Multiple alumni from the Union College men's hockey program are establishing themselves as professional players in the ECHL during the 2025-26 season. The ECHL, often called the "Premier 'AA' Hockey League," serves as a key developmental league for the NHL and AHL.
Among the notable rookies is forward Josh Kosack, who played for Union from 2018 to 2022. For the 2025-26 season, Kosack is playing for the South Carolina Stingrays. In a recent game on March 21, 2026, he scored a goal in a 4-3 victory over the Jacksonville Icemen, contributing to the team's push for a playoff position.
Other Union alumni in the league include defenseman Brandon Estes, who is with the Maine Mariners, and goaltender Connor Murphy, who has played for the Fort Wayne Komets this season. Their transition to the professional ranks highlights the continued pipeline of talent from the NCAA Division I program to professional hockey.
The success of these players follows the legacy of Union College's 2014 NCAA National Championship team, which produced several professional players. The current performances in the ECHL demonstrate the program's ongoing role in developing players capable of competing at the professional level.
