Category: College Hockey Player

05Aug

Hunter Shepard (30)

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Hershey Bears jumped fairly quickly to sign undrafted, former University Of Minnesota-Duluth Bulldogs‘ 2-time NCAA Champion, captain, goaltender Hunter Shepard(30) to a deal for 2020/2021.

The fairly large 6’1″ 210 lbs. net minder was reassigned to affiliate South Carolina Stingrays, where he has played 14 ECHL games, recording a 6’5-2 record with a 2.84 GAA and .915 SV% on a club headed to the postseason, as there was little room in the crease above for the young goalie.

He has gotten his opportunity to shine though in 2 AHL appearances delivering a pair of wins, including a debut shut out for a .50 GAA and .983 SV%.

The one-time NAHL Goaltender Of The Year in 2016, right before committing to college, the 25-year old has always seemed to work hard for any credit but has to have Washington Capitals step in and offer him an NHL entry level deal, as he is firmly on their radar.

For his efforts backstopping the Bears to a 12th Calder Cup Championship, he is rewarded with a 2-year, 2-way deal that is worth some handsome money wherever he throws on those pads.

He gets to start a 1st game, as the big club is out to a bit of a wobbly start and gets the W in a 6-4 contest, stopping 18 of 22 shots to potentially get a 2nd nod in another night.

His 2-1-1 record wasn’t bad, although maybe his numbers could have improved, but for a 2nd straight season with the affiliate, he posts a 27-4-3 record with a 1.76 GAA and .929 SV% to earn himself the Baz Bastien Award as the AHL’s Most Outstanding Goaltender and will once again look to push his club deep in the playoffs.

He’s all set with a 2-year contract through 2024/2025, so can continue to concentrate on winning.

Very successful in his time, as an unrestricted free agent, he signs a 1-year, 2-way deal with Ottawa Senators.

He is mostly tending net for affiliate Belleville Senators, but does see action in 1 big league game and finds himself traded to Montreal Canadiens, where he will likely report to Laval Rocket.

For 2026/2027, he decides to leave for a 1st time and accepts a deal with Barys Astana of the KHL.

05Aug

Tyler Weiss (40)

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2nd year left wing Tyler Weiss(40) agrees to a 1-year AHL deal with Hershey Bears for 2024/2025 after scoring well last season in the ECHL with Newfoundland Growlers.

The 5’10” 154 lbs. forward was actually signed by Toronto Marlies after twice putting up 20+ assists’ campaigns at University Of Nebraska-Omaha Mavericks.

From Raleigh, NC, the 24-year old did 2 sessions with USNTDP before heading to school.

After scoring a handy 22 goals and 34 assists in 63 games last season with South Carolina Stingrays with a +20 mark, he gets himself a contract with Chicago Wolves for 2025/2026 in a nice job of playing yourself up.

He unfortunately got shipped back down to the affiliate and scored decently even after a trade, but for 2026/2027 he makes the smart move and returns to South Carolina.

05Aug

Jack Millar (5)

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Colorado College Tigers‘ big 6’5″ 220 lbs. assistant captain, senior defenseman Jack Millar(5) signs an pto with Ontario Reign, but appears in only 1 game.

He had a college best 4 goals and 8 assists in 37 last frame.

From Westminster, CO, he stayed close to home for college, but played 2 USHL seasons with Cedar Rapids Roughriders before school.

The 23-year old also did all his youth hockey near home.

He will need a new deal for 2024/2025.

In 62 games under a new deal, he scores 12 assists with a +19 rating, then re-signs for 2 goals and 7 assists in 2025/2026 with another +18 rating.

For 2026/2027, he signs a 2-year deal to stay with the Reign.

05Aug

Ralfs Bergmanis (39)

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Minnesota State University (Mankato) Mavericks‘ Latvian-born senior defenseman Ralfs Bergmanis(39) scored 2 goals and new college hockey best 14 assists and 16 points with a +12 rating in 40 games last season.

The 5’11” 179 lbs. blue liner signs a 1st pro contract in Czechia2 for his rookie season with HC Dukla Jihlava in 2026/2027.

He did most of his youth hockey in Finland, but played 1 season pro back home, then 1 more junior where he did his youth before coming to the USHL.

