Undrafted defenseman Brett Orr(18) was originally to start his pro career last season with Cardiff Devils, though maybe last minute decided to stay closer to home, signed a deal with South Carolina Stingrays but was released with the plethora of more experienced players needing a place to play.
Well, it’s a new year and just as the summer is heating up, the 5’10” 181 lbs. blue liner re-ups what he left to get things started.
The former Bentley University Falcons‘ captain was always able to come up with assists in scoring, but his +18 rating through school means accountability.
He stayed close to home for his junior hockey, playing three campaigns for the MJHL Portage Terriers.
The 25-year old is likely to make a good impression as soon as his skates hit the ice.
After 5 seasons in Boston Jr. Bandits‘ system, starting with 16U AAA, defenseman Connor Sullivan(8) decided to spread some wings and joined Philadelphia Hockey Club for his 3rd year of junior hockey.
He was originally heading to the BCHL for a stint with Cranbrook Bucks, but may have stepped off that stick of dynamite as the pandemic continued to rage.
It lasted only 10 UPSHL/NCDC games before he would move on to sign with Islanders Hockey Club for the remainder of the frame.
He played 19 games with the team, scoring a goal and 9 assists before adding another couple of assists in 5 playoff matchups.
The 5’11” 174 lbs. blue liner was captain in the final year with his former club, which was when the 20-year old committed to Yale University Bulldogs to further his hockey and education on a strong showing, best 7 goals and 38 assists.
He should do well in ECAC once he arrives.
Undrafted 6th year center Nick Saracino(13) decides it’s time to head off for a great, new option, signing a 1-year deal with HKM Zvolen of Slovakia Extraliga.
After 4 very good years at Providence College Friars (46-70) in 145 Hockey East games with a mammoth +43 rating, he played his first 7 games for Iowa Wild, pocketing a 1st AHL goal and assist and then signing for his rookie campaign.
He only appeared in 33 games in his first season, so went unsigned and agreed to terms with a young Worcester Railers‘ club for a first full ECHL affair.
The 5’11” 185 lbs. always plays full throttle finds his scoring footing in the lower league and would next move onto a one-year deal on a trade to Wheeling Nailers and really popped the bubble with 17 goals and 20 assists in 27 games with a +17 rating.
This show would earn him a contract from Binghamton Devils, where he looked to make more sense, grabbing 6 goals and 4 assists in 38 games.
He returned to become captain of his PA club for a 2nd run, and although only good to go for 31 games, still scored at a great pace (8-15-23).
During the COVID stunted 2020/2021, he first was to play for South Carolina Stingrays, but they suspended, so decided to head to FL for a run with Jacksonville Icemen, and as it turned out, playing the somewhat weirdo schedule was his best production yet with a career high 18 goals and 27 assists for 43 points, the 29-year old says later on, going to find some Slovak hockey for myself.
Undrafted 3rd year defenseman Jon Lizotte(55) takes a pair of pretty decent minor league deals with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton Penguins to a new one-year, two-way deal with Minnesota Wild, that will no doubt see him reassigned to affiliate Iowa Wild.
The 6′ 210 lbs. blue liner had a career high 19 assists as a rookie and a +16 rating.
He managed 3 goals and 6 assists in a shortened 32 AHL in 2020/2021 weirdo season.
The former St. Cloud State University Huskies‘ d-man left with a mammoth +47 rating through 4 years and was also rock solid through 2 seasons of the NAHL for Minot Minotauros.
We think his first major contract club sees the 26-year old, Grand Forks, ND native as starting to arrive.
Defenseman Bryan Huggins(4) will head closer to home in Grand Rapids, MI for college, heading to Lake Superior State University Lakers for 2022/2023 after a solid 2nd season of juniors with single team, Maryland Black Bears, grabbing highs 2 goals and 6 assists, then another 3 helpers in 8 playoff contests.
The 5’11” 181 lbs. blue liner made his commitment after a year at Meijer AAA Hockey 16U.
No doubt the 19-year old will have to work hard to find space in the lineup, when he arrives, but you can bet he’ll put in the time to get a spot.
6th year defenseman Reece Wilcox(44) leaves after spending most of 2020/2021 on loan from contract club Florida Everblades of the ECHL to Hershey Bears.
The big 6’4″ 205 lbs. blue liner has played 259 AHL games, recording 12 goals and 59 assists, 3 times having 10+ helper seasons.
Originally a Philadelphia Flyers‘ 5th round pick in the 2012 draft (#141 overall), the Surrey, BC native played his junior hockey in the BCHL, spending two years with Merritt Centennials before committing to Cornell University Big Red.
He was team captain as a senior and upon graduation took up with affiliate Lehigh Valley Phantoms, skating his first 6 pro games, scoring a first goal and 2 assists.
The 27-year old will next embark on a new adventure, signing with HC Pustertal of IceHL and could do exceedingly well in this Austrian league.
Undrafted defenseman Anthony Baxter(19) completes 4 seasons with UMass-Lowell Riverhawks, enters the transfer portal in another year of eligibility and comes out as a graduate student at RPI Engineers.
Not exactly the biggest point-getter, he’s at least consistent with his +21 overall rating in 116 Hockey East games.
The 6′ 185 lbs. blue liner may not find much more room in ECAC style of play to score but should keep a sound defensive zone.
We could see the Oakville, ON native, former OJHL Burlington Cougars‘ standout sign a pro deal after completing another year.
Undrafted 3rd year defenseman Eric Israel(6) decides to go exploring after two seasons in uniform for Rapid City Rush.
He played 90 ECHL games, grabbing 2 goals and 24 assists.
The former Robert Morris University d-man was mostly good for a decent amount of points, averaging 5 goals and 16 assists with a +7 rating through 4 years.
He had more than similar success in two years of Canadian juniors with Brockville Braves of the CCHL, where he twice popped 3o assists and came close to 10 goals a frame.
The 26-year old leaves for Sweden’s tier 3 HockeyEttan, joining Kalmar HC for 2021/2022 and we think it will be an exciting signing.
Undrafted left wing Ryan Rosborough(60) came down from a pair of junior seasons in close by OJHL with Markham Royals to first play in 2020/2021 for Junior Bruins, but would eventually finish with South Shore Kings, scoring 14 goals and 15 assists in 37 NCDC/USPHL games.
This gained notice of St. Cloud State University Huskies, who got him to commit for the upcoming year.
The 6’3″ 21-year old will definitely be put to the test in the NCHC, but is pretty big, so may find his space.
Undrafted defenseman Logan Britt(24) switches up two years at Quinnipiac University Bobcats to a new adventure with Sacred Heart University Pioneers.
Not really an amazing scorer, he did put up 22 assists in his 2nd frame of juniors with Aberdeen Wings in 52 NAHL games, then had a career high 5 goals and 16 helpers in a split USHL session.
The fairly big 6’2″ 190 lbs. d-man hasn’t had nearly the success in college hockey, but did notch an impressive +13 rating with 5 points (2-3) in 27 ECAC games for 2020/2021’s oddball run.
He moves onto NCAA Division 1 Atlantic Hockey, but it still won’t be any picnic for him to grab points.
We’re thinking the 22-year old will find new scoring life.
Undrafted defenseman Brett Orr(18) was originally to start his pro career last season with Cardiff Devils, though maybe last minute decided to stay closer to home, signed a deal with South Carolina Stingrays but was released with the plethora of more experienced players needing a place to play.
