2nd year defenseman Joe Gatenby(4) will somewhat oddly join his 4th ECHL team this season.
He started 2023/2024 skating 9 games for Fort Wayne Komets, but only 2 assists and a minus on-ice rating is traded Allen Americans.
The 6′ 190 lbs. blue liner stays with them for 23 games, but again scores no goals with 6 assists and a -6 and gets moved a 2nd time.
Newfoundland Growlers see something in his game they think will work for the Kelowna, BC native and sign him.
Unfortunately something happens with the team’s league standing and it disintegrates, leaving him to find another place to play yet again.
Idaho Steelheads step in fairly quickly and move him closer to home to play his next hockey.
He wouldn’t come away with any points in 3 regular season and 2 playoff games, but was a +2.
For 2024/2025, he looks to sign with Storhamar of EliteHockey Ligaen and should fit in nicely there.
4th year defenseman Cooper Zech(68) gets a little bit of a new lease on hockey life with a trade that sends him from a very decent season with Lehigh Valley Phantoms, scoring a goal and 10 assists with a +3 rating and their parent club Philadelphia Flyers in an early season dish to Chicago Blackhawks, where he’s expected to report to Rockford Icehogs.
The 5’9″ 161 lbs. blue liner only spent 1 year at Ferris State University Bulldogs before turning pro on a 2-year entry level deal with Boston Bruins.
He put up a huge amount of assists in his one BCHL junior campaign for Wenatchee Wild, amassing 58 assists in 58 games.
The 23-year old from South Lyon, MI, who had a successful little swing on loan to Slovakia with HK Nitra during the pandemic, will likely always have to prove himself.
At the trade deadline, he finds himself moved as a pawn in the deal that sends Patrick Kane to New York Rangers.
He may was a bit under-utilized in suburban Chicago, but should get more efforts with Hartford Wolf Pack, if not reassigned further done for a bit.
Reassigned down to Indy Fuel, he played only 1 game with the team.
For 2023/2024, he returns for a full session, signing a 1-year deal with HC Kosice of Slovak Extraliga.
He does well here, scoring 3 goals and 15 assists in 32 games with a +13 rating in a very tough league, but has maybe been wooed to join the EIHL and signs with Nottingham Panthers for 2024/2025.
Maine Mariners bring back last season’s leading scorer, 3rd year right wing Mathew Santos(16) after scoring a handy 26 goals and 33 assists with a +3 rating.
After 4 years in the OHL, the 6′ 183 lbs. forward played a single season for Toledo Walleye as a rookie, but then took a season off before departing for Ryerson University Rams, where he spent the next three years though only played his 1st two there and maybe got COVID knocked for his 3rd.
It will be zero surprise to see the 27-year old Etobicoke, ON native add to his ECHL totals.
For a 2nd straight season he blows the lid off scoring with 16 goals and 28 assists in 38 games, while getting loaned up to Milwaukee Admirals for 17 AHL games.
He will try to take his game up a notch, signing for 2023/2024 in Slovak Extraliga with HC Dukla Michalovce.
An amazing season, scoring 22 goals and 14 assists through 46 games, then adds another 8 points in 6 playoff matchups with a +7, but he oddly signs in DEL2 for 2024/2025 with Ravensburg Towerstars.
University Of Wisconsin-River Falls Falcons‘ graduate right wing Mike Gelatt(27) wastes little time signing a pto with Peoria Rivermen to get some pro playing time experience in.
The 6’3″ 205 lbs. forward was good last season, but maybe not quite what he was able to put together as a senior for Skidmore College Thoroughbreds, when he got 11 goals and 12 assists in 25 games before getting eliminated in the NEHC Tournament Final.
He has a 1st SPHL goal in his 6th sighting and 2 assists in 7 total matchups thus far.
The 25-year old from Middletown, NJ could easily play himself up a level.
He comes away with 11 goals and 16 assists in 34 games with a +14 rating, then adds 6 points in 7 playoff matchups.
For 2024/2025, he receives a 2-way ECHL contract with the new Bloomington Bison.
3rd year net minder Dryden McKay(45) had his ECHL team of last season implode, cease to exist in Newfoundland Growlers, but signs with Ontario Reign for 2024/2025.
The 6′ 181 lbs. goalie was completely outstanding through 4 years at Minnesota State University-Mankato Mavericks and won basically any award he could, including the 2022 Hobey Baker.
We think he still needs clearance to come back into his game, but feel it is right there waiting.
Undrafted defenseman Greg Moro(3) takes a pair of seasons under AHL contract with Stockton Heat, but spending the majority of his time, 44 ECHL games with affiliate Kansas City Mavericks to a new adventure overseas, signing with SaiPa of Liiga for 2022/2023.
The 6’4″ 205 lbs. blue liner did get a goal in each of his years up with the contract club and even connected with 6 assists in 13 games last frame to likely get him the look in Finland’s top league.
He spent a very productive and highly accountable four seasons at Clarkson University Golden Knights, leaving a +28 rating.
The 26-year old from Edmonton, AB will definitely need to continue to elevate his game in this tough hockey, but could easily blend in nicely as well.
He actually spends the better part of two seasons in Finland’s highest hockey before switching to Czech Extraliga late last season with HC Kometa Brno.
For 2024/2025, he spots probably the best decision for him moving forward and signs with Steinbach Black Wings Linz of IceHL.
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.
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.
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.
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.
