Mercyhurst University Lakers‘ graduate left wing Eric Esposito(7) exploded the stat sheet in his extra session, good for way beyond a college best 17 goals and 15 assists in 35 games.
The 5’11” 188 lbs. forward has finished up and accepted a contract through the end of the season with Orlando Solar Bears.
A University Of New Hampshire Wildcats‘ 4-year player, he did shine on the scoresheet in his final USHL frame for Youngstown Phantoms before college, but struggled to strike in Hockey East.
The 24-year old from West Haven, CT may find the room he needs to score points in the ECHL.
Worcester Railers‘ newly signed center Paul Boutoussov(29) agrees for 2023 after finishing up his graduate season at Babson College Beavers, almost nearly a year ago at this point
The Dana Point, CA native played 4 years initially at Salve Regina University Seahawks after coming across to skate two seasons for Valley Jr. Warriors post a very short 5 game stint with Fairbanks Ice Dogs that heeded at least an assist.
The 5’10” 170 lbs. forward really blew up scoring in his 2nd EHL session, grabbing 25 goals and 25 assists in 40 games.
He doesn’t have any points in 4 ECHL games, but it may just be a matter of time before the 26-year old connects like he did for 20 in NCAA Division 3 one campaign.
After 7 games in central MA, he gets released and adopted by Orlando Solar Bears with a contract though the end of the season and in his debut in Florida scores 2 in a 6-3 with a +3 game rating.
Western New England University Golden Bears‘ senior goaltender Colten Lancaster(41) decides to take his game pro after his college team was eliminated in a CCC Conference quarterfinal game, agreeing to terms with Port Huron Prowlers of the FPHL.
The sizable 6’3″ 209 lbs. back stop could be quite a presence in net for his new club.
For the Charlie Lake, BC native to be mostly playing on a losing college team, he still managed decently, especially as a senior with a modest 3.79 GAA and .902 SV% through 23 D3 college games.
We expect to see the 24-year old step up.
Endicott College Gulls‘ senior goaltender Conor O’Brien(30) posted a D3 best 1.41 GAA and .949 SV% through 26 games, earning a 19-6-1 record.
The 6’2″ 216 lbs. net minder posted similar numbers as a sophomore.
He took his good numbers to a 1st pro deal with Adirondack Thunder, started one ECHL game and may have not got the win, but certainly did it again, leaving a 1-0 loss with a 1.03 GAA and .971 SV%, saving 34 of 35 shots.
Through a few years of junior hockey, he finally found his spot in the NCDC with Connecticut Jr. Rangers,where he committed to school.
The 24-year old may always have to work for it and prove himself, but from past performances looks pretty sturdy.
For his rookie season, 2022/2023 he signs a 1-year deal with Indy Fuel that should have him seeing a lot of pucks.
He never tended in Indiana, instead appearing in 3 losses for Iowa Heartlanders, resulting in his release, but it took him almost a couple of months to sign with Fayettesville Marksmen, where he’s fitting in nicely through 14 SPHL games with a 2.89 GAA and .916 SV%.
7th year center John McCarron(25) re-signs for his 6th year in uniform with Florida Everblades, and 4th as team captain.
Originally an Edmonton Oilers‘ 6th round pick in the 2012 draft (#153 overall), he never signed, instead after 4 years at Cornell University Big Red, including a best season as junior captain, agreed to terms with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins.
He was mostly reassigned from there to affiliate Wheeling Nailers, where as a rookie he found some of that scoring touch he had as a 2nd year USHL point per game player for Lincoln Stars.
The very large 6’3″ 218 lbs. forward has three times captured 60 points in ECHL games, including new highs set in 2020/2021, 31 goals, 37 assists for 68 points with a +29 rating in 66 games.
There’s little doubt the 29-year old will stay on his point-scoring tear and likely earn some more time in the AHL.
After putting up a career best 41 assists and 70 points in 69 games, he sits the 1st half of 2022/2023 out, but has eventually decided to return to Florida for a 7th session.
Undrafted left wing Chris Van Os-Shaw(20) took 3 years at Minnesota State University (Mankato) Mavericks into the transfer portal to play his senior year at American International College Yellowjackets and that easily turned out to be the right move.
