Former teammates: Northeastern University Huskies‘ portal transfer, senior Jakov Novak(10) hits the center dot for the 1st drop of a puck on the 2021/2022 NCAA Division 1 college hockey season vs. Bentley University Falcons‘ graduate student Brendan Hamblet(6).
10th year defenseman Dylan Olsen(91) returns to Wichita Thunder after taking 2020/2021 off.
He played 4 ECHL games with the team to end 2019/2020, scoring 3 assists.
The brick wall 6’2″ 223 lbs. blue liner returned from half a season with HK Nitra of Tipos Extraliga.
This was his 2nd session overseas, as he arrived the year before to skate for Nottingham Panthers, doing decently with 19 points in 46 EIHL games.
He is originally a 2009 1st round pick of Chicago Blackhawks (#28 overall) and has played 124 NHL games for draft club and Florida Panthers, scoring 5 goals and 17 assists.
The former 2-year University Of Minnesota-Duluth Bulldogs, who he just so happened to get credited in their 2011 NCAA Championship, but had left to turn pro with Rockford Icehogs.
He’s set to turn 31-years old as the season gets fully underway, and has to be still doing because he purely still loves it.
7th year defenseman Patrick McNally(3) is coming off a career year for assists (24) and points (32) in the ECHL, but switches allegiances in a deal that sent him from Wheeling Nailers to Reading Royals for 2021/2022.
Originally drafted by Vancouver Canucks (4th round, 2010, #115 overall), he was traded to San Jose Sharks as he was getting his pro career started, after finishing up 4 years at Harvard University Crimson.
A decent scorer at school, he took it up to point-per-game numbers as a senior (6-15) in 21 ECAC games with a +16 rating.
He was left unqualified as his entry level deal was finishing up and signed with Worcester Railers, but that relationship lasted less than half a season before he decided to seek pro hockey elsewhere.
The Glen Head, NY native next left for 17 HockeyAllsvenskan games for Leksands IF.
He would leave there for a his most successful season for Eispiraten Crimmitschau, scoring 12 goals and 36 assists in 59 DEL2 games and followed it by almost equal success in Tipos Extraliga with a pair of different clubs.
The 29-year returned for 2020/2021 pandemic season and did what he normally does on the scoresheet, but we are a little surprised to see him return once again to continue his game in PA.
16-year net minder Curtis McElhinney(35) was snooping around for a new deal to play 2021/2022, but nothing seemed to break, as the 2-year deal at his best hit $1.3M AAV with Tampa Bay Lightning was expiring.
He is 38-years old.
The 6’1″ 210 lbs. goalie has 249 NHL games to his credit, posting a 94-95-20 record, mostly as a relief pitcher.
He started his pro career on an AHL deal to tend the cage for Omaha Ak-Sar-Ben Knights before attracting the attention of Calgary Flames, who signed him to his one-year deal.
The Colorado College solid backstop (62-16-8) with a 2.32 GAA, .912 SV% and 8 shutouts, 2 WCHA Goaltending Champion was surprisingly overlooked to step right in, but the longevity that he’s built is pretty incredible.
He’s won a decent amount of awards in his run, but none sweeter than back-to-back 2020 and 2021 Stanley Cup Championships.
6th year defenseman/right wing Dajon Mingo(10) signs with Cincinnati Cyclones for 2021/2022.
The former Bowling Green University Falcons‘ skater took 2020/2021 off, as did a lot of good players, but has 267 ECHL games of experience with 31 goals and 89 assists.
He’s only received one 3 game loan up to the AHL (no points).
The small 5’8″ 174 lbs. d-man/forward has definitely had seasons where his scoring increased nicely, like 2018/2019, his 2nd of three campaigns for Jacksonville Icemen (11 goals, 29 assists), sophomore year at college (8-14) and was almost a point-per-game guy with two teams in NAHL junior hockey.
At 31-years old, it’s a little surprising to not see the Canton, MI native take off from some overseas ventures, but he still has time.
5th year defenseman Rob O’Gara(42) decides to call it a career, just as he accepts the assistant coaching position at his old school, Yale University Bulldogs.
