Middlebury College Panthers‘ graduate net minder Adam Wisco(1) goes pro and signs with KHL Sisak of the fairly new Croatian-based IntHL for 2023/2024.
The 6’2″ 190 lbs. goalie got his start after completing school last season with Watertown Wolves of the FPHL and didn’t fare so well on a team that sometimes struggled to win games (20-32-4).
There’s little doubt he was also coming from a school situation, where his team didn’t win nearly as many games as they dropped.
From Whitby, ON, the 24-year old will likely find his footing to get started as a pro in this league.
St. Lawrence University Skating Saints‘ Swedish-born, graduate goaltender Emil Zetterquist(1) takes fairly impressive numbers despite not winning records to a 1st pro contract back home with Vasterviks IK and will play games in HockeyAllsvenskan.
The 6’2″ 190 lbs. net minder played most of his junior hockey back home, but did come over for 1 NAHL season for Coulee Region Chill before committing to college.
From Stockholm, the 24-year old should do pretty well in Sweden’s tier 2 league.
Johnstown Tomahawks‘ Czechia/US native, 2nd year left wing David Matousek(16) takes identical 25 point NAHL seasons to a 2023/2024 commit at Plymouth State University Panthers.
The 5’11” 170 lbs. forward started his early development away, but came to the states relatively quickly to gain footing.
At 20-years old, he should be ready to step in as a freshman and play some hockey.
Maine Nordiques‘ 1st year defenseman Sterling Wolters(55) established his game nicely, scoring 3 goals and 17 assists with a +12 rating in 56 NAHL games after coming off a good OJHL campaign for Burlington Cougars.
The 5’11” 183 lbs. blue liner makes his college commit for 2023/2024 and will head to the always competitive SUNY-Geneseo University Knights to fight for a roster spot.
From Cottam, ON, the 21-year old will be one to watch playing hard at his D3 school.
St. Lawrence University Skating Saints‘ Finnish-born senior, left wing, captain Aleksi Peltonen(13) got a college career best 6 goals last season, but didn’t equal the 10 assists he recorded as a junior, and signs with HC Davos of NL for 2023/2024.
The 5’10” 179 lbs. forward came over quickly, playing Northwood School USHS-Prep, then 2 junior seasons split between NAHL and USHL.
He should be able to find some room to score in Switzerland’s top league.
11th year right wing Brodie Reid(21) spent last season closer to home pumping the scoresheet for Kansas City Mavericks, scoring 25 goals and 35 assists in 60 ECHL games, returning from 5 years in Austria’s EBEL, skating 2 campaigns with HC Bolzano, then 2 for Dornbirner EC and 1 at Villacher SV.
He was mostly a 40-point player in that league.
The 6′ 187 lbs. forward has decided to switch things up, agreeing to terms for 2021/2022 with Cardiff Devils and he’s just exploded the stat sheet with 9 goals and 1 assists in 6 EIHL games.
After only a year at Northeastern University, he turned pro on a 2-year entry level deal with San Jose Sharks that was extended once, but he was never recalled from affiliate Worcester Sharks, where he was a 20-point performer.
He would next sign late to join Elmira Jackals, but lasted only 9 games before he was loaned up to the AHL for the remainder of the session.
It was after that season, when the now 32-year old left for overseas and has stuck nicely with good success.
He comes off a career year for goals, 31 and points, 59 with his new club and decides to stay put for in Cardiff for 2022/2023.
After 2 successful seasons, he will push off for a new adventure, joining Ducs D’Angers of Ligue Magnus for 2023/2024.
9th year left wing Ben Lake(9) had an impressive 18 goals and 27 assists for 45 points in 52 games with a +27 rating on the way to a 2nd straight 2023 EIHL Championship with Belfast Giants.
That’s a no-brainer to re-sign the 33-year old, Calgary, AB native for 2023/2024.
The 5’11” 170 lbs. forward has spent time with 3 different teams in the league after coming over following 2 campaigns for Alaska Aces of the ECHL.
He did 3 AJHL seasons with Fort McMurray Oil Barons before committing to school.
We think the 50% UK native, former Sacred Heart University Pioneers‘ graduate does well in another frame and looks to be setting himself up for a future coaching job.
7th year, German-born left wing Frederik Tiffels(95) trades DEL teams after a tremendous IIHF World Cup showing, where his country captured an unprecedented silver medal for which he contributed an overtime game-winner and a couple important assists.
The 6′ 201 lbs. forward signs for 2023/2024 with rivals Eisbaren Berlin after spending the last 2 at EHC Red Bull Munchen and Kolner Hale the 3 previous, when he first came over from only a single minor league season.
He started his junior hockey back home, but quickly came over with 2 USHL sessions before attending Western Michigan University Broncos for 3 years before turning pro.
The 28-year old still has lots left in the tank and continues to have good fun with his game.
Ohio State University Buckeyes‘ senior defenseman Dominic Vidoli(9) heads into the transfer portal for a new start on a graduate season at University Of Nebraska-Omaha Mavericks for 2023/2024.
The 6′ 190 lbs. blue liner had a bit of a interesting start, agreeing to attend Boston University Terriers straight out of Culver Military Academy Prep, but decided after 6 games to head to the USHL and skate for Sioux City Musketeers, which he did for 2 seasons before returning to school.
From Strongsville, OH, the 23-year old should still find the NCHC schedule tough.
8th year left wing Stephen MacAulay(81) will spend a 3rd & 4th season with Dusseldorfer EG after putting up a healthy 17 goals and 19 assists in 56 DEL games with a +17 rating.
He originally earned a promotion up from DEL2 after the 2020/2021 silly season with Loewen Frankfurt, but did manage 17 goals and 23 assists in 35 games with a +15, which earned him a look at the higher level.
The 6’2″ 187 lbs. forward originally skated 4 seasons in the QMJHL, mostly with Saint John Sea Dogs, where he won 2 Championships and Memorial Cups before heading to Halifax Mooseheads to win another pair of trophies.
He would next turn pro, but maybe wasn’t loving the results so enrolled in St. Marys University Huskies for the next 3 years.
Originally a St. Louis Blues‘ 6th round pick in the 2010 draft (#164 overall), he never signed, but did ink an AHL deal out of school with affiliate Springfield Thunderbirds.
Despite scoring some, he was sent down to affiliate Florida Everblades, where he would sign for the next frame and blow up scoring.