The 6’2″ 201 lbs. forward scored a college career high 7 goals and 8 assists for 15 points with a +1 rating in 36 NCAA Division 1 games.
We think he liked Atlantic Hockey.
The Regina, SK native played 3 seasons of junior hockey, two in the SJHL for Humboldt Broncos before signing on for a breakout campaign with Spruce Grove Saints, winning the 2018 AJHL Championship and he came away with most points, most goals and most valuable player nods.
Upon finishing up the playoffs, he signs a 1st pro contract with Indy Fuel and grabs an assist in his debut, then scores a 1st ECHL goal and adds a helper for a 3 point in 3 game start.
The 24-year old has to have a little smile on his face.
He finishes up 2021/2022 scoring 3 goals and 3 assists in 6 games with a +4 rating; good enough to get an early nod to return for 2022/2023 in a Fuel jersey.
As we are pulling into the 2nd half of the season, he finds himself on the end of a deal sending him to another playoff worthy club, Wichita Thunder for the remainder of the year.
5th year left wing Trey Bradley(14) has once again for a 3rd time run his assist totals to 20+ in a season, once 37 in an ECHL for 2 year team Utah Grizzlies, where he received his only loan up to Colorado Eagles for 10 AHL games, scoring 4 assists.
The 5’10” 163 lbs. forward also played 2 games for Toronto Marlies, recording an assist upon completing 4 years at Colorado College, where he ran up 30+ points as a junior and senior.
For the balance of 2023 though, he has decided to shift his focus, accepting a deal to join Ostersunds IK.
The undrafted 26-year old from Tampa, FL will likely do well in Allsvenskan and possibly see his ranks loaned up to the SHL.
University Of Guelph Gryphons‘ graduate left wing Ted McGeen(11) has decided to leave in the middle of the year to pursue a pro career, signing with Iowa Heartlanders for the balance of 2023.
The 6′ 181 lbs. forward leaves having recorded a college career best 7 assists and 13 points in 19 games.
He originally went to St. Lawrence University Saints for 2 years after winning the 2018 OJHL Championship with one-time team, Wellington Dukes.
A Windsor, ON native, heading to a school in Canada made sense.
The 25-year old may be ready to score some in the ECHL.
Undrafted rookie left wing Neil Robinson(21) signs for his first pro season with Worcester Railers 2021/2022 after taking last season off upon graduating 4 years at Holy Cross College Crusaders.
The 5’11” 185 lbs. forward had his best season as a senior scoring a college high 10 goals and 13 assists for 23 points in 36 Atlantic Hockey games.
He was a very solid scorer in 2 years of Canadian juniors and selected his school early into his 2nd campaign for Brockville Braves, where he potted 39 goals and 27 assists in 62 CCHL games.
If the 26-year old finds his openings, he’ll be able to affect the scoresheet.
Barely even in training camp, he gets waived and immediately picked up by Utah Grizzlies.
He scored a goal and an assist in 3 games for his new club, but suffers a season ending injury in the process.
The Pointe-Claire, QC native re-signs to try again and stay for what will be his official ECHL rookie season 2022/2023.
After appearing in 11 games with 3 goals and 2 assists, he gets traded to Fort Wayne Komets to continue.
He lasts another 11 appearances with his new club, but gets released after a terrible minus rating and immediately scooped by Jacksonville Icemen, seeing something they can use in him.
9th year right wing Shawn O’Donnell(92) takes a couple of seasons of good numbers in Metal Ligaen, most currently for SønderjyskE to a new endeavor with Dornbirner EC of IceHL, Austria.
The 6’2″ 209 lbs. power forward has spent the majority of his playing time in the AHL with Hartford Wolf Pack, but was basically a point-per-game guy in the lower ECHL.
Through junior hockey in the MJAHL, he produced big numbers before heading to college at St. Mary’s University Huskies, where he won the 2010 CIS University Cup Championship as a freshman.
The 33-year old from Cole Harbour, NS is likely to be pretty happy to still be playing pro hockey.
For 2022/2023, he heads back to the 1st league he joined coming over from the US, DEL2 and signs with EHC Freiburg.
After 24 games this season, he has tied his goal mark in the league at 8 and set a new assist high with 19 helpers to earn himself another year of his contract for 2024/2025, which has to be nice for the now 34-year old pivot.
