After 4 seasons at Boston College, Finnish-born defenseman Jesper Mattila(7) didn’t think long about heading home to start his pro career signing for 2020/2021 with Kalpa, and in 51 Liiga games had 3 goals and 6 assists with a +3 rating.
He left after a COVID-shortened 2019/2020 season with a +30 in 34 NCAA games.
It wouldn’t be strange at all to see the 5’11” 183 lbs. 23 old blue liner just stay in his home country to play his hockey and start a nice family (or something that approximates that).
The still young 24-year old signs on for a 2nd season with Kalpa after scoring 3 goals and 7 assists with a +7 rating on 58 games.
He has 1 goal and 2assists in 16 games to start the new frame.
12th year center Rob Bordson(29) was going to spend a 2nd season close to home, even agreeing to terms, but decided a better deal was out there he needed to grab, signing a 1-year deal with Stavenger Oilers of Fjordkraftligaen for 2021/2022.
He came home to skate last year with Kansas City Mavericks and came one point shy of his best league totals, tying a 17 goal high.
The 6’2″ 201 lbs. forward only did better in his 1st campaign away for DEL, getting 8 goals and 30 assists for Fischtown Pinguins with a +10 rating.
He has played 380 AHL games and 106 in the ECHL with more than point-per-game numbers.
The 33-year old, former 3-year University Of Minnesota-Duluth Bulldogs‘ skater is probably just still enjoying the game to stick with it.
Undrafted 3rd year defenseman Ryker Killins(44) decides to go exploring for his new contract, signing a 1-year deal with Esbjerg Energy for 2021/2022.
In 2 ECHL seasons, he’s basically managed to tie his 21 points, but whereas he had a dismal plus/minus with Rapid City Rush, he pulled that up very nicely for Jacksonville Icemen to a +4 on good scoring.
The small 5’9″ 181 lbs. blue liner managed a few games loaned up to Tuscon Roadrunners as a rookie but didn’t connect.
He was probably most impressive in the pros after completing his 4th year at Ferris State University Bulldogs to sign an ato to South Carolina Stingrays and immediately he got to work, floating 3 goals and 6 assists in 14 games with a +7.
We suspect the 25-year old from Wawa, ON destroys Denmark’s top league, Metal Ligean.
3rd year defenseman Jake Massie(34) signs a 1-year AHL deal with Hershey Bears for 2021/2022 after spending all of last season with Greenville Swamp Rabbits, scoring 3 goals and 8 assists with a +3 rating in 51 ECHL games, while under the 2nd year of his entry level deal with Florida Panthers.
The 6’1″ 179 lbs. blue liner was originally drafted by Carolina Hurricanes in the 6th round of 2015 (#156 overall), but went unsigned after a trade sent his rights to Chicago Blackhawks.
This all basically happened before he was to start his first year of juniors with Omaha Lancers, which is also when he committed to University Of Vermont Catamounts, where he spent the following three years.
The 24-year old will likely do better in his 2nd run of the farm league for the majors.
Rookie center Patrick Kramer(14) signs a 1-year deal with Jacksonville Icemen for 2021/2022 to get his pro career going.
The fairly big 6’1″ 194 lbs. forward was a big scorer at Boston College High, but dropped off in one campaign of juniors with Youngstown Phantoms and wasn’t a huge point-producer through 4 years at Merrimack College Warriors.
We think the ECHL signing of the 24-year old means they think he will be able to connect with the scoresheet in the league.
Undrafted rookie center Andy Brink(18) signs a 1-year ECHL deal with South Carolina Stingrays for 2021/2022 after taking last season off post graduating from Boston University Terriers after transferring from 4 years at Brown University Bears.
The 6′ 201 lbs., Hamilton, NY native played most of his junior hockey with Junior Bruins, first in the EJHL, then switch leagues for two campaigns, where in the first he helped them win 2014 USPHL Premiere, then went on to detonating the scoresheet with 29 goals and 41 assists in 50 games before heading to college.
It wouldn’t be surprising to see the 27-year old, who didn’t connect much through ECAC or Hockey East play, take scoring up a notch as a pro.
Undrafted, 2nd year defenseman Jordan Schneider(12) re-signs to stay with Indy Fuel, who he was with for 12 ECHL games last season, scoring two goals and two assists after a quick trade from initial contract club Orlando Solar Bears in his rookie run.
The big 6’4″ 205 lbs. blue liner played 5 seasons of junior hockey, winning the 2013 OJHL Championship with St. Michaels Buzzers before leaving for two campaigns for Langley Rivermen of the BCHL, where he very close to averaged 20 assists a frame.
He attended four years at Clarkson University Golden Knights, amassing a very reliable +25 rating.
It would be little surprise to see the son of former 1200+ NHL games’ dad, Mathieu Schneider, start to excel in his 2nd go in the league.
Undrafted rookie goaltender Corbin Kaczperski(33) signs a 1-year ECHL contract with Worcester Railers for 2021/2022 upon completing a transfer portal season at University Of Denver Pioneers, where he went after four years at Yale University Bulldogs, but didn’t play as a freshmen, so was likely given eligibility.
The 6’3″ 194 lbs. net minder was a 1-year junior hockey star with Lone Star Brahmas, posting a 1.98 GAA and .912 SV% in 39 NAHL starts and led to his first college’s discovery.
He will likely serve as back-up in his first year of pro hockey, but no doubt will learn a lot about the game from who he is pair with in central MA.
We fully expect the 25-year old to shine every opportunity he’s given.
2nd year Johnstown Tomahawks‘ center Holt Oliphant(20) announces his commitment to Air Force Academy Falcons for 2022/2023.
Meanwhile, the 5’10” 185 lbs. forward is already off and running in 2021/2022, scoring 3 goals and 4 assists in 9 NAHL games.
He had 12 tallies and 19 helpers in 53 games with a +12 rating last season.
The 20-year old from Nortbrook, IL graduated from Northeast Lawrence Academy as team captain and point-per-game USHS-Prep producer and as a power forward style player should fit right into Atlantic Hockey action.
Big 6’4″ 214 lbs. net minder Michael Lackey(31) heads from a bit of an off-season with Orlando Solar Bears to a new ECHL 1-year deal with Indy Fuel for 2021/2022.
The former Providence College Friars backstop put up some amazing numbers in his one season after coming over as a portal transfer from Harvard University Crimson.
His 16-12-6 record was decent enough, but a 2.18 GAA and .922 SV% with 2 shutouts are solid.
He was maybe a tiny bit inconsistent coming up through the USNTDP program.
The 24-year old Washington, D.C. native should be able to get right back into it with his new club.