The big 6’4″ 214 lbs. d-man skated 33 NHL games, 11 with draft club Boston Bruins (5th round, 2011, #151 overall), no points and 22 for New York Rangers, who he was traded to in a late season deal.
He got his only points with the Blueshirts, 3 assists.
In 205 AHL games with 5 different clubs, most notably two seasons for Providence Bruins, he has 14 goals and 29 assists, but most notable is his overall +21 rating of in zone accountability.
The 28-year old will likely miss competing on ice for a bit, but his experience will help develop young players.
11th year goaltender Pat Nagle(35) has played more AHL games in the last 2 seasons by 8x the previous amount through his 1st 9 years.
It didn’t hurt that he was under contract to one team, Grand Rapids Griffins for the last four campaigns and split duties for the last pair of runs after doing a super job for affiliate Toledo Walleye, whenever he was asked.
The 6’2″ 200 lbs. net minder did win a 2012 ECHL Kelly Cup Championship by being stingy with Florida Everblades.
He has started 328 games in the league and posted phenomenal numbers (191-83-33) with 16 shutouts and a 2.59 GAA and .913 SV%.
The former Ferris State University Bulldogs standout signed an NHL entry level deal with Tampa Bay Lightning, but has always played the minors despite always having a winning record, whether it’s through one NAHL year of juniors for St. Louis Bandits, college or pros.
For 2021/2022, the unrestricted free agent signs a 1-year deal with Lehigh Valley Phantoms, but we will see where the 33-year old plays most of his games.
Boston Jr. Rangers‘ 1st year center Julian Boisclair(21) was sitting right in front of the opposing team’s net when the puck came to him to end the 2-2 standoff on opening day of the new EHL season.
He came to Massachusetts after playing last season for Philadelphia Hockey Club in USPHL Premiere, scoring 12 goals and 13 assists in 39 games, then added another 8 points (4-4) in 4 playoff contests.
The 20-year old, Vorhees, NJ native should be able to take his totals up in the new league before committing to a college.
2-year Holy Cross College Crusaders transfer (from University Of Maine Black Bears), center Jake Pappalardo(37) takes probably his best stats in a severely COVID cut 2020/2021, getting 5 goals and 3 assists in 13 Atlantic Hockey games to a 1-year ECHL deal with Idaho Steelheads.
The 5’10” 185 lbs. forward spent barely any time in juniors after graduating as 2-year captain at Proctor Academy and quickly entered college play.
He was an absolute scoring stud in high school.
The 25-year old, Salem, NH native is being given a tremendous opportunity with a top team in the league.
There could be an argument to be made that 12th year center Brock Trotter(9) would like to play games in as many overseas leagues as possible.
Signing with ASC Corona Brasov Wolves brings that number up to 7.
He’s only returned to one league: the KHL.
The 5’10” 180 lbs. forward originally left to join the league after skating a pair of games for 1st contract club Montreal Canadiens, but was mostly an elite player for affiliate Hamilton Bulldogs.
Injuries completely sidelined him for the next pair of seasons, but he fought through to make a return and signed a tryout to return to Russia, but unfortunately did arrive with the same impact he had for Dinamo Riga earlier.
Undeterred, he would move along to sign with IF Bjorkloven and once again found that scoring touch, connecting for a modest 6 goals and 20 assists in 35 HockeyAllsvenskan games.
He would next jump for a short stint with a couple teams in Liiga and did decided well for Oulun Karpat, recording 4 goals and 8 assists in 9 games, but decided to return home.
Signing a tryout with Chicago Wolves, it ended after only 4 AHL games and then he seemingly was to head back to Sweden, but maybe never made it.
He firmly had his sites set on a couple of targets that would do well for his scoring abilities, first signing with Dornbirner EC, blowing up assists to 40 in 41 EBEL games.
The Brandon, MB native didn’t stay in Austria though, moving on to the tougher HKM Zvolen, but reloaded for 46 assists in 51 Tipos Extraliga games.
Almost oddly, he next would agree to terms with Rouen, and it looks like he was admiring the scenario some, although still did ok with 5 goals and 10 assists in 20 Ligue Magnus games.
The 34-year old is going to dominate Hungary/Romanian hockey and that could be the curtain call for the former 3-year University Of Denver Pioneers‘ rock star.
