Sep 27, 2023; Montreal, Quebec, CAN; Ottawa Senators left wing Jiri Smejkal (13) plays the puck against Montreal Canadiens defenseman Brady Keeper (36) during the third period at Bell Centre. David Kirouac-Imagn Images

The South Carolina Stingrays have added some NHL experience to their blueline with the signing of Brady Keeper for the 2025-26 season.

Keeper, 29, comes to the Lowcountry with both NHL and AHL experience. The 6-foot, 203 pound defenseman spent three separate stints in the NHL with the Florida Panthers and played four seasons in the AHL, last with the Laval Rocket in the 2023-24 season.

“Brady brings a tremendous amount of experience to our team, having played at both the NHL and AHL levels throughout his career,” head coach Dave Warsofsky stated. “I've had some great conversations with him about the role he'll play for us, and it's clear he's committed to helping us win here in Charleston. After taking some time away from the game, Brady is eager to get back on the ice and make an impact. He’s a valuable addition, and we believe he'll play an important role in our success this season.”

Keeper signed with the Panthers on March 18, 2019 after he was a standout player for the University of Maine and made his NHL debut on March 29, 2019. He became the first member of the Pimicikamak Cree Nation to play in the National Hockey League in a 5-2 win for Florida over the Ottawa Senators.

After his debut, Keeper played in two more games for Florida over the next two seasons and played in the AHL for the Springfield Thunderbirds and Syracuse Crunch.

During the 2019-20 season, the defenseman posted career highs in Springfield with 18 points (6-12-18) and totaled 108 penalty minutes, seventh most in the AHL that year.

Following his time with the Panthers, Keeper signed with the Vancouver Canucks and played for their AHL affiliate, the Abbotsford Canucks, in the 2022-23 season before signing with the Montreal Canadiens for the 2023-24 season. He tallied four points (1-3-4) in 22 games with Montreal’s AHL affiliate, the Laval Rocket, that year.

In his career in the AHL, Keeper posted 32 points (11-21-32) in 131 games.

The Cross Lake, Manitoba native played with Justin Nachbaur, who played in 48 games with South Carolina last season, for the OCN Blizzard of the Manitoba Junior Hockey League in 2016-17. Nachbaur helped get the Stingrays on Keeper’s radar.

“I’m really excited to get the opportunity to be a Stingray,” Keeper said following the signing. “I’ve heard a lot of good things about the Stingrays organization from my buddy [Justin] Nachbaur so I’m really excited to get down there, meet everyone and get the season going.”

The Wichita Thunder, ECHL affiliate of the NHL's San Jose Sharks and AHL's San Jose Barracuda, have announced that they have extended their affiliation agreement with the Sharks and Barracuda for the 2025-26 season.

Under the affiliation agreement, the Sharks will be able to designate players within their development system for assignment with the Thunder. The club will also be composed of players who are signed to two-way AHL contracts in addition to those on ECHL contracts (under agreement with the Thunder).

“We're happy to keep our partnership with San Jose going," stated Thunder GM Joel T. Lomurno. "We saw some solid talent come through Wichita last season. I'm looking forward to seeing those guys take the next step and excited to see what new players we can develop this season.”

The 2025-26 season will be the fourth year that the Thunder will partner with San Jose. Last year, Wichita had 10 players spend time in the Air Capital that were either on AHL or NHL contracts.

Goaltender Gabriel Carriere impressed during his time with the Thunder and then earned his first NHL contract with the Sharks this past March. Defenseman Braden Hache appeared in 33 games with the Thunder. He was recalled and earned a consistent role in the lineup for the Barracuda.

Defensemen Jeremie Bucheler, forwards Mitchell Russell and Luke Grainger and netminder Aaron Dell all played for both the Thunder and the Barracuda.

"Wichita is a premier franchise in the ECHL with a proven track record of developing NHL prospects well," Sharks Assistant General Manager and San Jose Barracuda General Manager Joe Will noted. "The staff, facilities and city are all first class."

San Jose joined the NHL in 1991. The Sharks have advanced to the Western Conference Final six times, which included them capturing the Presidents’ Trophy in 2009. San Jose has also earned five Pacific Division titles and made a Stanley Cup Final appearance in 2016.

San Jose has one of the most exciting young players in the league in Macklin Celebrini as well as Will Smith and William Eklund.

“I'm excited to be back with San Jose for another season,” Thunder Head Coach Bruce Ramsay stated. “Last year, I was able to work with some talented players that lived out their dreams as they continue to pursue a chance to play in the NHL. It was a pleasure to help develop guys like Gabriel Carriere and Braden Hache, who both signed second contracts with the organization. I'm proud of Gabe, who really improved his game and earned an NHL contract with the Sharks and equally as proud with Braden, who is back with the Barracuda.

