Late-season signings making impact across league

Over its 38-season history, the ECHL has carved its niche in the hockey world, developing players to advance to the American Hockey League and National Hockey League. One of the key components of the League’s success has been giving undrafted players a chance to show what they can do in the professional hockey world.Late-season signings making impact across league

A great opportunity for these young players to get experience in the pro game comes near the end of every season, after their college season has concluded and ECHL teams are seeking players to fill out their lineup, and get an early look at players for the next season.

From February 16 through March 24, 93 players from 43 different college programs signed with ECHL teams. Leading the way was Canisius University with seven players, followed by St. Cloud State University with six players ands Ferris State University with five players.

One of the more notable names to join the ECHL over the last five weeks is Jackson Niedermayer, who signed with the Tulsa Oilers after the completion of his senior season at Bowling Green State University. The son of Hockey Hall of Famer Scott Niedermayer and nephew of 17-season NHL veteran Rob Niedermayer has two points (1g-1a) in his first six pro games. During his five-year collegiate career split between Bowling Green and Arizona State University, the 25-year-old totaled 44 points (20g-24a) in 124 games.

Niedermayer has been joined in Tulsa by Zachary Murray, the son of Oilers’ head coach Rob Murray. The 24-year-old had 53 points (21g-32a) in 92 career games at Division III Amherst College before signing with Tulsa on March 6. Murray has six points (2g-4a) in his first nine pro games, including a two-goal game in his second game on March 7 at Allen and a two-assist effort on March 21 at Idaho.

Jack Pascucci signed with Norfolk on March 6 after wrapping up his collegiate career with Canisius, joining the same organization his dad, Ron, played 133 games for from 1993-96. The stay-at-home defenseman recorded seven points – all assists – over his 75 college games with the Golden Griffins and the University of Connecticut. After not scoring a goal since the 2021-22 season when he was with Des Moines of the United States Hockey League, the 24-year-old lit the lamp for his first pro goal on March 20 against Greensboro.

By Joe Babik
ECHL Senior PR/Historical Specialist 

Tarr Records First Pro Goal in Loss to Kansas City

WICHITA, Kan. – Wichita continued its four-game miniseries against Kansas City on Tuesday night, losing 4-1 at INTRUST Bank Arena. Tarr Records First Pro Goal in Loss to Kansas City

Oliver Tarr provided the lone Thunder tally with helpers to Cameron Mitchell and Robert Kincaid. Roddy Ross suffered the loss, stopping 23 shots.

After a scoreless first, Justin Janicke broke the ice just 15 seconds into the second. He worked into the offensive zone, cut across the top of the slot and fired a shot past Ross for his 15th of the year.

Marcus Crawford made it 2-0 at 7:49 on the power play. Jack Randl unloaded a one-timer from the deep slot that Crawford redirected past Ross for his 14th of the campaign.

Late in the second, Tarr put the Thunder on the board. He took a drop pass at the left circle, walked in and beat Jack LaFontaine to the short side and cut the lead to 2-1.

In the third, Lucas Sowder scored a pair of goals to help Kansas City pull away. He tallied his first at 4:16, firing a shot that found its way into the net from the top of the left circle.

His second came at 11:32 as he beat a Thunder defender to the top of the crease and redirected a shot from Bobo Carpenter to make it 4-1.

Tarr tallied his first professional goal while Mitchell recorded his first pro point with an assist.

Wichita went 1-for-2 on the power play. Kansas City was 1-for-3 on the man advantage.

The two teams play once again at 7:05 p.m. on Friday night at INTRUST Bank Arena.

Ads stop Griffins, 5-4, in OT

Grand Rapids, MI— Jordan Oesterle scored the game-winning goal as the Milwaukee Admirals defeated the Grand Rapids Griffins 5-4 in overtime Tuesday at Van Andel Arena.

The game was originally scheduled for Mar. 13, but dangerous ice conditions after a power outage forced the game to be postponed.

Milwaukee never had a lead in the contest until Oesterle scored the overtime winner. It was his 11th goal of the season and his fourth game-winner. During 3-on-3 play in the OT session Oesterle had the puck in front of the Griffins net. As the goalie sprawled for the puck, Oesterle was able to hold until the net opened. He snapped the puck into the goal for his second straight game-winning goal. Austin Roest and Ryder Rolston assisted on the winner.

The Admirals Magic Number to clinch a playoff spot dropped to 16. That’s a combination of points earned by the Admirals and lost by the Iowa Wild.

The teams alternated scoring goals in the first period with the Griffins scoring first. Carter Mazur deflected a shot from the point past Admirals goalie Matt Murray at 1:10 of the first period.

