Category: Minor League Deal

Clarkson University Golden Knights‘ junior net minder Ethan Haider(31) takes his game into the transfer portal to come out to guard the cage for University Of Connecticut Huskies in 2023/2024.

He moves on after playing 80 NCAA Division 1 games, posting a handy 36-31-12 record on a team that always played hard for his 2.36 GAA and .910 SV%.

A St. Louis Park, MN native, he had a good high school run before agreeing to play for his 1st NAHL junior team, close to home, Minnesota Magicians.

The big 6’3″ 203 lbs. goalie next played in the USHL before heading to school.

At 21-years old, this is a great team for him to play for to have draft team Nashville Predators (5th round, 2019, #148 overall) to see him compete.

He starts 21 games with a 7-11-2 record and a 2.91 GAA and .906 SV%, mostly splitting time with another draft pick.

Finishing up Hockey East play without a tournament start, he signs an ato with Milwaukee Admirals that will turn into an AHL deal for 2024/2025, where he will be under the watchful eye of the parent club, affiliate.

Northeastern University Huskies‘ sophomore defenseman Hunter McDonald(41) agrees to a pto to join 6th round, 2022 draft club Philadelphia Flyers (#165 overall) AHL affiliate Lehigh Valley Phantoms.

The 6’4″ 205 lbs. blue liner has 3 pro games experience under his belt already with no points, but is a +4 rating, which says something about his zone.

Never exactly the biggest point-getter, although he did amass 13 assists as a freshman, he’s been very accountable on ice with an overall +24 through his short time in college hockey and was a +29 in 2 USHL junior seasons for Omaha Lancers.

In 9 games with the affiliate he has 2 assists and is a +5 rating, with the parent club out of the playoff push, he is signed to a 2-year NHL entry level deal and will skate 1 game before maybe getting returned for minor league playoffs.

US Army Black Knights‘ senior goaltender Gavin Abric(1) signs a 1st pro deal with Peoria Rivermen.

The 6’3″ 185 lbs. backstop should do well in the SPHL despite coming off some tough seasons in net for his college club.

He was outstanding in the last year of NAHL juniors for Jersey Hitmen, posting a 22-2 record with a league best 1.91 GAA, .931 SV% and 3 shutouts.

From Hayward, WI, we think the 23-year old is ready for his next step.

Dallas Stars‘ 2nd year defenseman Ryan Shea(5) got himself a 1st AHL goal in 63rd game.

He does have 14 assists in 36 games this season with a +2 rating on a team that fights for wins.

The 6’1″ 177 lbs. blue liner spent four years at Northeastern University, serving as captain in his senior year and connecting for college career high 5 goals and 26 assists that earned him his 2-year entry level deal.

In his first three years at school, he was a 10+ assist guy, so has that in the arsenal.

The 25-year old is a restricted free agent at the end of the current session, but should be a bit of a no-brainer to keep in the fold.

Tallying 3 goals and 29 assists last season, the Milton, MA native will stay in Texas for a 3rd session, signing a 1-year, 2-way deal with the parent club.

He pretty much had another monster campaign in the Deep South with 7 goals, 21 assists and a monster +37 rating, and as an unrestricted free agent, he is out there looking for the best deal, situation, coming away with a 1-year 2-way deal to Pittsburgh Penguins for 2023/2024.

Starting with plenty of games in the show, he is reassigned to affiliate Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins and does decently well for him to earn his way back and in his 25th game, scores a 1st seeing-eye, snap writer from the point NHL goal.

RPI Engineers‘ graduate defenseman C.J. Regula(8) transferred from 4 years at Ohio State University Buckeyes and must have a smile on his face, as he tied his college highs at 2 for goals and is 2 assists off 4 to tie that mark through 21 games.

The fairly big 6’3″ 205 lbs. blue liner did 2 years, mostly NAHL junior hockey, posting an almost identical 10 goals, but exploded 28 assists in his 2nd season.

From West Bloomfield, MI, the 25-year old is looking really good playing Atlantic Hockey.

He scores a new college best, tying 2 goals and new high 5 assists and 7 points and signs a 1st pro contract with Worcester Railers.

We think he will be solid on the blue line and scores himself a 1st ECHL goal in 5 games played.

Merrimack College Warriors‘ graduate center Mac Welsher(22) already has a college career best 7 assists and we think will surpass the 7 goals he struck for as a senior.

He’s small at 5’8″, but is pretty sturdy at 183 lbs., so works it pretty well on ice with a +7 rating.

From Grosse Pointe, MI, he had a strong 2nd USHL frame with Des Moines Buccaneers before committing.

The 24-year old is the type of player to likely turn pro to see what might be there for him.

He does sign as soon as his team is eliminated from Hockey East action with Adirondack Thunder and does embrace ECHL style play, as he already has 2 goals and 2 assists in 6 games with a +2 rating.

Plymouth State University Panthers‘ senior captain center Jeromey Rancourt(88) signs a 1st pro deal with Port Huron  Prowlers and already has an assist in his FPHL debut, a 6-5 win.

The 5’11” 190 lbs. forward was a bit schizophrenic on the statsheet through school, scoring 12 goals as a sophomore and 12 assists in his junior frame.

He had 12 points through a college best 28 games last season with a +3 rating.

From Lewiston, ME, the 25-year old is likely pretty grateful for the opportunity.

Union College Dutchmen senior transfer, left wing Benjamin Tupker(27) is big at 6’3″ 192 lbs. and has put up a new best 6 goals in a most 32 games.

Undrafted, the 3-year Cornell University Big Red, Collingwood, ON native put up some significant numbers in his 2nd and 3rd CCHL seasons of junior hockey with Carleton Place Canadians, hitting close to point-per-game stats in his final frame.

A still young 23-year old, it will be interesting to see what he decides next.

He takes new college highs scoring 9 goals and 10 assists to a 1st pro contract with Trois-Rivieres Lions, should do pretty well for himself in the ECHL and has 2 assists in 7 games.

Canisius College Golden Griffins‘ graduate right wing Erik Urbank(24) wastes no time signing with Pensacola Ice Flyers, as soon as his team was bounced from Atlantic Hockey play and scores an assist in his SPHL debut.

The 6’2″ 195 lbs. forward transferred from Dartmouth College Big Green, as a senior and his game immediately seemed to step it up.

From Orchard Park, NY, the 23-year old 1st went to the OJHL with great results, then switched into a year of the USHL before school.