Charlotte Checkers‘ rookie defenseman Zach Uens(15) has a 1st AHL goal in his 5th of 6 games played.
The 6’1″ 185 lbs. blue liner appears to have started his 1st season a bit late, but has appeared in each contest since.
A Florida Panthers‘ 4th round pick in 2020 (#65 overall), he left 1 year at Merrimack College Warriors on the table to turn pro with a 3-year NHL entry level contract.
The Belleville, ON native twice put up 10+ assists in three seasons at college and had similar marks in 2 years of OJHL juniors.
At the still young age of 21 years old, we do believe he is just getting started.
13th year defenseman Matt Bartkowski(43) was released from his tryout by New York Rangers as the new season begun.
It took him a few weeks to find himself a new deal for 2022/2023, but he decides to sign with Rochester Americans.
The 6’1″ 194 lbs. blue liner will add to his 436 AHL game total and even if he misses a few games could roll 500 games played in the league.
He also has 236 NHL appearances to his credit.
The former 2-year Ohio State University Buckeyes was originally a Florida Panthers‘ 7th round pick in 2008 (#190 overall), but signed his 1st entry level deal with Boston Bruins, where he stuck in the system for 5 sessions, including his 1st pair of full frames in the big league.
At 34-years old, he has earned well, so must just still love playing the game and giving back at this point to the younger set playing minor league hockey.
Undrafted rookie right wing Josh McKechney(7) signs for 2022/2023 with Maine Mariners after spending 3 ECHL games skating for Atlanta Gladiators, scoring 2 assists.
The 6’2″ 201 lbs. forward did 5 years at Colgate University Raiders, scoring his college best totals as a graduate, getting 14 goals and 13 assists with a +8 rating.
From Calgary, AB, he was part of back-to-back 2016 & 2017 AJHL Championships, running big totals for Brooks Bandits.
After 5 games with 1 assist to his credit, but a -4 rating, he finds himself traded for a new lease on life to Wheeling Nailers.
Rookie net minder Owen Savory(31) has been bouncing around to a lot of teams without so much as getting any time in net before now, when he finally lands with Kansas City Mavericks after they trade to bring him in as their goalie for 2022/2023.
In his senior year at UMass-Lowell Riverhawks, he had a record of 20-7-2 with a 1.93 GAA and .926 SV%, worthy of a Hobey Baker nod.
The 6′ 185 lbs. goaltender had similar marks in his last pair of junior sessions in the GOJHL for St. Catherines Falcons with identical 1.99 GAA marks and an average of .930 SV%.
Undrafted, this 25-year old just needs a chance to prove his game as a pro.
Coachella Valley Firebirds‘ 7th year defenseman Eddie Wittchow(20) is with a 1st new team in 3 seasons after spending his first three minor league deals with Hershey Bears.
Originally a Florida Panthers‘ 6th round pick in 2011 (#154 overall), he was in their system for 2 years before being left unqualified after his best AHL season, scoring 5 goals and 10 assists with a +3 rating in 55 games.
The former University Of Wisconsin Badgers‘ senior captain was never the biggest scorer through college.
We do think the 29-year old from Burnsville, MN will bring some accountability to the new club’s blue line.
Allen Americans‘ rookie net minder Francis Marotte(35) is enjoying a very decent first season posting a 6-3-1 record on a club that’s one of the better ranked in the ECHL for 2020/2021.
The former Clarkson University Golden Knights portal transfer from 3 previous years with Robert Morris University Colonials posted huge numbers as a senior for his new team, 23-8-3 record with a measly 1.78 GAA and .938 SV%.
A Quebec native, he did a few years of junior hockey in Canada, starting out in the BCHL, but after one season agreed to a pair of campaigns for Nepean Raiders of the CCHL, where he found his future school.
He did get himself on New York Islanders‘ radar and signed a deal with the team, but it’s thought to possibly be an AHL deal, as he did appear in a pair of dates for affiliate Bridgeport Sound Tigers.
The 26-year old re-signs to finish the job in Texas, as he ended last campaign 8-3-1 with a 2.54 GAA, .917 SV% and 1 shutout.
After ascending to the radar of Anaheim Ducks‘ and scoring an invite to their training camp, he was invited to continue with affiliate San Diego Gulls‘, where he scooped himself a 1-year AHL contract for 2021/2022.
He played a career best 8 games up, but was mostly reassigned to the ECHL with affiliate Allen Americans.
For 2022/2023, he decides to spread his wings a bit signing a 1-year deal with Dundee Stars, where he should be a leading goalie on more than one occasion.
Wheeling Nailers‘ rookie defenseman Matt Foley(24) spent four years at Yale University Bulldogs before arriving to his 1st pro deal.
The decently sized blue liner (6’1″ 194 lbs.) definitely has a more stay-at-home style considering he has just two goals and 16 assists in 88 NCAA games.
Through 33 contests in the ECHL, the defender is credited with 3 helpers and is a -1 on a team that struggles to score and cobble together wins.
The Massachusetts’ native played a pair of seasons at the junior level, heading up to Canada’s BCHL initially for maybe his best outing before agreeing to college and doing another year with Bloomington Thunder of the USHL.
At 26-years old he’s getting going a bit late but has arrived and that’s what’s most important.
For 2022/2023, he decides to leave for Belfast Giants and already has 3 assists in 4 EIHL games with a +3 rating.
Sophomore center Chris Pappas(11) transfers out just a single season at St. Lawrence University Saints for a new opportunity with Long Island University Sharks.
The 5’11” 165 lbs. forward could strike for his new club like he did for Brooks Bandits in 2 AJHL seasons.
After 4 strong seasons of + play for UMass Minutemen, left wing Anthony Del Gaizo(12) signs a 1st pro contract with South Carolina Stingrays for 2022/2023.
We think the 5’10” 194 lbs. rookie forward will find some room in the ECHL format to score some points for his new club.
He had an absolute gang buster 3rd junior frame for Muskegon Lumberjacks, scoring 40 goals and 32 assists in 60 USHL games, named for most goals, points and mvp before heading to school.
The Basking Ridge, NJ native was also part of his college club’s outstanding 2021 NCAA Division 1 Championship run.
Rookie center Eetu Selanne(23) signs a 1st pro deal with Roanoke Rail Yard Dawgs for 2022/2023 after spending 3 seasons at Curry College Colonels, which followed 2 years with Northeastern University Huskies.
He scored decently with 7 goal and 8 assists in 27 NCAA D3 games last season, but hasn’t been exactly the biggest point getter throughout his career.
The 5’10” 170 lbs. forward may find some room in the SPHL to get on the scoring sheet, which wouldn’t be a surprise to see, considering his dad is Teemu Selanne.
