13 goals of production in 49 games, he decides at 36-years old to become the player development coach for Tri-City Storm, despite playing no American-based junior hockey.

He is maybe still getting the itch to play some hockey and signs with EC-KAC of IceHL should be a good challenge for him.

09Feb

Ted Nichol (26)

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University Of Guelph Gryphons‘ graduate center Ted Nichol(26) signs a 1st pro deal to join Florida Everblades for the remainder of the 2022/2023 season.

The 5’11” 201 lbs. forward hasn’t been the biggest scorer through his college career, grabbing a best 9 goals 12 assists in 24 USports‘ games through the shortened 2019/2020 frame.

He arrived at school after 5 years at juniors including 4 Kingston Frontenacs of the OHL.

The 26-year old may just have a big enough frame to have a huge effect in the ECHL.

He played in 15 games to finish off the regular frame with 1 goal and 2 assists, but appear in no playoff games.

For 2023/2024, he signs with Kalamazoo Wings, which will likely give him some league scoring success.

He actually only gets 4 goals and 1 assist in 34 games last season, but they see something and want him back in a Wings‘ jersey for 2024/2025.

In 38 games, scoring a new best 4 assists and 7 points with a -4, he looks for another type of hockey and signs with Ferencvarosi of Erste Liga.

06Feb

Austin Heidemann (20)

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RPI Engineers‘ junior transfer from Mercyhurst University Lakers right wing Austin Heidemann(20) kept on pace scoring despite the level of play maybe going up a notch in ECAC from Atlantic Hockey.

His 10 goals and 10 assists closely match the 12 and 15 he posted last season.

The 6′ 190 lbs. forward plays a power style, effective on the net strikes.

From Maple Grove, MN, the 23-year old will likely only get even better as a senior.

He posts a new best scoring totals with 11 goals and 16 assists in 37 games and signs a 1st pro deal with Worcester Railers to get started as a pro and has 1 goal in 7 games.

For his rookie frame, he will return to wear a Railers‘ uniform and look to up his pro game.

After just a single ECHL game, he is released and quickly gets snapped up by Wichita Thunder, who put him under contract.

Not doing so terribly with 7 goals and 5 assists in 31 games with a -3 rating, he gets dealt outright for future considerations to the new, Bloomington Bison.

03Feb

Slava Demin (20)

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Vegas Golden Knights‘ 4th round pick in the 2018 draft (#99 overall), Merrimack College Warriors‘ graduate defenseman Slava Demin(20) decided on skating a 5th season on his 2nd transfer, this time from UMass Minutemen.

He was initially at University Of Denver Pioneers for 3 years.

The 22-year old from Santa Clara, CA did 2 seasons with Wenatchee Wild and won a 2018 BCHL Championship.

With 3 goals and 10 assists this season, he’s close to coming up with college career highs for himself.

There’s little doubt, he’s an interesting watch.

He finishes up a fantastic season in North Andover, MA and waits it out, but signs for his rookie year 2023/2024 with Allen Americans, which should prove to be a very good fit.

After 23 ECHL games, recording 5 assists, but a woeful -15, he gets shipped to Florida Everblades, which should turn out to be a good landing spot.

He does manage to turn his game around quite nicely, getting 2 goals and 5 assists in 28 games with a +13 rating.

Fort Wayne Komets see the upside in his game and trade to pull him into their lineup.

He has a mostly inconsistent game, bouncing between 3 different teams, but Idaho Steelheads know what the upside is and trade for him in 2024/2025 that should work well for both parties.

In 19 games, with only 4 assists and a -2 rating, he finds himself dished to the new Tahoe Knight Monsters, where we think he’s fortunes will improve.

30Jan

Carter Johnson (18)

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3rd year center Carter Johnson(18) was traded late last ECHL season from Wheeling Nailers to Maine Mariners, giving him a chance to make a deep playoff run after wracking up 13 points (4-9) in 14 games during the regular frame, then adding another 5 points in 6 games in the postseason.

The 6’3″ 201 lbs. forward was a decent scorer earlier after never really connecting through 4 years at Miami University (Ohio) Redhawks, but seemed to jump to his new team.

For 2023/2024, he signs a 1-year deal to skate for Dundee Stars.

The 27-year old from Gimi, MB will likely put up good numbers in the EIHL.

In 27 games, he scores 4 goals and 8 assists with a -10 rating and is maybe a little unhappy, so decides to head back overseas, hooking up with Esbjerg Energy of Metal Ligaen for the rest of the current frame.

29Jan

Mackenzie Dwyer (10)

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4th year defenseman Mackenzie Dwyer(10) has arrived at a good place, under a 1-year ECHL deal with Maine Mariners after arriving at Jacksonville Icemen late last season to put up some solid numbers with 1 goal and 6 assists in 32 games with a +5 rating and then getting traded.

In 11 games, the big 6’3″ 201 lbs. blue liner has 1 goal and 2 assists.

He signed as a rookie and last campaign in the SPHL with Birmingham Bulls, but found his team on the 2nd loan up to help solidify his spot.

The Winnipeg, MB native played a mix of MJHL for Portage Terriers and WHL for junior hockey before heading to 1 year of school at University Of Manitoba Bisons.

No doubt, the 26-year old knows what it is to work for his contract.

Almost maybe a little out of nowhere, he finds himself involved in a 4-player deal that sends his playing rights to Fort Wayne Komets.

After just 6 games and an assist with a -1 rating, he heads back to Jacksonville Icemen, where he is liked and had success.

4 games with no points, but a +2 rating and he is asked to return to be an Icemen again for 2024/2025.

After 11 games with no points, he is traded to Reading Royals, where he is wanted and feel his fortunes will increase.

28Jan

Kamerin Nault (11)

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Norfolk Admirals‘ 6th year left wing Kamerin Nault(11) re-signs to stay and has 1 goal and 4 assists in 10 ECHL games so far this season.

His best season has been as a rookie, where he scored 16 goals and 16 assists in 40 games.

The 6’2″ 194 lbs. skated for 3 different teams last session.

He did some time overseas in the EIHL, where he scored well.

From Winnipeg, MB, he did 3 years at University Of Manitoba Bisons after 4 years of MJHL junior hockey.

The 29-year old may have found his long-term team.

He looked to be making a nice home with 1 goal and 5 assists in 15 games with a +1 rating, but is traded across the country to Idaho Steelheads, where we think he will find his best success.

After playing exactly zero games with his new team, he is again moved along, this time to Allen Americans.

21Jan

Alden Weller (22)

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Maine Mariners‘ 2nd year defenseman Alden Weller(22) feels right at home with this team, as he is a native of Falmouth, ME.

In 38 ECHL games, he has 4 assists with a +2 rating.

He did better in more appearances as a rookie for Rapid City Rush, striking for 2 goals and 7 assists with another +2.

The former University Of New England Nor’easters‘ senior captain may not stick close to home, but seems to play pretty well and strong here.

He takes a minute to consider, but he re-signs to return to Maine, where he easily feels very close.

20Jan

Ryan Lieth (6)

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2nd year defenseman Ryan Lieth(6) was loaned up from 3 season SPHL team, Fayetteville Marksmen after 20 game stint in the current frame to Wheeling Nailers, where he has scored a 1st ECHL goal in 12 games and looks pretty comfortable out there.

The 6’2″ 185 lbs. blue liner did most of 2 junior seasons in the EHL for New York Applecore before heading to SUNY Potsdam Bears for 3 years prior to turning pro.

From Warwick, NY, the 26-year old is on a good path, having played himself up nicely.