Category: College Hockey Player

17Sep

Steven Kampfer (44)

Posted in College Hockey Player, Europe, Free Agent Signing, Juniors, NHL Draft Pick | Leave a comment

12th year NHL defenseman Steven Kampfer(44) will try something new for 2021/2022, signing a 1-year deal with Ak Bars Kazan of the KHL.

The former University Of Michigan Wolverines blue liner was originally an Anaheim Ducks‘ 4th round 2007 draft pick (#93 overall) but traded to Boston Bruins and agreed to terms upon completing his fourth year at college.

He left the Black & Gold within his entry level deal, traded to Minnesota Wild, where he stayed for two seasons before being dealt to New York Rangers but was again quickly on the move to Florida Panthers, where he stayed for another pair of campaigns.

The 5’11” 198 lbs. d-man started his next frame in the zone for the ‘Cats but after a single game was changing addresses heading back to the Blueshirts.

It seems like this is a player who favors 2 year terms with teams, as he did another here before rejoining his original club in Boston for another two year contract and a solid role as a fill-in guy.

The 32-year old may find continued life in Russia’s top hockey but we would be surprised to see him jump around a bit before deciding to pull the curtain on it.

After putting up a career high 11 goals, 19 assists and 30 points and being named assistant captain of Team USA Olympic squad, the now 33-year old will return home on a 1-year 2-way deal with close to home, Jackson, MI, Detroit Red Wings worth at least $325K in the minors and the league minimum $750 if he stays up.

He would be traded for future considerations to Arizona Coyotes, where he would actually do alright on a non-playoff team with 3 goals and 19 assists that actually gave him a career high 6 goals and 23 assists.

Reassigned to minor league affiliate, he is named team captain for 2023/2024 of Tuscon Roadrunners.

With no quit in site, he will return to Russia for 2024/2025 and signs with Traktor Chelyabinsk.

17Sep

Zach White (5)

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6th year center Zach White(5) gets traded from single year team Worcester Railers to Greenville Swamp Rabbits for 2024/2025.

He twice had really good seasons with Iowa Heartlanders.

The 5’7″ 150 lbs. former Curry College Colonels‘ senior captain started his pro career with a solid frame in France2, scoring big.

He came back during the COVID season and agreed to terms with Carolina Thunderbirds of the FPHL.

From Milford, CT, the 28-year old has work his game up nicely.

17Sep

Marshall Murphy (33)

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St. Michael’s College Purple Knights‘ senior goalie Marshall Murphy(33) signs with HK Prizma Riga of Optibet Hokeja Liga for his rookie season, 2024/2025.

The 5’11” 181 lbs. net minder from Little Canada, MN will definitely look to improve his game on hopefully a better pro team.

He’s 25-year and probably didn’t make the decision to play his next hockey so far away lightly, so has to be ready.

16Sep

Bobby Raymond (21)

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14th year defenseman Bobby Raymond(21) is trying his hand at a new league for 2022/2023, signing for 1-year with Grenoble of Ligue Magnus.

The 5’10” 185 lbs. blue liner spent the last 3 seasons in DEL2 last winning the 2022 Championship with Loewen Franfort and DEL the previous two, as captain and assistant for Iserlohn Roosters, his 2nd stint with the team.

Almost oddly, his one title in Germany’s top league came during his one campaign for Adler Mannheim.

He also played 3 seasons for EC Salzburg in the old EBEL, where he ran his best point totals.

The RIT Tigers‘ graduate had a good run there, in his 2nd run with Florida Everblades and helped them capture the 2012 ECHL Kelly Cup trophy.

At 35-years old, he’s likely happy to be playing at the level his is and still contributing big.

He starts the new frame 2023/2024 playing in the OEHL, but gets wooed to enter the fray once again at 38-years old, signing with 2023 Erste Liga Champs, Gyergyoi HK.

In 8 games, he scores 1 goal and 3 assists, then through 10 playoff matchups, he adds another goal and 2 assists with a +3 rating to very much be wanted back in a Bears‘ jersey for 2024/2025.

16Sep

Benton Maass (11) with video feature: 1-question interview

Posted in College Hockey Player, Juniors, Minor League Deal, NHL Draft Pick, Transfers, Videos | Leave a comment

Washington Capitals‘ 6th round pick in the 2017 draft (#182 overall) defenseman Benton Maass(11) goes from a four-year skate for University Of New Hampshire Wildcats to a fifth year of eligibility, playing close to home on the start of a graduate degree with Minnesota State University Mavericks.

Although maybe not the biggest point-getter on the ice, the 6’2″ 205 lbs. blue liner did manage 23 assists as a senior at the hometown Elk River High in 25 USHS-MN games and 13 helpers at a freshman as his new college.

He also had 16 points (a high of 7 tallies and 9 assists) in 26 NAHL games, when he arrived at Fairbanks Ice Dogs upon completing high school.

It’s all happened fairly quickly for the 22-year old but the player who’s been in three NHL development camps looks ready at every turn.

As he finishes up, his 5th college season, he signs an ato with affiliate Hershey Bears and will join them for the remainder of the AHL frame.

