Category: Minor League Deal

16Jul

Brad Arvanitis (32)

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Undrafted, graduate goaltender Brad Arvanitis(32) takes a hot finish with D3 Babson College Beavers to a 1st pro contract with the very playoff ready Rapid City Rush.

In his ECHL debut, he scored a 5-1 victory.

The 6’2″ 180 lbs. net minder posted an 11-4-2 record with a 2.52 GA and .918 SV% in his final frame.

He’s definitely had an interesting little journey, first tending cage for EHLP team, Walpole Express before moving up to an NAHL season for Coulee Region Chill before heading to 2 seasons of limited use with UMass Minutemen.

The 24-year old will probably be able to excel in the league if he looks to stick around.

He only started one game his rookie frame before being dealt to Tulsa Oilers, where he played in 2 before being released and picked up by Pensacola Ice Flyers, which he stitched together an admirable 9-6-2 mark with a 2.71 GAA and .919 SV% in 20 SPHL games.

For 2023/2024, he picks up a deal with Maine Mariners, who likely saw him play in college some.

He runs an impressive regular season record of 20-10-1, but in the playoffs was stellar with a 1.69 GAA and .939 SV% to earn himself another contract to return to Maine.

16Jul

Filip Engaras (16)

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Swedish-born, rookie center Filip Engaras(16) was recently flipped in a trade from 1st contract club, Bakersfield Condors to out of conference team, Utica Comets for the remainder of 2023.

The 6’1″ 201 lbs. forward actually spent more time with affiliate Fort Wayne Komets, appearing in 23 ECHL games with good scoring clips and on ice accountability, but does look to be headed towards the AHL to start with his new squad.

Originally an Edmonton Oilers‘ 6th round pick in the 2020 draft (#169 overall), but only signed a minor league contract to start his pro career.

A graduate of 4 years at University Of New Hampshire Wildcats, he definitely was able to connect for points as a junior and senior.

After 53 games last season, scoring 6 goals and 6 assists with a +2 rating, he is signed for a 1-year contract extension to stay a Comets.

16Jul

Ludvig Persson (32)

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University Of North Dakota Fighting Hawks‘ Swedish-born senior goaltender Ludvig Persson(32) signs with Wheeling Nailers and we will see if he figures in any ECHL playoff action.

The 6′ 181 lbs. net minder transferred from 3 years at Miami University (Ohio) Redhawks, where it couldn’t have been too easy.

He actually played 11 pro games in HockeyEttan before committing to the NAHL for a season of junior hockey that was stellar with Lone Star Brahmas before hitting college.

It will be interesting to see where the 24-year old decides to go.

He plays no games and signs for 2024/2025 with Brynas IF of the SHL.

15Jul

Matt O’Connor (29)

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8th year net minder Matt O’Connor(29) gets a new, 3rd deal to stay with HK Nitra for 2022/2023.

In 32 games, the massive 6’6″ 205 lbs. goalie has a 2.35 GAA and .928 SV%.

He signed his 1st pro contract after an explosive junior year at Boston University Terriers, posting a 25-4-4 record in 35 NCAA Division 1 games with Ottawa Senators, but only stuck with them for 2 sessions.

The Toronto, ON native next signed with Nashville Predators, but struggled.

He was able to lift his performance in the next frame with Wheeling Nailers and would next jump and sign overseas with Rodovre Mighty Bulls, but still seemed to have troubles in Metal Ligaen.

The 3o-year old will likely stay put and continue to excel in Slovakia.

As is the case for a few players, who have been around for a little while, he signs on for 2023/2024 with SC Csikszereda of Erste Liga, so maybe their giving their international players some money.

He does very ok through 21 starts, but may yearns for the type of hockey he 1st came over for, so signs Ligue Magnus for 2024/2025 with Les Ducs d’Angers that should equal a strong signing for both parties.

14Jul

Kyle Hallbauer (26)

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RPI Engineers‘ graduate captain defenseman Kyle Hallbauer(26) signs a 1st pro contract with Adirondack Thunder after his team is eliminated from ECAC postseason action.

The 5’11” 190 lbs. blue liner put up a college best 11 assists and 13 points last season.

He twice had 20+ assists in the 2 different junior leagues he participated in before college.

In 4 games with his new team, he has a 1st ECHL goal in his 2nd game and is a +3 rating for the 26-year old from Howell, NJ to pin.

He finished up skating 17 games, scoring 1 goal and 2 assists with a +5 rating, then being steady through 4 playoff matchups with a +2.

For 2023/2024, he has decided to fly the coop and signs with Rodovre Mighty Bulls of Metal Ligaen, where he might have too much success.

He takes some ok numbers, but needs more accountability to a new contract with Rapaces de Gap of Ligue Magnus for 2024/2025.

14Jul

Kale Howarth (45)

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Undrafted, big 6’4″ 215 lbs. left wing Kale Howarth(29) signs a 1-year AHL contract with Rockford Icehogs after spending the last three years at University Of Connecticut Huskies.

He wasn’t a huge scorer in college like he was in three seasons for Trail Smoke Eaters, where he got 66 goals and 80 assists in 148 BCHL games.

The Red Deer, AB native played all his youth hockey close to home.

Originally a Columbus Blue Jackets‘ 5th round pick in the 2017 draft (#148 overall), the 22-year old college graduate will look to play his way back onto another NHL club’s radar.

