Union College Dutchmen graduate center Liam Robertson(19) signs with Wichita Thunder for his rookie ECHL season, 2024/2025.
From Clarington, ON, the 6’2″ 170 lbs. forward did 2 OJHL seasons before doing 1 USHL prior to heading to school.
The 24-year old should definitely help his new pro team.
Undrafted rookie net minder Garrett Metcalf(39) originally signed on with Knoxville Ice Bears to start his pro career in the SPHL, but within a week off that occurring his home town Utah Grizzlies had a better offer ready.
After graduating from his third school on record, Long Island University Sharks, he would go 4-4 in his first ECHL stint with a 2.33 GAA and .915 SV%.
These stats proved good enough for them to offer the 6’4″ 195 lbs., former Anaheim Ducks‘ 6th round pick in the 2015 draft (#179 overall), now unrestricted free agent a 1-year deal to return to the crease.
The 25-year old 1st commit to UMASS-Lowell Riverhawks for only 1 year of little usage before pushing off to Mercyhurst University Lakers for 2 for the Salt Lake City, NV native, who will definitely help his team win games.
After going 2-2-1 for his new club with an outstanding 1.84 GAA and .932 SV%, he gets the nod from Lehigh Valley Phantoms and in his AHL debut gets a 2-1 win in overtime with 25 saves, posting a 0.99 GAA and .962 SV%.
He will return to Maverik Center his home state again for 2022/2023, the team he’s spent most of his time with since graduating college.
It will be little surprise to see him compete for the starter’s job.
For 2023/2024, the parent club of the team he spent most of last session with Colorado Eagles sign him to a contract.
He would head back to Utah to start the current frame, but through 4 games it is determined he should have dual hip replacement surgery (we can’t even imagine), so that will wrap up a very short-lived career, but what he turns it into next will be something to watch.
Looks like he is heading back to LIU Sharks and will jump behind the bench as an assistant coach, starting 2024/2025.
Western Michigan University Broncos‘ graduate right wing Cole Gallant(8) takes a college best 18 assists in 39 games to a 1st pro deal with Trois-Rivieres Lions.
In 7 ECHL games, he has 2 goals and 2 assists on a non-playoff team.
The 5’10” 190 lbs. forward scored lots of assists (37) in his 2nd season of USHL juniors for Omaha Lancers and twice popped 15 goals.
From Surrey, BC, the 25-year old appears ready to go.
For 2023/2024, he is actually moved in a trade that sees him heading to Utah Grizzlies, which should turn out just about perfectly for him is how we’re seeing it.
He scores 12 goals and 35 assists in 68 games, but needs to clean up that +/- and will get another chance with a 2nd season for the Grizzlies agreed upon for 2024/2025.
Sacred Heart University Pioneers‘ 3-time captain, graduate right wing Braeden Tuck(23) signs with Norfolk Admirals for his rookie frame, 2024/2025.
He scored best as a junior with 12 goals and 15 assists in 28 games.
The 6’1″ 170 lbs. forward played 3 seasons of BCHL junior hockey, all with Trail Smoke Eaters and scored very well in his final 2 sessions.
From Osoyoos, BC, we expect the 26-year old to connect in the ECHL.
5th year Swedish-born left wing Sebastian Vidmar(8) finds himself traded after 50 ECHL games for Savannah Ghost Pirates to a new start and hopeful playoff berth with Maine Mariners.
He has 1 assist in 3 games.
The 6’3″ 203 lbs. forward came over for 2 years of mostly NAHL, doing extraordinary in his 2nd Lone Star Brahmas‘ season, scoring a most goals (35), points (80), forward and most valuable player awards before heading off to 4 years of Union College Dutchmen.
He had an ok rookie season with Norfolk Admirals, but decided to head home and played one full frame for Vimmerby HC in HockeyEttan, but left there to come back here and joined Adirondack Thunder for 20+ goals and assists.
Already 30-years old, I think he needs to figure out where he wants to wrap things up for his hockey career.
He gets to Maine and starts scoring 8 points in 12 games to work himself in and signs to stay in a Mariners‘ jersey for 2024/2025.
Toronto Marlies‘ rookie defenseman Marshall Rifai(83) has an assist in his first 2 AHL games with a +2 rating.
He scored a college career best 5 goals and 8 assists as a senior last season for Harvard University Crimson in 35 NCAA Division 1 games with a +23 rating.
The 6’1″ 190 lbs. blue liner came here fairly quickly from Beaconsfield, QC to attend Hotschkiss School USHS-Prep, then did 1 USHL season before heading to school.
At 24-years old, he’s definitely ready to get started.
He scores 4 goals and 12 assists in 69 games last season with a +3 rating to earn a 2-year deal with parent club Toronto Maple Leafs to continue under their watchful eye.
