Roanoke Rail Yard Dawgs‘ 2nd year defenseman Benjamin Lindberg(29) was twice loaned up to the ECHL and in 3 games to end the 2025/2026 with Tahoe Lake Monsters scored 1 assist in with a +3 rating.
The 6’3″ 194 lbs. blue liner turned pro, leaving 1 year on the table at Morrisville State College Mustangs, but was also not playing a full slate in any frame.
From East Aurora, NY, the 26-year old we feel will play himself up on a more permanent basis.
New Hampshire Avalanche 1st year defenseman Ryan Sember(2) score 2 goals and 12 assists in 20 games.
The 5’8″ 165 lbs. blue liner skated most of 3 seasons with New England Wolves, but left when they went up to another level.
From Rochester, NY, the 19-year old plays like a leader out there and commits to University Of St. Joseph Blue Jays f0r 2026/2027.
12th year left wing Mike Connolly(22) will spend an 8th season in a Straubing Tigers‘ uniform.
The 5’9″ 181 lbs. forward had his best year scoring 19 goals and 53 points in 2021/2022.
He has 5 times put up 30+ assists for this team.
The top scorer in his 3 campaigns at University Of Minnesota-Duluth Bulldogs, hitting 54 points in 42 NCAA Division 1 games as a senior.
He only played 2 sessions in the AHL and did appear in 2 NHL games with Colorado Avalanche after a rookie trade sent him away from San Jose Sharks‘ system.
At 33-years old, the Calgary, AB native has to be pretty happy about how his pro hockey life is still going.
He scores 16 goals and 22 assists in 50 DEL games last season and yup, will return for a 9th season in a Tigers‘ jersey.
2024/2025 will be his 10th season in a Straubing uniform, coming after a 34 assist, 45 point season.
Well, after 11 frames in the same uniform for the Tigers‘, he decides it’s time to stop playing pro hockey and should honestly be absorbed behind the bench where he is.
New Jersey 87’s 1st year defenseman Jack Napieralski(6) put up a pretty outstanding 10 goals and 35 assists in 50 EHL games last season that he takes to his 2026/2027 commit at North Carolina State University Icepack.
The 6’1″ 172 lbs. wasn’t a huge scorer at juniors until his last season.
From Rochester, NY, the 19-year old should do well at his new school.
New Hampshire Mountain Kings‘ 2nd year defenseman Rogiero Cacciarelli(7) had his 2nd 20+ point junior hockey season and commits to Endicott College Gulls for 2026/2027.
The 6’1″ 190 lbs. blue liner from Valencia, CA was in Los Angeles Jr. Kings‘ system for a few years of youth hockey.
We look for the 20-year old to do well in CNE play.
Franklin Pierce University Ravens‘ senior defenseman, captain Douglas McGuire(2) scores a college best 6 goals and 15 assists last season.
The 5’10” 170 lbs. blue liner did 1 season of juniors before school and won the 2022 EHL Championship.
From Elk Grove Village, IL, the 24-year old signs a 1st pro deal with Monroe Mocassins.
In 8 FPHL games, he has no points, but is a +1 rating and will need a new deal for 2026/2027.
Northeast Generals‘ 2nd year left wing Finn Connor(14) takes his junior best 7 NAHL goals last season to his 2026/2027 commit at Suffolk University Rams.
The 6’1″ 185 lbs. forward did his youth hockey with his junior team before heading to USHS-Prep, where he scored huge.
From Hampton, NH, the 21-year should connect against CNE rivals.
Merrimack College Warriors‘ freshman 6’8″ larger than a house goaltender, Swedish-born Hugo Ollas(1) is off to a good 5-3 start with a 2.47 GAA and .908 SV%.
He played all his youth and junior hockey close to home with Linkoping HC U16-J20.
The 19-year old even played a 2 SHL games going 0-1, but with a 1.99 GAA and .903 SV%.
It is going to be interesting to pay attention to see if the New York Rangers‘ 7th round pick in the 2020 draft (#197 overall) plays out 4 years or signs an entry level earlier.
Leaving his senior year on the table, he agrees to a 2-year NHL entry level deal with the Rangers and will report to affiliate Hartford Wolf Pack to play out the rest of the frame.
This was a bit of an easy-see.
After spending all of last season, helping ECHL affiliate Bloomington Bison get into their 1st playoffs, he was still maybe not going to be re-upped and he heads home, signing with Nybro Vikings IF of HockeyAllsvenskan for 2026/2027.
Northeastern University Huskies‘ freshman defenseman Dylan Compton(4) appeared in 36 games, getting 4 goals and 6 assists with a +2 rating.
The 6′ 187 lbs. blue liner had 40 assists in his 2nd USHL season with Waterloo Blackhawks.
From Victoria, BC, the undrafted 21-year old enters the transfer portal to next play his college hockey at University Of Wisconsin Badgers.
Merrimack College Crusaders‘ senior left wing Mick Messner(10) is having a breakout campaign in his 2nd year with the team since being a portal transfer from 2 seasons at University Of Wisconsin Badgers.
In just 7 NCAA Division 1 games, he has a goal and 4 assists with a +4 rating.
The 5’11” 194 lbs. forward had mostly always connected for points through close to home high school in Madison, WI and 2 and a half USHL seasons for the Capitals.
At still just 22-years old looks poised to post Hockey East college career highs in 2021/2022, making him a nice unrestricted rookie pick up, if he decides to turn pro.
He spends a graduate season at the school and posts 5 goals and 4 assists in 35 games with a +6 rating on the way to a Hockey East Finals bout.
It takes him little time to agree to a pro deal, signing with Utah Grizzlies, where he has no points through 6 games with a +1 rating.
His efforts earn him an ECHL contract for 2023/2024 to wear that Grizzlies‘ jersey as a rookie.
He had a nice full frame, scoring 15 goals and 23 assists in a full slate of 72 games, gets him wanted back to continue wearing that Utah shirt.
As an assistant, he scores a new pro best 16 goals and 24 assists in another complete 72 game schedule and will return for his 3rd season as Grizzlies‘ team captain.
After 3 games, he has a change of attitude, sees an opportunity overseas to sign with HC Banska Bystrica for 2025/2026 in Slovak Extraliga and has an assist in his debut.
With 4 goals and 4 assists in 28 games, we don’t think it’s such a bad showing, but maybe he’s not as happy as he wants to be and shifts his game to sign with Glasgow Clan of the EIHL for the remainder of 2025/2026.
In 17 games, he scores a big 10 goals and 2 assists to gain an easy invite to return a Clan for 2026/2027.
