Although August is a relatively quiet month in the hockey calendar, that doesn’t mean it’s without any kind of player movement. NHL training camps begin next month, but many leagues across Europe are already far closer to the start of their regular season. As a result, there is still quite a bit of player movement still happening around the hockey world. Here, we’ll recap all the notable moves from the AHL, ECHL, and various European professional circuits.
The Coachella Valley Firebirds signed prospect goalie Logan Terness to a one-year AHL contract. The 23-year-old spent last season with Coachella Valley’s ECHL affiliate, the Kansas City Mavericks. It was his first professional campaign, and he was the Mavericks’ backup goaltender last season. He acquitted himself quite well, going 21-3 with a .913 save percentage in 24 games. That’s not out of line with his performances from his days as the No. 1 goalie at Ohio State University, where he played from 2023-24 through 2024-25. Terness only got into two AHL games last season, but will look to push for more AHL action as he enters his sophomore professional campaign.
Former Columbus Blue Jackets prospect Robbie Stucker will continue his professional career overseas after nearly 150 games played in the ECHL. The 27-year-old, who was selected in the seventh round, No. 210 overall, at the 2017 draft has signed a one-year contract with the Sheffield Steelers. Sheffield compete in the EIHL, which is the top professional hockey league in the United Kingdom. In the team’s official announcement, Stucker said of Sheffield that his “first impressions have been unreal.” The 6’3″ blueliner split last season between the ECHL’s Reading Royals and Utah Grizzlies, playing 37 games and scoring 15 points.
29-year-old Gabriel Chicoine has signed a one-year deal with Liiga’s TPS Turku, ending a two-year stint in the top league of Slovak hockey. The Canadian defenseman, who played one season of NCAA hockey at Bowling Green State, had a two-year professional career in North America before signing in Europe. Chicoine was one of the top defensemen in the ECHL, scoring 16 goals and 61 points in 66 games during 2023-24. He has since become one of the top offensive defensemen in Slovakia, leading the league in points by a blueliner in 2024-25. Now, he’ll join one of Europe’s more competitive leagues and will look to establish himself as a top defenseman in another league.
The ECHL’s Idaho Steelheads signed John Driscoll to a one-year contract for next season, cementing the 25-year-old’s turn to pro hockey after a four-year NCAA career. The 6’4″, 205-pound blueliner is a product of Sacred Heart University, where he played each of the last two years. Originally playing at Army, Driscoll transferred to Sacred Heart in 2024 and ended up serving as their alternate captain in his senior year. Driscoll scored four goals and 11 points in 40 games last season, and will now begin his professional career in the third tier of North American hockey.
Liiga side Assat Pori have signed veteran defenseman Juuso Pulli to a tryout contract that runs through the end of October. The 34-year-old hasn’t played in Pori before but is a veteran of nearly 400 Liiga games, and is a three-time Liiga bronze medalist. In their official statement, Assat indicated they were looking to fill short-term holes on their defense, and signing Pulli gives them an experienced rearguard to help them get off to a good start in league play.