Through 34 games, he has 2 goals and 9 assists with a +15 rating to earn himself a recall and a 1st NHL game.
He skates 19 shifts for 11:33 ice time with 1 shot on net, 1 hit and 1 block in a big 4-2 win.
Appearing in 57 games last season, he scores 2 goals and a new best 17 assists with a +14 rating, then pops in 3 goals and 1 assist in 3 playoff games.
It’s easy to see him get a new 2-year deal to stick with the Leafs.
Despite only appearing in 6 ECHL games last season, center Spencer Asuchak(26) will wear an Allen Americans‘ sweater for an 11th straight season, in one form or another.
The most games he’s ever dressed for is a full 72 schedule in 2018/2019.
He has amassed 465 games in the league.
The very big 6’6″ 230 lbs. forward has a career best 27 goals and 40 assists.
From Kamloops, BC, after 4 WHL frames, he went to a year of Mount Royal University Cougars before officially turning pro.
the 31-year old probably has roots in the Texas town now.
He left for a brief stint over in Erste Liga, playing for SC Csikszereda, but somehow didn’t have much luck and will return for 10th season with the now hometown boys, Allen Americans.
8th year right wing Trevor Mingoia(11) has bounced through a pair of leagues he’d previously skated, but arrives in a new place for the remainder of 2023/2024 with Valerenga of EliteHockey Ligaen.
Judging by some off ice going ons, he may have been wooed by a good deal, but looks a bit settled back at his 1st team overseas Vasteras IK HockeyAllsvenskan.
The 5’11” 185 lbs. forward played only 2 years ECHL and AHL before leaving.
From Fairport, NY, the 32-year old started at Union College, but left for Providence College Friars as a sophomore.
He may be settling in Sweden quite nicely.
After 6 seasons lighting up the scoreboard overseas, he has decided to return and sign with South Carolina Stingrays for 2024/2025.
Edmonton Oilers‘ 6th round pick in the 2016 draft (#149 overall) left wing Graham McPhee(27) signed a minor league contract with affiliate Bakersfield Condors to start his rookie season.
He originally left to start overseas with Vienna Capitals of the ICEHL, where he played 21 games scoring 2 goals and 3 assists with a +1 rating.
The seems bigger than 6′ 189 lbs. forward started as the AHL 2021 began but was only able to break what was a tough lineup to crack in hunt of a playoff berth for 3 games (no points).
Although he has never been the biggest scorer through two years of juniors with the USNTDP and four years at Boston College Eagles, where his best effort was as a sophomore tallying 12 goals and 12 helpers in 36 NCAA Hockey East games.
It seems like the still super young 22-year old, kid of Vegas Golden Knights’ President Of Hockey Operations, George McPhee, is looking for a breakout moment that seems to be right on the edge of happening.
The recently turned 23-year old re-signs to stay in Southern California and in the system of the team he was selected by.
In a new best 5 games, he doesn’t have any points, but it really seems like once he can strike, he will continue to, but needs that breakthrough.
He would finish 2021/2022 with 5 goals and 6 assists in 33 games with a +5 rating to earn an invite to return to the CA team.
As we near the almost end point and trade deadline for 2023, he seem to just be floundering where he was, so gets dealt to Belleville Senators, where he will need a new deal at the end of the year, but looks to be wanted.
After 14 games, recording only 1 assist, the Senators think he can contribute, so bring him back for the full 2023/2024 session.
He isn’t exactly putting up points in the league, but when was assigned to the ECHL for 3 games, had 3 assists.
For 2024/2025, he signs with Savannah Ghost Pirates to see he can activate his game.
12th year defenseman Matt Donovan(46) will for a 3rd time take his game overseas, but this time signs for 2022/2023 with Adler Mannheim of DEL.
He twice played for SHL teams, Frölunda HC and HV71.
The former 2-year University Of Denver Pioneers‘ d-man was a New York Islanders‘ 4th round pick in the 2008 draft (#96 overall) and was in that system to start his pro career for 4 seasons.
At 6’1″ 205 lbs., he has skated 69 NHL games.
The 32-year old from of all places, Edmond, OK is likely happy to be still playing at a good level.
He actually does fairly well in German’s top league, scoring 8 goals and 15 assists with a +7 rating in 47 games, then added another 8 helpers in 12 playoff matchups.
For 2023/2024, he decides to come on and sign an AHL deal with Chicago Wolves, which makes a lot of sense.
He records 39 assists in 69 games and that will do it: 69 games in the big league, 524 in the lower league with 232 assists to his credit, 13 years of pro hockey and very quickly Nashville Predators sign him up to be an assistant coach with a team he spent 3 years with, affiliate Milwaukee Admirals.
Smart move.
