Holy Cross College Crusaders‘ graduate goaltender Jason Grande(30) put up quite a spectacular 10-4-2 record with a 2.06 GAA and .929 SV%, as his team heads into the Atlantic Hockey playoffs in the 2nd seed position.
The 6’3″ 201 lbs. net minder played 2 stellar years in the NAHL with Amarillo Bulls before committing to his 1st school, Bentley University Falcons.
From West Chester, PA, where he played his youth hockey, the 25-year old will likely turn pro once college hockey wraps up.
Not surprising, he signs an ato with Bridgeport Islanders that we think could get him some action.
He plays no games upon graduation, so looks elsewhere and it may be one of the best offseason signings yet, he agrees to terms for 2024/2025 with HC Nove Zamky of Slovak Extraliga, which will have him playing a very high level of pro hockey.
Things are not going so well in Slovakia, so he looks elsewhere and signs with Nottingham Panthers to try to help them right their EIHL ship.
2nd year net minder Evan Cowley(31) signed at the beginning of 2018/2019 with Wheeling Nailers but after one uneven start on a bit of a struggling squad was released.
Originally a Florida Panthers‘ 4th round pick in the 2013 draft (#92 overall), he never agreed to terms with the team but did eventually get a contract with affiliate Springfield Thunderbirds, where he split time with Manchester Monarchs of the ECHL as a rookie.
The former University Of Denver backstop put up stellar numbers in college and went on to win the 2017 NCAA Championship.
At 23-years old, it didn’t take him long to secure a new deal after he was let go, grabbing a contract with MH Automatyka Gdansk of Polska Hokej Liga, where he will likely excel and move up the European hockey ladder as he goes.
He spent the last 3 seasons in Ligue Magnus with Ducs D’Angers and put up league best GAA (2.02) and SV% (.935), but is ready to explore again and signs to Asiago and will play in the IceHL for 2024/2025.
Through 20 games, he has struggled some, so makes a decision to head to HockeyAllsvenskan and signs with IK Oskarshamn.
Rookie defenseman Matt Staudacher(25) leaves Italy2, where he scored 10 goals and 13 assists in 19 games for Brixen/Bressanone Falcons, for a contract with the new Bloomington Bison.
The 6’1″ 194 lbs. blue liner finished up a graduate year of college at Northeastern University Huskies with a new best 2 goals.
He had more assists in 4 years (3 playing) at University Of Minnesota Golden Gophers.
From Grand Blanc, MI, we expect the 24-year old to do quite well in the ECHL.
Jacksonville Icemen left wing Derek Lodermeier(16) signed his first contract after finishing up his final COVID busted season as two-year captain at University Of Vermont Catamounts.
Never exactly the biggest point scorer in his four years, he twice had 11 points and twice 18.
Well, the big 6’3″ 225 lbs. forward has a new best 10 goals in 45 ECHL games this season plus 5 assists, so turning pro seems to be working for this rookie, who still has a lot of the season left to play.
The 26-year old Minnesota native, who did one year of NAHL before switching things up and heading up north to the AJHL for two seasons with Brooks Bandits, must be smiling to himself at least a little.
He is ready to suit up for a 3rd season in northern Florida 2022/2023 after scoring a new best 15 assists and 30 points, tying his 15 goal total from last session.
In the last frame, he blows up scoring with a new best 26 goals and 21 assists for 47 points, then added 7 goals and 2 assists in 12 playoff games to earn a 4th look in an Iceman jersey for 2023/2024.
He continues to score with 11 goals and another 21 assists and takes a minute in 2024/2025, but ultimately does and grabs an assist and is a +1 in his 5th year in Jacksonville debut.
6th year center Zach White(5) gets traded from single year team Worcester Railers to Greenville Swamp Rabbits for 2024/2025.
He twice had really good seasons with Iowa Heartlanders.
The 5’7″ 150 lbs. former Curry College Colonels‘ senior captain started his pro career with a solid frame in France2, scoring big.
He came back during the COVID season and agreed to terms with Carolina Thunderbirds of the FPHL.
From Milford, CT, the 28-year old has worked his game up nicely.
In 6 games, he scores no points and is dished to Fort Wayne Komets for future considerations.
University Of New England Nor’easters‘ 2nd year, graduate left wing Garrett Devine(28) came over after limited usage in 3 years at Providence College Friars.
The 6’1″ 205 lbs. forward popped out 11 goals and 7 assists in 30 games with a +10 rating as a senior.