Almost oddly, he plays only 2 games with his contract club, getting 1 assist and a +2 rating and is reassigned to affiliate South Carolina Stingrays, where he gets 4 goals and 7 assists in 55 ECHL games with a +13 rating.

His play is good enough to earn a continued look in Chocolatetown.

In his 2nd frame further down south, he scores a new career best 8 goals and 19 assists in 64 games with a +17 rating, so things are looking up.

Something is amiss though, as he decides to accept an assistant coach role at Lindenwood University Lions for 2024/2025, changing the role he will play in pro hockey.

16Sep

Parker Saretsky (28)

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2nd year right wing Parker Saretsky(28) switches up teams for his 2nd ECHL frame.

He had 8 assists in 43 games last season for Trois Rivieres Lions, but signs with Wichita Thunder for 2024/2025.

This should turn out to be a good move for the 6′ 176 lbs. forward.

From Wainwright, AB, he scored fairly strongly in his last 2 frames of AJHL before school.

He would head to 4 years at Michigan Tech University Huskies.

The 25-year old will likely find more room with his new club.

16Sep

Marc Del Gaizo (2)

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Nashville Predators‘ 4th round pick in the 2019 draft (#109 overall) defenseman Marc Del Gaizo(2) will leave a year on the table at UMass Minutemen after winning the 2021 NCAA Championship in a cinderella-like run.

The 5’10” 185 lbs. blue liner was selected after his freshman season at the college, where he put up as many points basically as he did the next two, although he was almost always a plus player, leaving the school with a +60 rating.

At just 21, he can also breathe a little sigh of relief that this season may wrap up, as his 3-year entry level deal starts 2021/2022, unless he is itchy and signs an ato somewhere.

He actually jumped on for his 1st 9 AHL games for Chicago Wolves and puts up 5 assists with a +3 rating.

His contract would initiate upon playing for Milwaukee Admirals, where in his 3rd year would come away with a season best 8 goals, 34 points with another 20+ assist frame and a +18 rating, then contributed 7 points in 15 playoff games.

The 24-year old, who also played 9 NHL games last season with 3 assists and a +2 rating becomes easy to sign to a 1 year deal to continue.

15Sep

Cole Schneider (25)

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10th year veteran left wing Cole Schneider(25) re-signs to stay as captain with Milwaukee Admirals for 2022/2023.

The 6’1″ 205 lbs. forward has played 632 AHL games.

He has also skated 6 in the NHL for Buffalo Sabres with one assist.

Undrafted, he signed a 2-year entry level deal straight out of 2 years at University Of Connecticut Huskies, where he had a 23 goal, 22 assist in 38 games sophomore season.

At 31-years old, the Williamsville, NY native is likely just still having fun.

After 3.5 years with the same club, he has decided to look for a new avenue and signs for 2023/2024 with Chicago Wolves.

13th year veteran is off to explore new lands for the later part of his hockey career and signs for 2024/2025 with Storhamar of EliteHockey Ligaen.

15Sep

Dustin Manz (26)

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American International College Yellowjackets‘ graduate transfer, center Dustin Manz(26), as a senior from Lake State Superior University Lakers posts a college best 24 assists and 31 points and takes it to a 1st ECHL contract with Wheeling Nailers.

The 5’10” 194 lbs. forward started juniors in the NAHL, but headed north, hooking up with Prince George Spruce Kings, scoring big and winning the 2019 BCHL Championship in his 2nd year before school.

From Vanderbilt, MI, the 24-year scored 2 goals in his 3rd league game.

He takes that pair of tallies to a contract for his rookie season, 2024/2025 with the Nailers.

15Sep

Zach Walker (18)

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Pensacola Ice Flyers‘ rookie right wing Zach Walker(18) has a couple of goals and an assist in 21 SPHL contests.

The 6′ 200 lbs. forward was never much of a scorer during four seasons at Boston College.

He posted his highest totals as a freshman with 2 goals and 5 assists.

The still young 22-year old started with a couple of campaigns in the USNTDP.

It will be interesting to see if he plays himself up to another level or heads overseas for different gold.

He finished his first session, scoring 4 goals and 6 assists in 36 games, then went on to light it up for a goal and 3 assists with a +5 in 4 playoff contests, which easily put him back on the radar.

The Boise, ID native gets the call from his local team and signs a 1-year ECHL deal with Idaho Steelheads for 2021/2022.

He was originally going to sign with them for last season, but they decided to sit out the pandemic run and he becomes the first born in the state capital to play for the team.

After 10 goals and 13 assists in 63 games with a +6 rating, he’s definitely feeling right at home, and stays for a 2nd session.

He’s basically fairly steady in his 2nd session, getting 6 goals and 12 assists in 56 games with a +12 rating.

For 2023/2024, he leaves home and signs a 1-year deal with Adirondack Thunder that should makes sense for his scoring to continue.

He is limited to only 27 games last season and is involved in some incidents that get him suspended for long stretches, but the wear and tear on him is enough as he leans into what to do for 2024/2025 and will stay in a Thunder “jersey” joining their front office to handle the team’s community relations and also take part in some sales.