Harvard University Crimson‘ senior defenseman Kyle Aucoin(6) will look to extend a year and head a little closer to home at Miami University (Ohio) Redhawks for a graduate start in 2025/2026.
The 6′ 185 lbs. hard-hitting d-man doesn’t score much, getting a college high 2 goals and 2 assists in 28 games last season.
From Ottawa, ON, the 23-year old is a Detroit Red Wings‘ 6th round pick of 2020 (#156 overall), but his rights were traded to Tampa Bay Lightning.
His dad is Adrian Aucoin.
Left unsigned by draft team, he agrees with Indy Fuel after tournament play concludes.
He gains 1 assist in what is left of the regular frame, then adds another in the playoffs to grab a new 1-year deal for his rookie season 2026/2027 as a Fuel.
Quinnipiac University Bobcats‘ graduate center Jack Ricketts(28) takes some college highs scoring 20 goals to a 1st pro contract with Utah Grizzlies for his rookie season, 2025/2026.
In his 1st 9 ECHL games, he has 4 goals and 1 assist with a 0 rating.
The 6’1″ 194 lbs. forward came over from top scoring at Holy Cross College Crusaders, where he had 35 points in 39 games with a +18 rating.
From Oakville, ON, the 26-year old is off to a great start and looks good for a loan up.
In 31 games, he scores 5 goals and 5 assists with a +4 rating to receive an invite to return a Roadrunners for a 2nd season in 2026/2027.
Lake Superior State University Lakers‘ senior captain, left wing Connor Millburn(91) takes his 6’5″ 212 lbs. frame to a 1st pro deal with Fort Wayne Komets, but after 3 games, 1 assist, he is traded to Greenville Swamp Rabbits.
In 10 ECHL games with his new club, he has 2 assists with a 0 rating on a playoff bound team.
He scored best in college as a sophomore with 16 goals and 19 assists in 34 games.
From Kamloops, BC, the 25-year old did 3 BCHL years, the last as captain with Chilliwack Chiefs.
He would score a 1st goal to add to his assists in 13 games with a +1 rating and is signed to stay a Swamp Rabbits for his rookie season in 2026/2027.
4th year left wing Peter Laviolette(11) got ECHL waived and picked up quick by Savannah Ghost Pirates in hopes to get him producing points the way his size 6’4″ 220 lbs. thinks it should.
He was almost a point-per-game scorer in his graduate year at Plymouth State University Panthers.
Twice did he score 11 points with West Virginia hometown Wheeling Nailers, a team he spent 3 seasons with.
The 28-year old is the son of Coach Laviolette.
After 12 games, he decides for 2026/2027 to head behind of the bench of his old club in Wheeling and serve as an assistant coach.
University Of New Hampshire Wildcats‘ graduate defenseman Luke Reid(16) signs a 1st pro deal with Adirondack Thunder and in 6 ECHL games had 1 goal and 1 assist with a +3 rating to get him loaned up to affiliate Utica Comets for 5 AHL games, where he got himself 2 assists and a +1 rating.
The 6’1″ 200 lbs. blue liner from Warman, SK did 1 BCHL year before recording identical points in 2 USHL seasons for Chicago Steel before college.
He is 23-years old and was a Nashville Predators‘ 6th round pick in 2020 (#166 overall), but not sign and will need a new rookie deal for 2025/2026, we think will be at the upper level, 2-way.
After his 2 game loan up, he gets to claim a 1-year deal to return to the Comets for 2025/2026, his rookie frame.
He spends the season in the lower league, scoring 3 goals and 16 assists with a +7 rating, he takes to a new contract for 2026/2027 with rivals Reading Royals.
Long Island University Sharks‘ senior captain, defenseman John Gormley(92) signs a 1st pro contract with San Jose Barracuda, a 2-year, 2-way deal.
The big 6’4″ 225 blue liner played 7 AHL games with 1 assist, but was also reassigned to Wichita Thunder for 6 ECHL games, no points before being recalled.
