Category: Minor League Deal

26Aug

Willie Raskob (15)

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4th year defenseman Willie Raskob(15) decides to leave again after a successful 2019/2020 in Metal Ligaen with Rungsted Seier Capital.

He’ll head to join HK Nitra of Tipos Extraliga for 2021/2022.

The 5’10” 185 lbs. blue liner started his pro career with 1 game for Worcester Railers, but got traded immediately afterwards to Quad City Mallards, where he struck for 3 goals and 34 assists.

Kind of maybe obvious, he would sign for his sophomore frame with Stockton Heat, but only managed to get into one dreadful game before being reassigned to Kansas City Mavericks, where he once again took it up a level to score a new best 9 goals and 40 assists in 69 ECHL games.

This would have him searching for a new endeavor, sending him to Denmark for a season.

He returned closer to home for the COVID staggered 2020/2021 and signed with Indy Fuel.

The 4-year University Of Minnesota-Duluth Bulldogs‘ d-man, who always had 10+ assists per frame, struck for a new best 13 goals and 25 assists in 67 games, then added another 3 points in 4 playoff contests.

At 26-years old, he sure to find good game in Slovakia’s top league in the upcoming frame.

He completes a successful frame, getting 8 goals and 31 assists for 39 points, good enough for most by a d-man in the league and moves over to Czechia, signing with HK Vitkovice for 2022/2023 and once again finds good scoring fortune with 5 goals and 23 assists and a +8 rating to decide to stay put and re-sign for 2023/2024.

After a couple of successful years, he is 29-years old and leaves for an excellent opportunity with Vienna Capitals of IceHL.

26Aug

Dante Sheriff (38)

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2nd year Mercyhurst University Lakers‘ right wing Dante Sheriff(38) takes a college career best 8 goals and 17 assists with a +5 rating to a 1st pro contract to Orlando Solar Bears for 2022/2023.

The 5’11” 187 lbs. Woodbridge, ON native was a solid point-per-game guy in NAHL juniors with Austin Bruins.

It’s possible the 23-year old just got restless and wanted to play some official hockey.

He never actually got to skate any games in Florida, but instead ended up adopted by Tulsa Oilers and as a rookie puts up 13 goals and 17 assists in 51 games, although will need to clean up that -16 rating.

For 2023/2024, he receives an invite to return.

In his 2nd year with the team, he takes his game to another level, scoring 18 goals and 31 assists with a +8 rating in 62 ECHL games.

For 2024/2025, he actually finds himself traded to Cincinnati Cyclones, who will sign him for 2024/2025.

26Aug

Robbie Payne (23)

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3rd year center Robbie Payne(23) took 2020/2021 off due to COVID protocols, just like his team did, but he circles back to re-sign Adirondack Thunder for 2021/2022.

The 5’11” 194 lbs. former Northern Michigan University Wildcats‘ senior captain scored 24 goals that season to put him on Dallas Stars‘ radar.

For his rookie campaign, he would sign with affiliate Texas Stars and split time with their ECHL club Idaho Steelheads, where he was a point-per-game player.

The 28-year old last ignited the scoresheet in his 1st two years of juniors with Kalamazoo Jr. K-Wings, running 119 points in 116 NAHL games.

It’s easily possible the Gaylord, MI native finds the route to the net on a more often basis.

He took another season off last year after 2 good sessions for Cleveland Monsters.

Next he will take his game to Erste Liga and signs with Ferencvarosi TC for 2024/2025.

24Aug

Kevin Lombardi (12)

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Sacred Heart University Pioneers‘ graduate right wing, assistant captain Kevin Lombardi(12) signed with Orlando Solar Bears upon finishing up and came mostly to life in 6 playoff games, with 1 goal and 1 assist and a +1 rating.

Rockford Icehogs are watching and sign the 6’5″ 229 lbs. forward to an AHL contract for 2024/2025.

Maybe not a huge scorer through college or junior hockey, we think as a pro the 25-year old finds the room he did in high school and youth hockey.

24Aug

Blake Thompson (8)

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5th year defenseman Blake Thompson(8) is taking his game overseas for 2022/2023, signing with Cardiff Devils.

The 6’1″ 205 lbs. blue liner is coming off a career year, scoring a new best 20 assists and 25 points.

He even scored a 1 AHL game loan up to Hartford Wolf Pack.

The former St. Norbert College Green Knights‘ d-man twice had close to 20 assists in a frame.

We think the 29-year old is going to find good room in the EIHL to continue to elevate his game.

