Allen Americans‘ rookie net minder Francis Marotte(35) is enjoying a very decent first season posting a 6-3-1 record on a club that’s one of the better ranked in the ECHL for 2020/2021.
The former Clarkson University Golden Knights portal transfer from 3 previous years with Robert Morris University Colonials posted huge numbers as a senior for his new team, 23-8-3 record with a measly 1.78 GAA and .938 SV%.
A Quebec native, he did a few years of junior hockey in Canada, starting out in the BCHL, but after one season agreed to a pair of campaigns for Nepean Raiders of the CCHL, where he found his future school.
He did get himself on New York Islanders‘ radar and signed a deal with the team, but it’s thought to possibly be an AHL deal, as he did appear in a pair of dates for affiliate Bridgeport Sound Tigers.
The 26-year old re-signs to finish the job in Texas, as he ended last campaign 8-3-1 with a 2.54 GAA, .917 SV% and 1 shutout.
After ascending to the radar of Anaheim Ducks‘ and scoring an invite to their training camp, he was invited to continue with affiliate San Diego Gulls‘, where he scooped himself a 1-year AHL contract for 2021/2022.
He played a career best 8 games up, but was mostly reassigned to the ECHL with affiliate Allen Americans.
For 2022/2023, he decides to spread his wings a bit signing a 1-year deal with Dundee Stars, where he should be a leading goalie on more than one occasion.
Undrafted defenseman Adam Karashik(2) extends his eligibility from 4 years at University Of Connecticut Huskies, enters the transfer portal and leaves his home state for only a 2nd time in his thus far hockey life to skate for Notre Dame University Fighting Irish 2021/2022, as a graduate student.
The 6′ 201 lbs. blue liner played all of youth hockey and only year listed, as a senior at Avon Old Farms, near his birth place of Ridgefield, CT, before leaving for a first taste of USHL juniors.
He was actually drafted in the previous season by a different team, but ended up playing a full season for Chicago Steel, winning the 2017 Clark Cup Championship before heading to school.
The 23-year old should be able to rock in Big Ten competition before possibly turning pro for 2022.
As captain for his new college club, he puts up a new college best 15 assists and 16 points with a +15 rating to turn pro with Lehigh Valley Phantoms, as he completes his schooling.
In 8 AHL games, he doesn’t come away with a point, but impresses enough to sign for his official rookie season in PA.
Wheeling Nailers‘ rookie defenseman Matt Foley(24) spent four years at Yale University Bulldogs before arriving to his 1st pro deal.
The decently sized blue liner (6’1″ 194 lbs.) definitely has a more stay-at-home style considering he has just two goals and 16 assists in 88 NCAA games.
Through 33 contests in the ECHL, the defender is credited with 3 helpers and is a -1 on a team that struggles to score and cobble together wins.
The Massachusetts’ native played a pair of seasons at the junior level, heading up to Canada’s BCHL initially for maybe his best outing before agreeing to college and doing another year with Bloomington Thunder of the USHL.
At 26-years old he’s getting going a bit late but has arrived and that’s what’s most important.
For 2022/2023, he decides to leave for Belfast Giants and already has 3 assists in 4 EIHL games with a +3 rating.
New Jersey Devils‘ 2nd round pick in the 2022 draft (#46 overall), small 5’9″ 161 lbs. defenseman Seamus Casey(26) is off to a fantastic start as a freshman at University Of Michigan Wolverines, scoring 3 goals and 2 assists in 4 games with a +3 rating.
He twice for the US National Under 17 and 18 teams had 20+ assists.
Junior hockey is really where the Miami, FL native’s scoring seem to take hold.
At just 18-years old, he will definitely be a very interesting college hockey watch.
Sophomore center Chris Pappas(11) transfers out just a single season at St. Lawrence University Saints for a new opportunity with Long Island University Sharks.
The 5’11” 165 lbs. forward could strike for his new club like he did for Brooks Bandits in 2 AJHL seasons.
After 4 strong seasons of + play for UMass Minutemen, left wing Anthony Del Gaizo(12) signs a 1st pro contract with South Carolina Stingrays for 2022/2023.
We think the 5’10” 194 lbs. rookie forward will find some room in the ECHL format to score some points for his new club.
He had an absolute gang buster 3rd junior frame for Muskegon Lumberjacks, scoring 40 goals and 32 assists in 60 USHL games, named for most goals, points and mvp before heading to school.
The Basking Ridge, NJ native was also part of his college club’s outstanding 2021 NCAA Division 1 Championship run.
Rookie center Eetu Selanne(23) signs a 1st pro deal with Roanoke Rail Yard Dawgs for 2022/2023 after spending 3 seasons at Curry College Colonels, which followed 2 years with Northeastern University Huskies.
He scored decently with 7 goal and 8 assists in 27 NCAA D3 games last season, but hasn’t been exactly the biggest point getter throughout his career.
The 5’10” 170 lbs. forward may find some room in the SPHL to get on the scoring sheet, which wouldn’t be a surprise to see, considering his dad is Teemu Selanne.
Utah Grizzlies‘ sophomore left wing Christian Simeone(24) had quite the interesting little journey prior to turning pro after spending 3 seasons at Merrimack College Warriors, but appearing in less than 30 games during that timeframe.
The 6’1″ 181 lbs. forward scored 5 goals and 10 assists in 55 ECHL as a rookie to earn him another look for 2022/2023.
He started his junior career locally with South Shore Kings in USPHL Premier, but was drafted by Springfield Jr. Blues of the NAHL before heading up north to the BCHL to do a season with Alberni Valley Bulldogs before heading to school.
Finnish-born left wing, Erkka Vanska(40) should easily be commended for heading across the pond at age 16 to first attend school for a pair of years in Quebec before heading to the US to skate a season with Iowa Wild 18U AAA, where he amassed some points to gain the notice of Fairbanks Ice Dogs.
The 5’11” 168 lbs. forward was big in his 2nd NAHL season, scoring 19 goals and 36 assists in 60 games with a +19 rating before committing to Holy Cross College Crusaders.
He would spend 4 seasons at the school, but did not skate games in his final 2 frames.
For 2022/2023, he heads home to sign with Gladiators HT of the tier 2 Il-divisioona.
5th year center Thomas Ebbing(18) makes maybe a bit of a smart decision for his future, signing for 1-year with Toledo Walleye for 2022/2023 after putting up ECHL career scoring numbers last season with Reading Royals.
Undrafted, the 5’11” 185 lbs. did 3-years at Michigan State University Spartans before turning pro on an AHL deal with Laval Rocket.
He has appeared in 187 games in the lower league and run up some nice totals.
The 28-year old from Troy, MI is looking at a career year, where he’s landed.
