Sacred Heart University Pioneers‘ senior net minder, Luke Lush(33) will start a graduate program at Atlantic Hockey rivals, RIT Tigers for 2023/2024.
The fairly big 6’3″ 201 lbs. goalie did 3 years of Canadian junior hockey that saw him voted AJHL Best Goaltender in his final frame.
From Sherwood Park, AB, the 25-year old should be able to take his game to another level with his new college team.
He plays only 4 games for his new college club, running a 2-2 record with some impressive 2.27 GAA and .919 SV%, which he takes to a 1st pro contract with Tulsa Oilers in his rookie year, 2024/2025.
We do look for him to do well in the ECHL.
Undrafted, graduate student, left wing Colin Theisen(63) entered the transfer portal from 4-years at University Of Notre Dame Fighting Irish to Arizona State University Sun Devils and looks to be the best possible move he could have made to improve his game.
In 9 games he has 2 goals and 8 assists en route to his best college season by a long shot.
The 6′ 187 lbs. forward was a decent scorer through 2 USHL seasons for Dubuque Fighting Saints, amassing point-per-game totals in his final year (35-27-62 in 57 games) with a +18 rating.
It seems like almost a shoe-in for the 24-year old from Monroe, MI try his hand at pro hockey for 2022/2023.
And in fact, coming off a college career year scoring 19 goals and 23 assists in 35 NCAA Division 1 games, he signs his 1st pro deal with Tuscon Roadrunners to finish out 2021/2022.
He comes away from his debut 16 AHL games scoring a tidy 5 goals and 6 assists, earning him a full look for 2022/2023.
Last year, he scored a new best 7 goals and 12 assists in 34 assists with a +4 rating and he slides over to sign for 2024/2025 with Springfield Thunderbirds.
Quinnipiac University‘s 3rd year, assistant captain defenseman Peter DiLiberatore(3) decides to forego his senior campaign in favor of signing a 3-year entry level deal with draft team, Vegas Golden Knights.
The 6′ 180 lbs. blue liner was a 6th round pick in 2018 (#160 overall).
His numbers at college have been pretty consistent.
He tied his 6 goal best in 2020/2021 and averaged 15 helpers through his three years.
There’s little doubt he’ll report immediately, likely hooking up with affiliate Henderson Silver Knights, a stellar AHL club, so breaking that lineup could be a thinker.
After almost 2 full seasons and his entry level contract about to expire, he gets dealt to Pittsburgh Penguins at the trade deadline, who look like they were eyeing him to be obtained and should retain him for at least another year.
Invited to Arizona Coyotes‘ training camp on a pto, he is released and looked to sign with affiliate Tuscon Roadrunners for 2023/2024, but has slipped off the radar and will lace them up with South Carolina Stingrays.
He plays 8 ECHL games with his new club, recording 3 assists to get himself loaned up to his former team.
While there he gets 1 goal and 2 assists for a new league best of 3 points and gets himself a deal for the season to stay up.
In 29 games, he scores 1 goal and 8 assists with a +2 rating to earn an invite to return for 2024/2025 in a Roadrunners‘ jersey.
Northeastern University Huskies‘ senior transfer from Merrimack College Warriors, left wing Liam Walsh(14) is fitting right in with his new team.
The 6’1″ 194 lbs. forward may not have any points in 3 games, but has been a huge spark plug out there, helping his team score or stay even.
He is a 0 rating.
There’s little doubt he’s show ability to score through youth hockey, high school and his 3rd and final USHL season as captain with Cedar Rapids RoughRiders, and even posted 10 goals and 17 assists as a junior in the last frame.
The 23-year old from Bridgeville, IL is likely just getting started in continued Hockey East play.
After a graduate frame at NU, he turns pro, signing a 1-year ECHL deal with Savannah Ghost Pirates for his rookie year, 2024/2025.
Undrafted goaltender Aaron Dell(30) has put up some kind of career in his so far 9 years of net tending time.
After 3 strong seasons at University Of North Dakota Fighting Hawks, he signed a first contract with Allen Americans, where he won the 2013 Central Hockey League Championship and was voted Most Outstanding Goalie.
Next up, he moved leagues agreeing to terms with Utah Grizzlies and again, put up some solid numbers 19-7-3 with a 2.14 GAA and .920 SV% in 29 ECHL games, including a pair of shutouts, then got some impressive playoff numbers.
This pair of years earned him a one-way contract with San Jose Sharks for 2014/2015.
He would split time in his first campaign between leagues, but was impressive in 26 starts for a 15-8-2 record with a 2.06 GAA and .927 SV%, 4 blankings.
