ECHL’s Bloomington Bison finalize 27 for Protected List

BLOOMINGTON — 27 players on the Bloomington Bison roster were announced as part of the team’s Protected List, according to a news release Monday.

Phillip Barski, Bloomington’s general manager and head coach, announced the list of players that the Bison will continue to have rights to in the ECHL.

The Protected List is the first phase in a three-phase offseason process in which teams can protect playing rights throughout the signing period.

The list does not factor in or include players under contract in the AHL or NHL and not equivalent to a signing.

Bloomington Bison 2025-26 Protected List

The Protected List is as follows:

FORWARDS: Josh Boyer, Eddie Matsushima, Shane Ott, Max Neill, Connor Lockhart, Lou-Felix Denis, Chongmin Lee, Brandon Yeamans, Mikael Robidoux, Gavin Gould, Patriks Marcinkevics, Jonny Evans, Sam Sternschein, Kohei Sato, Dustin Manz, Brett Budgell, Blade Jenkins

DEFENSEMEN: Matt Staudacher, Zack Hoffman, Jacob Flynn, Jake Murray, Evan Stella, Renat Dadadzhanov, Jack Robilotti, Thomas Stewart

GOALTENDERS: Kasimir Kaskisuo, Mark Sinclair

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 states that teams shall retain the rights to each player that:

• Signed a standard player contract in 2024-25 with the Member, and has not been traded or released, OR
• Signed a standard player contract in 2024-25, and was recalled to the NHL/AHL or IIHF team, and has not been traded or released, OR
• Had received a Qualifying Offer last summer for the current Season, DID NOT sign a standard player contract, and has not been traded or released, OR
• Has been suspended by the Member or League, and has not been traded or released, OR
• Signed a standard player contract on or after the first day of the 2024-25 regular season, then subsequently signed an NHL/AHL contract, and has not been traded or released, OR
• Has executed the ECHL Retirement Form and has not been traded or released.

Protected lists may exceed 20 players.

Upcoming deadlines

The ECHL has also announced that all teams must complete all Future Consideration trades by 2 p.m. local time on June 20. The same will also need to submit their season-ending roster by 2 p.m. local time on June 22.

Season-ending rosters may include up to 20 players and cannot include any players who did not sign an ECHL contract in 2024-25.

Bison kicks off 2025-26 season on October 18

The second season for the ECHL affiliate of the New York Rangers is set to kick off on Saturday, October 18 with a home opener at Grossinger Motors Arena against the Iowa Heartlanders.

Full-season and half-season memberships for the 2025-26 season are currently on sale, with full-season membership pricing starting at just $699 per seat. Half-season membership pricing starts at just $379 per seat. 11-month payment plans are also available. To secure your seats visit bloomingtonbisonhockey.com or call (309) 965-HERD.

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Jake Leonard

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Jake Leonard, a broadcast media and journalism veteran, is the editor-in-chief of Heartland Newsfeed. Leonard is also GM and program director of Heartland Newsfeed Radio Network, wrestling editor and contributing writer for Ambush Sports, a contributing writer for My Sports Vote and Midwest Sports Network, and a former contributor to Bleacher Report and Overtime Heroics. He resides at home in Nokomis, Ill. with his dog Buster.

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