University Of Maine Black Bears‘ senior left wing Matt Fawcett(36) got one against his former team of 2 seasons, Quinnipiac University Bobcats in a big 4-0 blanking.
The 5’6″ 152 lbs. forward isn’t the biggest scorer, but did grab a college high 5 goals in 20 games last season and will likely eclipse that in the new frame.
A Lincoln, RI native, he was a big point grabber through his time at Winchendon School USHS-Prep and got 10 goals and 10 assists in 21 BCHL games for Powell River Kings before reporting to school.
Undrafted defenseman Adam Karashik(2) extends his eligibility from 4 years at University Of Connecticut Huskies, enters the transfer portal and leaves his home state for only a 2nd time in his thus far hockey life to skate for Notre Dame University Fighting Irish 2021/2022, as a graduate student.
The 6′ 201 lbs. blue liner played all of youth hockey and only year listed, as a senior at Avon Old Farms, near his birth place of Ridgefield, CT, before leaving for a first taste of USHL juniors.
He was actually drafted in the previous season by a different team, but ended up playing a full season for Chicago Steel, winning the 2017 Clark Cup Championship before heading to school.
The 23-year old should be able to rock in Big Ten competition before possibly turning pro for 2022.
As captain for his new college club, he puts up a new college best 15 assists and 16 points with a +15 rating to turn pro with Lehigh Valley Phantoms, as he completes his schooling.
In 8 AHL games, he doesn’t come away with a point, but impresses enough to sign for his official rookie season in PA.
Sophomore center Chris Pappas(11) transfers out just a single season at St. Lawrence University Saints for a new opportunity with Long Island University Sharks.
The 5’11” 165 lbs. forward could strike for his new club like he did for Brooks Bandits in 2 AJHL seasons.
Undrafted center Michael Regush(19) finishes up after three years (one without hockey) at Cornell University Big Red and enters the transfer portal to attend Miami University (Ohio) Redhawks 2021/2022 to pursue a masters degree in accountancy.
He first committed to college after a successful run in youth hockey with Delta Hockey Academy, which was close to his home in Surrey, BC, then moved on to a pair of seasons with Merritt Centennials in the BCHL before one stint for Youngstown Phantoms, where he was able to really elevate his numbers (19-29-48) in 58 USHL games.
The 6’1″ 211 lbs. forward was also a good scorer in college, twice striking for 10+ goals with an overall +11 rating.
There’s little doubt the 22-year old will help his new team excel in the NCHC division.
He would actually only put up 3 goals and 6 assists in 24 games with his new college club, but Abbotsford Canucks like what they see from the sizable forward and sign him to an AHL deal for 2022/2023.
Canisius College Golden Griffins‘ senior left wing Mitchell Martan(81) leaves for a year of eligibility and will join Bemidji State University Beavers for a graduate season 2022/2023.
The 5’8″ 180 lbs. forward scored a college career best 17 assists and 22 points with a +9 rating.
He blew up scoring as a 2nd year junior for Wellington Dukes and helped them win the 2017 OJHL Championship.
The 24-year old from Whitby, ON will likely help his new CCHA club.
University Of Vermont Catamounts‘ graduate center Philip Lagunov(13), portal transfer from a 2021 NCAA Division 1 Championship as a senior with UMass Minutemen finishes up his year of eligibility with a new Hockey East best 16 points and tied his 8 goal high.
The 6′ 187 lbs. forward was a point per game player in his 2nd campaign of juniors with Burlington Cougars of the OJHL, as he committed to school early in that frame.
At just 23-years old, the Hamilton, ON native is a former 2021 NCAA Division 1 Championship prospect to watch.
He signed an ato out of college to join Tuscon Roadrunners.
In 4 games, he had no points and signs for 2022/2023 with Cincinnati Cyclones and will likely find himself to be a good ECHL scorer in his rookie season.
Undrafted, defenseman Rourke Russell(20) decided to extend his college career by a year and take eligibility to enter the transfer portal and head to a graduate program at Sacred Heart University.
He was coming from having completed four years at Miami University (Ohio) Redhawks.
The 6′ 172 lbs. blue liner has never been the biggest point scorer, 12 assists was his peak college as a sophomore and junior numbers were much north of there.
Well, the time has come and he has stepped in, signing his 1st ECHL deal with Adirondack Thunder for the remainder of 2021/2022.
He only got 1 assist in 9 games, but the d-man re-signs to stay in Glens Falls.
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.
