Seven Added on PTOs

DULUTH, Ga. – The Atlanta Gladiators announced Friday that they have signed forwards Chase Nieuwendyk, Austin Hervey and Zac Sikich, defensemen Frank Schumacher, Alfred Johansson and Robbie Hall, as well as goalie Alex Sakellaropoulos to professional try-out contracts.

“We have a large number of signed players who are going to AHL camps leaving opportunity for more try-out guys to come in and battle to make an impression,” said Head Coach and General Manager of Hockey Operations Jeff Pyle. “Competition for spots on the roster in training camp will be fierce, and I’m excited to see what all the PTO guys are made of. Like I said before, if one of these guys can help us win better than someone who already has a contract, they will be a Gladiator in a heartbeat.”

Nieuwendyk, 27, posted 33 points (10g, 23a) in 53 games last season for Coach Pyle in Evansville of the SPHL. The third-year pro has 48 points (17g, 31a) in 93 career SPHL games. The nephew of former NHL great, Joe Nieuwendyk, collected 101 points (45g, 56a) in 92 career games for the NCAA DIII’s SUNY-Brockport over four seasons from 2012-16.

Hervey, 25, notched 27 points (12g, 15a) in 55 games for the Knoxville Ice Bears of the SPHL last season. The Brighton, MI native scored two points in five games for the ECHL’s Indy Fuel at the end of the 2016-17 season after completing his collegiate career at Adrian College. The 6-foot-1, 209-pound forward amassed 52 points (27g, 25a) in 100 NCAA DIII games for the Bulldogs.

Sikich, 24, enters pro hockey for the first time after spending the last four-seasons at SUNY-Brockport. During his senior campaign last year, the Oak Park, CA native registered 25 points (10g, 15a) in 25 games. In 117 NCAA DIII games, the 5-foot-11, 181 pound forward collected 66 points (36g, 30a).

Schumacher, 24, has one assist in 23 career ECHL games for Evansville (IceMen), Fort Wayne, and Indy. The Brighton, MI native played last season for Coach Pyle in Evansville and produced 20 points (5g, 15a) in 41 games. The fifth-year pro has appeared in 119 SPHL games and managed 39 total points (10g, 29a).

Johansson, 25, played last season with former Gladiators player and coach, Andy Brandt’s St. Norbert College. The Sweden native posted nine assists in 28 games for the NCAA DIII National Champion Green Knights. The rookie defender accumulated 26 points (3g, 23a) in 107 career NCAA DIII games for Marian University and St. Norbert College.

Hall, 26, earned 12 points (5g, 7a) in 44 games for Coach Pyle’s Thunderbolts in the SPHL. The third-year pro has notched 16 points (5g, 11a) in 61 SPHL games for Mississippi and Evansville. The Schamburg, IL native registered 24 points (6g, 18a) in 88 NCAA DIII games for SUNY-Brockport from 2013-2017.

Sakellaropoulos, 24, appeared for three different ECHL teams during his rookie campaign last season. The Tinley Park, IL native produced a .900 save percentage for Worcester, Quad City and Jacksonville. The four-year goalie at the NCAA’s Union College engineered a .913 save percentage and 40-22-13 record for the Dutchmen. The 6-foot-3, 205-pound goaltender helped Union to the 2013-14 NCAA DI National Championship during his freshman year.

“Even if none of this bunch makes the team, it gives us a good chance to see what is out there for call-ups when we need it,” said Pyle. “We are in a really good spot any way you look at it if we get a player called up or an injury to bring one of these guys back.”

2018-19 ROSTER AS OF 9/7

SIGNED TO SPC:

F: Derek Nesbitt

F: Branden Troock

F: Darby Llewellyn

F: Luke Sandler

F: Louick Marcotte

F: Alex Carrier

F: Austin McKay

F: Todd Skirving

F: Justin MacDonald

F: Tyler Deresky

F: Nolan LaPorte

D: Kevin Montgomery

D: Ben Danford

D: Zach Malatesta

D: Jack Stander

D: Vytal Cote

G: Sean Bonar

G: Ed Minney

SIGNED TO PTO:

F: Hunter Stewart

F: Justin Greenberg

F: Tyler Howe

F: Matt Harrington

F: Chase Nieuwendyk

F: Zac Sikich

F: Austin Hervey

D: Brandon McMartin

D: Alfred Johansson

D: Frank Schumacher

D: Robbie Hall

G: Alex Sakellaropoulos

The 16th season of Atlanta Gladiators hockey begins at the Infinite Energy Arena on Friday, October 19th against the Greenville Swamp Rabbits at 7:35 PM. For ticket 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 10,867-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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