Category: Minor League Deal

19Mar

Michael Citara (28)

Posted in College Hockey Player, Juniors, Minor League Deal, Transfers | Leave a comment

Providence College Friars‘ sophomore right wing Michael Citara(28) enters the transfer portal after only pulling into 8 games (1 goal, 1 assist) last season and arrives at Hockey East rival Merrimack College Warriors for 2023/2024.

The 5’10” 175 lbs. forward had only 1 USHL junior frame for Sioux Falls Stampede, but did well with 17 goals and 18 assists in 51 games.

From New Hope, PA, the 21-year old may find more room to score and make plays with his new team.

He plays in 31 games with decent scoring, but manages to appear in only 9 as a senior, so will go for a year of eligibility, enter the transfer portal and next play for University Of Alaska-Fairbanks Nanooks in 2025/2026.

In 33 games, he opens up scoring 16 goals and 15 assists, huge increases on his college scoring bests.

After winning the United Collegiate Hockey Cup, as the top independent team, he signs with Norfolk Admirals.

18Mar

TJ Trevelyan (24)

Posted in College Hockey Player, Europe, Free Agent Signing, Juniors, Minor League Deal | Leave a comment

Augsburger Panther‘ left wing TJ Trevelyan(24) signs on for what must be a record for one player, 15th season with the club.

He has 8 seasons of 10+ goals and 8 of 10+ assists and 7 worth 20+ points.

The 5’9″ 172 lbs. forward did 5 years of the AHL, scoring pretty big after graduating St. Lawrence University Skating Saints.

From Mississauga, ON, the 41-year old doesn’t want to quit.

But after a career low 20 games played for 4 goals and 3 assists, he ticks another year and decides it’s time.

In all likelihood, he should stay with the club he has mostly been with.

18Mar

Trevor Griebel (2)

Posted in College Hockey Player, Juniors, Minor League Deal, Transfers | Leave a comment

Long Island University Sharks‘ senior transfer from Merrimack College Warriors, defenseman Trevor Griebel(2) looks like a man on a mission out there.

The 5’10” 165 lbs. blue liner did 2 years BCHL, then 2 USHL before college.

From Tampa, FL, the 24-year looks to figure into all games with the team this season.

He plays a college best 30 games, scoring a tie for his 2 goals, but 18 assists blows away that category for him.

When their new indy tournament play concludes, he signs with Jacksonville Icemen and has a 1st ECHL goal in 2 games with a +1 rating.

17Mar

Blake Bennett (91)

Posted in College Hockey Player, Europe, Juniors, Minor League Deal | Leave a comment

Rapid City Rush rookie signing, 4 year American International College Yellowjackets‘ left wing Blake Bennett(91) is off to a nice start as a pro, scoring his 1st ECHL goal in his 5th game and adding 3 assists in 6 total sightings.

The small 5’9″ but stocky 195 lbs. forward had a college career best 22 goals and 35 points in 38 games as a senior, his 2nd season with 20+ goals, 10+ assists and 30+ points.

He was a point-per-game player in his only NAHL session for Corpus Christi Ice Rays after playing himself up from a couple of seasons in lower levels and half a one in a Canadian based league before heading to college.

We predict the 24-year old from Grand Island, NY settles in nicely with his new club.

He finishes up from his ato with 1 goal and 4 assists in 15 games with a 0 rating.

This is good enough for the Rush to want to see a full rookie season by him in one of their jerseys.

In a full slate of 72 games, he absolutely blows up scoring with 35 goals and 28 assists, but decides to look elsewhere for his next contract and will head to Metal Ligaen to skate for Odense Bulldogs in 2024/2025.

He skates only 9 games, but scores 6 goals and 3 assists with a +1 rating.

Next, he will head to DEL2 and signs with EV Landshut for 2024/2025.

He does ok with 3 goals and 1 assists in 16 games, but maybe thinks he should be doing better, so eyes a return back to his one team, the Rush for the remainder of the frame.

After scoring a 2nd high numbered frame in the league, worth 50+ points, he signs a 2-way deal with parent club Calgary Wranglers for 2025/2026.

With 22 goals and 29 assists in 56 games, he is scoring and gets a trade to Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins.

