University Of Maine Black Bears‘ senior defenseman Dawson Bruneski(22) will add a graduate season on the other side of the US map, heading to University Of Alaska-Fairbanks Nanooks for 2023/2024.
The 5’11” 203 lbs. blue liner isn’t much of a point scorer, but maintained a +1 rating in last season.
He had 4 decent successful years of AJHL with a pair of teams before agreeing to college.
The 24-year old, Camrose, AB native will likely do well with his new club’s schedule.
2nd year center Alex Cohen(10) had a strange 1st year skating pro, playing for 3 different SPHL teams and exiting for 3 games in Czechia3 before returning.
Atlanta Gladiators see something in the 6′ 192 lbs. forward and sign him to a tryout agreement for 2023/2024.
He played 3 years of NAHL junior hockey for Northeast Generals, scoring a best 16 goals and 15 assists in his 3rd frame.
The Newton, MA native was with Union College Bobcats for 3 seasons, but played only 15 games total as one ECAC season was scrapped due to COVID.
Rapid City Rush rookie defenseman Darren Brady(92) seems to be enjoying his time with the team, since being signed up from starting the year with Macon Mayhem, recording 2 assists in 8 SPHL games.
He has another two assists with a +4 rating to add to his collection in 29 ECHL games on a team fighting tough for a playoff berth.
The solid 6′ 200 lbs. blue liner came from four years at Rochester Institute Of Technology Tigers, where he served as team captain as a senior, scoring new bests 3 goals and 9 assists for 12 points.
He came to the school from 3 seasons of junior hockey, most notably in his final NAHL year for New Jersey Junior Titans, where he scored a pretty big 9 goals and 24 assists with a +12 rating, then went onto add another 2 assists in 3 playoff games.
At 25-years old, he’s likely in the thick of it wanting to score for the postseason, but the Lake Orion, MI native could easily stay and get comfortable in South Dakota.
For 2021/2022, Idaho Steelheads have raised their hand to say they like what they saw and sign him to a new contract.
He has an outstanding 1st year, scoring 7 goals and 25 assists in 47 games with a +7 rating and will return for 2022/2023.
Starting the new season with 3 assists in 12 games with a mighty +20 rating gains notice of San Jose Barracuda, who sign him to a pto that would turn into an spc recently.
Talk about playing yourself up.
He ends last season playing 50 AHL games, scoring 3 goals and 6 assists with a +5 rating, pretty much proving he belongs.
Lehigh Valley Phantoms notice and sign him to a minor league contract for 2023/2024.
Johnson & Wales University Wildcats‘ 2023/2024 commit, defenseman Joe Freeman(5) will hopefully help them shut down their zone more effectively.
The 5’10” 170 lbs. blue liner had 2 goals and 8 assists for Express Hockey Club last season.
A Boston, MA native, the 20-year old is likely ready to get those skates on for his new college team.
Trinity College Bantams‘ 2023/2024 commit, center James Barbour(91) played 54 NAHL games, scoring 10 goals and 23 assists for Johnstown Tomahawks.
The 5’11” 165 lbs. forward last season played a first junior year in the OJHL and connected mostly with the 2nd team he skated for, Milton Menace.
From Lake Forest, IL, the 21-year old will definitely help this D3 college team continue to push the limits.
Colgate University Raiders‘ 2024/2025 commit, right wing Oli Genest(12) decides to add another year of junior hockey, signing with Cedar Rapids Roughriders for a USHL frame before heading to school after a successful run through the NAHL for just about hometown, Maine Nordiques, getting 20 goals and 20 assists in 58 games with a well, +20 rating.
The 6’1″ 194 lbs. forward from Sanford, ME came up through the Seacoast Spartans‘ youth hockey program, but was quickly dispatch to hire levels as he reached juniors.
At 19-years old, one more year before college is likely a good call.
Curry College Colonels‘ Russian-born, graduating senior center Mark Zhukov(7) takes a D3 college career best 13 goals and 24 assists in 22 games last season to a 1st pro contract for 2023/2024 with Wichita Thunder.
The 6’1″ 185 lbs. forward came over quickly to start hockey here, playing juniors for Boston Jr. Bandits of the USPHL/NCDC after attending high school in Canada.
From St. Petersburg, the 23-year old should see good results for his game in the ECHL.
9th year right wing Justin Crandall(22) will spend a 3rd season in a Cardiff Devils‘ uniform after continuing to post good numbers following a season, where he got a career best 45 assists in an EIHL frame.
He twice had 30+ assists and averaged 20 goals in the ECHL before leaving for overseas.
The 5’11” 190 lbs. forward has also 5 times had 20+ assists through Metal Ligaen and HockeyAllsvenskan.
From Lakeville, MN, the former University Of Minnesota-Duluth Bulldogs‘ 31-year old has worked for every inch he has gained.
10th year center Steve Whitney(10) is putting up points like he’s in the prime of his career (10 goals, 12 assists in 19 games) for SC Langenthal of SL.
He had two 50+ point seasons in the ECHL and was a strong scorer for Stavanger Oilers last season, helping them win the 2022 Norway Championship.
The small 5’7″ 168 lbs., former 4 year Boston College Eagles‘ scorer from Boston, MA is still doing pretty well at 31-years old.
