On Friday there was a huge announcement in regards to the ECHL season! The ECHL has a return to play plan with 13 teams beginning December 11th, 12 beginning January 15th – pending jurisdiction approval, and the Atlanta Gladiators going dark for the season. Friday also marked the opening of NHL Free Agency, so you should see your favorite AHL/NHL teams begin to sign players that will impact ECHL rosters. Below are the updated rosters, players headed overseas, and players that are Free Agents from Atlanta.
*- denotes signed contract before heading overseas or retiring

Players Signed: Derek Nesbitt, Malcolm Hayes, Zach Yoder, Sean Bonar, Grant Frederic, Anthony Collins, Nolan LaPorte, Logan Nelson, Michael Pelech, Jack Suter, Bryce Reddick, Cody Sylvester, Luke Nogard, Avery Peterson, Robbie Hall, Chris Forney, Tommy Besinger, Greg Campbell, Josh Thrower, Nick Bligh
Qualifying Offers: Zachary Malatesta and Eric Neiley

Teams starting December 11th will be playing a 72 game schedule.

Players Signed: Spencer Asuchak, Jared Vanwormer, Braylon Shmyr, Joshua Lammon, Les Lancaster, Cody Corbett, Corey Durocher, Cole Fraser, Patrick Watling, Zane Franklin, Nolan Kneen, Ben Carroll, Jared Bethune, Colton Heffley, Olivier Archambault, Chris Nell
Qualifying Offers: Turner Ottenbreit, Kayle Doetzel, Jacob Doty, Brett Pollock, Jordan Topping and Gabriel Gagne

Players Signed: Brien Diffley*, Joe Masonius, Garrett Thompson, Karl El-Mir, Luke Ripley, Patrick Polino, Gage Torrel, Tim Davison, Nick Jermain, Ryan Zuhlsdorf, Curtis Leonard, Hayden Hawkey, Evan Weninger, Chris Carlisle
Qualifying Offers: Ryan Black, Adam Larkin, Travis Howe, Jimmy Lodge

Players Signed: John McCarron, Micheal Neville, Cam Johnson, Joe Pendenza, Kyle Neuber, Ben Masella, Blake Winiecki, Cody Sol, Michael Downing, Darik Angeli, Levko Koper, Jake Clifford, Logan Roe, Jared Thomas, Stephen Baylis, Theo Calvas, Nolan Gluchowski
Qualifying Offers: Patrick McCarron, and Michael Huntebrinker

Players Signed: Alex Rauter, Joe Sullivan, Cody Payne, Charles Williams, Tim Shoup, Derian Plouffe, Connor McDonald, Matthieu Foget, Jake Ryczek, Thomas Ebbing, Patrick McGrath, Colton Leiter, Dan Bakala, David Broll, Willie Raskob
Qualifying Offers: Keoni Texeira, Craig Wyszomirski, Bobby MacIntyre, Spencer Watson, Michael Doherty and Ryan Van Stralen

Players Signed: Brendan Warren, Ian McKinnon, Abbott Girduckis, Jared Hilderman, Adam Dauda, Kevin McKernan, Nathan Perkovich, Jacob Cederholm, Wacey Rabbit, Cameron Critchlow, Dalton Thrower
Qualifying Offers: Trey Phillips, Mitch Jones, Jack Glover, Chase Lang, Everett Clark

Players Signed: Luke Bafia, Tommy Muck, Loren Ulett, Justin Woods, Cole Candella, Bryan Lemos, Ryan Cook, C.J. Eick, Austin Farley, Dylan Fitze, Robbie Holmes, Spencer Naas, Charlie O’Connor, Anthony Florentino, Phil Marinaccio, Marcus Crawford, Justin Kapelmaster, Matt Schmalz, Brendan Robbins, Rob Bordson, Dylan Malmquist
Qualifying Offers: Michael Parks, Jack Walker and Sam Kurker

Players Signed: Trevor Olson*, Chris LeBlanc, Tommy Panico, Paul Meyer, Kevin Lohan, Alexander Kuqali, Peter MacArthur, Johno May, Richie Boyd, Michael Lackey, Tad Kozun, Matt Alvaro, Kylar Hope, Michael Brodzinski, Jake Coughler, Luke McInnis, Tyler Bird, Adam Rockwood, Taylor Cammarata
Qualifying Offers: Clint Windsor, Cody Donaghey, Brandon Anselmini, Brent Pedersen, and Hunter Fejes

