Category: College Hockey Player

Long Island University Lakers‘ graduate goaltender Vinnie Purpura(1) signs a 1st contract upon completing his 5th year with Adirondack Thunder and gets pressed into play his 1st ECHL game right away.

In his 2nd game, the 6’6″ 194 lbs. backstop pulls off a 1st 6-2 win after losing his debut effort in overtime.

He originally committed to Boston University Terriers , where he was used sparingly in 2 seasons, after a solid 2nd USHL frame with Omaha Lancers.

The 24-year from Lemont, IL may just find his game completely as he’s turned pro.

He would post a 2-0 record in 4 appearances, but he couldn’t have been happy with his numbers, so he signs to return for another look in a Thunder jersey for 2023/2024.

Through 25 starts, he posts a 15-4-4 record, but doesn’t have a new deal, so his rights are claimed by Reading Royals for 2024/2025.

After a decent season stopping pucks, he will returns a Royals for 2025/2026.

Buffalo native, center Patrick Polino(27) didn’t stray far when he signed his first pro contract, agreeing to a pto with Rochester Americans on the eve of the season opener.

The small-is 5’9″ 72 lbs. forward scored a college best 11 goals, 8 assists for 19 points in his fourth and final year at RPI Engineers.

He committed to college during his best USHL campaign, his first of two with Lincoln Stars, which was his third year in the league, and would even play another over-age sessions, maybe hoping to have a better crack at the school’s starting roster.

At 26-years old, he’s getting a bit of a later start and did initially sign with Greenville Swamp Rabbits of the ECHL but never skated with the team.

With a first AHL goal and 3 assists in 11 games, he is looking to show he’s ready for an spc.

Well, he never got his permanent deal for 2020/2021, but he did manage to score 3 goals and 4 assists in 20 games, and had a pair of 2-game scoring streaks.

For 2021/2022, he decides to sign with Cincinnati Cyclones and should become a pretty dominant player in the ECHL.

He puts up just about point-per-game numbers with 24 in 26 clones’ games with a +2 rating.

His efforts get him a new deal to return for 2022/2023 and he should almost easily take it up, unless he’s called up for more than 16 games he played in the higher league last frame.

He records a career high 23 goals and 31. assists in a full frame of 72 games and will once again be putting on that Cyclones‘ jersey for 2023/2024.

Maybe a bit out of nowhere, he is traded in a blockbuster minor league deal of goal scorers to Adirondack Thunder for 2024/2025.

His numbers drop and he is dished to Allen Americans to see if he can straighten out the scoring blip he’s facing.

He does ok, but is still off the mark and is recaptured by Cincinnati Cyclones after he was initially heading to Rapid City Rush.

A contract will be necessary for 2025/2026.

He further branches out in the league and signs with Greenville Swamp Rabbits for 2025/2026.

UMass Minutemen junior goaltender Henry Graham(30) enters the transfer portal after a college career high 8 appearances last season for a 1-2-1 record with 2.38 GAA and .912 SV%, but will take his game to Hockey East rival Boston University Terriers for 2023/2024, his senior frame.

The 6’1″ 181 lbs. net minder arrived at his 1st school after a decent USHPL/NCDC showing with P.A.L. Junior Islanders after playing the Honeybaked system.

From Manhattan, NY, the undrafted 22-year old should be offered opportunities to start.

He transfers to Lindenwood University Lions for a graduate frame 2024/2025, but appears in only 2 starts.

Fort Wayne Komets offer him a tryout to make their club  for 2025/2026.

University Of Alaska-Fairbanks Nanooks‘ senior goalie transfer Pierce Charleson(34) from 3 years at Michigan State University Spartans, where he played a total of 22 games has been getting the start for his new college club.

Through 9 games, he has a new best 5-2-1 record and the 6’2″ 194 lbs. net minder is looking sharp.

He twice won junior championships and ran up a 42-2-0 mark for Brooks Bandits before winning the BCHL Cup and the previous season for Caledonia Corvairs 18-1 to win the OJHL title.

The 23-year from Aurora, ON may have found the right college fit.

He finishes up with a new college high 29 games, 13-12-3 record and 2.46 GAA.

