Colgate University Raiders‘ graduate, captain defenseman Reid Irwin(43) scored a new college best 6 goals and 17 points in 32 games last season, which he took to a 1st pro contract with Wichita Thunder and scored a 1st ECHL goal and assist in 9 games.
The 6’1″ 198 lbs. blue liner decides to sign with Belfast Giants of the EIHL for his official rookie year, 2025/2026.
From Victoria, BC, the 25-year old transferred from 2-years at University Of Denver Pioneers.
He did 3 years of junior hockey.
Colorado College Tigers 2022/2023 commit, right wing Evan Werner(91) is playing his 2nd and final season of juniors with Youngstown Phantoms and in 15 USHL games has no goals yet but 4 assists.
He came over in an effort to take up his play after basically exploding the NAHL stat sheet with New Jersey Titans, scoring 21 goals and 15 assists in 40 games.
The small 5’7″ 164 lbs. forward is likely hoping to step right in and score some NCHC time.
He would do he 2nd college season at University Of Michigan Wolverines, scoring new best 11 goals and 22 points.
For his junior year, he picks up yet again and will skate for University Of Notre Dame Fighting Irish in 2025/2026.
Boston Jr. Eagles‘ 1st year right wing Anthony Venezia(29) commits to Framingham State University Rams for 2025/2026.
The small 5’6″ 155 lbs. forward scored 5 goals and 9 assists in 37 EHL games last season.
He worked his way up from a year in the EHLP.
From Watertown, MA, the 21-year old will look to help his MASCAC team win some games.
Montreal Canadiens stepped up and claimed former Ottawa Senators‘ 1st round pick in the 2015 draft (#21 overall), center Colin White(36) from Pittsburgh Penguins, who put him on waivers after spending most of the current frame in the minors with affiliate Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins.
The 6’1″ 194 lbs. 7th year forward was a huge scorer in 2 campaigns of USNTDP and then 2 at Boston College Eagles.
He can score, as he did in his best season, his 2nd, where he struck for 14 goals and 27 assists in 71 NHL games.
The 27-year old can definitely still contribute, if he is placed in the right situation.
He scores nothing in the big league and signs with San Jose Barracuda for 2024/2025 and scores 5 goals and 5 assists in 20 games to gain notice and get signed by parent club, San Jose Sharks to a 1-year, 2-way deal for the remainder of 2024/2025.
With 25 points in 48 games and 3 games on recall and under a new contract, he is fully on the radar and no time is wasted to get a new 1-year deal to stay in a Sharks‘ uniform.
Providence College Friars‘ graduate center Jamie Engelbert(18) scores 7 goals for a 2nd time in his college career and will take that to a 1st pro contract with the new Bloomington Bison of the ECHL for his rookie season, 2024/2025.
The big 6’4″ 205 lbs. forward should find the net better in his upcoming 1st season.
From Coburg, ON, he played 2 strong frames for local Cobourg Cougars of the OJHL before committing.
The 24-year old is likely ready for the next challenge.
After 2 games and 1 assist with a +1 rating, he finds himself maybe a little fortunately heading to South Carolina Stingrays to complete an earlier trade transaction.
He scores 17 goals and 14 assists in 38 games with a +13 rating and also gets loaned to Manitoba Moose for 3 games to get a 1st AHL goal and a +1 rating.
For 2025/2026 Rockford Icehogs pick him up on their radar and sign him to a 1-year deal.
Michigan State University Spartans‘ sophomore left wing Isaac Howard(22) is taking up where he left off with his USNTDP team, scoring 5 goals and 15 assists in 18 games with the #7 USCHO NCAA Division 1 team in the country.
After a junior season of exploding scoring with 26 goals and 26 assists in 37 games with a +19 rating to win the 2025 Hobey Baker Award, he leaves a year on the table at school to sign a 3-year NHL entry level deal with Edmonton Oilers.
Alvernia University Golden Wolves‘ senior defenseman Logan vande Meerakker(46) takes a college best 14 goals and 19 assists in 27 games with a +24 rating to a contract for his rookie season, 2024/2025 with Evansville Thunderbolts.
He joined them upon graduation and didn’t register a point in 3 SPHL games, but then popped for 2 goals and 1 assists in 5 playoff matchups with a +1 rating.
The 6′ 209 lbs. solid blue liner from Dieppe, NB should do well in a full frame and it’s possible the 24-year old gets loaned up.
After an outstanding frame, scoring 18 goals and 19 assists in 54 games with a +4 rating, then another 7 points (4-3) in 7 playoff matchups, he will take these numbers over to the NIHL and signs with Swindon Wildcats for 2025/2026.
Express Hockey Club 4th year defenseman Ben Douglas(24) commits to SUNY Morrisville Mustangs for 2025/2026.
The 5’10” 165 lbs. blue liner worked his way up from 2 EHLP seasons.
He had 3 assists in 27 EHL games last season.
From Holliston, MA, the 21-year old is more of a stay-at-home style d-man.
University Of Minnesota Golden Gophers‘ graduate captain, center Jaxon Nelson(82) went undrafted, but Boston Bruins signed him to a 1-year NHL entry level deal upon graduation after scoring new college bests 19 goals and 12 assists with a +14 last season.
The 6’4″ 220 lbs. plays the power forward style.
He did 3 USHL campaigns of juniors after potting 70 goals in his senior year at Luverne High USHS-MN.
Signing an ato with Providence Bruins last season, he appeared in 7 games and scored a 1st AHL goal.
The 24-year old is in rookies training camp and looks ready to get started.
After 35 games with 2 goals and 7 assists with a 0 rating, he is not qualified to stay, so signs with Iowa Heartlanders for 2025/2026.
Johnstown Tomahawks‘ 1st year forward John Gelatt(24) commits to College Of Holy Cross for 2021/2022 and should continue the scoring tear he is currently on.
Currently ranked in the top 10 of NAHL scoring, he is only one of four players to pot 20+ goals in the current frame and has 43 points in 38 games.
The New Jersey 5’11” 194 lbs. native played a pair of seasons at the all boys school Trinity-Pawling School in decently nearby NY before heading off to juniors and will be a nice addition to NCAA Division 1 Atlantic Hockey for his next move.
Through 4 years, he records his college best as a senior, scoring 7 goals and 10 assists in 37 games with a +10 rating.
He signs a 1st pro contract with Utah Grizzlies for his rookie season, 2025/2026 and we think he has size to affect ECHL scoring better than at college.