He scored 2 goals and 1 assist in 12 games in 2021/2022, but suffered a season ending injury to sideline his rookie campaign.

The forward will return for another run at it though, as he re-signs for 2022/2023.

And despite getting only a couple of assists in 31 games and 13 points reassigned to affiliate Indy Fuel, he is welcomed back on another 1-year minor league deal.

After 3 seasons with the same club, playing far too few games last season due to an injury, but is going to move on and signs with Milwaukee Admirals for 2024/2025.

13Jul

Brent Beaudoin (12)

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Undrafted, 3rd year center Brent Beaudoin(12) not surprisingly jumps ship after 2 ECHL seasons with Worcester Railers to a great opportunity in Slovak Extraliga, signing to HK Poprad for 2023/2024.

The 5’11” 181 lbs. forward scored a career best 20 goals and 35 assists with a +5 rating in 71 games.

Where he is going will be tougher hockey for the Brown University Bears‘ senior, assistant captain.

From Londonderry, NH, the 27-year old played mostly tier 3 juniors to earn his way up.

After 7 games in Slovakia with only 1 assist, he has a change of heart and signs up with Dundee Stars to play in the EIHL for the remainder of the frame.

He takes some ok stats, 8 goals and 20 assists in 43 games, but decides to move on and signs with Anglet Hormadi Pays Basque of Ligue Magnus for 2024/2025, where we think he does very well.

13Jul

Ryan Brushett (9)

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RPI Engineers‘ graduate center Ryan Brushett(9) will definitely flirting with college career highs in all categories with 5 goals and 10 assists in 23 games, looking for 8 and 16 with 11 left.

The 6′ 185 lbs. forward has twice transferred, 1st appearing at University Of Nebraska-Omaha Mavericks for 2 frames, before heading to UMASS Lowell Riverhawks in 2 more successful sessions.

For juniors, he had 1 unsuccessful outing in the USHL before heading north closer to home to the BCHL, where in his final of 3 years had the most goals at 41 before heading to school.

The 25-year old from Verdun, QC plays super hard out there.

Finishing up, playing a college best 37 games, he signs a 1st pro contract for 2024/2025 with the not so distant from his house club, Trois-Rivieres Lions that should equal all kinds of good hockey things.

10Jul

Mitch Gillam (30)

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5th year goaltender Mitch Gillam(30) takes a good, much shortened season for Wichita Thunder, posting a 4-2 record with a 2.47 GAA and .927 SV% to a new deal with Indy Fuel for 2021/2022.

The 6′ 174 lbs., former 4-year Cornell University Big Red backstop put up real solid, good numbers at school (47-28-17) with a 2.15 GAA and .923 SV%.

He’s definitely made a career out of playing in the ECHL with 133 games to his credit, but almost oddly in his only AHL appearance with Bridgeport Sound Tigers left with a 1.54 GAA and .944 SV%, but has received no future looks from the top farm league.

If the 29-year old starts strong, he most definitely should earn another look from the level up, but we think he may set his sights on overseas options after this frame.

He will take what was a pretty good season with a 17-12-1 record to a new adventure, signing for 2022/2023 with Manglerud Star of Fjordkraft-ligaen.

After a bit of a rough go with his initial club, he would be traded to Valerenga, where things would improve dramatically, as he went 8-4 with a 2.08 GAA and .923 SV%, but has decided to push on and sign with Odense Bulldogs for 2023/2024 and skate in Metal Ligaen.

He’s not exactly doing so badly in Denmark, but he’s heading back to EliteHockey Ligaen, signing with his 3rd team, Frisk Asker.

In 6 games, he posts a 4-1 record with a 1.82 GAA and .932 SV%, then appears in 10 playoff games.

We are thinking maybe the job isn’t done here, so he signs on to where an ‘Asker jersey again in 2024/2025.

10Jul

Shane Kuzmeski (14)

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Wheeling Nailers‘ rookie defenseman Shane Kuzmeski(14) wasn’t exactly the biggest scorer through 4 years at Clarkson University.

He left school with a peak performance of one goal and 5 assists.

In 17 ECHL games, he a new goals scored in a season record with 2 and added 4 assists, which makes it look like turning pro was good for the blue liner to connect on the scoresheet.

He was able to put up a healthy amount of helpers through two years in the NAHL (18, 24) though, so maybe it’s an environment thing.

The Grayslake, IL native played limited games in 2021/2022 for Iowa Heartlanders, then had more luck with Utah Grizzlies, striking for 5 assists in 14 games last season.

For 2022/2023, he signs a new deal with Norfolk Admirals and may just be able to find some better footing.

He actually spends zero time where he signs and instead splits time with Indy Fuel, doing remarkably well before a trade sends him to Trois-Rivieres Lions for the remainder of the session.

Looks like he will lace up the skates for a 6th league team in 2023/2024, as he signs with Fort Wayne Komets, as place he likely hopes he can stick around for awhile.

And before he can even throw on the skates for a home game, he gets dealt to Florida Everblades, where he should be super happy.

He is doing pretty well with 1 goal and 4 assists with a +6 rating, but Wichita Thunder want him for their blue line and trade to get him.

And lookie there, in 3 games he has 2 assists and a +3 rating.

Through 35 games, he scores 1 goal and 7 assists with a +14 rating and is invited to return for the Thunder.