Players Signed: Tyler Coulter, Cedric Montminy, Adam Carlson, Gordon Defiel, Adam Carlson, Mark Auk, Mike Hedden, Tayler Thompson, Tanner Karty, Gabe Chabot, Joey Sides, Peter Quenneville, Shawn Boutin, Jake Wahlin, Gary Haden, Hayden Lavigne, Griffin Luce, Colin Saccoman, Garrett Klotz, Eric Israel, Kyle Froese, Bo Bauer
Qualifying Offers: Tyler Parks, Chris Leibinger, Josh Elmes, Stephane Legault, Brennan Saulnier, Darian Romanko and Dante Salituro

Players Signed: Andrew Cherniwchan, Tim Harrison, Cameron Askew, Jordan Klimek, Jade Miller, Frederic Letourneau, Max Gottlieb, Connor Moore, Jesse Lees, Justin Florek, Tariq Hammond, Dan DeSalvo, Darien Craighead, Max Novak, Nick Saracino, Jesse Lees
Qualifying Offers: Tom Parisi, Neal Goff, Jaynen Rissling, Max Novak, Branden Troock, Mark Cooper, Dylan Steman

Players Signed: Charlie Sampair, Devin Williams, Joey Colatarci, Dean Balsamo, Danny Moynihan
Qualifying Offers: Cam Knight, Miles Liberati, Jake Bolton, Jack Nevins and Cory Ward

Players Signed: Austin Beaulieu, Mitch Maxwell, Jared Pike, Yuri Terao, Matt Hoover, Edwin Hookenson, Alex Lepkowski, J.C. Brassard, Brayden Gelsinger, Jack Jenkins, Brad Barone, Christian Horn,
Qualifying Offers: Martin Ouellette, Connor Yau and Griffen Molino

Players Signed: Alec Butcher, Brad Drobot, Marc-Olivier Duquette, Jeremy Beaudry*, Luke Lynch, Andrew Gaus, Shane Zumeski, Will Smith, Kyle McKenzie, Chad Duchesne, Cody Bradley, Tyler Drevitch, Dylan MacPherson, Nick Minerva
Qualifying Offers: Steve Johnson, Chad Duchesne, Josh Holmstrom and Cam Brown

Players Signed: Peter Crinella, Jay Dickman, Spender Dorowicz, Alex Berardinelli, Austin Albrecht, Cam Clarke, Billy Exell, Garrett Schmitz, Shaquille Merasty, Anthony Beauregard, Lane Bauer
Qualifying Offers: Mitch Gillam, Jacob Graves, Sean Allen, Patrik Parkkonen, Jason Salvaggio and Fabrizio Ricci

Teams starting January 15th will play a 62 game schedule.

Players Signed: Matt Salhany, Mike Szmatula, Charles Curti, Alexandre Carrier, Ryan Walker, Alex Sakellaropoulos, Ara Nazarian, Steven Ruggiero, Blake Thompson, John Edwardh, Nick Hutchinson, Tommy Parran, Mathieu Brodeur, Nick Rivera, Ryan Smith, Alex Jaeckle, Josh French
Qualifying Offers: Kelly Summers, Jake Linhart, James Phelan, Conor Riley, and Robbie Payne

Players Signed: Cam Bakker, Patrick Megannety, Justin Valentino, Slater Doggett, Aaron Berisha, Cameron Heath, Brenden Miller, Derek Topatigh, Tommy Hughes, Jackson Leef, Erik Bradford, Jake Bricknell, Jared Gomes
Qualifying Offers: Rob Mann, T.J. Melancon, Chris Martenet, Nathan Todd, Dan Leavens

Players Signed: Justin Vaive, Jesse Schultz, Tyler Busch, Johnny Coughlin, Daniel Fritz, Thomas Beretta, Derek Pratt, Mike Gornall, Matt McLeod, Connor Schmidt, Jack Van Boekel, Sean Giles, Mason Mitchell
Qualifying Offers: Nate Mitton, Ben Johnson, Philippe Hudon, Brendan Harms, and Jacob Benson

