Cornell University Big Red freshman center Jonathan Castagna(38) is an Arizona Coyotes‘ 3rd round pick in the 2023 draft (#70 overall).
The 6’2″ 194 lbs. forward at still only 18-years old is a solid, power forward style player.
Through 18 games this season, he has 5 goals and 7 assists with a +11 rating on the #13 team in the country.
From Etobicoke, ON, he did 2 years at St. Andrew’s College and he looks like he’s getting ready.
9th year defenseman Kevin Gravel(5) has got to be feeling the same way he did when he was a rookie with Manchester Monarchs making an unlikely AHL run to capture the 2015 Calder Cup trophy.
The now 31-year old is locked in with his team, Milwaukee Admirals in a Western Conference battle to head to the Finals.
He has contributed 1 goal and 2 assists in 9 games with a +4 rating.
The 6’4″ 203 lbs. blue liner is signed on a 2-year 2-way deal to Nashville Predators and skated 23 games with them this past season.
He has played 132 NHL games and 332 in the lower league.
Originally a Los Angeles Kings‘ 5th round pick in 2010 (#148 overall), he initially was on a minor league contract, when helping his team to the title, but quickly upped on a 2-year entry level deal heading into the next frame.
The St. Cloud State University Huskies‘ 4-year d-man exploded in his senior year with 10 goals, seemingly out of nowhere.
He’s got another year left on his current deal, so he should settle in nicely.
Playing super well as team captain for the affiliate, Admirals with great plus numbers, despite maybe not scoring huge points earns him 2 more seasons at nice little pay bump to stay.
Undrafted 4th year defenseman Hayden Shaw(82) takes 3 AHL contracts for Manitoba Moose and solid play in the ECHL for Trois-Riveries Lions last season, scoring 6 goals and 17 assists with a +5 in 33 games, then added another 5 points in 7 playoff contests to a 1-year deal with Nurnberg Ice Tigers of DEL for 2022/2023.
The 5’11” 194 lbs. blue liner is an accountable force, maintaining a +33 rating through 4 years at University Of North Dakota Fighting Hawks.
A Woodbury, MN native, the26-year old should do well in Germany’s top league.
In 46 games, he puts in 7 goals and 11 assists, which is good enough to secure him another year for the Ice Tigers.
He is liked in the town of Germany and signs up to stay through 2024/2025 and be an Ice Tigers.
2nd year left wing Stevie O’Connor(17) switches up teams, going over and maybe up slightly, signing with Kalix HC of Hockeyettan after starting a 2nd season for JHT Kalajoki in Suomi-sarja, the 3rd tier league in Finland.
He heads to Sweden’s similar level league.
The 6′ 190 lbs. forward from Marshfield, MA did 4 years at Wesleyan University Cardinals, only scoring decently as a senior assistant captain.
He did 1 season juniors with Boston Jr. Bruins USPHL/NCDC after graduating high school at Milton Academy.
The 25-year old is out there exploring pro hockey options quite nicely.
3rd year center Nolan Vesey(11) is off to his best start with a pair of goals and an assist in 5 ECHL games with new contract club, Worcester Railers.
The North Reading, MA native sort came home to a degree, signing with the close to home team for 2021/2022.
A one-time Toronto Maple Leafs‘ 6th round pick in the 2014 draft (#158 overall), he was chosen after an exceptional one year of junior hockey for South Shore Kings USPHL Premiere team, and then went on to attend University Of Maine Black Bears for 4 seasons, but never signed.
He was three times a 10+ goals and 10+ assists player in Hockey East.
The 6′ 185 lbs., 26-year old forward seems to be a bit of an underachiever, considering his brother Jimmy is a full-time NHL skater.
After throwing in a career high by a long shot 12 goals and 28 assists with a +13 rating in 62 games as assistant captain last season and a 3-game loan up to Springfield Thunderbirds, he decides to stick around in central MA for a 2nd run.
He posts a career best 13 goals last season in the lower league, but his eyes are open for opportunities leading in his next stage and he maybe a tiny bit oddly late signs with DVTK Jegesmedvek of Erste Liga for the remainder of the frame.
Mercyhurst University Lakers‘ graduate, senior captain center Geoff Kitt(10) signs a 1st pro deal with Kansas City Mavericks for 2022/2023.
In his last year, he scored a college career best 9 assists and 12 points, which isn’t a lot, but we think the 6’3″ 198 lbs. forward will open up some space to score in the ECHL.
He was an almost point-per-game scorer in his 2nd and 3rd year of CCHL juniors for Carleton Place Canadians.
The 25-year old from Sioux Lookout, ON will be an interesting watch.
He did try something new signing with EV Duisburg of Germany3 and scored decently, but was hampered by an horrendous +/-.
So, the player who skated exactly 1 SPHL game on reassignment before agreeing with a couple Austrian leagues returns.
Tulsa Oilers think they can turn the big man into a scorer.
2nd year right wing Tyler Hinam(20) re-signs to stay with Maine Mariners for 2022/2023 after a decent successful rookie season, scoring 8 goals and 13 assists in 31 ECHL games with a +7 rating.
The Cole Harbour, NS native played 4 successful season with Rouyn-Noranda Huskies winning both the 2019 QMJHL and Memorial Cup Championships.
At 6’1″ 194 lbs., he’s a bit of a power forward.
For the next two seasons, while COVID loomed, he decided to attend Arcadia University Axemen, but only managed to skate 3 USports‘ games.
The 23-year old should see some loans up to the AHL in his future if he can continue scoring.
He did get loaned up to Belleville Senators for 4 games, scoring 1 assist.
For 2023/2024, he branches out and signs with Manchester Storm of the EIHL, where he should see his game reach new heights.
He has wracked up 12 goals and 13 assists in 29 games with a +3 and is a fan favorite to earn him a new deal to stay in Manch through 2025/2026.
Western New England University Golden Bears‘ senior goalie transferred from 2 years at Riviers University Raiders, which followed a single frame at Becker College Hawks before that school went belly-up.
The 6′ 181 lbs. net minder has definitely played on some teams that have struggled to win on the college level.
He did 2 years with New Hampshire Avalanche, posting 15-6 record with a 2.00 GAA and .915 SV%, so the 24-year old can win games.
The Peabody, MA native graduated St. Mary’s High USHS-MA with impressive numbers.
New Jersey 87’s 2nd EHL year defenseman Cole Douglas(7) is putting up junior career best stats with 5 goals and 12 assists in 31 games after only scoring 4 points in 32 games last season.
The 6′ 185 lbs. blue liner commits to St. Michael’s College Purple Knights for 2024/2025.
He actually left for the NOJHL to start junior hockey, but that experiment for the Gibsonia, PA native lasted only 9 games.
Norfolk Admirals‘ 2nd year right wing Keaton Jameson(16) had a pretty decent rookie season for Utah Grizzlies, scoring 15 goals and 22 assists in the regular, then adding another 4 points through 6 games with a +4 rating in the playoffs.
He has 2 goals and 12 assists through 34 games this year.
The 6′ 190 lbs. forward did 3 years of MJHL junior hockey for Swan Valley Stampeders before heading to 4 at University Of Manitoba Bisons, where he was good for 10+ assists for the 3 sessions they skated.
From Brandon, MB, the 26-year old may have found a decent minor league landing spot.
