ECHL: Trenton Ironhawks Announce 2026 Protected List

The Trenton Ironhawks have announced their 2026 Protected List. The Ironhawks own the ECHL rights to all 27 players on the list. Trenton’s list will consist of players who played with the Utah Grizzlies last season.

Rules of the Protected List

Teams are allowed to protect as many players as they wish provided the players protected meet the guidelines as defined in the Collective Bargaining Agreement between the ECHL and the Professional Hockey Players’ Association which state that teams shall retain the rights to each player that:

1. Signed an SPC in 2025-26 with the Member, and has not been traded or released, OR

2. Signed an SPC in 2025-26, and was recalled to the NHL/AHL or IIHF team, and has not been traded or released, OR

3. Had received a Qualifying Offer last summer for the current Season, DID NOT sign an SPC, and has not been traded or released, OR

4. Has been suspended by the Member or League, and has not been traded or released, OR

5. Signed an SPC on or after the first day of the 2025-26 Regular Season, then subsequently signed an NHL/AHL contract, and has not been traded or released, OR

6. Has executed the ECHL Retirement Form, and has not been traded or released.

Protected lists may exceed 20 players.

Players on the Protected List

Forwards

Nicholas Niemo  

Reed Lebster  

Yaroslav Yevdokimov 

Ryan Taylor  

Michael Colella  

Mick Messner 

Daniyal Dzhaniyev 

Marek Hejduk 

Cy LeClerc 

Henri Schreifels

Ryan Rosborough 

Tyler Gratton

Stepan Timofeyev 

Luke Manning

Defensemen

Luke Antonacci 

Robbie Stucker

Noah Ganske

Andrew Noel

Colby Enns

Luc Salem

Mathieu Boislard 

Aiden Hansen-Bukata

Dylan Gratton

Josh Zinger

Goaltenders

Hunter Miska

Kasimir Kaskisuo

Jacob Mucitelli

Players Currently Playing Overseas

Mick Messner – The 27-year-old forward played 3 games with the Utah Grizzlies during the 2025-26 season, before heading overseas to Slovakia to play with HC Banska Bystrica, recording four goals and four assists for eight points in 28 games. After his time playing with HC Banska Bystrica, he played in the EIHL with the Glasgow Clan, where he put up ten goals and two assists for 12 points in 17 games. The Madison, Wisconsin, native has re-signed with the Glasgow Clan for the 2026-27 season. 

Daniyal Dzhaniyev – The 24-year-old forward is heading overseas to Sweden to play with the IK Oskarshamn, after spending the 2025-26 season with the Utah Grizzlies, recording 24 goals and 49 assists for 73 points in 72 games.

Kasimir Kaskisuo – The Vantaa, Finland, native played one game with the Utah Grizzlies during the 2025-26 season before returning to Finland to play with JoKP. He played in 15 games with JoKP, recording a goals against average of 2.85 and a save percentage of .884. Kaskisuo does not have a contract for the 2026-27 season.

What’s Next

This month is very busy as teams begin building for next season. June 20th is the ECHL Future Considerations Trade Deadline; the 22nd-season-ending roster is due; and on the 23rd, teams can start signing players for next season.