Robert Morris University Colonials‘ graduate goaltender Francis Boisvert(31) signs a rookie tryout agreement with Fort Wayne Komets.
The 6’2″ 170 lbs. net minder did 4 years at St. Lawrence University Saints, but was used little after his freshman year.
From Blainville, QC, he played 2 years of CCHL before college.
The 25-year old may be just waiting for this ECHL opportunity to shine.
Washington Capitals‘ 6th round pick in the 2017 draft (#182 overall) defenseman Benton Maass(11) goes from a four-year skate for University Of New Hampshire Wildcats to a fifth year of eligibility, playing close to home on the start of a graduate degree with Minnesota State University Mavericks.
Although maybe not the biggest point-getter on the ice, the 6’2″ 205 lbs. blue liner did manage 23 assists as a senior at the hometown Elk River High in 25 USHS-MN games and 13 helpers at a freshman as his new college.
He also had 16 points (a high of 7 tallies and 9 assists) in 26 NAHL games, when he arrived at Fairbanks Ice Dogs upon completing high school.
It’s all happened fairly quickly for the 22-year old but the player who’s been in three NHL development camps looks ready at every turn.
As he finishes up, his 5th college season, he signs an ato with affiliate Hershey Bears and will join them for the remainder of the AHL frame.
Almost oddly, he plays only 2 games with his contract club, getting 1 assist and a +2 rating and is reassigned to affiliate South Carolina Stingrays, where he gets 4 goals and 7 assists in 55 ECHL games with a +13 rating.
His play is good enough to earn a continued look in Chocolatetown.
In his 2nd frame further down south, he scores a new career best 8 goals and 19 assists in 64 games with a +17 rating, so things are looking up.
Something is amiss though, as he decides to accept an assistant coach role at Lindenwood University Lions for 2024/2025, changing the role he will play in pro hockey.
2nd year right wing Matt Barry(26) takes a phenomenal frame at Germany3 for Rostock Piranhas, scoring 23 goals and 48 assists in 42 games to a new deal with Glasgow Clan for 2023/2024.
The 6′ 180 lbs forward twice had 15 assists at Miami University (Ohio) Redhawks.
He also did 1 year at Holy Cross College Crusaders before entering the transfer portal for his sophomore session.
The Naperville, IL native was also a very successful assist guy in 2 years NAHL (36), then USHL (37) junior hockey before college.
We think the 28-year old will also do quite well scoring in the EIHL.
He does ok for himself with 10 goals and 21 assists, but something isn’t right, so he opts out of playing and quickly accepts a job as assistant coach with Tri-City Storm of the USHL.
Undrafted rookie net minder Garrett Metcalf(39) originally signed on with Knoxville Ice Bears to start his pro career in the SPHL, but within a week off that occurring his home town Utah Grizzlies had a better offer ready.
After graduating from his third school on record, Long Island University Sharks, he would go 4-4 in his first ECHL stint with a 2.33 GAA and .915 SV%.
These stats proved good enough for them to offer the 6’4″ 195 lbs., former Anaheim Ducks‘ 6th round pick in the 2015 draft (#179 overall), now unrestricted free agent a 1-year deal to return to the crease.
The 25-year old 1st commit to UMASS-Lowell Riverhawks for only 1 year of little usage before pushing off to Mercyhurst University Lakers for 2 for the Salt Lake City, NV native, who will definitely help his team win games.
After going 2-2-1 for his new club with an outstanding 1.84 GAA and .932 SV%, he gets the nod from Lehigh Valley Phantoms and in his AHL debut gets a 2-1 win in overtime with 25 saves, posting a 0.99 GAA and .962 SV%.
He will return to Maverik Center his home state again for 2022/2023, the team he’s spent most of his time with since graduating college.
It will be little surprise to see him compete for the starter’s job.
For 2023/2024, the parent club of the team he spent most of last session with Colorado Eagles sign him to a contract.
He would head back to Utah to start the current frame, but through 4 games it is determined he should have dual hip replacement surgery (we can’t even imagine), so that will wrap up a very short-lived career, but what he turns it into next will be something to watch.
Looks like he is heading back to LIU Sharks and will jump behind the bench as an assistant coach, starting 2024/2025.