Players Signed: Stefanos Lekkas, Kyle Haas, Marcus McIvor, Matt Murphy, Blake Siebenaler, Tommy Beaudoin, Matt Boudens, Stephen Harper, A.J. Jenks, Anthony Petruzzelli, Marc-Olivier Roy, Shawn Szydlowski, Liam Murphy, Olivier Galipeau, Nick Boka, Luke Boka, Mason Bergh, Thomas Proudluck, Bobby Shea, Zach Pochiro
Qualifying Offers: Chase Stewart, Adam Henry, Shawn St-Amant, Brett McKenzie, and Brady Shaw

Players Signed: Will Merchant, Zach Walker, A.J. White, Colby McAuley, Evan Wardley, Jeff King, Kyle Marino, Matt Stief, Kenton Helgesen, Cody Fowlie, Zach Andrusiak, Jake Kupsky, Brett Supinski, Darren Brady, Calder Brooks
Qualifying Offers: Brady Norrish, Keegan Kanzig, Colton Saucerman, Eric Sweetman, Max Coatta, Jonathan Charbonneau and Mitch Moroz

Players Signed: Raymond Brice, Colin O’Neil, Clark Kuster, Greg Betzold, Tanner Sorenson, Mathieu Roy, Mitch Hults*, Ian Edmondson, Matt Iacopelli, Nick Bruneteau, Justin Taylor
Qualifying Offers: Tyler Ganly, Will Petschenig, Kyle Blaney, and Boston Leier

Players Signed: Dillan Fox, Ted Hart, Michael McNicholas, Andrew Romano, Nick Master, Ben Freeman, Nate Kallen, Alex Kile, Jonathan Desbiens, Ryan Jackson, Marc-Olivier Crevier-Morin, Ryan Ferrill, Mikael Robidoux, Dallas Rossiter
Qualifying Offers: Francois Brassard, Austin McEneny, Josh Couturier, Gabriel Sylvestre, Jonathan Racine

Players Signed: James Melindy, Todd Skirving, Garrett Johnston, Mark Tremaine, Miles Gendron, Brenden Soucie
Qualifying Offers: Parker Gahagen, Evan Neugold, and Dylan Vander Esch

Players Announced: Alex Tonge, Alex Rodriguez, Jakob Reichert, Jake Theut, Cody Milan, Samuel Thibault, Scott Dornbrock, Eric Williams, Dajon Mingo, Mike Monfredo, Taylor Ross, Eric Selleck, Matt Marquadt
Qualifying Offers: Brandon Halverson, Brycen Martin, Brayden Sherbinin, River Rymsha, J.C. Campagna, Sebastian Vidmar, Cam Maclise and Sam Povorozniouk

Players Signed: Frank DiChiara, Brayden Low, Garrett Cecere, Hayden Hodgson, Rob Michel, Brendan van Riemsdyk, Dominic Cormier, Aaron Titcomb, Luke Stork, Luke Peressini, Luke Voltin, Mitchell Vanderlaan, David Drake, Jackson Cressey, Cameron Strong, Ryan Ruck
Qualifying Offers: Ralph Cuddemi, Trevor Yates, Max Willman and Trevor Gooch

Players Signed: Butrus Ghafari, Connor Walters, Chris McKay, Conlan Keenan, Trevor Gorsuch, Brett Boeing, Luke Sandler, Kevin Spinozzi, Shane Berschbach, Kyle Bonis, Ryan Lowney, Brandon Hawkins, Gordi Meyer, Keeghan Howdeshell, Hunter Garlent, Randy Gazzola, T.J. Hensick, Marcus Vela
Qualifying Offers: Billy Christopoulos, Mike Moffat, Dylan Zink, Brenden Kotyk, Blake Hillman and Justin Buzzeo

