Aurora University Spartans‘ senior left wing Hassan Akl(89) scored a 2nd season of 13 goals and added only 26 assists, where in his junior year he had 39 helpers.
The 5’11” 165 lbs. forward did 4 years mostly AJHL juniors before college.
From Chestermere, AB, the 25-year old signs a 1st pro deal with Athens Rock Lobsters.
We look for him to score well in the SPHL.
Colgate University Raiders‘ senior center Ben Raymond(3) posted a college best 9 goals and 9 assists in 36 games, then after tournament play concluded signed with Iowa Heartlanders, getting a 1st assist.
For his rookie season, 2025/2026 the 5’11” 179 lbs. forward signs with Maine Mariners.
In 11 ECHL games, he has 2 assists.
The Newton, MA native went to Dexter-Southfield USHS-Prep, then took off to the BCHL for the Covid-filled 2020/2021 before committing.
The 24-year old should continue to up his game.
For 2026/2027, he agrees to terms with Greensboro Gargoyles, which should yield him more ice time.
Wilkes University Colonials‘ senior right wing Matt Carlson(17) scored 10+ goals 3 times in college hockey and left with 18 assists.
The 5’11” 181 lbs. forward signs a 1st pro deal for his rookie season, 2026/2027 with Roanoke Rail Yard Dawgs, but gets traded to Macon Mayhem.
From Delmar, NY, he was captain and popped scoring as a senior, then did well through 2 years EHL juniors before school.
Maine Mariners extend a pto to have a look for the 2026/2027 season.
Defenseman Bryan Huggins(40) will head closer to home in Grand Rapids, MI for college, heading to Lake Superior State University Lakers for 2022/2023 after a solid 2nd season of juniors with single team, Maryland Black Bears, grabbing highs 2 goals and 6 assists, then another 3 helpers in 8 playoff contests.
The 5’11” 181 lbs. blue liner made his commitment after a year at Meijer AAA Hockey 16U.
No doubt the 19-year old will have to work hard to find space in the lineup, when he arrives, but you can bet he’ll put in the time to get a spot.
He finished up his senior year with 1 goal and next bests 6 assists and 7 points in 29 games with a +7 rating and signed a 1st pro deal with Greensboro Gargoyles.
In 3 ECHL games, he grabs 2 assists with a +3 rating and is an easy invite to join the team for his official rookie season, 2026/2027.
3rd year SPHL right wing, Derek Contessa(72) has a pro best 11 goals in the current, his 2nd frame with Evansville Thunderbirds.
He had 13 assists in his 1st year with Macon Mayhem and currently has 7 helpers.
The 6’3″ 220 lbs. forward 1st went to Sacred Heart University Pioneers after a solid 2nd USHL frame.
He transferred to Endicott College Gulls, where he got more use and scored better.
From Freehold, NJ, we could see the 26-year old loaned up.
Last season in a high 58 games, he scored a new best 15 goals and 12 assists en route to a 2nd SPHL Championship and he easily returns for a 3rd year as a Thunderbolts.
Boston University Terriers‘ freshman right wing Devin Kaplan(13) got a pair in a weeknight 6-2 home win over UMass Minutemen to earn 1st star honors.
The big 6’3″ 206 lbs. forward has 6 goals and 9 assists in 20 games with a +9 rating.
He was selected by Philadelphia Flyers in the 3rd round of 2022 (#69 overall) after he lit up his 2nd season at USNTDP with 8 goals and 10 assists in 22 USHL with a +18 and even better numbers for USDP.
It will be interesting to see how long the 19-year old from Bridgewater, NJ sticks with his college career.
After a junior year, serving as assistant captain, scoring fairly decently, he will leave a year on the table to sign a 3-year NHL entry level deal.
He makes his debut on the last night of regular season, skates 16 shifts for 12:12 ice time with 1 hit and left a 5-4 loss with a -1 rating.
Still nice to get on the big ice.
He plays 49 AHL games, scoring 5 goals and 8 assists, but as we’re heading into 2026/2027 he is traded to Seattle Kracken, where they are likely to assign him to affiliate Coachella Valley Firebirds.
Colgate University Raiders‘ senior center, captain Daniel Panetta(4) scored best in college as a sophomore with 13 goals and 16 assists in 36 games with a +2 rating.
He would put in another 10 goals in his junior frame.
The 5’10” 174 lbs. forward played 5 years of junior hockey with a 2019 OJHL Championship and breakout scoring in his 2nd BCHL campaign.
From Belleville, ON, the 24-year old has a 1st ECHL goal in 9 games in a 1st pro contract with Jacksonville Icemen.
In 12 games, he came away with 1 goal and 1 assist, but for his rookie year has decided to sign with Greensboro Gargoyles in 2026/2027.
Orlando Solar Bears‘ 2nd year left wing Tanner Schachle(17) will return for 2024/2025 after scoring 4 goals and 12 assists in 50 games with a +8 rating.
The 6’4″ 218 lbs. forward has still been looking for that spark to affect his ECHL scoring.
He was never much of a scorer with 7 goals and 7 assists as a sophomore at University Of Alaska-Anchorage Seawolves before transferring to Long Island University Sharks, where he wasn’t used much.
From Wasilla, AK, the 27-year old would love to see another breakout, like his 2nd NAHL frame with Fairbanks Ice Dogs.
After just 2 games into his 2nd season with 1 team, he traded to Worcester Railers, where he only figures into 11 games, but manages to score 1 goal and 4 assists with a +1 rating and signs for 2025/2026 with his brother Porter, giving his team a very menacing look.
He isn’t getting much use, through 10 games scores only 1 assist and is released, but Bloomington Bison are watching and invite him to a contract.
After most of his pro career in the same league, he decides to sign for 2026/2027 with Pensacola Ice Flyers and should find more of a playing edge in the SPHL.
He joins his brother, Porter on this team.
Harvard University Crimson senior captain, defenseman Jack Bar(24) signed a 1st pro contract with San Jose Barracuda for 2025/2026, his rookie season, but has been reassigned to affiliate Wichita Thunder to get started.
In 26 ECHL games, he has 2 goals and 8 assists with a +7 rating.
The 6’2″ 209 lbs. blue liner was a Dallas Stars‘ 5th round pick in 2021 (#138 overall), but was left unsigned.
From Newmarket, ON, we believe the 23-year old gets an AHL look before too long and was a pto in San Jose Sharks‘ training camp.
For 2026/2027, he is a free agent after only 5 games with his contract club and signs up with Maine Mariners, where we think he have some luck and maybe even gain some notice.
Elmira College Soaring Eagles‘ sophomore right wing Eric Bertelsen(11) scores a new college hockey best 7 assists and 10 points to enter the transfer portal and will next skate for a similar bird, SUNY Brockport Golden Eagles as a junior in 2026/2027.
The 5’9″ 176 lbs. forward was a 50+ points scorer through 2 years in the OJHL.
From Belmont, ON, the 23-year old should score better in the UCHC.