After a pair of years tending net for University Of Alabama-Huntsville Chargers‘ goaltender David Fessenden(41) has decided to step it up a level on a good opportunity through the transfer portal to join University Of New Hampshire Wildcats for some tough Hockey East action.
He had a tough outing as a freshman in limited use but last season, despite the poor 3-11-1 record basically looked to keep his team in contention most games with a 2.94 GAA and .910 SV%.
The massive 6’6″ 229 lbs. net minder put up his best numbers through 4 years of juniors in his final campaign for two year team, Northeast Generals, where he played a massive 44 NAHL games with a 20-13-8 record and 2.74 GAA and .915 SV%, and then had a decent little playoff run.
He committed to school just before this year started.
We fully expect the goalie, who could possibly just lie in net like the walrus in the Geico commercial to backstop his new club very effectively.
Having completed his senior year, the undrafted net minder is going to UMass Minutemen, where he could play himself onto some NHL radar to become an unrestricted entry level deal signing.
He actually decided to head to Canisius College Golden Griffins for a graduate frame, where he definitely was in net for a team that was sometimes challenged to win games.
Taking maybe a little time to see what sort of offers are out there for him to turn pro, he accepts a 1-year ECHL deal with Adirondack Thunder to play his rookie season, 2024/2025.
We were very fortunate to be able to host a one question interview with David below.
8th year right wing Trevor Mingoia(11) has bounced through a pair of leagues he’d previously skated, but arrives in a new place for the remainder of 2023/2024 with Valerenga of EliteHockey Ligaen.
Judging by some off ice going ons, he may have been wooed by a good deal, but looks a bit settled back at his 1st team overseas Vasteras IK HockeyAllsvenskan.
The 5’11” 185 lbs. forward played only 2 years ECHL and AHL before leaving.
From Fairport, NY, the 32-year old started at Union College, but left for Providence College Friars as a sophomore.
He may be settling in Sweden quite nicely.
After 6 seasons lighting up the scoreboard overseas, he has decided to return and sign with South Carolina Stingrays for 2024/2025.
University Of North Dakota Fighting Hawks‘ graduate defenseman Logan Britt(29) had a college career best 7 goals last season.
He came over to likely prove his game even further from a pair of years at Sacred Heart University Pioneers that followed 2 with Quinnipiac University Bobcats.
The 6’2″ 190 lbs. forward played a full docket of games in each frame and had 18 assists as a junior, playing Atlantic Hockey.
From Crystal Lake, IL, he signs with Greenville Swamp Rabbits and got 1 assist in 5 games and equaled his mark in the playoffs, as they push.
Sort of a no-brainer to bring him back for his rookie season, 2024/2025 in a Rabbits‘ jersey.
Just before the new season starts, he finds himself involved in a trade that sends him to Reading Royals, where he should continue to do ECHL well.
Colby College Mules‘ senior right wing John McElaney(3) extends into a graduate frame, enters the transfer portal and will next skate at Babson College Beavers for 2024/2025.
The 5’10” 168 lbs. forward 3 times had 10+ assists and once over 20 points or in the range of it.
From Walpole, MA, the 23-year old will likely help the final year of the NEHC team.
University Of New Hampshire Wildcats‘ Russian-born, sophomore center Stiven Sardarian(7) enters the transfer portal and will take his game to Michigan Tech University Wildcats for his junior frame, 2024/2025.
The 6’1″ 160 lbs. forward scored a college best 7 goals and 7 assists in 32 games last season.
He came over after 1 season of junior hockey back home to play 1 USHL year before commiting to school.
The 21-year old Buffalo Sabres‘ 3rd round pick in the 2021 draft (#88 overall) may show an uptick in his game at his new home for hockey.
Salem State University Vikings‘ Australian-born, graduate defenseman Dash Quartarolo(25) signs for his rookie season 2024/2025 with JHT Kalajoki of Suomi-sarja.
The big 6’5″ 229 lbs. blue liner didn’t play many college games, but went home 2 summers to play in the AIHL and would do ok.
He came over early for high school and skated 3 years junior hockey before heading to 2 years at Becker College Hawks, then the college went bust after COVID and he left for New England College Pilgrims.
We think the 24-year old does pretty well and maybe even plays himself up.
