Every off-season, we see some big names from the ECHL make the jump over to the AHL or over to Europe, and the 2023 off-season was no exception, as there is a ton of ECHL talent that will be taking their talents overseas next season. While tracking all the names that have gone overseas from last season, I narrowed it down to the top five notable names that are making the jump. All five of these players have made a huge impact not only on their respective ECHL teams but also on the league as a whole.
Hank Crone (Allen Americans To Chicago Wolves)
It’s very rare that we see a player come right out of college and dominate the ECHL in a way that Hank Crone did last year after he spent four years at the NCAA level. In 69 games with the Allen Americans, Crone put up 49 goals and 56 assists for 106 points; he led the league in both goals and points. He would end up being named to the ECHL All-First Team, Rookie of the Year, and ECHL MVP. The Texas native finished the season with three hat-tricks as well. Crone is the only player on this list who will be staying in North America as he will be joining the Chicago Wolves of the AHL, who decided to make the jump and go independent beginning next season.
Zach O’Brien (Newfoundland Growlers To Slokavia)
The Newfoundland Growlers have had a rough off-season as they’ve lost a ton of guys who have decided to either play for another ECHL team or head overseas, and the biggest loss has to be Zach O’Brien, who is headed over to Slovakia. However, this is not the first time the 31-year-old has played overseas, as he spent the 20 games in the DEL2 in Germany during the 2016-17 season, where he put up six goals and six assists before returning to North America. The Newfoundland native spent seven seasons in the ECHL as he spent time with the Ontario Reign and Wichita Thunder before spending the last four seasons at home with the Growlers. In 255 ECHL games, O’Brien has put up 120 goals and 202 assists for 322 points; he added 24 goals and 36 assists for 60 points in 47 career Kelly Cup Playoff games. O’Brien was one of many Growlers on an AHL deal but spent most of the season in Newfoundland
Micheal Pelech (Atlanta Gladiators To Scotland)
One of the most notable names in the ECHL is taking his talents overseas as Michael Pelech is heading to Scotland to play for the Glasglow Clan of the EIHL. Pelech spent 14 seasons in the ECHL as he spent time with the Ontario Reign, Toledo Walleye, Cincinnati Cyclones, Utah Grizzlies, Norfolk Admirals, Reading Royals, Greenville Swamp Rabbits, Wheeling Nailers, Indy Fuel, and Atlanta Gladiators. He’s scored 208 goals and 478 assists for 686 points in 884 games. Those 884 games are currently the most in ECHL History, and he sits second all-time in assists in the ECHL with 478. The Ontario Native added 12 goals and 22 assists for 34 points in 56 Kelly Cup Playoff Games. The move overseas isn’t a shock as Pelech probably wants to make the most of what he has left in the tank, and his brother Matt played in the EIHL back in the 2019-20 season, so that likely led to his decision, regardless of how his career ends, expect Pelech to be a strong candidate for the ECHL Hall Of Fame.
Anthony Petruzzeli (Fort Wayne Komets To Great Britian)
The Fort Wayne Komets are entering a new era with a new head coach, Jesse Kallachy. They will have to name a new captain next season as Anthony Petruzzeli is heading to Great Britain next season after spending six seasons with the Fort Wayne Komets and winning a Kelly Cup with the team in 2021. In 323 games, Petruzzeli put up 100 goals and 111 assists for 211 points, and he added five goals and 11 assists for 16 points in 47 Kelly Cup Playoff Games. Petruzzeli would spend two seasons as an assistant captain before being named captain before the 2021-22 season and spent the last two seasons in that role. and has put up 25+ goals in his previous two seasons; his 27 goals during the 2021-22 season led the Komets in scoring. The Washington State Native spent four seasons at the Unversity of Vermont, where he played in 140 games, putting up 21 goals and 22 assists for 43 points.
Alex Lerullo (Greenville Swamp Rabbits To Italy)
Unlike most of the guys on this list who are heading overseas, Lerullo doesn’t have much ECHL experience under his belt as he just finished his first full season in the league as he put up 27 goals and 60 assists for 87 points in 67 games as he led the Swamp Rabbits in goals and assists last season. Lerullo also picked up a goal and five assists in six Kelly Cup Playoff games. The 26-year-old forward was named to the ECHL All-Star Game and the ECHL All-Rookie and ECHL All-Second teams. In his two seasons with Greenville, Lerullo had 28 goals and 65 assists for 93 points in 74 regular season games and added two goals and eight assists for 10 points in 12 Kelly Cup Playoff games. He spent nine games with Ontario Regin of the AHL throughout the past two seasons but never found his way onto the scoresheet. The Ontario Native spent his collegiate career at Bemidji State University, where he had 36 goals and 60 assists for 96 points in 136 games over four years. He will be spending next season in Italy.
