Maine Mariners bring back last season’s leading scorer, 3rd year right wing Mathew Santos(16) after scoring a handy 26 goals and 33 assists with a +3 rating.
After 4 years in the OHL, the 6′ 183 lbs. forward played a single season for Toledo Walleye as a rookie, but then took a season off before departing for Ryerson University Rams, where he spent the next three years though only played his 1st two there and maybe got COVID knocked for his 3rd.
It will be zero surprise to see the 27-year old Etobicoke, ON native add to his ECHL totals.
For a 2nd straight season he blows the lid off scoring with 16 goals and 28 assists in 38 games, while getting loaned up to Milwaukee Admirals for 17 AHL games.
He will try to take his game up a notch, signing for 2023/2024 in Slovak Extraliga with HC Dukla Michalovce.
An amazing season, scoring 22 goals and 14 assists through 46 games, then adds another 8 points in 6 playoff matchups with a +7, but he oddly signs in DEL2 for 2024/2025 with Ravensburg Towerstars.
Union College Dutchmen senior right wing Tyler Watkins(13) is heading to Erste Liga for his rookie season, signing with Dunaujvarosi Acelbikak.
The 5’9″ 176 lbs. forward played his NAHL junior hockey close to home, Hermantown, MN with Minnesota Wilderness.
He was a big USHS-MN scorer.
The 24-year old is bound to do well in this Hungarian/Romanian pro league.
University Of Wisconsin-River Falls Falcons‘ graduate right wing Mike Gelatt(27) wastes little time signing a pto with Peoria Rivermen to get some pro playing time experience in.
The 6’3″ 205 lbs. forward was good last season, but maybe not quite what he was able to put together as a senior for Skidmore College Thoroughbreds, when he got 11 goals and 12 assists in 25 games before getting eliminated in the NEHC Tournament Final.
He has a 1st SPHL goal in his 6th sighting and 2 assists in 7 total matchups thus far.
The 25-year old from Middletown, NJ could easily play himself up a level.
He comes away with 11 goals and 16 assists in 34 games with a +14 rating, then adds 6 points in 7 playoff matchups.
For 2024/2025, he receives a 2-way ECHL contract with the new Bloomington Bison.
3rd year net minder Dryden McKay(45) had his ECHL team of last season implode, cease to exist in Newfoundland Growlers, but signs with Ontario Reign for 2024/2025.
The 6′ 181 lbs. goalie was completely outstanding through 4 years at Minnesota State University-Mankato Mavericks and won basically any award he could, including the 2022 Hobey Baker.
We think he still needs clearance to come back into his game, but feel it is right there waiting.
Undrafted defenseman Greg Moro(3) takes a pair of seasons under AHL contract with Stockton Heat, but spending the majority of his time, 44 ECHL games with affiliate Kansas City Mavericks to a new adventure overseas, signing with SaiPa of Liiga for 2022/2023.
The 6’4″ 205 lbs. blue liner did get a goal in each of his years up with the contract club and even connected with 6 assists in 13 games last frame to likely get him the look in Finland’s top league.
He spent a very productive and highly accountable four seasons at Clarkson University Golden Knights, leaving a +28 rating.
The 26-year old from Edmonton, AB will definitely need to continue to elevate his game in this tough hockey, but could easily blend in nicely as well.
He actually spends the better part of two seasons in Finland’s highest hockey before switching to Czech Extraliga late last season with HC Kometa Brno.
For 2024/2025, he spots probably the best decision for him moving forward and signs with Steinbach Black Wings Linz of IceHL.
Northern Cyclones‘ 2nd year left wing Sam Mitchell(81) commits Franklin Pierce University Ravens for 2024/2025.
The 6′ 181 lbs. forward had 9 assists last season and helped the team with the 2023 USPHL Premier Championship.
From Mt. Lebanon, PA, the 20-year old probably wants nothing more than to help his new college team win.
7th year, Latvian center Teddy Blueger(53) gets a trade from 2nd round draft club Pittsburgh Penguins, where he played his 1st 250 NHL games and 179 in the AHL.
The 6′ 185 lbs. forward was showing disintegrating numbers in the current frame, probably leading to his relocation to Vegas Golden Knights, but may have found a bit of a gem to get dealt to.
He’s twice a 20+ goal scorer in the minors and worth 10+ assists 3 going on 4 times in the big league.
The Minnesota State University-Mankato Mavericks‘ 4-year played was good for 10+ goals twice and 20+ assists twice.
At 28-years old, it’s probably nice for him to get a new start.
He starts to ignite his scoring some, submitting for 2 goals and 4 assists in 18 games, then adding another 2 points in 6 playoff matchups, en route to a 2023 Stanley Cup Championship.
He gets his name etched on the trophy and is an unrestricted free agent signs a 1-year deal with the rebuilding forever Vancouver Canucks worth some $1.9M AAV.
Scoring a new best 22 assists and career tying 28 points, he is rewarded to stay in a Canucks‘ jersey for 2 more seasons at $1.8M AAV.
Undrafted, graduate goaltender Brad Arvanitis(32) takes a hot finish with D3 Babson College Beavers to a 1st pro contract with the very playoff ready Rapid City Rush.
In his ECHL debut, he scored a 5-1 victory.
The 6’2″ 180 lbs. net minder posted an 11-4-2 record with a 2.52 GA and .918 SV% in his final frame.
He’s definitely had an interesting little journey, first tending cage for EHLP team, Walpole Express before moving up to an NAHL season for Coulee Region Chill before heading to 2 seasons of limited use with UMass Minutemen.
The 24-year old will probably be able to excel in the league if he looks to stick around.
He only started one game his rookie frame before being dealt to Tulsa Oilers, where he played in 2 before being released and picked up by Pensacola Ice Flyers, which he stitched together an admirable 9-6-2 mark with a 2.71 GAA and .919 SV% in 20 SPHL games.
For 2023/2024, he picks up a deal with Maine Mariners, who likely saw him play in college some.
He runs an impressive regular season record of 20-10-1, but in the playoffs was stellar with a 1.69 GAA and .939 SV% to earn himself another contract to return to Maine.
Swedish-born, rookie center Filip Engaras(16) was recently flipped in a trade from 1st contract club, Bakersfield Condors to out of conference team, Utica Comets for the remainder of 2023.
The 6’1″ 201 lbs. forward actually spent more time with affiliate Fort Wayne Komets, appearing in 23 ECHL games with good scoring clips and on ice accountability, but does look to be headed towards the AHL to start with his new squad.
Originally an Edmonton Oilers‘ 6th round pick in the 2020 draft (#169 overall), but only signed a minor league contract to start his pro career.
A graduate of 4 years at University Of New Hampshire Wildcats, he definitely was able to connect for points as a junior and senior.
After 53 games last season, scoring 6 goals and 6 assists with a +2 rating, he is signed for a 1-year contract extension to stay a Comets.
University Of North Dakota Fighting Hawks‘ Swedish-born senior goaltender Ludvig Persson(32) signs with Wheeling Nailers and we will see if he figures in any ECHL playoff action.
The 6′ 181 lbs. net minder transferred from 3 years at Miami University (Ohio) Redhawks, where it couldn’t have been too easy.
He actually played 11 pro games in HockeyEttan before committing to the NAHL for a season of junior hockey that was stellar with Lone Star Brahmas before hitting college.
It will be interesting to see where the 24-year old decides to go.
He plays no games and signs for 2024/2025 with Brynas IF of the SHL.
