Hartford Wolf Pack undrafted rookie center James Sanchez(12) took the first month of the weirdo 2021 season to decide to sign after a crazy run through a couple of colleges split by a third frame of juniors with Dubuque Fighting Saints of the USHL.
The pretty good size 6’2″ 194 lbs. forward really managed to put up some numbers as a junior at Arizona State University.
He scored 10 goals and 30 assists in 40 NCAA Division 1 games.
That came right after that 3rd visit to junior hockey, where he came alive for the exact 40 points, but as 16 goals and 24 assists.
In just 8 AHL games last seasons, he popped 2 tallies and 3 helpers.
The 23-year old re-ups for a full rookie season run in Connecticut.
He would spend most of his 1st year reassigned to affiliate Jacksonville Icemen, where he got 8 goals and 15 assists in 43 ECHL games, then another 2 tallies in 6 playoff matchups.
For 2022/2023, the Northbrook, IL native signs kind of close to home with Iowa Heartlanders.
Undrafted rookie left wing Brendan van Riemsdyk(26) is the younger brother of two famous hockey players (James & Trevor), but has started his pro career at a much lower level than either sibling.
After finishing up his college career with a year at Northeastern University Huskies, then entering the transfer portal from University of New Hampshire Wildcats for his final year, he initially signed with Reading Royals over the summer, but when they decided not to play the 2020/2021 season, agreed to head to Knoxville Ice Bears of the SPHL.
It’s likely he just wanted to find a place where they were going to try to play as much as possible to continue work on his game and way up.
At 6’4″ 225 lbs. he’s an extra large body, so when he gets his chance at the next rung, should be able to produce numbers just standing in front of the net, pocketing rebounds.
The 25-year old should find a good spot for 2021/2022, and signs on the dotted line with the team he was scheduled to skate for last season.
He shot for 5 goals and 6 assists with a +3 rating for his team of 2020/2021.
We shall see how he sets up in the ECHL.
In all eventuality he ends up skating most of last season for Wichita Thunder, scoring 6 goals and 6 assists in 36 games to earn a look from 2022 Kelly Cup Champions, Florida Everblades for 2022/2023.
American International College Yellowjackets‘ graduate transfer from 4 years at University Of Connecticut Huskies, center Brian Rigali(10) signs a 1st ECHL deal with Worcester Railers for 2022/2023.
The small 5’8″ but stocky 185 lbs. forward had a college career best 12 goals and 14 assists in 32 NCAA Division 1 games.
We think the 25-year old from Green Oaks, Il find his spots to score as a rookie.
Defenseman Ryan Sidorski(10) enters a year of eligibility through the portal transfer to do a graduate season at University Of North Dakota Fighting Hawks after 4 years with Union College Bobcats.
The fairly large 6’2″ 216 lbs. blue liner isn’t much of a point getter, but will likely be zone strong in the NCHC.
From Williamville, NY, the 22-year old will definitely likely his new college hockey home.
University Of Connecticut Huskies‘ stellar transfer portal graduate net minder Darion Hanson(33) took his new club all the way to the Hockey East finals, losing in overtime for the final game.
The 6’3″ 181 lbs. goaltender posted all new college bests with a 20-15 record, 2.24 GAA and .923 SV% in 35 NCAA Division 1 matchups.
He transferred from 3 seasons at Union College Dutchmen.
The East Bethel, MN native signed with Reading Royals and in his ECHL debut posted a 4-1 victory, saving 22 of 23 shots for a 1.00 GAA and .957 SV%, which has earned him a loan up to Lehigh Valley Phantoms.
It’s very likely the former BCHL Top Goaltender will get an AHL look, when 2022/2023 gets going.
In what will be a great 1st move to start his career, he becomes the 1st player to sign a deal with the newly crowned, Savannah Ghost Pirates for 2022/2023.
Undrafted rookie right wing Jack Billings(27) becomes one of the first player signings to the new ECHL team Iowa Heartlanders.
The Oak Lawn, IL native has already experienced an interesting run to ultimately turning pro.