After scoring 21 goals and 21 assists in 38 games, then 3 goals and 3 assists in 5 playoff games, he will take his talents to a new country, signing in Metal Ligaen with Rungsted Seier Capital for 2023/2024.
Rookie left wing Alex Gilmour(6) originally signed with Orlando Solar Bears over the summer after finishing up a COVID playoff crushed 2019/2020 season at St. Lawrence University Saints, but found the club to be weighed down by lots of already pros from up and down leagues, looking for spots and was released after training camp.
The very very big 6’5″ 220 lbs. forward quickly picked up with Birmingham Bulls of the SPHL and got right to work scoring 2 goals in his pro debut, following it up with another goal and a first assist in his next outing.
He finished up just over a month later, potting 4 goals and 3 assists in 10 games before oddly getting released.
The 25-year old found prospects of where to go next fairly limited as most clubs had committed to their rosters going forward.
There is zero doubt he signs on with a new club next season’s fully open campaign and finds more room to score goals, wherever he turns up.
No doubt, he found his room to score in his 1st full frame of pro hockey, grabbing 16 goals and 24 assists in 63 ECHL games with a +14 rating for Tulsa Oilers.
He re-signs to stay in a good spot, hopefully elevate totals and even score himself a loan up to the higher level.
For 2023/2024, he is traded to Savannah Ghost Pirates, who will still need to sign him.
We were able to host our 2nd Twitter player interview with Alex:
cHp: From the looks of it, you were originally signed to an ECHL spc for 2020/2021 by Orlando Solar Bears, but then were released and seemed to hook up fairly quickly with Birmingham Bulls. You only skated for the Bulls for one month though, racking up a quick 7 points in 10 games, including two in your SPHL debut. Did you get injured? Anything you can say why you weren’t able to stick with the Solar Bears? I mean you’re 6’5″ 220 lbs and as I remember from ’19/20 with St. Lawrence you were pretty good out there.
AG: Yeah I signed with Orlando late in the summer and attended training camp. Just a crazy year all around the minor leagues and a very limited amount of spots available. We had a bunch of guys down from the American League that hadn’t started yet, so that made things a little more difficult there. Just seemed like a very tough year to break in with the amount of teams that didn’t play. I had a great run in Birmingham and the team had plans to go in a different direction. Hope to come back stronger, and look forward to more opportunity moving forward! Hopefully next year is a full schedule and all the teams are back on the ice! With Orlando they are a very experienced team this year and have a lot of veteran guys on the roster. Made it very difficult to stick. Obviously have some things to work on to play at that level on my end. They’re having a good year and I hope they make it far in the playoffs!
cHp: Yeah, I know that about Orlando this season; good club fighting for their playoff life. See that about former AHL players or vets from the E crowding space. So, it seems a little strange that you put up so many points with the Bulls but didn’t stick and that no other team picked up your option if they couldn’t keep you. I would think you’re a no brained to receive opportunities next season when our hockey world is fully open.
AG: Exactly! With teams not playing, there were a lot of elite players that needed homes for the year. Hopefully that opens up a bit next year. Hopefully I have some options and I’m optimistic moving forward.
cHp: Why did you only last 10 games at Birmingham scoring 7 points. You said they went in a different direction but that seems insane to me to split with you. So, then the other thing that is driving me crazy is, why didn’t you see if there was another SPHL team to pick up your option. Seems like someone else could have used you.
AG: I was doing really well down there and the team had guys they were looking to bring in from else where and they needed to get rid of guys. I guess I was one of the guys they decided to let go. I was surprised by the decision. There were also only four other teams playing in the league at the time and they all had solid forward rosters set, so they weren’t looking to pick me up.
cHp: I see you played more than a few years in junior hockey, starting in Canada in the OJHL but then left after the start of your 2nd season with Stouffville left for the top junior league in America, the USHL Des Moines Buccaneers, but lasted only 7 games there before going to the CCHL with Pembroke. It looks like you lasted a season and most of the next but then suddenly left to attend school. So, I guess the first question is: what prompted you to come to the U.S. and why didn’t that work? It was Des Moines‘ sucked, wasn’t it. My wife and I have been there. We know. just joking. Then, did you in fact leave the Lumber Kings mid season to attend school and start up with the Saints?
AG: I was drafted by Des Moines in the USHL draft and I felt it would be the best opportunity for me to obtain a D1 scholarship. I was in my third year of juniors and still had some improvements to make in my game, so I started there for a while and ended up getting sent home. I landed in Pembroke and it was the best thing that could’ve happened to me. I was given so much opportunity there. I was the captain in my second season there and St. Lawrence had some injuries and they needed to pick up a body half way through the season. It was a great fit, as I was ready for the jump.
cHp: See, now that’s just a good story you’ve given me. I honestly think you’ll find a good landing spot once we’re out of this mess and into 2021/2022 season. Glad to see a full ECHL calendar was released. Thanks for answering all my questions. It’s definitely a fascinating take. Be on the lookout for the profile piece soon. I’ll always be out there cheering you on.
AG: Glad I could help! I hope I do as well! I’ve had an interesting road for sure! I appreciate the support. Thank you.