Milwaukee tied the game with a power play goal at 4:14 of the first frame. Joey Willis fed a pass from the left boards to David Edstrom at the bottom of the left circle. Edstrom took a stride toward the net, then passed the puck to the right post for Oasiz Wiesblatt to slam into the goal. It was Wiesblatt’s 12th goal and his eighth on the power play.

Grand Rapids reclaimed the lead at 5:15 when defenseman Axel Sandin-Pellikka’s shot from center point found the back of the net.

The Admirals tied the game 2-2 at 15:47 of the first period with another power play tally. Massimo Rizzo held the left point and tossed the puck to the right circle. Isaac Ratcliffe settled the puck and snapped a pass to the left post for Kyle Marino to tip into the cage. Marino’s fifth goal of the season was also his first scored while his team was on the man advantage this year.

The Griffins took a 3-2 lead at 2:14 of the second period when John Leonard scored a shorthanded goal for the Griffins. It was his 30th goal of the season and his eighth in seven games against the Admirals.

Milwaukee’s Ratcliffe evened the score at 3-3 when he scored his sixth goal of the season at 16:07 of the second stanza. Ratcliffe picked the puck off the left-wing boards and rushed to the goal, sliding the puck into the net past goalie Sebastian Cossa. Andrew Gibson and Cole O’Hara picked up assists.

Austin Watson scored with a slap shot from the point at 3:08 of the third frame to reclaim a one-goal lead for the Griffins, but M Milwaukee’s Joey Willis tied it again at 4-4. Willis skated off the right wing boards in the Griffins Zoe and snapped a wrist shot past the glove of Cossa. It was his fifth goal of the year. Marino and Tanner Molendyk recorded the helpers.

The Admirals will host Henderson at Historic Panther Arena Fri., Mar. 27 and Sat., Mar. 28.

Allen’s Katic named ECHL Player of the Week

Danny Katic of the Allen Americans is the Inglasco ECHL Player of the Week for March 16-22.Action photo of Danny Katic of the Allen Americans

Katic scored four goals and added three assists for seven points in three games at South Carolina last week.

The 25-year-old had a goal and assist in a 5-3 loss on Friday, scored a pair of goals while adding an assist in a 5-4 loss on Sunday and had a goal and assists in a 7-1 win on Sunday.

Under contract to Belleville of the American Hockey League, Katic ranks second in the ECHL with 31 goals while adding 22 assists for 53 points in 51 games with the Americans this season. He has also skated in four games with the Senators.

A native of South Porcupine, Ontario, Katic has tallied 164 points (86g-78a) in 202 career ECHL games with Allen, Bloomington and Norfolk while adding four points (1g-3a) in 18 career AHL games with Belleville and Chicago.

Prior to turning pro, Katic recorded 16 points (4g-12a) in 17 games at the University of Toronto and 68 points (23g-45a) in 170 career games with Saginaw of the Ontario Hockey League.

On behalf of Danny Katic, a case of pucks will be donated to an Allen youth hockey organization by Inglasco, the exclusive puck supplier of the ECHL. Since beginning its sponsorship of the award in 2000-01, Inglasco has donated more than 53,000 pucks to youth hockey organizations in ECHL cities.

Bruins sign first-rounder Hagens to AHL tryout

The Boston Bruins have signed forward James Hagens to an amateur tryout agreement with the AHL’s Providence Bruins.

“We’re very excited to have James join the Bruins organization and take this next step,” said general manager Don Sweeney. “James is an important part of our future, and this is a great opportunity for him to get immediate experience at the professional level in Providence and continue his development.”

The 19-year-old Hagens was selected by Boston with the seventh overall pick in the 2025 NHL Draft. He led the Hockey East conference in scoring with 47 points (23 goals, 24 assists) in 34 games at Boston College as a sophomore this season. In 2024-25, Hagens was named to the Hockey East All-Rookie Team after recording 37 points in 37 games.

A native of Hauppauge, N.Y., Hagens has represented the United States in two IIHF World Junior Championship tournaments (2025, 2026) and two IIHF U-18 Men’s World Championships (2023, 2024), winning gold medals at the 2025 World Juniors and the 2023 U-18 events.

Posted in AHL

Technical reasons for withdrawal delays

In all honesty, withdrawal errors are one of the most common complaints among online users and they’re usually not because of errors or issues with your account—but often due to software-related factors. Knowing these causes can help you manage expectations and anxiety. From automated audit checks to network congestion, every part of the withdrawal process is checked for security and compliance.

