Nailers enter affiliation agreement with Columbus
WHEELING, W.Va. – The Wheeling Nailers have announced that they have signed an affiliation agreement with the National Hockey League’s Columbus Blue Jackets and the American Hockey League’s Cleveland Monsters. This is a two-year agreement, which will begin with the 2026-27 season. The Blue Jackets are entering their 26th season in the NHL, and are coming off back-to-back 40-win seasons. The Monsters are entering their 20th season and are coming off three consecutive trips to the Calder Cup Playoffs. Cleveland reached the North Division Final this past season and went all the way to game seven of the Eastern Conference … Continue reading
Koivunen signs 8-year, $32 million contract with Penguins
Ville Koivunen signed an eight-year, $32 million contract with the Pittsburgh Penguins on Thursday. It has an average annual value of $4 million. The 23-year-old forward had seven points (two goals, five assists) in 39 games with the Penguins last season and 41 points (13 goals, 28 assists) in 34 games with Wilkes-Barre/Scranton of the American Hockey League, which ranked second on the team. He also tied for second on Wilkes-Barre/Scranton with nine points (four goals, five assists) in 15 playoff games to help it reach the AHL Eastern Conference Final. Selected by the Carolina Hurricanes in the second round (No. … Continue reading
Stingrays re-sign Wilkins
NORTH CHARLESTON, S.C. – The South Carolina Stingrays, ECHL affiliate of the National Hockey League’s Washington Capitals and the American Hockey League’s Hershey Bears, have announced they have re-signed veteran forward Josh Wilkins for the 2026-27 season. Wilkins returns for his fifth season with South Carolina after skating in 52 games last year for the Stingrays. The Raleigh, North Carolina native logged 45 points (21g-24a) last season, second most on the club. His 21 goals also ranked second, and was one shy of tying his career high of 22 which he set in the 2024-25 season. In the Kelly Cup … Continue reading
Ellis joins K-Wings
KALAMAZOO, Mich. – The Kalamazoo Wings, ECHL affiliate of the National Hockey League’s Vancouver Canucks, announced that rookie defenseman Noah Ellis has signed a contract for the 2026-27 season. Ellis, 24, is set to skate in his first professional season. He played four collegiate seasons between the University of Massachusetts, University of Nebraska-Omaha and Sacred Heart University. Last season, Ellis set a collegiate career-high in goals (9), assists (10) and points (19). Before college, Ellis played parts of four seasons in the United States Hockey League for Des Moines and Muskegon, totaling 61 points (18g-43a) in 155 games played. Ellis was … Continue reading
Friedmann returns to Icemen
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The Jacksonville Icemen, ECHL affiliate of the National Hockey League’s Minnesota Wild and the American Hockey League’s Iowa Wild, announced that the team has agreed to terms with forward T.J. Friedmann for the 2026-27 season. Friedmann, 28, returns to Jacksonville following his best statistical season in the ECHL, where he garnered 24 points (14g-10a) in 68 combined games with the Adirondack Thunder and the Icemen. Fourteen of Friedmann’s points last season came with Jacksonville after he was traded to the Icemen on Jan. 20. In addition to Jacksonville and Adirondack, the St. Louis, Missouri native played in … Continue reading
Cyclones agree to terms with Hellickson
CINCINNATI, Ohio – The Cincinnati Cyclones, ECHL affiliate of the Toronto Maple Leafs, announced that defenseman Matt Hellickson has signed for the 2026-27 season. With his signing, Hellickson will return to professional hockey after his last appearance in 2023-24. Hellickson spent his last three professional seasons in the Maple Leafs system, appearing in games with the American Hockey League’s Toronto Marlies and their former ECHL affiliate, the Newfoundland Growlers. Hellickson re-joins the system with the Cyclones with an impressive resume that includes two seasons with the U.S. National Team Development Program, and four seasons with the University of Notre Dame. … Continue reading
