Bowling Green State University Falcons‘ graduate right wing Spencer Kersten(41) signs with Orlando Solar Bears upon finishing up and scores 2 goals and 4 assists in 10 ECHL games with a +5 rating, then another 6, 3 in 11 with a +4 in the playoffs to easily get him wanted to return for his rookie frame in 2024/2025.
The 5’10” 185 lbs. forward came over from 4 years of always playing 31 games as senior captain for Princeton University Tigers and scoring decently.
From Waterloo, ON, the 24-year old looks to have found more space to connect for points as a pro.
He explodes scoring with 24 goals and 28 assists in 53 games with a +20 rating to get himself a loan up to Belleville Senators, where we feel he will do well, once he starts to gel.
Also, loaned to Syracuse Crunch, where he scores a 1st AHL goal, he is signed for 2025/2026.
Robert Morris University Pioneers‘ senior defenseman Trevor LeDonne(57) signs a 1st pro deal, an ato with Allen Americans after putting up a college best 3 goals and 2 assists last season.
The 6’1″ 192 lbs. blue liner came over following 2 full seasons at University Of St. Thomas Tommies.
From Stony Break, ON, he did 2 BCHL junior seasons before college.
The 25-year old has 1 assist in 7 ECHL games.
He grabs 1 goal and 3 assists in 15 games, but looks to Wheeling Nailers for his 1st official contract for his rookie season, 2025/2026.
Castelton University Spartans‘ senior center Jackson Kobelka(23) has 1 goal and 1 assist in 13 games this season.
His high is 4 goals and 2 assists as a sophomore the year after he transferred from Albertus Magnus College Falcons.
The 5’11” 181 lbs. plays a pretty straight forward, hard checking game.
From Okotoks, AB, the 24-year, who played through 3 junior leagues before school is an interesting watch, who we think will start connecting.
In 22 games, he scores a new best 4 goals and 3 assists, which he takes to a 1st deal with Laser HT in Suomi-sarja for his rookie season, 2025/2026.
University Of Wisconsin Badgers‘ junior goaltender Kyle McClellan(33) transfers in for 2022/2023 after 2 seasons at Mercyhurst University Lakers.
The 6’1″ 185 lbs. net minder had almost identical NAHL, then USHL seasons before committing to school.
From Manchester, MO, the 23-year old will definitely help his new Big Ten team win games.
In his 2nd season at his new school, he was able to show very impressive marks with a 1.94 GAA and .931 SV% that he took to a 1st deal with Iowa Wild, but was reassigned to Iowa Heartlanders.
He did ok, but is moving onto another ECHL team for 2025/2026, Cincinnati Cyclones.
UMass Minutemen graduate center Matt Koopman(36) came over from 4 decent seasons at Providence College Friars.
His team is eliminated in the opening round of Hockey East playoffs, so he quickly pivots to sign a 1st pro deal with Wheeling Nailers and he’s off and running.
The 5’10” 180 lbs. forward has 3 times scored 5 goals in a college season, including this past one, but always seems like he puts up more points with his style of play.
Considering he left his 2nd season with Waterloo Blackhawks to join his 1st college team, the expectation may have been higher.
The 24-year old Marblehead, MA native could find more opportunities to hit the stat sheet as a pro, but we’ll watch to see.
In 14 ECHL games, he managed a 1st goal and 6 assists with a 0 rating on a non-playoff team.
He likes his experiences as he re-signs to stick for his official rookie season.
16 goals and 18 assists in 71 games with a +4 rating, then 4, 4 and a +4 in 9 playoff matchups and he will be back for another ride in a Nailers‘ jersey for 2024/2025.
He maybe scores a little less in his 2nd frame, but is definitely wanted to continue in Wheeling for 2025/2026.
Utah Grizzles‘ 2nd year right wing Dakota Raabe(22) re-ups after a successful rookie run, scoring 11 goals and 25 assists in 55 ECHL games last season.
He was never really a scorer through school with a sophomore best of 5 goals and 9 assists at University Of Michigan Wolverines and didn’t even do as well in a graduate season at Sacred Heart University Pioneers.
Upon finishing up though, has found the net in his 1st run where he is, connecting for 3 goals and 4 assists in 10 games with a +6 rating, then adding 6 points in 14 playoff matchups.