In 10 games through the current frame he has 2 goals and 3 assists.
He did just 1 USPHL/NCDC season with South Shore Kings, then sat a year before heading to his 1st school.
The 26-year old from Windsor, CO is looking right at home playing D3 hockey.
He finishes up with school and it’s time to turn pro and he signs an ECHL deal with the team closest to where he played his college hockey, Maine Mariners.
In 6 games, he comes away with a first assist and is asked to return for his official rookie season in a Mariners‘ jersey.
After 11 games with no points, he is released and before he can even report to another new club, is signed by Bloomington Bison to an spc for 2024/2025.
13th year left wing Jerry D’Amigo(74) stays in DEL for a 2nd straight season, but leaves an alright frame with Düsseldorfer EG to sign with rivals Loewen Frankfort for 2022/2023.
He briefly returned home for a season, signing with Orlando Solar Bears after his 1st pair of years in Germany’s top league, which followed a some ok frames in Liiga, where he split time with a couple teams.
The 5’11” 201 lbs., originally a 2009 Toronto Maple Leafs‘ 6th round NHL draft pick (#158 overall) is bit streaky scoring, but did manage 10+ goals 4 times in the AHL and once hit 20 with 6 seasons of 10+ assists to go along with.
At 31-years old, the Binghamton, NY native, who only did 1 year at RPI Engineers, lightly up Atlantic Hockey, is likely pretty happy to still be signing good contracts.
After 4 seasons in Germany and 2 in Finland, it’s time to come back and sign with a team that has some sunny weather going for it year round, agreeing to terms with Jacksonville Icemen for the rest of 2023/2024.
He has a decent season, leading in the ECHL, but is ready for more adventures overseas and signs with a 3rd new league, the tough to play Slovak Extraliga, signing with HK 32 Liptovsky Mikulas.
12th year net minder Joe Cannata(35) switches up 4 seasons in Sweden, 3 with IK Oskarshamn of the SHL, loading some decent enough stats, but will go for something new and tend net in 2023/2024 for Lowen Frankfort of DEL.
Originally a Vancouver Canucks‘ 6th round pick in the 2009 draft (#173 overall), the 6’1″ 201 lbs. goalie was in the system for 4 years.
He would next bounce to Washington Capitals, then eventually Colorado Avalanche, where he would play shutdown for affiliate Colorado Eagles, going 21-5-2 with a 2.22 GAA and .931 SV% in the regular season, then backstopping a 2018 Kelly Cup Championship.
In his 1st year overseas, he basically won all the league awards in HockeyAllsvenskan.
The 33-year old, former Merrimack College Warriors from nearby Wakefield, MA probably has a little smile on his face how his hockey is still going.
He does ok for himself in a German net, but has decided to return to playing hockey much closer to home, signing a 1-year ECHL deal with Norfolk Admirals.
After 5 games in net and things maybe not going quite as well as he may have wanted, he decides he is heading back overseas and signs with Villacher SV in IceHL.
2nd year right wing Travis Broughman(28) put up some serious ECHL numbers while on loan from SPHL team Roanoke Rail Yard Dawgs, where he was a better than point-per-game player.
As a rookie of 48 games with Adirondack Thunder, he scored a nice 12 goals and 21 assists to be invited back for a full 2023/2024 season with the team.
The 6’2″ 185 lbs. forward also scored 3 points in 5 playoff games.
He played his college hockey D3 at SUNY-Oswego Lakers scoring 10+ goals and 10+ assists all 3 seasons they played.
From Richmond, VA, the 26-year old has to be smiling for himself just a little.
He continues to add to his totals in the higher league with a new high games at 66 and goals scored 14.
You could say he does so well, his playing rights are traded to Reading Royals, who simply now need to sign him for 2024/2025.
Once again, his number is called and he is heading to Kalamazoo Wings for his next visit.
Quinnipiac University Bobcats‘ graduate defenseman C.J. McGee(5) signs a 1st pro deal with Savannah Ghost Pirates for his rookie season, 2024/2025.
From Pearl River, NJ, he came to Don Bosco USHS-Prep, scoring well to 1 USHL frame for Shreveport Mudbugs worth 10 goals and 33 assists before heading to college.
The 6′ 181 lbs. forward should do ok for himself in the ECHL.
He was allegedly to stay with the team he signed with out of school, but it’s learn he agrees to terms with Orlando Solar Bears instead.
