American International College Yellowjackets‘ junior center Joshua Barnes(27) is in the uneviable position of his college team taking a year off to switch divisions for 2026.
The 5’10” 185 lbs. forward takes with him a college best scoring 14 goals an 10 assists into the transfer portal to next skate with former Atlantic Hockey foes Sacred Heart University Pioneers, 2025/2026
From Cornwall, ON, the 23-year old always did well in junior hockey before school.
RPI Engineers‘ junior defenseman Max Smolinski(21) enters the transfer portal after a college high 5 goals and 10 assists in 35 games to next skate at St. Cloud State University Huskies as a senior, 2025/2026.
The 6′ 185 lbs. blue liner from Broomfield Hills, MI did 2 good years of juniors before school.
His heading closer to home for the “final” year for the 23-year old son of former NHL-er Bryan Smolinski.
Mercer Chiefs‘ 1st year left wing Ryan Stratton(25) takes virtual point-per-game numbers from last USPHL/NCDC season to a 2025/2026 commit at Skidmore College Thoroughbreds.
The small 5’8″ 146 lbs. forward scored big at USHS-Prep before juniors.
From Syracuse, NY, the 20-year old will likely find room to connect in college hockey.
American International College Yellowjackets‘ freshman left wing Justin Mexico(11) enters the transfer portal as his team takes a season off to switch to a different division, so he heads to Stonehill College Skyhawks for his sophomore frame in 2025/2026.
The 5’10” 180 lbs. forward had 3 goals and 12 assists in 32 games last year.
He spent 3 seasons in juniors mostly with North Iowa Bulls of the NAHL.
From Madison Heights, MI, the 21-year old will likely do well playing the independent schedule.
Cornell University Big Red senior defenseman Tim Rego(3) signs with Ontario Reign for his rookie season, 2025/2026.
The 6′ 185 lbs. blue liner started his pro career upon tournament completion with their affiliate Greenville Swamp Rabbits, where he scored 2 assists in 5 games with a +2 rating.
From Mansfield, MA, he did 2 years AJHL before heading to school.
University Of Connecticut Huskies‘ graduate captain defenseman Roman Kinal(41) signs an ato to start his pro career with San Jose Barracuda.
In 5 AHL games, he has no points.
The 6’2″ 198 lbs. blue liner has never really put up points, three times hitting 7 in a frame.
From Waterford, MI, the 24-year old may just need a little more time to grow into his pro game.
He signs for 2023/2024, but is dispelled to affiliate Wichita Thunder for a good deal of the session.
For 2024/2025, San Diego Gulls are in search of some assistance and agree with him for a look.
He is up for 36 games and reassigned to affiliate Tulsa Oilers for 17 and does well, help guiding both.
It’s an easy call for him to re-sign to stay a Gulls for 2025/2026.
Utica College Pioneers senior left wing Shane Murphy(29) signs a 1st pro contract with Birmingham Bulls and in 2 regular season SPHL games scores 1 goal and 1 assist to get started.
The 5’11” 181 lbs. forward has his best college scoring year as a junior with 13 goals and 15 assists in 30 games with a +27 rating.
He also scored pretty well as a senior.
From Oriskany, NY, the 25-year old played 2 years of NAHL juniors before school.
On their protected list, he will need a new contract for 2025/2026.
He’s an easy sign to return for his rookie season, 2025/2026 to be a Bulls.
10th year net minder Anthony Stolarz(41) gets a 1-year NHL deal with Florida Panthers worth $1.1M AAV after spending the last 4 in Anaheim Ducks‘ system.
Originally a Philadelphia Flyers‘ 2nd round pick in the 2013 draft (#45 overall), he spent the 1st 5 years of his pro career with them.
The huge 6’6″ 243 lbs. goalie played 8 games at University Of Nebraska-Omaha Mavericks before leaving to join London Knights for 2 seasons, winning the 2013 OHL Championship in his 1st after coming from college.
At 29-years old, he will likely see more action in the show, but also will help train the youngsters in the system.
In 27 games for his new team as primary backup, he comes away with some pretty outstanding numbers to help the team win the 2024 Stanley Cup.
An unrestricted free agent, Toronto Maple Leafs are interested and agree to terms on 2 years for $2.5M AAV.
He posts a pretty outstanding frame, despite going through some knee problems to earn himself a new 4-year deal that starts 2026/2027 for $3.75M AAV to stay in the Leafs‘ net long-term.
Rapid City Rush rookie signing, 4 year American International College Yellowjackets‘ left wing Blake Bennett(48) is off to a nice start as a pro, scoring his 1st ECHL goal in his 5th game and adding 3 assists in 6 total sightings.
The small 5’9″ but stocky 195 lbs. forward had a college career best 22 goals and 35 points in 38 games as a senior, his 2nd season with 20+ goals, 10+ assists and 30+ points.
He was a point-per-game player in his only NAHL session for Corpus Christi Ice Rays after playing himself up from a couple of seasons in lower levels and half a one in a Canadian based league before heading to college.
We predict the 24-year old from Grand Island, NY settles in nicely with his new club.
He finishes up from his ato with 1 goal and 4 assists in 15 games with a 0 rating.
This is good enough for the Rush to want to see a full rookie season by him in one of their jerseys.
In a full slate of 72 games, he absolutely blows up scoring with 35 goals and 28 assists, but decides to look elsewhere for his next contract and will head to Metal Ligaen to skate for Odense Bulldogs in 2024/2025.
He skates only 9 games, but scores 6 goals and 3 assists with a +1 rating.
Next, he will head to DEL2 and signs with EV Landshut for 2024/2025.
He does ok with 3 goals and 1 assists in 16 games, but maybe thinks he should be doing better, so eyes a return back to his one team, the Rush for the remainder of the frame.
After scoring a 2nd high numbered frame in the league, worth 50+ points, he signs a 2-way deal with parent club Calgary Wranglers for 2025/2026.
University Of Connecticut Huskies‘ senior right wing Nick Capone(14) signs a 1st pro contract with Lehigh Valley Phantoms for 2024/2025.
The 6’2″ 216 lbs. forward had his best scoring season as a junior with 9 goals and 9 assists in 35 games with a +2 rating.
From East Haven, CT, the just 22-year old mostly kept it close to home for youth hockey, but did branch out to Tri-City Storm for his only USHL junior campaign before college.
He was originally a Tampa Bay Lightning 6th round pick in the 2020 draft (#157 overall), but not signed.
Reassigned for the entire year to affiliate Reading Royals, he scored 7 assists in 49 games with a +1 rating and re-signs with the Phantoms to stay in the system for 2025/2026.
