Atlanta Inks Rookie D-Man

The Atlanta Gladiators have agreed to terms with defenseman Zach Malatesta, the team announced Thursday.

Malatesta, 21, is set for his rookie season in professional hockey after he spent the last three seasons in the Quebec Major Junior Hockey League (QMJHL). The 5-foot-9, 183-pound D-man posted 92 points (25-67-92) and a plus-18 rating in 191 games with the Moncton Wildcats and Acadie-Bathurst Titan. In his final year of major junior hockey, the Boston, MA native started the season in Moncton earning eight points (3-5-8) before being dealt near the trade deadline to Acadie-Bathurst. Malatesta then produced the best numbers of his career ending the campaign with 28 points (8-20-28) and a plus-27 rating in 33 games. The defender added eight points (1-7-8) in 11 playoff games for the Titan.

“I believe I am at my best when I am playing a fast-paced, physical game and I am excited to see how that will translate to this level,” said Malatesta. “My family and I decided that continuing my hockey career and getting a chance to play in a big city like Atlanta was the best move for me.”

The Atlanta Gladiators 15th anniversary season kicks off at the Infinite Energy Arena on Friday, October 20th against the Florida Everblades at 7:35 PM. For ticket package information, visit the official team website at www.atlantagladiators.com or call the main office line at 770-497-5100.

The Gladiators are members of the ECHL, the nation’s premier "AA" hockey league. All home games are played at the 11,355-seat Infinite Energy Arena, located just off I-85 on Sugarloaf Parkway in Duluth – where parking is always free. The Gladiators have established an unrivaled commitment to excellence, maintaining a distinctive reputation for affordable and family-friendly sports entertainment and consistently ranked as one of the top “Things To Do” in the Atlanta area and across the North Georgia region.

For all the latest team news, contests, and more visit AtlantaGladiators.com, or “like” the Gladiators on Facebook (www.facebook.com/AtlantaGladiators), follow the team on Twitter (www.twitter.com/ATLGladiators), Instagram (www.instagram.com/atlgladiators) or Snapchat (www.snapchat.com) at "gladshockey".

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