The 5’9″ 170 lbs. speedy forward from Capistrano Beach, CA has to be on a short list of guys that need a look at a higher level.
He actually gets moved to Iowa Heartlanders to hopefully energize their scoring and could find new energy with a different club.
In 12 games, he grabs 4 goals and 4 assists to earn himself an invite to return in a Heartlanders‘ jersey for 2024/2025.
After a very decent full frame, in 44 games scoring 9 goals and 15 assists, he next decides to head off to Ligue Magnus, signing with Rapaces de Gap for 2025/2026.
Undrafted, center Justin Young(21) finished up a 2nd, graduate year with American International College Yellowjackets, scoring a college career high 12 goals and 19 assists for 31 points with a +18 rating in 36 NCAA Division 1 games and took it to a 1st pro contract with Allen Americans.
In 7 ECHL games, the 6′ 183 lbs. forward has an assist with a +2 rating.
He has yet to appear in a Kelly Cup Playoff game.
The Leduc, AB native played 3 seasons in the local AJHL, scoring very decent numbers.
At 24-years old, we’re sure the one-time University Of Alaska-Fairbanks Nanooks pivot can turn his start into a full year’s contract, if he wants one.
He would actually skate in 5 playoff games, grabbing an assist and was a +1 rating.
For his efforts on an ato, he is given a 1-year contract to stay in Texas.
In 2023/2024, he decides to change sweaters and signs a 1-year deal with Norfolk Admirals, which he’ll have to work harder for, almost certainly.
He would take off for Germany3, signing with Herner EV 2007 and do fairly well in 14 games scoring, but for 2024/2025 wants to come back, so re-signs with the Admirals.
After scoring 12 goals and 16 assists in 54 games with a +11 rating, he is invited back for a 2nd season as an Admirals in 2025/2026.
University Of Maine Black Bears‘ junior right wing Nicholas Niemi(24) will head to his 3rd school, Niagara University Purple Eagles for his senior frame in 2025/2026.
The 5’10” 181 lbs. forward scored best as a freshman at Bentley University Falcons with 8 goals and 14 assists in 32 games with a +7 rating.
From Middlebury, VT, the 24-year old did 2 years of NAHL juniors before college.
We think he will score well in Atlantic Hockey once again.
Merrimack College Warriors‘ senior defenseman Christian Felton(2) is looking like he is ready to set up a collegiate career best season, already 1 goal and 1 assist in 11 games.
He had 2 goals and 4 assists as highs last season.
The 6’1″ 195 lbs. blue liner from Medina, OH is maybe leaning in a little looking for scoring opportunities.
Transferring after 1 year at Bentley University Falcons, the 23-year old seems to have found his style in Hockey East play.
In his senior year, he would score new college bests 3 goals, 4 assists for 7 points, which he takes to a 1st pro contract, a 1-year NHL entry level deal with Vancouver Canucks.
He appears in only 13 games with affiliate Abbotsford Canucks and 7 in the ECHL before the injury bug takes him off his game.
For 2025/2026, he signs with Utah Grizzlies and should do really well.
Merrimack College Warriors‘ graduate center Ryan Leibold(16) signs a 1st pro deal with South Carolina Stingrays.
He transferred from 4 solid seasons at Holy Cross College Crusaders, where he had a college career high as a senior, 10 goals and 16 assists in 35 games with a +3 rating in Atlantic Hockey play.
The looks smaller 5’10” 194 lbs. forward is a spark plug on the ice and despite maybe not always getting points is right in the play at all times.
From Ashburn, VA, the 24-year old with 5 years of extra school under his belt should be able to assimilate himself nicely into the pro ranks.
He even got himself a pair of assists in a crushing 11-0 win against another top ranked ECHL team.
In 9 games, he scores a 1st league goal and adds 3 assists to earn himself a full look for his rookie season 2023/2024.
After a successful 1st pro frame, scoring 14 goals and 16 assists in 65 games with a +1 rating, he re-signs to stay with the Stingrays for 2024/2025.
He plays 5 games into his 2nd season scoring 2 assists and gets traded to Reading Royals, where he has 1 helper in 2 games.
Through 62 games, he had 12 goals and 8 assists, but Jacksonville Icemen see more of a use for him, so trade to get him.