He played his 1st junior season with Janesville Jets, scoring a modest 2 goals and 6 assists in 42 NAHL games as a youngster.
Also, drafted by Green Bay Gamblers, he skated 4 USHL games, grabbing an assist.
He would start the next season back in tier 2 junior hockey, but maybe almost oddly left to join a high performance skating league HPHL 18U for a spell before settling in with Brockville Braves to play out his 2nd frame.
Turns out he like the CCHL and settled in for the next couple years (41-77=118 in 130 games) before committing to Salve Regina University Seahawks DIII.
The 5’9″ 190 lbs. forward would have a decent rookie campaign, but really starting popping as a 2nd year skater for 19 goals and 26 assists in 40 games.
Just as he was readying for a third season at school, Niagara University Purple Eagles swoop in, he sits one season in the transfer portal and finishes up with two seasons on some very decent scoring ground.
The 25-year old is likely ready to transition his game to another level.
He scores 14 goals and 15 assists as a 1st year player and he’s off, signing a 1-year deal with Coventry Blaze of the EIHL for 2022/2023 and on a good team will likely light that league up big.
Undrafted left wing Jackson Jutting(14) trades in a pair of seasons at Colorado College Tigers, scoring a college best 3 goals and 7 assists in 35 NCAA Division 1 games for a junior year, closer to home with Bemidji State University Beavers.
The 5’10” 196 lbs. forward was a solid scorer through 4 years at Prior Lake High, always increasing his point totals through USHS-MN seasons until hitting 42 points in 24 games as a senior captain.
He was selected by his 1st school early in his sophomore session.
The 21-year old will likely find the CCHA a little tougher going, but should be able to find space to add to scoring.
Undrafted rookie defenseman Jared Brandt(16) takes 4 years at Niagara University Purple Eagles to a 1st pro contract with Reading Royals for 2021/2022.
The 1-year Miami University (Ohio) Redhawks‘ transfer was pretty much good for 10 points per frame.
He skated three seasons of juniors for Minot Minotauros and sort of popped his scoring lid as captain with 5 goals and 22 assists with a +17 rating in 59 NAHL games.
The 6′ 196 lbs., 25-year old blue liner will likely be able to connect for points in the ECHL.
He wound up with 1 goal and 6 assists with a +4 rating before a trade sent him to Worcester Railers for the remainder of the frame and he would end up with another helper in 9 contests.
His performance was good enough to want to have him around for a full season in central MA.
Michigan Tech Huskies senior transfer portal pick up from 3-years at Boston University Terriers, left wing Matthew Quercia(13) was never the biggest scorer, but through 4 games with his new team has an assist and is a +3 rating.
The 6’3″ 203 lbs. forward from Andover, MA played most of his youth hockey in the New Hampshire Jr. Monarchs‘ program, and when he was ready to age out, was given the chance to skate with the tier 3 junior team, picking up 5 assists in 6 games, then adding another 7 points (4-3) in the playoffs to a 2016 EHL Championship.
From there he accepted the invitation to head to the popular local college and was a 6th round pick in the USHL draft by Sioux Falls Stampede and spent 2 years there before heading to school.
The 22-year old, because of his size, will be an interesting look to turn pro once he graduates.
He signed with Wheeling Nailers upon finishing up and got to business with 3 goals and 4 assists in 19 games, then another 2 and 2 in 10 playoff games to become an absolute no-brainer to invite back for a full run at a season.
Harvard University Crimson senior, captain center Casey Dornbach(47) will take his game in a year of eligibility to a new experience with 2022 NCAA Division 1 champs, University Of Denver Pioneers for a graduate year, 2022/2023.
He maybe didn’t post any career highs in his 3rd year of play at school, but still registered a solid 8 goals and 17 assists in 34 games that should easily get turned up on a high scoring team.
An Edina, MN native, he played his high school USHS-MN in town before heading off to a pair of terms with Lincoln Stars of the USHL.
The 24-year old is a leader and likely on some NHL teams radar, but a good season in Colorado will definitely seal the deal, so to speak.
