The Maine Mariners have re-signed two more players for the 2024-2025 season. Those are returners Brad Arvanitis and Jacob Hudson.
Brad Arvanitis
Brad Arvanitis began his road to professional hockey by playing for UMass Amherst and Babson College.
He played one season at UMass Amherst and then transferred to Babson College, where he starred in net. Over three seasons at Babson, he had a 24–7–3 record with a 2.02 GAA and .933 SV%, including a .952 save percentage in 2019–20, which was among the best in NCAA Division III.
After graduating, he made his pro debut with the Rapid City Rush late in the 2021–22 season.
In his debut, Arvanitis made a strong start by stopping 45 of 46 shots and earning first-star honors in a 5–1 win over the Atlanta Gladiators.
He re-signed with Rapid City for the 2022–23 season and played well in limited action, finishing with a 3–1–1 record, a 2.80 GAA and a .922 SV%.
During the 2022–23 season, Arvanitis was acquired by the Tulsa Oilers and also briefly joined the Wichita Thunder.
Outside of the ECHL, he also played in the Southern Professional Hockey League with the Pensacola Ice Flyers. Hudson had a strong showing: a 9–6–5 record, 2.71 GAA, and .919 SV% over 20 games.
Arvanitis would sign with Maine ahead of the 2023–24 season. Initially part of a three-goalie rotation, he quickly earned the starting role and became the team’s top netminder.
Over 35 regular season games, he compiled a 20–10–3 record, 2.71 GAA, and .920 SV%. His stellar play earned him multiple honors. This included accolades of ECHL Rookie of the Month for January 2024 and the Mariners’ Rookie of the Year award.
In the 2024 Kelly Cup Playoffs Arvanitis started six of Maine’s seven games in their first-round series against Adirondack. Despite the team’s early exit, he was outstanding, recording a 3–3 record along with a 1.69 GAA and .939 SV%.
This past season he played 23 games, tallying in 11 wins and a 2.97 GAA.
Jacob Hudson
Jacob Hudson spent his junior hockey career in the QMJHL. He spent five seasons with the Moncton Wildcats from 2016 to 2021. He served as team captain during his final season. Hudson tallied 32 points (15 goals, 17 assists) in just 22 games and added 10 points in five playoff appearances. Following his junior success, Hudson played three seasons at St. Francis Xavier University (USports). Over 74 games, he recorded 88 points (37 goals and 51 assists). His strong university career paved the way for his transition into professional hockey.
In March 2024 Hudson signed his first pro contract with the South Carolina Stingrays. He made an immediate impact, scoring six goals and adding three assists for nine points in just 13 games. He earned an assist in his debut on March 13. Hudson scored his first professional goal two days later and recorded a hat trick in only his fourth game.
Hudson’s performance caught the attention of the Maine Mariners, who signed him ahead of the 2024–25 season. He had a breakout year with the Maine Mariners, scoring 15 goals and 23 assists for 38 points across 61 games. Known for his energy and gritty style, he also racked up 56 penalty minutes. From March 8th through the end of the regular season, he scored 15 points in 12 straight games. This surge helped earn him a Professional tryout with the AHL’s Springfield Thunderbirds in April 2025.
Hudson made his AHL debut with Springfield on April 10, 2025, and made it count by scoring a goal and adding an assist in his lone appearance.
As Hudson and Arvanitis make their way back to Portland this season, time will tell if the additions of new faces can help this team perform better and have a real chance of winning the Kelly Cup.
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