“I'm happy with the progress of several other players who spent a significant amount of time here. We look forward to growing our partnership and working together to ensure success at each level for all three teams.”

San Jose has several ties to the ECHL. Sharks Head Coach Ryan Warsofsky served two seasons as a head coach for the South Carolina Stingrays. NHL Goaltending Coach Thomas Speer played in three league contests as a member of the Idaho Steelheads and Las Vegas Wranglers in the 2011-12 season and went on to serve as Goaltending Coach with the Allen Americans, then the Sharks’ ECHL affiliate, from 2014-15 through 2016-17.

A former ECHL player is now a U.S. Hockey Hall of Famer.

Scott Gomez played one season in the ECHL. On Wednesday, he was announced as one of five members of the 2025 U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame Class.

Gomez joins Bruce Bennett, Tara Mounsey, Zach Parise and Joe Pavelski as members of this year’s class.

The U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame Induction Celebration, which will include the formal enshrinement of the Class of 2025 along with the presentation of the NHL’s Lester Patrick Trophy, will be held Wednesday, Dec. 10, 2025, in Saint Paul, Minnesota.

Gomez made history as the first Latino player to earn the NHL's Calder Trophy as the league's top rookie. He went on to an outstanding 16-year professional career, won two Stanley Cups and earned recognition as one of the game's elite playmakers.

The Anchorage, Alaska, native began his NHL career with the New Jersey Devils after being drafted 27th overall in the 1998 NHL Draft. He’s perhaps best known for helping the Devils to the 2000 Stanley Cup, recording 70 points in the regular season in his first year with the club.

During the 2004-05 NHL lockout, Gomez returned home to play for the ECHL’s Alaska Aces. His skill was on display for his hometown fans, as he collected 86 points in 61 games and earned honors as the league’s most valuable player.

Gomez continued to be a reliable contributor for the Devils through the 2006-07 season, collecting another Stanley Cup with the franchise in 2003.

After joining the New York Rangers for the 2007-08 season, Gomez made an immediate impact, earning a trip to the 2008 NHL All-Star Game. He went on to have stints with the Montreal Canadiens, San Jose Sharks and Florida Panthers before returning to New Jersey in 2014-15.

Gomez played for both St. Louis and Ottawa during his final NHL campaign in 2015-16.

All told, Gomez played in 1,079 regular-season NHL games with 181 goals and 575 assists, good for 756 points. In addition, he competed in 149 playoff games with 101 points (29 goals, 72 assists), with his teams making the playoffs in 11 of his 16 seasons.

Internationally, Gomez was a member of the 2006 U.S. Olympic Men's Ice Hockey Team. He also was part of Team USA for the IIHF World Junior Championship in both 1998 and 1999 and at the 2004 World Cup of Hockey.

Gomez, a member of the Alaska Sports Hall of Fame, is currently in his first season as the head coach of the USHL's Chicago Steel.

U.S. Hockey Hall of Fame inductees are chosen on the basis of extraordinary contribution to the sport of hockey in the United States. The Hall was incorporated in 1969 and inducted its first class in 1973. The Class of 2025 will be the 53rd installed.

The Allen Americans, along with Head Coach and General Manager Steve Martinson, announced the team has signed an agreement with the NHL’s Ottawa Senators and AHL’s Belleville Senators for the 2025-26 season.

The Americans will begin their 17th season of professional hockey this October. Over the previous 16 years, first in the Central Hockey League and then in the ECHL, the Americans have made five trips to the league finals and won four championships.

“We’re proud to once again team up with the Allen Americans as our ECHL affiliate for the 2025-26 season,” Belleville Senators general manager Matt Turek said in a statement. “Having a solid affiliate will be significantly beneficial to both clubs and provide a clear pathway to the NHL.

“We have the utmost trust in the leadership of Coach Steve Martinson and his staff, and we’re confident they’ll provide the right atmosphere for Senators players to continue to grow.”

This marks the third time the Americans and Senators have signed an affiliation agreement. Allen worked with Ottawa/Belleville in 2022-23, and 2023-24.

Several key players have made stops in DFW during that span, including Goalie Leevi Merilainen, who has played a total of 14 games with the Ottawa Senators. 12 of the 14 came last year when he produced a record of 8-3-1 with a 1.99 GAA.

Defenseman Donavan Sebrango and Goalie Kevin Mandolese have also seen action at the NHL level.

