Category: College Hockey Player

17Feb

Christophe Fillion (25)

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Quinnipiac University Bobcats‘ junior left wing Christophe Fillion(25) looks to have a career season with already 6 goals, needing 1 to tie his high from last year and 4 assists, going for 13 to eclipse that best mark.

The 5’11” 176 lbs. forward left his 2nd USHL season with Muskegon Lumberjacks to join his current college club.

He had a pretty huge 1st frame and previously the Sherbrooke, QC native skated in the BCHL for Wenatchee Wild, putting up decent numbers.

We wouldn’t be surprised to see the 23-year old put up point-per-game numbers in 2o23/2024.

He comes away with a college high 12 goals as a senior and the undrafted player decides to go for a year of eligibility at Miami University Ohio Redhawks.

In 32 games, he scores 4 goals and 6 assists on a tough luck team and as the season wraps up, he signs a 1st pro deal with Idaho Steelheads.

In 8 ECHL games, he has an assist with a 0 rating.

He doesn’t decide to try to stay and instead agrees to terms with Utah Grizzlies for his rookie run, 2025/2026.

In 12 games, he scores 2 goals with a +1 rating, but Wichita Thunder eye something in his game they want and trade for future considerations to acquire him.

17Feb

Nate Kallen (26)

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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.

After another decent run with the Monsters, he decides to move off for something a bit different and signs with Vienna Capitals of the IceHL, where he will continue to do well.

16Feb

Ryan Naumovski (39)

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Niagara University Purple Eagles‘ senior right wing Ryan Naumovski(39) takes a new college best, scoring 9 goals and 17 assists for a new journey through the transfer portal to Augustana College Vikings for 2023/2024.

The 6′ light 160 lbs. forward was a point-per-game player for New Jersey Junior Titans in his 2nd NAHL season.

Undrafted from Shelby Township, MI, the 23-year old will likely have some fun playing that tough D1 schedule the 1st year team is taking on.

He basically equals his scoring from his senior frame perfectly in slightly less games, as a graduate player.

Upon finishing up their independent schedule, he signs with Kalamazoo Wings.

He appears in just 3 ECHL games to round out the season, getting 1 assist.

For 2024/2025, he signs on for a full year in a Wings‘ uniform.

He waits a minute after a decent first full frame with a pro team and signs with Florida Everblades for his 2nd season.

For the 2nd half of 2025/2026, he returns to the Everblades and has 1 assist in 5 games.

16Feb

Mitch Walinski (27)

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Salve Regina University Seahawks‘ senior right wing Mitch Walinski(27) saw his team’s season end in a close game against the club maybe to win the entire D3 hockey this year.

The 6’1″ 180 lbs. forward takes the news in stride and quickly signs a 1st pro deal with Atlanta Gladiators.

He posted an assist in his debut and then a few days later in game 2, grabs a 1st ECHL goal with a 0 rating in some high scoring wins.

From Lincoln, RI, the 24-year old left two seasons with 10+ goals and 10+ assists in college hockey.

He finished his ato with 3 goals and 1 assist and a -5 rating, but they see something they want to continue and sign him up for his official rookie season, 2023/2024.

Scoring ok for his 1st year, he definitely needs to bring up that +/-, but he is wanted to return to wear a Gladiators‘ sweater for 2024/2025.

He grabs 7 goals and 5 assists last season, but hadn’t figured into a game yet this season, so gets dished to Adirondack Thunder to see if they can turn the magic.

After 4 games with no points he gets waived and quickly scooped by the new Bloomington Bison.

He gets picked up after 5 games, no points by Wheeling Nailers on an earlier future considerations deal, but in 9 outings has yet to hit the score sheet, almost surprisingly.

With things not improving done the line in the league, he opts to leave and sign in the secondary British, NIHL with Bristol Pitbulls in hopes of regaining some scoring confidence.

After a successful 16 game run, scoring 17 goals and 7 assists, he leaves for a shot at Germany4, signing 2025/2026 with EV Dingolfing and has completely exploded scoring with 33 goals and 24 assists in 30 games.

16Feb

Kyle Mayhew (27)

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University Of Denver Pioneers‘ graduate defenseman Kyle Mayhew(27) signs a 1st pro deal to stay right at home joining Colorado Eagles on a 2-way deal to get going, meaning he could get shipped down the road to Utah Grizzlies.