For example, some platforms provide detailed guides on expected processing times and bonus conditions, which can clarify why a withdrawal may take longer than anticipated. You can grab the Bonus Blitz 200 free chip before it’s gone by CasinosAnalyzerCA, where processing timelines and bonus terms are explained in greater detail.

By investigating the primary technical causes, players can build tools to help them deal with delays, learn when things are taking too long (and when they aren’t), and understand under which circumstances a delay may signal a larger problem.

System Verification

In most places, a bot will check for automated verification whenever you ask to withdraw. This is so that the account details are in line with the eligibility requirements and also to verify recent transactions. They cross-check up to three pieces of personal information, banking details, and recent login activity.

Even tiny errors, such as an incorrect address format, often lead to extra verification and delayed funds. Verification could also be verifying recent deposits or account history. These automated checks are meant to prevent fraud but can add hours or even days to the process, depending on how busy the platform is and what its internal protocols are.

Platforms typically require supporting documents. This may be in the form of ID scans, utility bills, or confirmation of payment methods. Manual processing of these documents can take time, especially during the rush hour.

Withdrawal orders comport with deposit histories. If the numbers do not match, the transaction is raised as an alert. The process serves as insurance for the user and the platform against mistakes or fraud.

Payment Processing

There can also be delays, even after verification, as the technical mechanics of moving money flow. Platforms speak to banks, payment gateways, and e-wallet systems, which work on different timings. Processing time is based on the method: bank transfers can require up to 3-7 business days, and transactions via card or e-wallet are quicker (although they still sometimes suffer from network batching). This applies across the market, including well-known platforms like Bonus Blitz, where payout speed is still tied to external financial infrastructure rather than just internal policies.

Payment processors also cap transaction volume during periods of peak demand, leading to lines that go away after a few seconds. There needs to be secure data exchange between platforms and banks’ APIs. Withdrawals may freeze if the gateway is slow.

Moreover, certain platforms carry out internal reconciliation verifications before the settlement of funds. These checks ensure balances, and transaction histories and could spot discrepancies. And although this does make an extra step of security, it can add delay to the processing time during peak times or larger campaigns. The knowledge of these internal steps empowers users to have realistic expectations as to when funds will become available in their accounts.

Currency Conversion

Requests for currency conversions with foreign exchange procedures may be differently processed. Rates must be calculated and conversions done by platforms, which means a longer time to process. This can impact users in several ways, particularly for overseas transactions. There are some important points to think about:

  • Exchange Rate Calculation: Platforms need to fetch current rates from financial providers or central banks, which may fluctuate frequently.
  • Processing Time: Converting one currency to another adds extra processing time compared to transactions in a single currency.
  • Fees and Commissions: It may not always be cheap to convert currency as there are service fees associated with the same, which also add up to make it expensive for users.
  • Verification process: Some services will require additional verification, especially for cross-border transactions to verify compliance with international financial law.
  • Delayed Settlements: Depending on the currencies involved, settlements may take longer due to banking network procedures.

Knowing these factors, the user will be able to better handle his expectations and design transactions. Users can avoid frustration and take informed financial decisions when converting currencies by being warned about potential delays or costs.

Security Checks

Fraud prevention and anti-money laundering (AML) processes provide several additional steps for a transaction. Automated surveillance seeks odd behavior, like a spike in withdrawals or a concatenation of transfers involving new devices. When something raises red flags, it signals a manual review that can increase the processing time. While these checks are necessary for the provision of a compliant service and the safety of your account, they can sometimes result in unexpected delays—particularly when more than one risk factor is triggered. Reputable platforms such as Bonus Blitz follow similar AML procedures to balance fast payouts with regulatory compliance and player security.

The platforms assign risk ratings for transactions, and certain high-risk behaviors may trigger further scrutiny. Withdrawals can also be stopped if the documentation provided or the account activity does not comply with local or international laws. These steps safeguard the platform and its users from fraud or any legal concern. How to reduce the AML checks time:

  1. Verify Your Account in Advance – Make sure all personal details and identification documents are accurate and up to date to prevent verification delays.
  2. Monitor Transaction Patterns – Avoid sudden large withdrawals or deposits that could trigger risk alerts.
  3. Understand Platform Policies – Familiarize yourself with AML rules, withdrawal limits, and required documentation.
  4. Prepare Documents Ahead – Keep ID, proof of address, and any additional required documents ready before initiating a withdrawal.
  5. it Transactions Strategically – If you can time it, try to avoid busy hours on platforms that may see more transactions flagged.
  6. Follow Up Promptly – If your transaction is delayed, contact customer support quickly and provide any requested information to speed up processing.

These methods allow for minimum -minute delays, ensure smoother receipt of funds, and are far less likely to run afoul of AML and fraud prevention regulations.