For a year of eligibility he will enter the transfer portal and head to a 3rd school Niagara University Purple Eagles for 2024/2025.

After finishing up, he signs with Greenville Swamp Rabbits and gets into his 1st 8 ECHL games with only ok results, but they like what they see, so sign him up for his rookie run 2025/2026.

Providence College Friars‘ graduate captain defenseman Cam McDonald(27) takes a new best college 6 assists and tying 7 points to a 1-year AHL deal with Bridgeport Islanders for 2024/2025.

The 5’9″ 174 lbs. Eagle River, AK native started his junior hockey in the NAHL close to home with Kenai River Brown Bears, committed, but moved along to the USHL for Muskegon Lumberjacks before heading to school.

He’s likely at 23-years old itching to turn pro.

In 35 ECHL games on reassignment, he pots 14 assists, but only 1 assist with contract club.

For 2025/2026, his sophomore season, he re-signs to be a Worcester Railers.

4th year right wing Brady Fleurent(94) scored what was the eventual game-winner into an empty net, as Adirondack Thunder clinched the final spot in the ECHL Kelly Cup Playoffs.

The 5’9″ 170 lbs. forward seems to have found his team to hopefully stick with after coming up through the SPHL, where he spent all of 2020/2021 and most of his 1st and 3rd seasons.

This campaign was his first mostly spent up in the higher league and the former University Of New England Nor’easters 3-time 35 assist player looks ready to stick.

From Biddeford, ME, the 28-year old is likely just happy to be given a chance.

He returns for a 5th season with Knoxville Ice Bears, but through 12 games blows up scoring to the tune of 9 goals and 4 assists to grab himself a loan up, is signed to Atlanta Gladiators and just may stick.

Arriving finally on loan a 2nd time to Norfolk Admirals, he plays to stick with 13 goals and 16 assists in 32 games with a +15 rating and he is easily on the short list to return for 2024/2025.

He has easily found his team with a handy team best and league 5th, 30 goals and 47 assists in a full slate of 72 games with a +25 rating and then got 9 points in 11 playoff matchups.

For 2025/2026, he signs for a 2nd full season as an Admirals.

Northeastern University Huskies‘ sophomore goaltender Cameron Whitehead(1) always put in stellar appearances despite maybe not winning as many games as he should have.

Vegas Golden Knights‘ 4th round pick in the 2022 draft (#128 overall) leaves 2 years on the table to sign an NHL entry level deal worth 2-years.

He looks to get the start with affiliate Henderson Silver Knights, where he appeared in 3 games at the tail end of last for less than spectecular results.

The 6’3″ 183 lbs. did 2 years USHL with Lincoln Stars before school.

Winnipeg Jets‘ 6th year left wing Zach Sanford(12) was recently acquired as they head towards playoffs from Ottawa Senators, where he scored 9 goals and 8 assists in 62 games.

Since arriving he has 3 assists in 15 appearances.

The 6’4″ 203 lbs. Washington Capitals‘ 2nd round pick in the 2013 draft (#61 overall) was probably most known for his time spent with St. Louis Blues, where he won the 2019 Stanley Cup Championship his 1st year with the club.

He has played a total of 286 NHL games, scoring 47 goals and 47 assists.

The former 2-year Boston College Eagles‘ forward left after putting up very close to point-per-game numbers.

At 27-years old, he is set to become an unrestricted free agent at the end of the current session.

He only managed 4 assists in 18 games with his new club, so was left unsigned.

It didn’t take long into being unsigned for him to pick up a 1-year 1-way deal with Nashville Predators for 2022/2023 at the league minimum to see if he can reconnect with the scoring sheet.

He contributes nicely when called, but mostly serves as a veteran to help the kids with affiliate Milwaukee Admirals, where his numbers are good, then his playoff points additional.

For 2023/2024, he signs a new very short money deal on the 2-way with Arizona Coyotes, but with his size and strength may make the $800,000 AAV the deal is good for.

He was picked up off waivers by Chicago Blackhawks and in 18 games had 4 assists, then subsequently signed for the 2024/2025.

Opting out of maybe signing a minor league deal, he jumps for a new target, coming to terms with HC Lugano for 2025/2026 in NL.