Since becoming a Double A franchise in 2009-10, the Americans have worked with the Dallas Stars and Colorado Avalanche while in the Central Hockey League, and the Ottawa Senators, San Jose Sharks, Minnesota Wild, Seattle Kraken, and Utah since joining the ECHL.

“This affiliation has so much potential for the Americans,” Martinson noted. “Having many conversations with Matt Turek (Belleville Senators GM), and Sean McCauley (Manager of Hockey Operations Ottawa Senators), we know that they like the same style of play as we do in Allen. It’s great to be able to work in concert to add elite players to our roster.”

The Hockey News has been providing the most comprehensive coverage of the world of hockey since 1947. Each week, we’ll dig back into the magazine’s archives to look back on a key moment, player or other important figure in the ECHL.

A THN subscription gives you access to the magazine’s entire archives dating back to the first issue in 1947 (over 2,000 issues). Click here to subscribe.

(Note: Due to the digital quality of some older issues, articles may contain errors.

Mar 3, 1995/vol. 48, issue 24

Langway long way from NHL in ECHL

Two-time Norris Trophy winner Rod Langway, who hasn’t played competitively since Feb. 21, 1993, is attempting a comeback of sorts with the Richmond Renegades of the East Coast League.

Langway, 37, parted company with the Washington Capitals on less than friendly terms after the 15-year yeter-an was told he would no longer be playing every game because the club wanted to work younger legs into the lineup. Langway was six games short of his 1,000th NHL contest.

Craig Laughlin, Richmond general manager and a former teammate of Langway with the Montreal Canadiens and Capitals, said Langway’s performance would be assessed on a game-by-game basis.

“I told him I didn’t want to put his life in jeopardy for a minor league team,” Laughlin said.

ECHL teams are allowed to dress three veterans. Langway will be used as a player and defensive tutor.

Laughlin and team president Harry Feuerstein said there were no immediate aims for Langway to attempt an NHL return.

The Renegades are averaging 5,700 fans a night and Feuerstein denied this was a publicity stunt to fill more seats.

“You don’t do publicity stunts with a team that’s in first place,” he said.

“Stunt assumes there’s some sham involved, that something’s wrong. The reality is Rod wants to play and promote the game.”

Langway has spent the past two years perfecting his golf game.

NOTEBOOK: The Capitals completed the first quarter of their schedule winless (0-6-2) on the road. In their first 12 games overall, they scored a league-low 22 goals, only nine at even strength…The team sent video to the NHL seeking redress after defenseman Jim Johnson received a two-handed slash across his left wrist from the Philadelphia Flyers’ Eric Lindros Feb. 13

—Dave Fay

Photo Courtesy of the Rapid City Rush

The Rapid City Rush, the ECHL affiliate of the NHL’s Calgary Flames, announced Friday the two clubs have agreed to terms on a multi-year affiliation extension.

The agreement will keep the Rush partnered with the Flames and the Calgary Wranglers of the American Hockey League.

“The Rush and Flames have had an excellent relationship, and we are excited to continue that,” Dave Smith, Rush Head Coach and General Manager, said in a statement. “The communication has been great. It is all about the progression of each player’s skills in a championship-type environment where they are working on their game, while also helping to provide Rapid City with the tools we need to win.”

In 2024-25, seven members of the Rush also saw time in Calgary with the Wranglers, totaling 72 games played. Five of them made their American Hockey League debuts this past season.

Former Rush forward Rory Kerins made his National Hockey League debut in January, making him the first player to graduate through all three levels of the Rapid City/Calgary system. He is the eighth Rush alumnus to reach the NHL.

In total, 14 members of the Rush have suited up for the Wranglers and/or Flames since the affiliation began in 2022.

“The Calgary Flames are pleased to extend our affiliation agreement with Rapid City,” Brad Pascall, Assistant General Manager of the Flames, noted. “Rapid City is a great place to play and they are an organization with great ownership, and that share our principles and objectives regarding player development.”

Since their move from Stockton, Calif. to Calgary, the Wranglers have posted winning seasons and playoff berths in all three years, including a 51-win season in 2022-23, the first year of the Rush-Calgary partnership.

Meanwhile, the up-and-coming Flames are coming off their winningest season in three years.

“This is an important day for the Rush organization,” Jared Reid, President of the Rush, stated. “Our relationship with Calgary has never been stronger. Their commitment to player development, vision and dedication to winning make this a true partnership and I am excited to continue that.”

The Flames are the Rush’s third affiliate in franchise history. Rapid City was partnered with the Arizona Coyotes from 2015-17, and again from 2019-22. The Rush were also affiliated with the Minnesota Wild for the 2017-18 season.