He returns home from a pair of decent frames overseas and signs a 1-year ECHL deal with South Carolina Stingrays for 2024/2025.

22Aug

Jack Quinlivan (4)

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University Of Maine Black Bears‘ 5th year graduate student, right wing Jack Quinlivan(4) signs his 1st contract for 2022/2023 with close to home, Worcester Railers.

His home base is the town next door, Shrewsbury.

The 6′ 194 lbs. forward has struggled some scoring, grabbing only 6 assists as 2nd year captain last season, but we feel he could come alive as a pro in a different environment.

At 26-years old, he should step right in.

Through 10 ECHL games, he got 2 goals and 1 assist, but was sidelined with injuries and they discovered papillary thyroid cancers to exit him.

He will return for his next official rookie season 2023/2024.

In 32 games, he comes away with 6 goals and 6 assists, but he is completely injury plagued, so enough is enough, he decides to call it quits and will become an amazing coach, if he decides on that route for himself.

22Aug

Connor Murphy (1)

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Union College Bobcats‘ senior goaltender Connor Murphy(1) came over after 2 seasons at Northeastern University Huskies finished up 31 games and signs a first pro deal, an ato with Calgary Wranglers, which puts him with a top-rated AHL team to start things up with.

The 6’4″ 200 lbs. net minder has never exactly produced outstanding stats, but I think to just look at him and how centered he is to the frame makes him a natural to give a shot to.

He had one year of super-strong junior hockey performance in the CCHL with Carleton Place Canadians before committing to school.

The 24-year old from Hudson Falls, NY may just shine if given the chance.

He signs on to stay for his rookie season in Alberta with the minor league club.

In a split schedule with ECHL affiliate Rapid City Rush, he does decently enough with both for another look and is signed to wear a Wranglers‘ sweater for 2024/2025.

22Aug

Philippe Maillet (61)

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8th year center Philippe Maillet(61) returned last season to Laval Rocket under a 1-year NHL deal with Montreal Canadiens and scored quite well with a new AHL best 21 goals.

The 5’10” 185 lbs. forward is leaving again, this time he joins NL and signs with HC Ambri-Piotta for 2024/2025.

He came back from 2 very strong sessions in the KHL for Metallurg Magnitogorsk.

From Lachenaie, QC, the 31-year old played 4 years of QMJHL, then went to University Of New Brunswick Reds for another 4.

He will do really well in Switzerland.

22Aug

Jack Gorniak (20)

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University Of Wisconsin Badgers‘ graduate left wing Jack Gorniak(20) signs a 1st pro deal for 2023/2024 with Fort Wayne Komets.

The 5’11” 176 lbs. forward is like the complete Wisconsin story, played high school hockey at West Salem High, skated games for Team Wisconsin and only played 2 USHL games for Lincoln Stars as junior hockey.

Undrafted, the 23-year old will likely connect for a good amount of points in the ECHL is our bet.

9 goals and 16 assists takes his pro game up from college to earn himself another full season in a Komets‘ jersey.

21Aug

Jarod Hilderman (3)

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Four year and consecutive NCAA Champion defenseman with University Of Minnesota-Duluth Bulldogs‘ Jarod Hilderman(3) knew before the 2019/2020 season came to a crashing halt during the playoffs that he would be heading to Birmingham Bulls for 2020/2021 and spend his rookie season in the SPHL.

Well, a pandemic didn’t sideline those plans, as he reported and played basically a full slate of 36/42 game schedule, unable to grab a goal but he did produce 6 assists.

The 6’1″ 210 lbs. Calgary, AB native started his junior hockey closer to home with 2 seasons for Penticton Vees, where he won his first title, a 2015 BCHL Championship, which is when he committed to college, but then moved south to do a season with Fargo Force of the USHL before reporting to school.

At 24-years old and the leagues opening up to full service, it wouldn’t be surprising to see him elevate his game to the next level.https://www.sandiegogulls.com/players/detail/hilderman

He would spend his 2020/2021 under contract to Tulsa Oilers and ended a 48 ECHL game “rookie” season with a goal and 15 assists, then added 3 assists in 6 playoff matchups.

For 2022/2023, he will return, but we also feel may earn a 1st AHL loan to San Diego Gulls, who have him on their radar.

He puts up some decent enough numbers with a pair of visits up, but needs better on ice accountability.

Despite the parts of his game to work on he gets an invite to return for a 2nd chance in an Oilers‘ jersey.

He has a solid 3rd frame, scoring 35 assists to seemingly rebound hard and will take his game over to Ligue Magnus, signing with Les Bruleurs De Loups for 2024/2025.