Union College Dutchmen senior right wing Tyler Watkins(13) is heading to Erste Liga for his rookie season, signing with Dunaujvarosi Acelbikak.
The 5’9″ 176 lbs. forward played his NAHL junior hockey close to home, Hermantown, MN with Minnesota Wilderness.
He was a big USHS-MN scorer.
The 24-year old is bound to do well in this Hungarian/Romanian pro league.
University Of Wisconsin-River Falls Falcons‘ graduate right wing Mike Gelatt(27) wastes little time signing a pto with Peoria Rivermen to get some pro playing time experience in.
The 6’3″ 205 lbs. forward was good last season, but maybe not quite what he was able to put together as a senior for Skidmore College Thoroughbreds, when he got 11 goals and 12 assists in 25 games before getting eliminated in the NEHC Tournament Final.
He has a 1st SPHL goal in his 6th sighting and 2 assists in 7 total matchups thus far.
The 25-year old from Middletown, NJ could easily play himself up a level.
He comes away with 11 goals and 16 assists in 34 games with a +14 rating, then adds 6 points in 7 playoff matchups.
For 2024/2025, he receives a 2-way ECHL contract with the new Bloomington Bison.
New Jersey Devils‘ 4th round pick in the 2019 draft (#96 overall) right wing Tyce Thompson(12), selected after his first season at Providence College grabs the 5th fastest 1st NHL point in a debut in team history with an assist at 4:22.
The 6’1″ 178 lbs. forward was basically a point per game player in NCAA Hockey East, leaving a year behind to sign his two-year entry level deal.
His dad is Brent Thompson was a Los Angeles Kings‘ choice and has guided Bridgeport Sound Tigers for the last 8 years or so and brother Tage skates for Buffalo Sabres, so the 21-year old comes from lineage.
He opened his rookie season with new affiliate Utica Comets and was absolutely lighting it up, when he was recalled.
In a pair of games, he didn’t registered any more points, but was awkwardly hit and has to undergo shoulder surgery, so will miss the next couple months.
In 15 games, he has 5 assists and finds himself involved in a trade sending him to New York Islanders.
He has 3 goals and 11 assists through 51 games, but is a horrible -21 and he is wanted to return to continue to work for Bridgeport on that game.
Maine Mariners‘ 3rd year defenseman Nate Kallen(26) re-ups to return for a 2nd ECHL season after scoring a career best 6 goals and 16 assists for 22 points in 46 games.
The 6′ 190 lbs. blue liner also received a 3 game AHL loan to Springfield Thunderbirds, where he scored a goal.
After joining his host team for 3 games upon graduating as senior captain for Ferris State University Bulldogs, he had a bit of a trying rookie start first that eventually saw him sign with Macon Mayhem and do very well in 25 SPHL games, scoring 4 goals and 15 assists with a +14 rating that was easily a good part of his pro learning curve.
The 24-year old from San Diego, CA will very likely just continue to take up his game.
He decides to return from a season in the EIHL with Glascow Clan after repairing a late injury and signs a 1-year deal with the new team, Tahoe Knight Monsters for 2024/2025.
7th year defenseman Sam Jardine(21) leaves for overseas hockey a 2nd time, this time signing with Bratislava Capitals of IceHL for 2021/2022.
Originally a 6th round pick by Chicago Blackhawks in 2011 (#169 overall), he initially signed a one-year minor league deal with affiliate Rockford IceHogs to stay in the system but was sent further down for most of his rookie campaign.
The almost deceptively built 6’2″ 209 lbs. d-man has played 228 ECHL games and won a pair of Kelly Cups: 2017 and most notably 2019 in a great run with Newfoundland Growlers.
He’s also had 4 AHL contracts and played 71 games.
The Lacombe, AB native spent 2019/2020 overseas with Cardiff Devils of the EIHL, not scoring a load of points (15) but was a nice +24 rating for on-ice accountability.
He decided to spend 2020/2021 a little closer to home after confirming a return to England, and, inked with Greenville Swamp Rabbits, where he exploded for a personal best 41 assists and 44 points in 67 games.
The 29-year old, former 3-year, 10+ assist man at Ohio State University Buckeyes will likely do well in Austria’s 6 nation league.
As said, he excelled pretty well with a pair of goals and 4 assists in 14 games with a +2 rating to gain a look from HIFK of Liiga, so will head to Finland.