The Airdrie, AB native quickly re-upped for another year and followed the team to their new home San Jose Barracuda.
He started a career high 40 AHL games and received some recalls, but no time in net.
That would happen in 2016/2017 and he hasn’t looked back, having played a career 114 games, posting a winning record.
We’re thinking the 32-year old finds some more rock star to help a struggling Buffalo Sabres on his one-year, two-way deal.
For 2024/2025, his 13th season in net, he circles back to sign a 1-year deal with the Barracuda.
Norfolk Admirals‘ 2nd year Russian-born left wing Denis Smirnov(8) is looking to up his totals from his 1st year with the team, when he scored 9 goals and 12 assists in 39 ECHL games.
The 5’9″ 185 lbs. forward already has 7 goals and 9 assists, so things are looking quite positive.
He came over pretty quickly to play youth hockey, displaying amazing numbers to get drafted into juniors and wins the USHL Clark Cup Championship in his 1st of 3 years in the league.
Penn State University Nittany Lions‘ 4-year scorer took a couple of years after college hockey through COVID to establish his game as a pro.
He is an exciting player to watch.
In 51 games, he scores 14 goals and 32 asssists with a +3 rating to earn an easy invite back in an Admirals‘ jersey for 2024/2025.
Quinnipiac University Bobcats‘ senior transfer from 3 years at Boston University Terriers‘ goaltender Vinny Duplessis(37) may have made the right decision, as he’s already started more games at 11 than he’s played in a single frame previous and has maybe equaled his other stats with 2.15 GAA and .910 SV%.
The 6’1″ 170 lbs. net minder from Quebec, QC had his best junior year in the AJHL for Whitecourt Wolverines, right before committing to college.
We think the 24-year old will have some eyes on him as an unrestricted free agent, if he decides to turn pro next.
After a huge overtime playoff loss for his new team in which he was spectacular, he maybe a bit oddly signs with Utah Grizzlies, who are fighting for a playoff spot and have only 2 ECHL games remaining.
He plays the pair of games, with a 0-1-1 count and 3.07 GAA and .905 SV% to secure him a contract for his rookie season, 2024/2025, guarding in a Grizzlies‘ jersey.
Niagara University Purple Eagles‘ senior right wing Ryan Naumovski(14) takes a new college best, scoring 9 goals and 17 assists for a new journey through the transfer portal to Augustana College Vikings for 2023/2024.
The 6′ light 160 lbs. forward was a point-per-game player for New Jersey Junior Titans in his 2nd NAHL season.
Undrafted from Shelby Township, MI, the 23-year old will likely have some fun playing that tough D1 schedule the 1st year team is taking on.
He basically equals his scoring from his senior frame perfectly in slightly less games, as a graduate player.
Upon finishing up their independent schedule, he signs with Kalamazoo Wings.
He appears in just 3 ECHL games to round out the season, getting 1 assist.
For 2024/2025, he signs on for a full year in a Wings‘ uniform.
Undrafted, small 5’9″ 170 lbs. center Jonny Evans(7) is off to a fast start with 2 goals and 3 assists in 3 ECHL games, including 2 multi-point efforts for a slumping South Carolina Stingrays, since signing his first pro contract just barely a week ago upon graduating University Of Connecticut Huskies.
He didn’t have an explosive senior year on the scoresheet, but always brings a consistency and definitely helped his team to their deepest Hockey East run to the Finals this season.
At 24-years old, with 4 years of junior hockey for Powell River Kings, scoring pretty big especially in his last 3 BCHL sessions, he appears ready.
We think he gets a look at a higher level in someone’s training camp come next Fall.
After scoring 7 goals and 6 assists in 11 games, the Delta, BC native decides to stay and re-sign for 2022/2023.
He would grab 9 goals and 21 assists with a +1 rating in 41 games as a rookie.
They want him to return for 2023/2024, so he will don the Stingrays‘ jersey for a 3rd frame.
After a career setting 2nd frame, he scores himself an AHL tryout with parent club, Hartford Wolf Pack, we believe will stick for him 2024/2025.
Saint Lawrence University Saints‘ senior captain defenseman Luc Salem(5) skated a college best 38 games last season before signing with Utah Grizzlies upon finishing up ECAC tournament play.
The 5’10” 181 lbs. blue liner had his best college year scoring as a junior, hitting 10 goals and 17 assists in 37 games with a +12 rating.
He was definitely able to load up assists through 2 NAHL junior seasons.
From Los Angeles, CA, the 24-year will need a new deal moving forward.
He signs with Indy Fuel for his rookie season, 2024/2025, where we think he will have good success.