The small-is 5’9″ 165 lbs. blue liner had a career tying 2 goals, best 11 assists and 13 points with a +20 rating last season.

He has been known to throw up helpers, as he did in his 2nd run with Fairbanks Ice Dogs, getting 31 assists in a campaign, where he also notched an NAHL high 8 goals.

The 25-year old will likely play hard for all the space he’s able to make.

Well, after scoring 15 goals and 42 assists, he is deciding to move on and signs with Fort Wayne Komets for 2024/2025.

He puts up another 11 goals and 41 assists in 60 ECHL games, then adds another 9 points in 11 playoff matchups and was named Defensive Player Of The Year.

Loaned up to Bakersfield Condors, he scored 1 goals and 8 assists in 11 games.

For 2025/2026, he decides to leave for DEL and signs with Augsburger Panther.

In 44 games, he scores 5 goals and 16 assists and is asks to return to be a Panther for 2026/2027.

16Feb

Graham Sward (15)

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Quinnipiac University Bobcats‘ freshman defenseman Graham Sward(15) came to the school after playing a 1st pro season under contract to Manitoba Moose, but spent most of his playing time in Norfolk Admirals.

He had 2 goals and 11 assists in 47 ECHL games with a +13 rating.

The big 6’4″ 192 lbs. blue liner has 4 goals and 9 assists in 30 games with another +13 for his college team.

From Langley, BC, the 22-year old did 5 years in the WHL, scoring fairly big assists (66 in 66 games in his final frame).

A Nashville Predators’ 5th round pick in the 2022 draft (#146 overall), we think the 22-year old has become an unrestricted free agent.

15Feb

James Marooney (42)

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2nd year defenseman James Marooney(42) gets a 2nd ECHL transaction of 2025/2026, as he is traded as part of a previous future considerations deal to Kansas City Mavericks.

The 5’9″ 185 lbs. blue liner scored 2 goals and 3 assists in 21 games for Maine Mariners earlier this season.

From Chasta, MN, he did 4 years at Ohio State University Buckeyes before transferring to a graduate frame at University Of St. Thomas Tommies.

We think as long as he keeps his plus/minus clean, he can be effective guarding the zone.

15Feb

Zach Solow (73)

Posted in College Hockey Player, Free Agent Signing, Juniors, Minor League Deal | Leave a comment

Former Northeastern University Huskies‘ captain, undrafted center Zach Solow(73) signs an ato with Chicago Wolves for the remainder of 2021, but it’s said to be tied to a whisper that he’s actually Nashville Predators‘ property and news actually came through their COVID dormant affiliate Milwaukee Admirals that he signed for 2021/2022, but we still have yet to see the confirmed word of his definite big league deal.

He’s a pure digger and was a point-per-game player last season for a first time in his college career.

Little doubt the only 5’9″ 170 lbs. forward has to be on a few teams lists for a big, unrestricted free agent pick up but as we said, he may be spoken for.

The 22-year old Naples, FL native did three years of junior hockey, committing to college just before his breakout campaign, when he scored 18 goals and 51 assists for 69 points (both most in the league) in 52 USHL games for Dubuque Fighting Saints.and was selected Forward Of The Year.

His initial foray into pro hockey turned out decent, as he was also signed to Florida Everblades, where he became a point-per-game player in 4 playoff games.

He signed on an AHL deal with Milwaukee to stay in the system, was in and out of the lineup before he went back down towards the end of the session to rejoin the ‘Blades.

Here he struck playoff gold and won the 2022 Kelly Cup Championship. with 9 goals and 9 assists in 19 games.

For 2022/2023, he heads into a new direction, signing a 1-year deal with Toronto Marlies.

Reassigned to ECHL affiliate Newfoundland Growlers, he is a point-per-game scorer.

He returned for last season and his game improved to 11 goals and 15 assists in 66 games, then 2 assists in 3 through the playoffs.

For 2024/2025, he is back on another 1-year deal with the Marlies.

In 52 games, he scores 6 goals and 13 assists with a +6 rating, then adds 2 goals in 2 games in the playoffs.

He will take off and signs with Adler Mannheim for 2025/2026 and we think will continue to grow his game in DEL.

In 44 games, with 14 goals and 19 assists with a +10 rating earns him another year to stay in a Mannheim jersey through 2026/2027.