Duluth, GA – The Atlanta Gladiators announced live on the team’s YouTube channel Tuesday evening that the club has re-signed forward Ryan Francis for the 2025-26 season.
Francis, 23, re-signs with the Gladiators after scoring 3 goals in 6 games with the team last season after being acquired in a trade with the Adirondack Thunder in March of 2025. Between the Thunder and the Gladiators, Francis scored 13 goals and 6 assists in 36 games during the 2024-25 campaign.
The native of Halifax, NS, was selected by the Calgary Flames in the 5th round (143rd overall) of the 2020 NHL Draft. Entering his 4th season of professional hockey, Francis has experience playing in the AHL and ECHL. In 27 career AHL games, Francis has scored 1 goal and 2 assists; having spent time with the Stockton Heat, Laval Rocket, and Ontario Reign. The 5’9”, 185-pound forward has scored 45 goals and 42 assists for 87 points in 124 career ECHL games between the Trois-Rivieres Lions, Greenville Swamp Rabbits, Adirondack Thunder, and Atlanta Gladiators.
"Ryan is a very dynamic offensive player,” said Gladiators Director of Hockey Operations and Head Coach, Matt Ginn. “He is an elusive skater that wants to have the puck on his stick and be a difference maker on the ice. He had a tough season last year with various injuries, but we are really excited to have Ryan back in Atlanta and expect him to be a big part of our team."
Ryan Francis joins Andrew Jarvis, Ryan Nolan, Connor Galloway, Isak Walther, Brenden Datema, Peter Morgan, Ryley Appelt, Alex Young, Jack Robilotti, Mickey Burns, and Joey Cipollone as players who have signed with the Gladiators for the 2025-26 season.
The Gladiators are announcing player signings LIVE on the Atlanta Gladiators YouTube channel! Click HERE to watch. Subscribe for exclusive content and stay up to date with the latest signings as the 2025-26 roster takes shape with live announcements on Tuesdays and Thursdays at 6:00 PM EST.
The 2025-26 season schedule is HERE! Season ticket packages are now available, for more information on ticket packages call our ticketing department at (770) 497-5100 or visit https://atlantagladiators.com/tickets/season-tickets.
####
Adirondack Thunder
Allen Americans
Atlanta Gladiators
Bloomington Bison
Cincinnati Cyclones
Florida Everblades
Fort Wayne Komets
Greensboro Gargoyles
Greenville Swamp Rabbits
Idaho Steelheads
Indy Fuel
Iowa Heartlanders
Jacksonville Icemen
Kalamazoo Wings
Kansas City Mavericks
Maine Mariners
Norfolk Admirals
Orlando Solar Bears
Rapid City Rush
Reading Royals
Savannah Ghost Pirates
South Carolina Stingrays
Tahoe Knight Monsters
Toledo Walleye
Trois-Rivières Lions
Tulsa Oilers
Utah Grizzlies
Wheeling Nailers
Wichita Thunder
Worcester Railers