There are eight more weeks until the IceGators' season opener at the RiverKings. Every Friday for the remainder of the offseason, we wrap up the activity with the IceGators and across the SPHL. We'll cover player signings, league news, and other related information in one neat little package.
There has been some sad news in the hockey world today. First, former New York Islanders coach and Hockey Hall of Famer Al Arbour passed away this morning at the age of 82. Arbour coached the Islanders for 19 seasons, 1,500 games, and won four consecutive Stanley Cups in the early 1980s. This afternoon, the hockey world was saddened with the loss of Ray Miron, the co-founder of the Central Hockey League - which recently merged with the ECHL. Miron was instrumental in increasing hockey's popularity in the United States, and has served in every level of professional hockey. If you're watching minor league hockey, you have Ray Miron to thank for it.
The Louisiana IceGators continued to beef up their forward lines with three signings that were released on Monday. The Gators signed former Ice Bears and RiverKings RW Phil Bronner, two-year FHL C Ryan Patsch, and rookie RW Jeremy Plourde.
Former IceGators RW Adam Stuart, traded to Peoria for C Alex Hudson, has signed a contract with ECHL Evansville. Also returning to the ECHL is defenseman Eric Tallent, who signed up for his third season with the Tulsa Oilers. Tallent played three seasons for the IceGators from 2010-13.
Breaking: News reports from Poland have stated that C Jeremy Boyer, who recently signed with PHL Orlik Opole, is no longer with that team due to undisclosed reasons (the Polish translation is unclear). The IceGators retain Boyer's SPHL rights, and there is a very good chance that he will re-sign with the team. Stay tuned, this story is rapidly developing.
Former IceGators RW Adam Stuart, traded to Peoria for C Alex Hudson, has signed a contract with ECHL Evansville. Also returning to the ECHL is defenseman Eric Tallent, who signed up for his third season with the Tulsa Oilers. Tallent played three seasons for the IceGators from 2010-13.
Breaking: News reports from Poland have stated that C Jeremy Boyer, who recently signed with PHL Orlik Opole, is no longer with that team due to undisclosed reasons (the Polish translation is unclear). The IceGators retain Boyer's SPHL rights, and there is a very good chance that he will re-sign with the team. Stay tuned, this story is rapidly developing.
In Columbus, the Cottonmouths have reported three players have re-signed with the club for 2015-16. Defensemen Kyle Johnson & Andy Willigar and G Shannon Szabados have elected to play for the Cottonmouths next season.
The FireAntz have picked up their second player from EIHL Dundee, Forward Shane Lust. Lust has played the last four seasons in France and England, and is slated to begin his first professional season in North America.
The Huntsville Havoc further bolstered their roster with the signing of veteran forward Brett Lutes, formerly of the Pensacola Ice Flyers. Lutes will be playing in his 12th professional season, in a career that has spanned 626 games among six different leagues.
Huntsville also announced their promotional schedule. The Havoc will feature nine different specialty jerseys this season, with themes including Freddy Krueger from A Nightmare on Elm Street (I'd love to see the gloves for that game!), Star Wars, Weiner Dogs, and Batman.
Huntsville also announced their promotional schedule. The Havoc will feature nine different specialty jerseys this season, with themes including Freddy Krueger from A Nightmare on Elm Street (I'd love to see the gloves for that game!), Star Wars, Weiner Dogs, and Batman.
Defending SPHL champions Knoxville have re-signed C Josh Cousineau, and inked rookie forward Ryan McDonald from D3 Framingham (MA) State.
The expansion Macon Mayhem have yet to publicize any player signings, and are the only SPHL team yet to announce such news. Coach Kevin Kerr has stated in a interview that they do have players signed and attending ECHL camps in the preseason.
On the heels of the trade that sent G Adam Courchaine to the IceGators for RW Benji Rubin, the Mississippi RiverKings signed scrappy LW Corey Bellamy. Bellamy played last season with the Havoc and racked up a league-high 302 penalty minutes in only 38 games.
The most surprising signing of the week belonged to the Pensacola Ice Flyers. Defenseman and former Peoria Rivermen captain Cole Ruwe, who announced his retirement back in April, has elected to return to hockey and head south to Pensacola.
The Ice Flyers also signed a pair of rookies this week. Luke Hannon, a 24-year-old forward from Liberty University was added to the roster, as was Austrian forward Patrick Divjak, who played four years of collegiate hockey at Niagara University before spending last season playing in his native Austria.
Pensacola also announced their promotional schedule for the 2015-16 season, which will feature theme jerseys featuring Minions, the Blue Wahoos baseball team, the movie Top Gun, and throwback Pensacola Ice Pilots jerseys from their years in the ECHL.
Dear IceGators: ECHL throwback sweaters need to happen.
The Ice Flyers also signed a pair of rookies this week. Luke Hannon, a 24-year-old forward from Liberty University was added to the roster, as was Austrian forward Patrick Divjak, who played four years of collegiate hockey at Niagara University before spending last season playing in his native Austria.
Pensacola also announced their promotional schedule for the 2015-16 season, which will feature theme jerseys featuring Minions, the Blue Wahoos baseball team, the movie Top Gun, and throwback Pensacola Ice Pilots jerseys from their years in the ECHL.
Dear IceGators: ECHL throwback sweaters need to happen.
Finally, the Peoria Rivermen made public their first player signing since acquiring LW Adam Stuart from the IceGators by announcing the return of two-time SPHL goalie of the year Kyle Rank.