3rd year center Robbie Payne(23) took 2020/2021 off due to COVID protocols, just like his team did, but he circles back to re-sign Adirondack Thunder for 2021/2022.
The 5’11” 194 lbs. former Northern Michigan University Wildcats‘ senior captain scored 24 goals that season to put him on Dallas Stars‘ radar.
For his rookie campaign, he would sign with affiliate Texas Stars and split time with their ECHL club Idaho Steelheads, where he was a point-per-game player.
The 28-year old last ignited the scoresheet in his 1st two years of juniors with Kalamazoo Jr. K-Wings, running 119 points in 116 NAHL games.
It’s easily possible the Gaylord, MI native finds the route to the net on a more often basis.
He took another season off last year after 2 good sessions for Cleveland Monsters.
Next he will take his game to Erste Liga and signs with Ferencvarosi TC for 2024/2025.
5th year defenseman Blake Thompson(8) is taking his game overseas for 2022/2023, signing with Cardiff Devils.
The 6’1″ 205 lbs. blue liner is coming off a career year, scoring a new best 20 assists and 25 points.
He even scored a 1 AHL game loan up to Hartford Wolf Pack.
The former St. Norbert College Green Knights‘ d-man twice had close to 20 assists in a frame.
We think the 29-year old is going to find good room in the EIHL to continue to elevate his game.
He returns home from a pair of decent frames overseas and signs a 1-year ECHL deal with South Carolina Stingrays for 2024/2025.
University Of Maine Black Bears‘ 5th year graduate student, right wing Jack Quinlivan(4) signs his 1st contract for 2022/2023 with close to home, Worcester Railers.
His home base is the town next door, Shrewsbury.
The 6′ 194 lbs. forward has struggled some scoring, grabbing only 6 assists as 2nd year captain last season, but we feel he could come alive as a pro in a different environment.
At 26-years old, he should step right in.
Through 10 ECHL games, he got 2 goals and 1 assist, but was sidelined with injuries and they discovered papillary thyroid cancers to exit him.
He will return for his next official rookie season 2023/2024.
In 32 games, he comes away with 6 goals and 6 assists, but he is completely injury plagued, so enough is enough, he decides to call it quits and will become an amazing coach, if he decides on that route for himself.
Union College Bobcats‘ senior goaltender Connor Murphy(1) came over after 2 seasons at Northeastern University Huskies finished up 31 games and signs a first pro deal, an ato with Calgary Wranglers, which puts him with a top-rated AHL team to start things up with.
The 6’4″ 200 lbs. net minder has never exactly produced outstanding stats, but I think to just look at him and how centered he is to the frame makes him a natural to give a shot to.
He had one year of super-strong junior hockey performance in the CCHL with Carleton Place Canadians before committing to school.
The 24-year old from Hudson Falls, NY may just shine if given the chance.
He signs on to stay for his rookie season in Alberta with the minor league club.
In a split schedule with ECHL affiliate Rapid City Rush, he does decently enough with both for another look and is signed to wear a Wranglers‘ sweater for 2024/2025.
8th year center Philippe Maillet(61) returned last season to Laval Rocket under a 1-year NHL deal with Montreal Canadiens and scored quite well with a new AHL best 21 goals.
The 5’10” 185 lbs. forward is leaving again, this time he joins NL and signs with HC Ambri-Piotta for 2024/2025.
He came back from 2 very strong sessions in the KHL for Metallurg Magnitogorsk.
From Lachenaie, QC, the 31-year old played 4 years of QMJHL, then went to University Of New Brunswick Reds for another 4.
He will do really well in Switzerland.
Canisius College Golden Griffins‘ graduate center Griffin Loughran(13) finishes up at his 3rd school with a decent run of 6 goals and 9 assists in 21 games.
It’s nowhere near the 23 goals and 16 assists in 37 games set as a sophomore at Northern Michigan University Wildcats, but is within the range of regularly striking to connect.
The small 5’7″ 146 lbs. forward has 2 junior hockey frames, but really excelled in his 2nd term with Fargo Force, where he helped them win the 2018 USHL Clark Cup Championship.
From Orchard Park, NY, the 25-year also played his senior year at Michigan State University Spartans, signs a 1st pro deal with Savannah Ghost Pirates and pretty quickly has 2 assists in 5 Echl games with a +2 rating.
He signs with Worcester Railers for 2024/2025 and we think this is a good ECHL team for him to gain league footing.
Hobart College Statesmen senior captain, center Zach Tyson(16) helped his team to the NCAA Division 3 Championship and will head to France2, signing a 1st pro deal with Mont Blanc for 2023/2024.
The 5’8″ 165 lbs. forward had a college high 11 goals last season with his 2 best frames coming as a freshman and junior, where he scored 27 points.
He played 3 sessions of juniors, winning the 2016 USPHL Premier and having his most productive run in his final campaign for South Shore Kings of the USPHL/NCDC.
We see the 25-year old from Dublin, OH playing his way up overseas.
After 18 games, worth 2 goals and 15 assists, he decides to return and signs with Huntsville Havoc of the SPHL for 2024/2025 and we expect him to see scoring success.
10th year center Rylan Schwartz(13) helped his club Lowen Frankfurt win the 2022 DEL2 Championship with 14 points (6 goals, 8 assists) in 12 playoff games, and for his efforts earns a promotion up to their DEL team.
This will be his 7th year playing in either of Germany’s top leagues.
The 5’10” 192 lbs. forward left after a particularly good season for Orlando Solar Bears, scoring 23 goals and 19 assists in 40 ECHL games.
As an unrestricted free agent, graduating top scorer at Colorado College Tigers, he signed a 2-year entry deal with San Jose Sharks.
The 32-year old, who calls where he plays his half birth home, is likely pretty happy to be still playing good hockey.
For 2023/2024, he will stay on for a 3rd campaign with his champion club.
He would move down to DEL2 and signs with EC Kassel Huskies and does ok, especially in the playoffs.
At 34-years old, he is heading out for a new kind of hockey in the EIHL and signs with Glasgow Clan for 2024/2025.
Worcester Railers signed Long Island University Sharks‘ graduate left wing Adam Goodsir(18) after he finished up his only season there at the independent school, scoring by miles a new college best 15 goals and 19 assists in 35 games.
The 6′ 194 lbs. forward is off to a good ECHL start scoring 4 assists in 3 games.
He committed to his first school, Michigan State University Spartans after his 2nd USHL season as captain for Tri-City Storm.
His decent size makes the 24-year old from Okemos, MI one to watch.
After posting 5 assists and generally just looking like he belongs out there, he signs with the Railers for his rookie year in 2023/2024.
He actually gets moved in a future considerations deal with Iowa Heartlanders and they will be the team he skates for this season.
Through 53 games, he scores 4 goals and 9 assists with a not so great plus/minus, but he’s a got fit and asked to return for 2024/2025 and wear the Heartlanders‘ colors.
Rookie left wing Jack Olmstead(9) blew up scoring in Finland’s Division 2 for Amals SK to the tune of 28 goals and 29 assists in 27 games played and wants to return close to home late season, signing with Kalamazoo Wings for their playoff run.
The 5’10” 181 lbs. forward played 3 years at Miami University (Ohio) Redhawks, but wasn’t really a big scorer and that came after 2 years of little use with University Of Michigan Wolverines.
From Troy, MI, the 25-year old only did 1 NAHL season, popping the scoring for Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Knights for 23 goals and 30 assists.
We are interested to see if his scoring can extend into the ECHL, but we suspect he’ll connect.
He doesn’t much connect in his time back and looks to an opportunity in Germany3 with EC Bad Tolz for 2024/2025.