17Mar

Max Helgeson (63)

Posted in College Hockey Player, Juniors, Minor League Deal, Transfers | Leave a comment

Anchorage, AK native, right wing Max Helgeson(32) spent the last pair of seasons skating for the nearby home team Kenai River Brown Bears, putting up spectacular numbers.

The fairly big 6’1″ 185 lbs. power forward scored a junior career high 19 goals but really came even further to life in the playoffs with 5 goals and 3 assists in 9 NAHL games with a +4 rating in what ended in the division finals.

He had to wait until the end of his 2nd campaign but he commits to Lindenwood University D2 for next year but D1 starting 2022/2023.

The 20-year old who came up through youth hockey at home, then also had an amazing run with Iowa Wild 18U AAA dropping 19 goals and 13 assists in 35 T1EHL 18U contests will easily turn heads once he arrives at school.

He spends only 1 year there and transfers to head back home for the University Of Alaska-Anchorage Seawolves for 3 seasons, averaging 10+ goals and assists.

For 2025/2026, he has decided to do a year of eligibility and heads to Miami University (Ohio) Redhawks.

In 36 games, he scores a nice 10 goals and 10 assists and is a +10 rating that he takes to a 1st pro contract with Cincinnati Cyclones.

17Mar

Chase Dafoe (37)

Posted in College Hockey Player, Juniors, Minor League Deal, Transfers | Leave a comment

Providence College Friars‘ freshman left wing Chase Dafoe(37) is off to try another school to play his game after appearing in only 8 last season.

The 6’3″ 201 lbs. forward signs on with University Of Alaska-Fairbanks Nanooks for his sophomore session and from all accounts is excited for a new start all the way across the country.

Born in Beverly, MA, when his dad, Byron Dafoe(34) was tending net for Boston Bruins, the 21-year old should find a new lease on hockey life.

He scores a college best 13 goals and 8 assists in a high 33 games as a senior and captain and helps his team win a 1st United Collegiate Hockey Cup, comprised of independent D1 teams.

Upon completion, he signs a 2-year AHL contract with Rockford Icehogs through 2026/2027.

16Mar

Tanner Palocsik (34)

Posted in College Hockey Player, Juniors, Minor League Deal, Transfers | Leave a comment

Penn State University Nittany Lions‘ graduate defenseman Tanner Palocsik(34) 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.

In 21 games this season, he scores 1 goal and 5 assists with a +8 rating, but somehow gets himself traded to Wichita Thunder for future considerations.

16Mar

Jake Johansen (4)

Posted in College Hockey Player, D3, Juniors, Minor League Deal | Leave a comment

Rookie defenseman Jake Johansen(4) is doing ok with 1 goal and 8 assists in 38 games, but is traded from the top team in the league to Twin City Thunderbirds, who are working for playoff positioning in the FPHL.

The 6’2″ 201 lbs. blue liner did 4 years at Fitchburg State University Falcons and scored a college best 7 goals and 16 assists in 27 games with a +2 rating.

He also helped the college team with the 2025 MASCAC title.

From Milford, NH, the 26-year old rose his junior game up to EHL, where he finished as captain with East Coast Wizards before school.

15Mar

Wyatt Newpower (38)

Posted in College Hockey Player, Free Agent Signing, Juniors, Minor League Deal | Leave a comment

Way to be on the lookout, Detroit Red Wings sign now 2nd year defenseman Wyatt Newpower(38) to a two-year NHL entry level deal.

The fairly sizable 6’3″ 194 lbs. d-man was initially signed by Cleveland Monsters to a minor league deal and as a rookie scored 3 goals and 7 assists in 24 AHL games with a fairly phenomenal +10 rating.

He finished 2019/2020 COVID playoff cut season, finishing up 4 as captain for UConn Huskies, scoring a college career tying 3 goals and best 19 assists for 22 points with a +23 rating.

The 23-year old Hugo, MN native has to be smiling nicely how he played his way into this signing.

As his deal expires, he isn’t qualified to stay, so signs a minor league deal with Bridgeport Islanders for 2024/2025.

He scores a new high 8 assists and ties his twice best 10 points, which he takes to a new deal with Iowa Wild for 2025/2026, which should see him show increases.

In 23 games, he records only 3 assists with a -9 rating and Syracuse Crunch see something they can work with, so trade future considerations for him

He elevates his scoring by a bit and is a +5 in 21 games, but is dealt at the deadline to Springfield Thunderbirds, who believe they can get him ticking.