From there, he 1st committed to University Of Vermont Catamounts for 2 seasons.

He will do well and play up the ladder, if that’s what he’s looking to do.

04Aug

Spencer Asuchak (26)

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Despite only appearing in 6 ECHL games last season, center Spencer Asuchak(26) will wear an Allen Americans‘ sweater for an 11th straight season, in one form or another.

The most games he’s ever dressed for is a full 72 schedule in 2018/2019.

He has amassed 465 games in the league.

The very big 6’6″ 230 lbs. forward has a career best 27 goals and 40 assists.

From Kamloops, BC, after 4 WHL frames, he went to a year of Mount Royal University Cougars before officially turning pro.

the 31-year old probably has roots in the Texas town now.

He left for a brief stint over in Erste Liga, playing for SC Csikszereda, but somehow didn’t have much luck and will return for 10th season with the now hometown boys, Allen Americans.

Last season 13 goals and 19 assists in 52 games leads him back for a 10th season as an Americans.

04Aug

Travis St. Denis (74)

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Straubing Tigers‘ 7th year center Travis St. Denis(74) re-ups to return to the German club, his 2nd year in DEL.

He scored 22 goals and 17 assists in 51 games last season.

The 5’7″ 170 lbs. forward was twice a 40+ point scorer in the AHL for Bridgeport Sound Tigers, while under contract to New York Islanders for at least one of those sessions.

He spent 4 seasons at Quinnipiac University Bobcats, always increasing his totals to leave as a senior with 49 points in 43 NCAA Division 1 games.

The Trail, BC native played his junior hockey up north and won a 2012 BCHL Championship with Penticton Vees, scoring 37 goals and 51 assists in 54 games, then adding 13 more points in the playoffs.

At 29-years old, he is likely to be happy still playing hockey at a very high level.

After spending 2 years with the same club, recording just about exact excellent numbers, he reaches out and signs with rivals, ERC Ingolstadt for 2023/2024.

His season with a new German team doesn’t go maybe as planned and he heads right back, where he scored 22 goals in each of his 2 frames, the Tigers for 2024/2025.

He continued to play well, but maybe after 4 years in 1 league was looking for something different and signed with EC Salzburg of IceHL.

Scoring in this league increases to levels reached when he initially hit Germany, but for 2026/2027 he signs with rivals, EC-KAC.

04Aug

Justin Bean (26)

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5th year Fife Flyers‘ defenseman Justin Bean(26) has 7 assists in 7 EIHL games to start the 2025/2026 season.

He recorded an ECHL best 7 goals and 28 assists last season with Maine Mariners.

The 6’3″ 205 lbs. blue liner from Pickering, ON did 4 years in juniors, then 5 at York University Lions, taking the COVID 2020/2021 off.

At 29-years old, he seemingly has found a good league to play in.

in 43 games, he gets 4 goals and 17 assists, but once again he looks back and signs with South Carolina Stingrays for 2026/2027.

04Aug

Ryan Wheeler (6)

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Undrafted defenseman Ryan Wheeler(6) signs fairly quickly after his college team, University Of Connecticut Huskies was eliminated from their deepest career run in Hockey East tournament history.

The 6′ 190 lbs. blue liner had a modest best tying his 2 goals and 4 assists, but elevating to a new high points of 6 in his senior year with a handy +4 rating.

He signs to play out 2021/2022 with Iowa Heartlanders and in his ECHL debut he notched a point, an assist.

The 24-year old Lancaster, NY, twice New Jersey Titans‘ d-man of 20+ points should be able to play a good game, if he can get on a decent enough team.

He was on for his rookie run 2022/2023, scored 1 goal and 10 assists in 59 games, but was released and sign by  Cincinnati Cyclones to finish off the frame.

For 2023/2024, he’s setting new sights and signs a 1-year minor league deal with Adirondack Thunder, bringing him maybe a little closer to home.

After 61 games, getting 10 goals and 12 assists with a -1 rating, he skates 17 playoff matchups, scoring 4 goals and 1 assists with a +2 and he will re-sign to stay in a Thunder sweater, 2024/2025.

He would serve as team captain in his 3rd year, but signs with down the road team, Springfield Thunderbirds for 2026/2027, hoping to stick at the higher level.