Players Signed: Jordan Smotherman, Ross Olsson, Kenneth Hausinger, Cam Hausinger, Drew Callin, Connor Doherty, Brennan Feasey, Tyler Poulsen, Myles McGurty, Jacob Hayhurst, Joel Kocur, Neil Robinson, Brent Beaudoin, Andrew DeBrincat, Jake Coleman, Nicholas Luka, Mason Baptista, Anthony Repaci
Qualifying Offers: Ivan Chukarov, Jack Stander, Barry Almeida, Shane Walsh, Kyle Thomas, Jordan Samuels-Thomas and Eddie Matsushima
Headed Overseas or Retired
Rocco Carzo, Kansas City – Retired
Alexey Solovyev, Atlanta – Avangard Omsk
Jamie Phillips, Brampton Beast- Retired
Michael Sdao, Adirondack – Retired
Eric Neilly, Atlanta – Gyergyói HK
Michael Kapla, Newfoundland – Västerviks IK
Patrick Munson, Orlando – Briançon
Brady Ferguson, Newfoundland – Rögle BK
Ondrej Vala, Idaho – HC Dynamo Pardubice
Zach O’Brien, Newfoundland – EV Landshut
Marcus Power, Newfoundland – EV Landshut
Matt Bradley, Newfoundland – HC Poruba (rumored)
Ben Holmstrom, Cincinnati- Lillehammer
Parker Milner, South Carolina – Retired
Tim McGauley, Utah – Stjernen Hockey
Michael Doherty, Indy – Retired
Craig Wyszomirski, Indy – Retired
Kyle Schempp, Idaho – Retired
Jonathan Charbonneau, Idaho – HC Detva
River Rymsha, Norfolk – HC Detva
Josh Kestner, Toledo – TPS
Alex Krushelnyski, Indy – Retired
Nikita Popugayev, Adirondack – Dynamo Moskva
Mikhail Shalagin, Orlando – Spartak Moskva
Alan Lyszczarczyk, Fort Wayne – HC Litvinov
Adam Henry, Fort Wayne – Retired
Brien Diffley, Greenville – Cergy
Kelly Summers, Adirondack – Eispiraten Crimmitschau
Cam Brown, Wheeling – SønderjyskE
Bobby MacIntyre, Indy – Frisk Asker
Daniel Leavens, Brampton – Stjernen Hockey
Linus Söderström, Worcester – Ässät
Jordan Henry, Brampton – Retired
Josh Winquist, Toledo – HC Banska Bystrica
Brady Shaw, Fort Wayne – Esbjerg Energy
Stepan Falkovsky, Allen – Dinamo Minsk
Kristofers Bindulis, South Carolina – Krefeld Pinguine
Ivan Kosorenkov, Orlando – SKA-Neva St. Petersburg
Cam Knight, Tulsa – Esbjerg Energy
Shawn St-Amant, Fort Wayne – Gyergyoi HK
Erik Robichaud, Brampton – Mulhouse
Renars Krastenbergs, Wheeling – Dinamo Riga
Cody Donaghey, Orlando – Odense Bulldogs
Maxim Zhukov, Newfoundland – HC Dukla Jihlava
Tom McCollum, Reading – HC Innsbruck
Tomas Sholl, Idaho – HC Detva
Ben Wilson, Kalamazoo – ASC Corona Brasov
Charles-David Beaudoin, Rapid City – EHC Linz
Devin Sideroff, Tulsa – HC Innsbruck
Bryson Cianfrone, Orlando – Pusteral/Val Pusteria
Colton Saucerman, Idaho – HC Innsbruck
Lindsay Sparks, Brampton – Retired
T.J. Melancon, Brampton – HKM Zvolen
Trevor Gooch, Reading – Sterzing/Vipiteno
Zach Frye, Kalamazoo – Rytiri Kladno
Dante Salituro, Rapid City – Narvik Hockey
Adam Dauda, Jacksonville – HK Nitra
Sebastian Vidmar, Norfolk – Trelleborgs IF
Mitch Hults, Kalamazoo – Bratislava Capitals
David Vallorani, Brampton – Retired
Jeremy Beaudry, Wheeling – Amiens
Trevor Olson, Orlando – Retired
Taylor Richart, Utah – Retired
Coming Soon!
I can finally make my ECHL predictions here soon when schedules get released. Award predictions will be harder than previous years, but it’s going to be fun. There is light at the end of the dark tunnel that is COVID-19.
Photo Credit: Matthew Boyce – GCSN Graphic Design
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