More Reinforcements

We're past the midway point in August, and it seems that ECHL teams are still loading up their training camp rosters with players for this coming season. Thankfully, there are more U SPORTS signings to report over the last six days as six players signed deals with five teams in the minor-pro circuit. You can't go wrong with more reinforcements at any position, and the arms race in the ECHL is all about finding one or two unsigned gems that will boost your team in a big way. Let's see who signed where over the last six days as one of these players might be those gems as each of the teams hunts down the Kelly Cup!

The first player who inked a new deal for the 2023-24 season is former Saint Mary's Huskies defender Zack Hoffman who will suit up with the Rapid City Rush this season! Hoffman moves to South Dakota after spending 52 games with the Wichita Thunder last season where he recorded six assists. Hoffman split time in the SPHL with the Fayetteville Marksmen and Saint Mary's University in Halifax in 2021-22, but his two seasons with the Huskies saw him record one goal and three assists in 32 AUS games. Known more for being a defensive defender, Hoffman does the little things right while mainly staying out of the box as his 69 PIMs in 52 games illustrated last season. He'll be a solid player in the Rush zone this season!

The Rush added a second player on August 17 as they dipped into the U SPORTS pool for their second player as well. Former Acadia Axemen forward Maurizio Colella inked a deal to return to North America as he'll skate with the Rush this season. Colella spent last season in the Alps Hockey League with Merano HC in Italy where he potted ten goals and 12 assists in 19 games after spending 2021-22 without a permanent home after playing three games with the South Carolina Stingrays and ten more with the Newfoundland Growlers. His three seasons at Acadia University from 2018-22 saw Colella play 67 games where he scored 14 goals and 16 assists in his time with the Axemen. The Rush are hoping to rekindle the scoring flame he showed last season and with the OHL's Flint Firebirds!

The Utah Grizzlies went out and got a little sandpaper for their roster as they signed former Carleton Ravens winger Cody Caron for the 2023-24 season. Caron spent last season plus nine games in 2021-22 with the Cincinnati Cyclones where he put up three goals and 11 assists in 64 games, but he was never shy about spending a little time in the sin bin as he spent 144 PIMs in isolation. In his three seasons with Carleton from 2018-22, Caron played 61 games with the Ravens where he scored 21 goals and 23 assists while sitting for 125 PIMs in the OUA. If Caron can find the same scoring touch he showed with Carleton while playing his bruising brand of hockey, Utah might have found a power forward that few can match as they look to win the Kelly Cup!

The Adirondack Thunder finally dipped into the U SPORTS pool for talent, and they signed former Concordia Stingers forward and former Regina Cougars forward Jake Fletcher to a deal! Fletcher will make his professional hockey debut on Saturday, October 21 against the Worcester Railers as he skates in his first ECHL game in his career. Fletcher spent last season at the University of Regina where scored five goals and 12 assists in 17 games with the Cougars. Prior to that, he had skated in Montreal with Concordia University as he spent 2018-22 there, scoring four goals and three assists in 46 OUA games before transferring west. Fletcher was a standout with Estevan in the SJHL, and the Thunder want to see that scoring touch return!

Earlier today, the Allen Americans re-signed former McGill Redbirds defender Dalton Gally to a deal for the upcoming season. Gally played in Florida and Kansas City in 2021-22 before signing in Kansas City where they traded him to Allen last season. In 70 ECHL games with the Norfolk Admirals, Everblades, Mavericks, and Americans, Gally has recorded ten assists as he still seeks his first professional goal. Gally played two seasons with McGill from 2019-22 where he tallied five helpers in 18 OUA games. His short stint in Montreal followed a solid three-season run in the WHL with Medicine Hat and Kelowna, and it should be expected to see Gally play a solid defensive game with some physicality on the Americans' blue line!

The other Thunder team got in on the action in re-signing a former U SPORTS player as the Wichita Thunder agreed to terms on a deal with former Dalhousie Tigers centerman Kelly Bent! Bent will enter his fourth professional season with 75 ECHL games under his belt where he scored three goals and five assists for the Allen Americans, Kansas City Mavericks, and the Thunder. Last season, Bent played 42 games with Wichita where he scored two goals and three assists while sitting for 254 PIMs. In four seasons with Dalhousie University from 2016-20, Bent skated in 116 AUS contests where he totalled ten goals, 16 assists, and 338 PIMs! It seems that Wichita needed someone to keep the peace when things get rough, and they have it with Bent back on the roster!

It's crazy to think that we're two months away from the opening night in the ECHL, but it would seem the calendar has been moving forward with the number reports I've filed about U SPORTS signings. These six men will look to help their teams win the 2024 Kelly Cup this season, and it would seem that there could be a few more signings between now and October when training camps are underway. HBIC will keep an eye on former U SPORTS players as camps get underway, but it's pretty awesome to see all these former Canadian university players getting their shot at their professional hockey dreams!

Until next time, keep your sticks on the ice!