Category: Transfers

2-time, undrafted senior captain center Zachary Tsekos(17) signed a pro deal as soon as his 4-year college team Clarkson University Golden Knights were eliminated from tournament play with Colorado Eagles for 2022/2023.

Signing an ato for the remainder of the current session, he was reassigned almost immediately to start his pro career with affiliate Utah Grizzlies.

He played in 3 regular season games, grabbing an assist with a +1 rating.

The 5’10” 185 lbs. forward has definitely upped his game in the Kelly Cup playoffs.

Through 10 games, he has a 1st ECHL goal and 7 assists.

Little doubt, the 25-year old from Montreal, QC will look to up his game when the new season gets started.

He mostly finds him other than 6 AHL games (no points) reassigned, but strikes for 13 goals and 12 assists in 30 games.

For 2023/2024, he signs with 2-time Kelly Cup Champions, Florida Everblades.

He plays 27 games, scoring 5 goals and 6 assists with a +4 rating, but was injured for much of last frame.

For 2024/2025, he decides to leave for something different and signs in the EIHL with Dundee Stars.

He takes an impressive run, scoring 19 goals and 27 assists that he takes to DEL2 for 2025/2026, signing with Blue Devils Weiden.

In 25 games, he gets 3 goals and 10 assists that he takes to a new deal for 2026/2027 with Rapaces de Gap.

University Of Notre Dame Fighting Irish senior left wing Jesse Lansdell(34) will start a graduate year at University Of Nebraska-Omaha Mavericks for 2023/2024.

The 5’11” 187 lbs. forward has been an ok scorer through college thus far and was a bit uneven through 4 seasons of BCHL.

From Surrey, BC, the 24-year old probably won’t find the NCHC any easier to play in.

He records a new college high 12 assists with his new team in 39 games with a +1 rating and takes it to a 1st pro contract with Florida Everblades, where he is connecting decent for a 1st 2 ECHL goals in 6 games, then adding an assist through 5 in the playoffs, so far.

4 assists in 23 playoff games with a +6 rating to a 2024 Kelly Cup Championship and he will return for his official rookie season in 2024/2025.

He puts up 2 30+ points seasons and earn another 2026 Kelly Cup to stay and sign for 2026/2027 and continue as an Everblades.

UMASS-Lowell Riverhawks‘ graduate transfer defenseman Pierson Brandon(16) from last year captain at Colgate University Raiders, tying a college best 15 points, also set as a sophomore.

The 6′ 190 lbs. plays a very solid, close checking game in his zone.

He did 2 successful NAHL seasons for Aberdeen Wings, scoring pretty well.

From New York, NY, the 23-year old looks great out there.

He signed after tournament play with Adirondack Thunder, but didn’t appear in any ECHL games before the team’s season ended.

It looks like he will return to skate a full rookie frame in 2025/2026.

In 17 games, he records 2 assists with a +2 rating and gets an invite to return as a Thunder for 2026/2027.

Undrafted, junior left wing Neil Shea(27) has played most of his hockey relatively close to home (Marshfield, MA), but after two underperforming seasons at Northeastern University Huskies, he’s branching out to leave for well, Connecticut, joining Sacred Heart University Pioneers in 2021/2022.

He was a prolific scorer when he committed to college in his 1st year at Lawrence Academy, then took it up a notch in his senior season with 24 goals and 34 assists in 32 USHS-Prep games before taking up with draft club, Cedar Rapids RoughRiders for 11 USHL games (1 goal, 2 assists).

The 6’1″ 205 lbs. forward was once again selected and skated his only full season of juniors for Chicago Steel, scoring 15 goals and 28 assists.

It’s possible the switch to Atlantic Hockey style play will connect with the 22-year old’s ability to amass points.

The Massachusetts’ native has scored big with his switch of schools, amassing decent scoring with 4 goals and 10 assists, blowing away his previous college marks, in 20 NCAA Division 1 games.

He finishes up a 2nd season at his new school with a new college best 14 goals and signs a 1st contract, an ato with Chicago Wolves to test the waters.

No doubt, he will have to step up his game to score in the AHL.

He gets a 1st goal in the league and adds 1 assist in 6 games with a +3 rating as a newly turned pro.

For 2023/2024, Toronto Marlies are liking what they see and sign him to a 1-year minor league deal as an official rookie.

He actually skates 64 ECHL games for affiliate Newfoundland Growlers, scoring 18 goals and 19 assists, but is moving on and signs with Colorado Eagles for 2024/2025.

In 8 contests, he scores 1 goal and 2 assists, but on reassignment to affiliate Utah Grizzlies popped 19 goals and 20 assists in 36 games to earn another year to wear an Eagles‘ jersey more often than not.

We are a little unsure of the detail of him leaving to sign with Greenville Swamp Rabbits, but that is where he shows up under a new contract and should help them on the scoresheet.

In 21 games, he scores 4 times and 11 assists to easily earn an invite back to be a Swamp Rabbits in 2026/2027.

Michigan State University Spartans‘ junior right wing Joey Larson(17) leaves a year on the table to as an unrestricted free agent signs a 1-year NHL entry level deal with New York Islanders and went to affiliate Bridgeport Islanders on an ato to score 2 AHL goals and 1 assist in 6 games.

The 6’1″ 196 lbs. forward had 3 seasons of 10+ goals and assists scoring, including as a freshman at Northern Michigan University Wildcats.

From Brighton, MI, he was a point-per-game player in his final USHL campaign before college.

In 63 games, he scores 17 goals and 11 assists on a bit of a tough luck team, but he is signed to return for the next 2 years to stay an Islanders.

Minnesota State University (Mankato) Mavericks‘ Latvian-born senior defenseman Ralfs Bergmanis(39) scored 2 goals and new college hockey best 14 assists and 16 points with a +12 rating in 40 games last season.

The 5’11” 179 lbs. blue liner signs a 1st pro contract in Czechia2 for his rookie season with HC Dukla Jihlava in 2026/2027.

He did most of his youth hockey in Finland, but played 1 season pro back home, then 1 more junior where he did his youth before coming to the USHL.

From there, he 1st committed to University Of Vermont Catamounts for 2 seasons.

He will do well and play up the ladder, if that’s what he’s looking to do.

RPI Engineers‘ junior defenseman Max Smolinski(24) 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.

He wraps up at his new school with a new college best 6 goals and 12 assists in 35 games and takes these totals to a 1st pro contract with Cincinnati Cyclones.

In 17 games, he gets 2 goals and 3 assists with a +4 rating and is asked back for his official rookie season, 2026/2027 to remain a Cyclones.

Holy Cross College Crusaders‘ senior captain, right wing Grayson Constable(13) is heading off to play an independent schedule in 2023/2024 for Long Island University Sharks.

The 6’2″ 201 lbs. forward scored a college career best 6 assists and 12 points last season.

For juniors, he skated a couple of frames in the BCHL, but really came alive after switching to the AJHL, hooking up a captain for Bonnyville Pontiacs.

The 25-year old Lethbridge, AB native does better with his new college club, scoring new bests 9 goals and 9 assists.

He signs with Coventry Blaze of the EIHL for his rookie campaign, 2024/2025.

In his 2nd run of 44 games, he scores a new best 16 goals and 23 assists, but decides at age 28-years old to retire.

We shall see what is next.