Colorado College Tigers‘ senior net minder Matt Vernon(30) posts a college career best 2.57 GAA on a 4-6-1 record with 2 shutouts to a 1st pro deal with Reading Royals.
In 2 ECHL games, he is about equal to his last season school hockey stats.
The 5’11” 175 lbs. backstop had his best junior run in his 2nd NAHL season for Aberdeen Wings to win a 2018 Robertson Cup and pretty much collect all the goalie awards and MVP.
From San Jose, CA, the 25-year old will likely have to prove his game every step of the way.
For 2023/2024, he signs for his rookie season with Jacksonville Icemen, which should turn out to be a good landing spot for him to prove what he can do.
He does pretty well for his first year with a 25-10-3 record, 2.67 GA and .909 SV% to earn a new deal for the son of 1997 Stanley Cup Champion Mike Vernon in an Icemen sweater 2024/2025.
Another nice job done in the cage with a 24-8-6 record, but he is eyeing another opportunity and signs with HC Innsbruck Sharks of IceHL for 2025/2026.
He struggles some on maybe a not so hot club and has decided to return a little closer to home, signing with Norfolk Admirals for 2026/2027.
Worcester Railers‘ new signing, Anthony Callin(17) comes in after 5 seasons at Clarkson University Golden Knights, where he scored a college best 11 goals and 19 points as a graduate student and leaves as a +11 player.
The undrafted, 6′ 205 lbs. forward grabbed a 1st assist in his 2nd ECHL game loss, but scored a pair, including the game-winner in his 3rd appearance, a 3-2 win.
We do think the 24-year old from Middleton, WI turns the corner nicely and will do well as a pro wherever he goes to play.
2 goals and 5 assists, playing a power forward role, he is guaranteed a spot to return to the Railers for 2023/2024.
He is a synched to want to return, as he’s a power forward, who scored 14 goals and 35 assists with a +4 rating as a rookie, so a Railers‘ jersey looks good on him.
Another stellar scoring season with 24 goals and 24 assists in 65 games and he is set to return to the Railers for 2025/2026, his third in a team jersey.
After a 3rd 40+ point season, he decides to move on and signs with Savannah Ghost Pirates for 2026/2027.
3rd year, extra large 6’7″ 229 lbs. left wing John Parker-Jones(95) signs an AHL deal with Ontario Reign for 2024/2025.
He played most of last season for Trois Riviere Lions.
After 4 seasons with Peterborough Petes of the OHL, he decided to head to University Of Windsor Lancers for a year before turning pro.https://orlandosolarbearshockey.com/news/2026/08/solar-bears-add-physical-presence-in-john-parker-jones
From Brantford, ON, the 24-year old may have landed at a good spot.
He played a pretty solid ECHL campaign with Greenville Swamp Rabbits, scoring 10 goals and 17 assists in 50 games, while only skating one game up, but is liked enough to invite back to potentially make more waves with the Reign in 2025/2026.
After a 2nd season with the same club, but maybe not scoring quite as well, he signs with rivals Orlando Solar Bears for 2026/2027.
University Of North Dakota Fighting Hawks‘ graduate left wing Hunter Johannes(18) had a fairly solid year of eligibility scoring 12 goals and 7 assists in 31 games with a +10 rating.
The big 6’3″ 209 lbs. forward oddly did best scoring as a senior at Lindenwood University Lions with point-per-game numbers, 13 goals and 16 assists in 28 games.
From Eden Prairie, MN, he did his high school hockey right there, finding his edge as a senior.
He seemed to bounce around junior hockey a bit, never quite sticking in one place too long before eventually heading to his 1st school of 3 years, American International College Yellowjackets.
Upon graduating, he signed a 1-year AHL with Grand Rapids Griffins for 2024/2025, but joins them on an ato.
He’s without points in 6 games, but we feel it’s just a matter of time.
An unrestricted free agent, he signs a pto with Florida Panthers that should turn into a 1-year deal, as he reports to affiliate Charlotte Checkers.
After 17 ECHL games on reassignment to Savannah Ghost Pirates, scoring 1 goal and 7 assists, he finds himself traded to Lehigh Valley Phantoms, but reports with affiliate Reading Royals.
In his debut with this club, he scores himself a hat trick to say hello.
Through 30 games, he scores 13 goals and 12 assists with a +6 rating to earn a new deal with Bakersfield Condors for 2026/2027.
Part of a new feature we would like to introduce is junior players, so far as of yet committed at a college and highlight some of these skaters as they grow through the ranks.
