Undrafted rookie center Andy Brink(18) signs a 1-year ECHL deal with South Carolina Stingrays for 2021/2022 after taking last season off post graduating from Boston University Terriers after transferring from 4 years at Brown University Bears.
The 6′ 201 lbs., Hamilton, NY native played most of his junior hockey with Junior Bruins, first in the EJHL, then switch leagues for two campaigns, where in the first he helped them win 2014 USPHL Premiere, then went on to detonating the scoresheet with 29 goals and 41 assists in 50 games before heading to college.
It wouldn’t be surprising to see the 27-year old, who didn’t connect much through ECAC or Hockey East play, take scoring up a notch as a pro.
Undrafted rookie goaltender Corbin Kaczperski(33) signs a 1-year ECHL contract with Worcester Railers for 2021/2022 upon completing a transfer portal season at University Of Denver Pioneers, where he went after four years at Yale University Bulldogs, but didn’t play as a freshmen, so was likely given eligibility.
The 6’3″ 194 lbs. net minder was a 1-year junior hockey star with Lone Star Brahmas, posting a 1.98 GAA and .912 SV% in 39 NAHL starts and led to his first college’s discovery.
He will likely serve as back-up in his first year of pro hockey, but no doubt will learn a lot about the game from who he is pair with in central MA.
We fully expect the 25-year old to shine every opportunity he’s given.
Big 6’4″ 214 lbs. net minder Michael Lackey(31) heads from a bit of an off-season with Orlando Solar Bears to a new ECHL 1-year deal with Indy Fuel for 2021/2022.
The former Providence College Friars backstop put up some amazing numbers in his one season after coming over as a portal transfer from Harvard University Crimson.
His 16-12-6 record was decent enough, but a 2.18 GAA and .922 SV% with 2 shutouts are solid.
He was maybe a tiny bit inconsistent coming up through the USNTDP program.
The 24-year old Washington, D.C. native should be able to get right back into it with his new club.
Undrafted rookie right wing Chase Zieky(12) took 2020/2021 off, but gets to it, signing a 1st pro contract with Idaho Steelheads for 2021/2202.
He was an RPI Engineers transfer from 2 trying seasons at Providence College Friars, and almost like magic when he arrived at ECAC, he was able to connect, leaving as a senior with 7 goals and new bests 16 assists for 23 points with a +4 rating.
The 5’10” 187 lbs. forward scored big in his one junior year, mostly skating with Salmon Arm Silverbacks, getting 28 goals and 26 assists in 55 BCHL games.
Not bad for the 25-year old, Avon, CT native, who it would be little surprise to see him connect in the ECHL.
Former teammates: Northeastern University Huskies‘ portal transfer, senior Jakov Novak(10) hits the center dot for the 1st drop of a puck on the 2021/2022 NCAA Division 1 college hockey season vs. Bentley University Falcons‘ graduate student Brendan Hamblet(6).
2-year Holy Cross College Crusaders transfer (from University Of Maine Black Bears), center Jake Pappalardo(37) takes probably his best stats in a severely COVID cut 2020/2021, getting 5 goals and 3 assists in 13 Atlantic Hockey games to a 1-year ECHL deal with Idaho Steelheads.
The 5’10” 185 lbs. forward spent barely any time in juniors after graduating as 2-year captain at Proctor Academy and quickly entered college play.
He was an absolute scoring stud in high school.
The 25-year old, Salem, NH native is being given a tremendous opportunity with a top team in the league.
Huge 6’6″ 249 lbs., France-import, right wing Justin Addamo(22) leaves Robert Morris University Colonials, as they decide to suspend their college hockey program for at least the current year, enters the transfer portal and will head to RPI Engineers for his senior year.
A decent scorer through some tough seasons at college, he should be more focused for 2021/2022 to increase those totals.
US junior hockey was maybe a little more giving to his game, as he ran up pretty good totals and won the 2017 NAHL Robertson Cup.
He came over after playing all of his youth hockey at home, then was elevated to play 5 games with Rouen II of France3, scoring an eye-popping 5 goals and 2 assists.
4-year Brown University Bears‘ defenseman Tony Stillwell(6) will take a year of eligibility to a new experience at nearby Quinnipiac University Bobcats for 2021/2022.
Unfortunately neither ECAC team skated last season.
The small 5’9″ 170 lbs. blue liner basically averaged 10 assists a frame with a single goal before his time was up, which was close to what got him spotted in a 2nd full campaign of USHL for his 2nd club, hometown Green Bay Gamblers, where he grabbed all highs, 2 goals, 11 assists, 13 points with a +5 rating in half a session.
The 24-year old from Green Bay, WI will mix well with the talent already at his new school.
Undrafted, Helsinki, Finland native, junior center Santeri Hartikainen(26) enters the transfer portal as his school, Robert Morris University Colonials decides to suspend hockey operations and will show up at American International College Yellowjackets.
The fairly big 6’2″ 190 lbs. forward played all of his youth hockey back home with HIFK but came over for high school hockey, ultimately ending up at Northwood School, continuing on his more than point-per-game play with 22 goals and 30 assists in 51 USHS-Prep games.
He did one year of juniors with Corpus Christi Ice Rays before committing and once again lit the lamp big.
The 22-year old stays in Atlantic Hockey, but enters an exciting new team’s system of playing hockey.
After one season on as a freshman with RPI Engineers, defenseman Cory Babichuk(32) enters the transfer portal when a 2nd frame is left on the shelf due to the virus, and comes out as a 3rd year player with University Of Vermont Catamounts.
He played most of his junior hockey on home ice in the BCHL, where he likely committed to his first school, but did have a short foray into the USHL before heading back to Surrey Eagles, then playing a year of AJHL with Spruce Grove Saints.
The 5’10” 174 lbs., 22-year old blue liner will likely do well in Hockey East, considering he was good for 4 goals and 12 assists as a first year skater.