For 2022/2023, he went to skate in England’s top league for another spell with Cardiff Devils and although he may have not scored a ton of points, was an accountable +7.
He decides to return to the states for 2023/2024 and will come back to the Swamp Rabbits, where he recorded his greatest assist total.
Spending a bit more time on loan to Calgary Wranglers, he finishes up the year and has decided to return to Austria to sign with Fehervar AV19 for 2024/2025.
3rd year net minder Dryden McKay(45) had his ECHL team of last season implode, cease to exist in Newfoundland Growlers, but signs with Ontario Reign for 2024/2025.
The 6′ 181 lbs. goalie was completely outstanding through 4 years at Minnesota State University-Mankato Mavericks and won basically any award he could, including the 2022 Hobey Baker.
We think he still needs clearance to come back into his game, but feel it is right there waiting.
Undrafted defenseman Greg Moro(3) takes a pair of seasons under AHL contract with Stockton Heat, but spending the majority of his time, 44 ECHL games with affiliate Kansas City Mavericks to a new adventure overseas, signing with SaiPa of Liiga for 2022/2023.
The 6’4″ 205 lbs. blue liner did get a goal in each of his years up with the contract club and even connected with 6 assists in 13 games last frame to likely get him the look in Finland’s top league.
He spent a very productive and highly accountable four seasons at Clarkson University Golden Knights, leaving a +28 rating.
The 26-year old from Edmonton, AB will definitely need to continue to elevate his game in this tough hockey, but could easily blend in nicely as well.
He actually spends the better part of two seasons in Finland’s highest hockey before switching to Czech Extraliga late last season with HC Kometa Brno.
For 2024/2025, he spots probably the best decision for him moving forward and signs with Steinbach Black Wings Linz of IceHL.
Northern Cyclones‘ 2nd year left wing Sam Mitchell(81) commits Franklin Pierce University Ravens for 2024/2025.
The 6′ 181 lbs. forward had 9 assists last season and helped the team with the 2023 USPHL Premier Championship.
From Mt. Lebanon, PA, the 20-year old probably wants nothing more than to help his new college team win.
7th year, Latvian center Teddy Blueger(53) gets a trade from 2nd round draft club Pittsburgh Penguins, where he played his 1st 250 NHL games and 179 in the AHL.
The 6′ 185 lbs. forward was showing disintegrating numbers in the current frame, probably leading to his relocation to Vegas Golden Knights, but may have found a bit of a gem to get dealt to.
He’s twice a 20+ goal scorer in the minors and worth 10+ assists 3 going on 4 times in the big league.
The Minnesota State University-Mankato Mavericks‘ 4-year played was good for 10+ goals twice and 20+ assists twice.
At 28-years old, it’s probably nice for him to get a new start.
He starts to ignite his scoring some, submitting for 2 goals and 4 assists in 18 games, then adding another 2 points in 6 playoff matchups, en route to a 2023 Stanley Cup Championship.
He gets his name etched on the trophy and is an unrestricted free agent signs a 1-year deal with the rebuilding forever Vancouver Canucks worth some $1.9M AAV.
Scoring a new best 22 assists and career tying 28 points, he is rewarded to stay in a Canucks‘ jersey for 2 more seasons at $1.8M AAV.
Undrafted, graduate goaltender Brad Arvanitis(32) takes a hot finish with D3 Babson College Beavers to a 1st pro contract with the very playoff ready Rapid City Rush.
In his ECHL debut, he scored a 5-1 victory.
The 6’2″ 180 lbs. net minder posted an 11-4-2 record with a 2.52 GA and .918 SV% in his final frame.
He’s definitely had an interesting little journey, first tending cage for EHLP team, Walpole Express before moving up to an NAHL season for Coulee Region Chill before heading to 2 seasons of limited use with UMass Minutemen.
The 24-year old will probably be able to excel in the league if he looks to stick around.
He only started one game his rookie frame before being dealt to Tulsa Oilers, where he played in 2 before being released and picked up by Pensacola Ice Flyers, which he stitched together an admirable 9-6-2 mark with a 2.71 GAA and .919 SV% in 20 SPHL games.
For 2023/2024, he picks up a deal with Maine Mariners, who likely saw him play in college some.
He runs an impressive regular season record of 20-10-1, but in the playoffs was stellar with a 1.69 GAA and .939 SV% to earn himself another contract to return to Maine.
