Boston College Eagles‘ graduate defenseman Justin Wells(8) signs a 1st pro hockey deal, sort of close to home North Canton, OH with Iowa Heartlanders for 2022/2023.
Not exactly the biggest scorer, he did notch 2 goals and 7 assists in 31 NCAA Division 1 games with a +22 rating as a senior at Bowling Green University Falcons.
He also didn’t score big in 2 seasons of USHL juniors for Sioux Falls Stampede, but was always a plus player on ice.
The big 6’4″ 200 lbs., 24-year old will definitely give his new club’s blue line some added backbone.
He records 9 assists in 59 ECHL games last season with a -11 rating that needs to be cleaned up.
They see something in the big d-man they like and invite back to continue.
Norwich University Cadets‘ graduate right wing Noah Williams(12) decides to turn pro and signs a 1st SPHL contract with Evansville Thunderbolts for 2023/2024.
He posted his highest scoring totals as a senior captain with 7 goals and 9 assists in just 17 games.
The 6’1″ 185 lbs. forward played only 1 season of junior hockey up north, splitting his time between the AJHL and CCHL.
25-years old from Potsdam, NY, he will definitely have to prove he can score as a pro.
5th year defenseman Myles McGurty(16) signs for 2023/2024 with Nottingham Panthers of the EIHL.
He had an ECHL best 22 assists and 24 points last season with 2nd year team Worcester Railers.
The 6’1″ 201 lbs. blue liner from Weehawken, NJ started playing junior hockey up north in the QMJHL for a few different teams before heading to Dalhousie University Tigers for 5 CIS/USports‘ sessions.
He signed his 1st deal out of school to play in Erste Liga for Fehervari Titanok, but last only 5 games (2 assists) before he returned to deals that would eventually settle with Rapid City Rush.
We definitely see the 29-year old has worked his way to do very well in this English hockey league.
3rd year right wing Colton Kehler(34) is setting himself for a career year scoring with 10 goals and 7 assists in 18 ECHL games for 2nd year club, Idaho Steelheads.
He scored a pretty phenomenal 17 goal and 19 assists as a league rookie last season.
The 5’9″ 189 lbs. forward skated his 1st pro season in Germany3 for Herner EV 2007 Miners, lighting it up for 17 goals and 21 assists in 35 games over the course of a COVID-deadened 2020/2021.
A former 3-year Edmonton Oil Kings, the Port Coquitlam, BC native went out to a couple of years at University Of British Columbia Thunderbirds before turning pro.
The 25-year old has yet to be loaned up to the AHL, but we think we’re looking at the possibility to be imminent.
He comes away from his 2nd session with 14 goals and 11 assists in 51 games with a +11 rating, then got within 1 step of winning the whole thing and scored 6 points in 17 playoff match ups.
Not much thought needs to be put into bringing him back for a 3rd full season in a Steelheads‘ uniform.
Undrafted 3rd year defenseman Eric Williams(20) signs a 5th ECHL contract, joining Norfolk Admirals for 2021/2022.
He originally signed with Manchester Monarchs fresh out of college and skated 2 games scoring 2 assists to get his pro start.
The 6’1″ 185 lbs. blue liner was also loaned up to Charlotte Checkers, appearing in a pair of AHL games, then continuing with their playoff run, grabbing a helper in a pair of contests.
He would next appear with Utah Grizzlies, but was actually under contract to Colorado Eagles, and stuck for a full campaign, getting 7 goals and 16 assists in 62 games with a +19 rating.
The Newmarket, ON native would split the crazy 2020/2021 with a couple teams after signing with 2 others that could not play 2020/2021, and seemingly never could find his footing.
As a 26-year old, the former 4-year Northeastern University Huskies‘ captain should be able to excel nicely in a free and clear frame, but we’ll also see if his current club will help bolster that effort.
He was loaned up to Chicago Wolves for a career high 24 games, scoring 6 assists with a +7 rating, but will return for a 2nd season in Virginia.
Stayed in Virginia for most of a 2nd year, he exploded his assist total to 21 on a team with plenty of struggles.
He would also get loaned up again, but eventually traded to Allen Americans, where he seemed to blend in well and has been invited back for 2023/2024, his 5th season.