Long Beach Sharks‘ 1st year Czechian-born left wing Michael Stojka(8) is one to watch to move up from his new NA3HL status.
The 5’10” 170 lbs. forward, sometimes defenseman moves the puck really way and has the abilities to make offensive zone plays with good, swift moving, smart hands.
In 15 games, he has 2 goals and 10 assists with a +1 rating.
The 18-year old should play himself onto higher radar.
After 45 EHL games with Express Hockey Club, scoring 6 goals and 18 assists, he commits 2026/2027 to SUNY Morrisville Mustangs.
University Of Alaska-Fairbanks Nanooks‘ senior left wing Braden Birnie(51) scored a new college best 7 goals and 18 points in 33 games with a +2 rating last season.https://theahl.com/stats/player/11039
The 6’3″ 192 lbs. forward signed a 1st pro contract with Rapid City Rush and has 2 goals and 4 assists in 9 ECHL games with a +1 rating.
He did 2 strong scoring seasons in Canadian junior leagues before heading to school.
From Weyburn, SK, the 24-year old plays hockey in his veins and gets loaned up to Abbotsford Canucks on a pto.
He gets 1 assist in 5 AHL games and for 2026/2027, he signs with Calgary Wranglers.
Ferris State University Bulldogs‘ junior defense Andrew Noel(28) leaves a year on the table to sign with Cincinnati Cyclones for his rookie season, 2025/2026.
In 17 games, he has 2 goals and 4 assists.
The 6’1″ 190 lbs. blue liner from Maynard, MA did 2 years of juniors before school, including 1 in the BCHL.
At 25-years old, he is scoring better as a pro.
In his 1st year, he is doing ok, but gets himself traded to Utah Grizzlies for the 2nd half.
He leaves 20 games with a team that won’t exist after the season with 1 goal and 3 assists and a +3 rating.
For 2026/2027, Rapid City Rush was paying attention and sign him.
American International College Yellowjackets‘ junior center Casey McDonald(29) enters the transfer portal as his school isn’t playing in 2025/2026 due to switching down to D3, so will go as a senior with Long Island University Sharks and serves as team captain.
The 6’1″ 185 lbs. forward scored 1 goal in his debut with his new team.
From Kindersley, SK, he did 3 years in juniors, with his last up north for a BCHL Championship before college.
The 24-year old is a natural leader on ice.
He scores a new best 6 assists and 10 points as a senior with a +3 in 31 games and gets signed by South Carolina Stingrays.
In 9 games, he has 2 ECHL goals and 1 assist.
For his rookie season, 2026/2027, he signs with Tahoe Knight Monsters.
Providence College Friars‘ junior defenseman Austen May(41) enters the transfer portal to head to Hockey East rivals Northeastern University Huskies as a senior, 2025/2026.
He takes a college best 13 assists, 14 points in a high 34 games and +7 rating with him.https://gargoyleshockey.com/news/2026/08/may-returns-to-greensboro-for-2026-27
The 5’11” 170 lbs. did 2 seasons of USHL juniors on the way.
From Woodhaven, MI, the 22-year old will still be challenged.
He scores a college tying 4 goals and 6 assists in high 36 games with a +6 rating and shows great accountability out there to sign a 1st pro deal with Greensboro Gargoyles.
In 11 games, he records 3 assists and gets an invite to return for his official rookie run in 2026/2027 as a Gargoyles.
2nd year Mercyhurst University Lakers‘ right wing Dante Sheriff(38) takes a college career best 8 goals and 17 assists with a +5 rating to a 1st pro contract to Orlando Solar Bears for 2022/2023.
The 5’11” 187 lbs. Woodbridge, ON native was a solid point-per-game guy in NAHL juniors with Austin Bruins.
It’s possible the 23-year old just got restless and wanted to play some official hockey.
He never actually got to skate any games in Florida, but instead ended up adopted by Tulsa Oilers and as a rookie puts up 13 goals and 17 assists in 51 games, although will need to clean up that -16 rating.https://swamprabbits.com/news/2025/10/swamp-rabbits-acquire-dante-sheriff-from-utah
For 2023/2024, he receives an invite to return.
In his 2nd year with the team, he takes his game to another level, scoring 18 goals and 31 assists with a +8 rating in 62 ECHL games.
He actually finds himself traded to Cincinnati Cyclones, who will sign him for 2024/2025.
After spending last season with Greenville Swamp Rabbits, he gets move to Wichita Thunder, then moves again for 2026/2027 to Wheeling Nailers.
