The Hamilton Hammers announced this week that they have inked unrestricted free‑agent goaltender Ryan Fanti to a one‑year contract, a move that underscores the team’s intent to bolster its net‑minding depth ahead of the upcoming season.
With the New York Islanders having secured several veteran net‑minders and the return of Henrik Tikannen to the roster, the Hammers have positioned Fanti to open the campaign in the ECHL, where he will suit up for the Trenton IronHawks as a stepping stone toward an NHL call‑up.
A Competitive Landscape in the Crease
Fanti’s professional résumé includes stints with the Bakersfield Condors, Fort Wayne Komets and the Tampa Bay Lightning organization, where he navigated both the AHL and ECHL, accumulating a 13‑12‑1 record in the 2025‑26 AHL season with a 2.41 goals‑against average and a .905 save percentage.
His collegiate foundation was laid at Minnesota Duluth, where he honed his skills from 2020 to 2022 before turning pro, a trajectory that has seen him evolve into a reliable presence between the pipes.
The competition for ice time is fierce, especially with Islanders prospect Vitek Vanecek and veteran Semyon Varlamov vying for minutes, but Fanti’s experience and recent AHL performance give him a clear pathway to prove himself in the minor leagues before potentially earning a call‑up.