BY: Gerry Cantlon, Howlings
HARTFORD, CT – The first Yale University player to sign is the swift-skating Joe Snively. He signs with the Washington Capitals. He also signed an ATO deal to play with the Hershey Bears (AHL). The Bears play in Hartford on April 12, the Wolf Pack’s regular season home finale.
Snively received a two-year, two-way deal paying $925K for play in the NHL and $70K in the AHL. He is an undrafted player, so according to the current CBA, he could be a Group 6 unrestricted free agent if he doesn’t play 80 NHL games by the time he turns 25. He was born on New Years Day in 1996 which helps him contract-wise.
With the lockout/work stoppage season expected in two years, nobody knows what the new CBA will look like.
The first player to sign from the 50th state this year is Nikolas Koberstein, who heads from Alaska-Fairbanks to Kansas City (ECHL). Johnny Kovacevic departs Merrimack (HE) for the Winnipeg Jets and signs an ATO deal to play in Manitoba.
Nick Boca left Michigan (Big 10) and signed with Iowa (AHL). Adam Dauda leaves Colgate (ECACHL) for Newfoundland (ECHL). Joining him in the trek to St. John’s is Josh Lammon from Mercyhurst (AHA). Ryan Walker of Union College (ECACHL) signs with Binghamton.
Besides Hartford signing of Ryan Dmowski, UMASS-Lowell (HE) sees Nick Masters sign with the Maine Mariners, the Wolf Pack’s ECHL affiliate.
Johnny Coughlin of Holy Cross (AHA) also signs with Maine (ECHL). Matthew Whittaker heads from Mercyhurst (AHA) to Florida (ECHL). Drew Callin of Bentley University (AHA) has a short ride to Worcester (ECHL), and Felix Chamberlain of Canisius College (AHA) heads to Toledo (ECHL).
Five players from the University of Maine Black Bears (HE) signed professional deals. Chase Pearson inks an ATO deal with Grand Rapids. Brady Keeper puts his name to contract with Florida and Sam Becker with Reading (ECHL). Rob Michel signs with Lehigh Valley and Brendan Robbins also will join Maine (ECHL).
Matt Robson doesn’t have to go far after leaving the University of Minnesota (Big 10) and signs with the Minnesota Wild. Fellow Golden Gophers Tommy Novak heads to Milwaukee and Eric Schierhorn to Adirondack (ECHL).
Troy Loggins of Northern Michigan (NCHC) heads to Grand Rapids while his teammate, Adam Rockwood, goes to Springfield (AHL). Jordan Uhelski of Miami (OH) and (NCHC) signs with Norfolk (ECHL) and teammate Grant Hutton signs an ATO deal with Bridgeport.
Hayden Shaw of North Dakota (NCHC) heads to Jacksonville (ECHL). Ryan Galt of Nebraska-Omaha (NCHC) goes to Utah (ECHL) and Peter Tischke Wisconsin (Big 10) signs with Colorado (AHL).
Dallas signed a slew of players including Joe Ceconnis (Michigan-Big 10), Rhett Gardner (North Dakota-NCHC), Josh Melnick, Miami (OH) (NCHC) and Diego Cuglietta (Lake Superior St.-NCHC). All were assigned to Texas (AHL) on ATO deals.
Three players from the Division III ranks have signed contracts. Mitch Hall of Hamline University (MIAC) signs with Norfolk (ECHL). Tyler Andrews of St. Norbert (NCHA) inks with Atlanta (ECHL) and joining him there is Brady Fluerent from the University of New England (CCC).
The total is now 65 Division I players who have signed pro deals and including eight Division III players and one player to Europe. It’s a total of 74 players who have signed pro deals after their collegiate seasons have ended so far.
The first coaching dismissal has occurred as the Miami (OH) RedHawks (NCHC) relieved head coach, Enrico Blasi. He leaves the RedHawks after 20 years at his alma mater. His career record was 398-311-76 and includes five CCHA conference titles, 10 NCAA tournaments, and one Frozen Four appearances.
Since they went into a new conference and developed the NCHC six years ago, they have won just one conference title and not been making NCAA’s and that was cited as one of the reasons for his dismissal.
The school said a national search for a new head coach will commence immediately.
The UCONN Huskies got their first in-state recruit as a Hockey East program. Tabor Heaslip of Ft. Worth, TX, of Avon Old Farms, makes an oral commit, to the Huskies for 2020-21.
He is part of an ever-large growing list of Texas-born and trained players playing at the junior and collegiate level in North America. Heaslip, also came through the Dallas Stars junior program. He had made the Amarillo Bulls (NAHL) back in summer training camp but elected to return to to the Winged Beavers program.
His twin sister Teagan also plays hockey in Texas. She is heading to Brown University (ECACHL-W) in two years.
Heaslip’s teammate, John Turner of Avon Old Farms (CTPREP), makes a commit to the University of New Hampshire (HE) in 2021-22.
Ex-Pack, Akim Aliu, has been loaned from Orlando (ECHL) to Tucson making it the 29th city of his junior and pro career.
Ex-Sound Tiger, Dyson Steven Stevenson, is loaned to Utica by Wichita (ECHL).
