Maine Mariners Add Vipers Alumni McNicholas To Teams Protected List:

The ECHL announced their protected list as submitted by each of its member

teams. This is the first of a several-step process in which ECHL teams use to reserve the rights to ECHL contracted players for the 2021-22 season. The ECHL Maine Mariners have seventeen players on their protected list, one being former Vernon Vipers forward Michael McNicholas. 

Here is the press release from the Maine Mariners website,

MARINERS ANNOUNCE INITIAL PROTECTED LIST - Maine Mariners (marinersofmaine.com)

McNicholas played last season in the ECHL with the Utah Grizzlies, Tulsa Oilers & Indy Fuel. 

McNicholas was suppose to start the 2020-21 season with the ECHL Maine Mariners after re-signing with the team July 6th 2020. The Mariners suspended the 2020-21 season under the league's policy for COVID-19 this allowing McNicholas to sign with another club but would have their rights reverted back to their original team for the 2021-22 season. The Mariners are set to return to play for the 2021-22 season. 

McNicholas played the previous two seasons in the ECHL with the Maine Mariners before signing a professional contract with the ECHL Utah Grizzlies December 1st 2020. McNicholas had one goal in two games with the Grizzlies before being released December 29th 2020. The ECHL Indy Fuel signed McNicholas January 13th 2021. This was McNicholas's second stint with the Fuel was later traded to the ECHL Tulsa Oilers April 5th 2021. McNicholas would finish the 2020-21 season with the Oilers. In 24 games last season, McNicholas collected (3-goals-6-assists-9-points).

McNicholas played four years at the University of New Hampshire before signing his first professional contract with the ECHL Indy Fuel March 6th 2018.

McNicholas played one season in Vernon with the 2013-14 Vernon Vipers. The Vipers traded Aaron Hadley to the Nanaimo Clippers January 10th 2013 for future considerations (Michael McNicholas & Jordan Klimek). In 56 games with the Vipers, McNicholas collected (23-goals-46-assists-69-points).

McNicholas scored one of the biggest goals in recent Vernon Vipers history. McNicholas scored the overtime winning goal in Game 7 of the Interior Division Finals March 22nd 2014 vs the Penticton Vees.

Here is Michael McNicholas's Game 7 overtime winning goal,

Michael McNicholas Game 7 OT Winner Vipers vs Penticton Vees - YouTube

Here are the highlight's from Game 7,

2014-03-22 Penticton Vees Vs Vernon Vipers - Fred Page Cup - Interior Finals - Game 7 - YouTube

Michael McNicholas's Player Profile:

Michael McNicholas - Elite Prospects