From the Bronx, NY, the 24-year old did 2 NAHL junior years before college.
We look for his size to help him establish zone and do well.
The big d-man is spotted by Bakersfield Condors, who take a shot on him for 2026/2027.
Boston Bruins‘ sign unrestricted free agent center John Farinacci(26) to a 2-year NHL entry level deal after finishing up his 4th year at Harvard University Crimson as senior captain.
He was originally an Arizona Coyotes‘ 3rd round pick in the 2019 draft (#76 overall), but went oddly unsigned.
The 6’ 190 lbs. forward from Red Bank, NJ came north for his high school hockey, but played little junior hockey before committing to school.
He is the Crimson coach Ted Donato‘s nephew.
In his 2nd season in the minors, he scores 9 goals and a new best 28 assists to earn himself a 1st recall.
He skates 16 shifts for 10:58 ice time with 1 shot that equaled a 1st NHL goal and 3 hits for his debut, a 5-4 overtime loss.
In his 2nd season in the minors, he matches his 1st year totals with 38 points with a +9 rating and plays a 1st game in the big league to score himself a new deal with the Bruins for 2025/2026, as a restricted free agent.
The restricted free agent going into 2026/2027 isn’t re-upped, so signs a 1-year AHL deal with Milwaukee Admirals that we know is under the radar of the parent club.
Ohio State University Buckeyes‘ graduate right wing Michael Gildon(18) takes a college best 5 goals in 34 games with a +3 rating last season to a 1st pro deal with Worcester Railers.
The 6’2″ 196 lbs. forward from Plano, TX played 2 seasons USNTDP and wasn’t too bad on the scoresheet.
We think the decently-sized skater finds more room for scoring opportunities in the ECHL.
He signs with Jacksonville Icemen for his rookie season, 2024/2025.
Actually, he ends up with Fort Wayne Komets and things go pretty smoothly with 5 goals and 3 assists with a +2 rating in 23 games, but gets himself traded to Allen Americans, who bring him home.
In his 1st full season with his new team, he scores 21 goals and 34 assists in a full rack of 72 games with a +21 rating that easily gets him re-signed to stay an Americans for 2026/2027.
UMASS-Lowell Riverhawks‘ senior center Connor Eddy(13) scored fairly consistent 10+ point campaigns through college hockey.
The 6’1″ 216 lbs. forward did 3 BCHL years with Victoria Grizzlies, scoring point-per-game marks in his final frame.
He first committed at Northern Michigan University Wildcats, signs a 1st pro deal with Orlando Solar Bears and has a 1st ECHL goal and 2 assists in 10 games with a +2 rating.
From Victoria, BC, we can see the 23-year old scoring well in this league.
For his rookie season, 2026/2027 he is invited to continue spending it as a Solar Bears.
Colorado College Tigers‘ senior net minder Matt Vernon(30) posts a college career best 2.57 GAA on a 4-6-1 record with 2 shutouts to a 1st pro deal with Reading Royals.
In 2 ECHL games, he is about equal to his last season school hockey stats.
The 5’11” 175 lbs. backstop had his best junior run in his 2nd NAHL season for Aberdeen Wings to win a 2018 Robertson Cup and pretty much collect all the goalie awards and MVP.
From San Jose, CA, the 25-year old will likely have to prove his game every step of the way.
For 2023/2024, he signs for his rookie season with Jacksonville Icemen, which should turn out to be a good landing spot for him to prove what he can do.
He does pretty well for his first year with a 25-10-3 record, 2.67 GA and .909 SV% to earn a new deal for the son of 1997 Stanley Cup Champion Mike Vernon in an Icemen sweater 2024/2025.
Another nice job done in the cage with a 24-8-6 record, but he is eyeing another opportunity and signs with HC Innsbruck Sharks of IceHL for 2025/2026.
He struggles some on maybe a not so hot club and has decided to return a little closer to home, signing with Norfolk Admirals for 2026/2027.
