It has barely been one week since men’s hockey saw its season end at the hands of Boston University in the NCAA Tournament regional final in Toledo, Ohio.
In just one week, six departing seniors have inked professional contracts. Those signings are coupled with the loss of junior forward Dalton Bancroft, who opted to sign with the Boston Bruins instead of returning for his senior season.
So far, senior goaltender Ian Shane, forwards Sullivan Mack and Jack O’Leary, and defensemen Michael Suda, Tim Rego and Hank Kempf have signed professionally. Two seniors — forward Kyler Kovich and defenseman Jimmy Rayhill — have entered the transfer portal to use their final year of eligibility. Forwards Ondrej Psenicka and Kyle Penney have not yet been signed.
Here’s a breakdown of each contract signed within the first week of the offseason.
April 1: Shane signs with the Norfolk Admirals (ECHL)
Just a mere 72 hours after the season’s end, Shane signed an amateur tryout contract with the Norfolk Admirals of the ECHL. The Admirals are affiliated with the Manitoba Moose and the Winnipeg Jets organization.
An amateur tryout contract is one designed for players going straight from “amateur” hockey — college hockey or junior hockey — to the pros. The contract is good until the end of the 2024-2025 season. From there, the Admirals could make the decision to sign Shane for the 2025-2026 season, or Shane could opt to explore other options in free agency.
Shane made a quick jump into professional hockey — he made his debut on Wednesday as the Admirals took on the Reading Royals. Shane, who was stellar down the stretch for Cornell en route to its NCAA regional final loss, picked up right where he left off, making 30 saves on 33 shots in a slim 3-2 overtime loss. The point secured in the loss clinched a playoff berth for the Admirals while Shane was named the third star of the game.
April 2: Mack inks deal with the Hartford Wolfpack (American Hockey League)
After a strong senior campaign that saw him hit career highs in goals (nine), assists (15) and points (24), Mack was picked up by the Wolfpack, which is affiliated with the New York Rangers organization.
The “standard AHL player contract” runs through the 2025-2026 season. For the remainder of 2024-2025, Mack will join the Wolfpack on an amateur tryout basis before his actual contract kicks in for next season.
Mack could make his professional debut as soon as Saturday, as Hartford takes on the Hershey Bears. According to the Wolfpack website, he’ll don No. 13 as he begins his pro career.
It is worth noting that Mack will join a Wolfpack team partially under the direction of a former Cornellian — Joey Padmanabhan ’24 is the Director of Hockey Operations for Hartford and worked with Cornell men’s hockey for four years as a Student Director of Hockey Operations. Padmanabhan works with Wolfpack general manager Ryan Martin, who handles “player personnel decisions, player development, contract negotiations, and player movement.”
April 3: Suda signed by the Savannah Ghost Pirates (ECHL)
Suda, who is one of three regulars on the Cornell defense graduating this spring, signed a standard ECHL player contract on Thursday. After an 11-assist senior season, Suda joins a large group of collegiate players heading to Savannah on SPCs, including Cristophe Tellier of ECAC rival Quinnipiac.
Though it was not indicated in the press release put out by Savannah on Thursday, Suda’s contract — which is not an amateur tryout contract, like Shane’s — likely runs through the 2025-2026 season.
Suda could make his professional debut on Friday evening as the Ghost Pirates face off against the Florida Everblades at 7:30 p.m. The Ghost Pirates are affiliated with the Charlotte Checkers and the Florida Panthers organization.
April 4: Rego signs with the Ontario Reign (AHL)
Rego’s AHL contract runs through the 2025-2026 season. For the remainder of 2024-2025, he has been loaned to the Greenville Swamp Rabbits, the ECHL affiliate of the Kings and Reign.
Rego attended NHL development camp with the New Jersey Devils last summer, but the Kings organization ultimately picked up the free agent. Rego made his ECHL debut on Friday evening.
April 4: Kempf signs two-year deal with Colorado Eagles (AHL)
As expected, Kempf signs with the Eagles after his rights were traded there on March 1. Kempf was initially picked by the New York Rangers in the 2021 NHL Entry Draft (seventh round, 208th overall) but joined the Colorado Avalanche organization ahead of the NHL trade deadline.
Kempf will join two Cornellians in Colorado — Matt Stienburg '23 and Jacob MacDonald '15 are current members of the Eagles, while Sam Malinski ’23 plays for the Avalanche in the NHL.
April 4: O’Leary signs ATO with the Norfolk Admirals (ECHL)
O’Leary will join fellow classmate Shane in Norfolk after signing an ATO with the Admirals. Another undrafted senior, O’Leary is set to debuted with Norfolk on Friday evening.
The New York native goes pro after hitting a career-high in goals (eight) and tying his career-high in points (17) in 2024-2025. O’Leary notably scored in the Red’s regional final defeat to Boston University, a pivotal goal that sent the game to overtime.
O’Leary will finish out 2024-2025 with the Admirals and, like Shane, could re-sign or test out the free agent market.
Bonus: Cornell adds defenseman from transfer portal
On Thursday, the Red picked up an intriguing defensive prospect from the transfer portal. Michael Fisher will join the Cornell d-corps next season after spending last season in the British Columbia Hockey League. Fisher has three years of college eligibility, as he was a member of Northeastern in 2023-2024, putting up a goal and an assist in 29 games played.
Fisher is a 2022 third round pick of the San Jose Sharks, going 76th overall. He will join fellow 2022 third-rounder sophomore defenseman George Fegaras, who went 83rd overall. Fisher will be one of three drafted defenseman next season, alongside Fegaras and sophomore defenseman Hoyt Stanley.
For the latest offseason updates on the men’s hockey team, follow senior editor and men’s hockey beat reporter Jane McNally @janemcnally_.
Jane McNally is a senior editor on the 143rd editorial board and was the sports editor on the 142nd editorial board. She is a member of the class of 2026 in the College of Agriculture and Life Sciences. You can follow her on X @JaneMcNally_ and reach her at jmcnally@cornellsun.com.