5th year right wing Tyler Bird(7) signs on for another year with the only team he’s agreed to his last 4 contracts with, Orlando Solar Bears.
He was able to post a new career high 19 goals and 33 points last season.
The 6’2″ 200 lbs. forward has also enjoyed a few loans up to the AHL and has 3 assists in 7 games.
A Brown University Bears‘ graduate, he only played a very brief time in juniors 2 years before heading to school.
The 25-year old, Boston, MA native should continue to do well.
16 goals and 18 assists in 70 ECHL games with a single game loan up to San Jose Barracuda gets him in invite for a 5th year back to Florida.
3rd year left wing Tyson Pelton-Bice(17) re-signs with Idaho Steelheads after exploding his ECHL scoring totals last season with way new bests 19 goals and 27 assists in just 43 games with a +26 rating, then added another 17 points (9, 8) in 20 playoff match ups with a +8.
The 6’2″ 194 lbs. forward from Madison, WI shattered scoring at his high school before committing to 1 season of USHL with Des Moines Buccaneers that was also a big plus to 2 years at Harvard University Crimson.
It took him only a session to blow up scoring at the college level.
Undrafted, he would move on to his junior year at University Of Wisconsin Badgers, where he was well-above a point-per-game player as a senior assistant captain.
Still young at 26-years old, his 1st pair of contracts were with Manitoba Moose and we do see him playing himself up with his numbers moving.
10th year center Corban Knight(9) signs to stay on for a 3rd season with Avangard Omsk Hawks.
Originally a Florida Panthers‘ 5th round pick in the 2008 draft (#135 overall), he eventually signed an entry level deal with Calgary Flames after completing 4 successful years at University Of North Dakota Fighting Hawks.
He would next sign with the team that selected him and play a career high 20 NHL games, scoring 2 goals and 5 assists.
For the 6’2″ 195 lbs. forward final big league contract, he agreed to terms with Philadelphia Flyers and appeared in 23 games before deciding to next leave for the KHL.
The 32-year old from Oliver, BC put up a career best 30 assists and 48 points last season and raised the 2021 Gagarin Cup with his current club and also was credited with the most points in a session by a foreigner.
He didn’t match his totals from the previous campaign, but 15 goals and 19 assists through 58 games with a +14 rating, then adding another 10 points (5-5) in 14 playoff matchups, and easily he would be in good standing.
For 2023/2024, he decides to embark on something different and signs for 1-year with SC Bern of NL.
He should do really well in Switzerland’s top hockey.
Idaho Steelheads‘ rookie defenseman Willie Knierim(29) returns for his 1st official season after skating 16 games with 3 goals and 4 assists on an ato, following 3 years at Arizona State University Sun Devils, which came after 2 at Miami University (Ohio) Redhawks.
The big 6’4″ 225 lbs. forward split his college time for a season back at the USHL with his team Dubuque Fighting Saints.
He only rolled good college numbers as a junior, scoring 15 goals and 9 assists in 36 NCAA Division 1 games, but with that huge frame out there in front of the net in the pro ranks, he will have chances.
The 24-year old from Chicago, IL likely could play his way up a level with some time and luck.
In 53 ECHL games, he strikes for 17 goals and 12 assists with a +23 rating, then adds another 11 (5, 6) in 20 playoff match ups with a +8 to sign to stay on for more in 2023/2024.
University Of Maine Black Bears‘ senior right wing Adam Dawe(24) will take a year of eligibility to a Hockey East rival University Of Connecticut Huskies.
The 5’8″ 161 lbs. forward had his best scoring year as a sophomore, scoring 9 goals and 11 assists, although in the shortened frame of 2020/2021, he was almost a point-per-game player.
A native of Gander, NL he was recruited early before he popped scoring with Notre Dame Hounds of SJHL, then did a USHL junior year for Sioux Falls Stampede and notched 23 goals.
The 23-year old will likely seeing his best success on what is a much better team.
With only a goal in 16 games for his new college club, he has decided to forego his extra year and signs a 1st pro deal with “hometown” team Newfoundland Growlers for 2023.
7 goals and 2 assists in 21 ECHL games leads to a new deal to stay for 2023/2024.
