Duluth, GA - The Atlanta Gladiators, proud ECHL affiliate of the National Hockey League’s Nashville Predators and the American Hockey League’s Milwaukee Admirals, announced on Wednesday via the team’s YouTube channel that the team has signed forward Branden Troock for the 2026-27 season.

After playing overseas in Europe for the past four seasons, Branden Troock returns to the ECHL for the first time since the 2021-22 season in which he scored 25 goals and 30 assists for 55 points in 51 games with the Allen Americans. The 6’2”, 210-pound forward potted 6 goals and 9 assists in 36 games with HKM Zvolen (Slovakia), Sport (Liiga), and HC Vitkovice (Czechia) last season. Troock is no stranger to the Gladiators organization, having played in 30 games with Atlanta from 2018-2019, scoring 11 goals and 16 assists. 

The 32-year-old forward’s return to Atlanta brings a proven track record of scoring and experience at the ECHL level to the Gladiators lineup. In 174 career ECHL games, Troock has averaged almost a point-per-game, amassing 73 goals and 89 assists for 162 points with the Idaho Steelheads, Greenville Swamp Rabbits, Atlanta Gladiators, Maine Mariners, South Carolina Stingrays, Toledo Walleye, and Allen Americans. 

Having split the majority of his career between the AHL and the ECHL, Troock, a former fifth round draft pick (134th overall in the 2012 NHL Entry Draft by the Dallas Stars), also possesses a wealth of experience playing in the AHL, notching 16 goals and 26 assists for 42 points in 130 career games with the Texas Stars, Tucson Roadrunners, Hartford Wolf Pack and Cleveland Monsters.

Prior to his professional debut in the 2014-15 season, Troock logged 101 points in 144 games in the Western Hockey League (WHL) with the Seattle Thunderbirds from 2010-2014. His most productive season of junior hockey came in the 2013-14 season in which he scored 24 goals and 34 assists in 58 games.

“Branden is a dynamic forward that is a threat anytime he is on the ice. He is a big body that moves well and has an elite shot,” said Gladiators’ Head Coach & Director of Hockey Operations, Matt Ginn. “His experience playing at high levels will be very valuable for our group. We’re excited to add a player of Branden’s caliber to the Glads,” he said.

Branden Troock joins Max Neill, Connor Caponi, Kyle Pow, Anthony Cipollone, Joey Cipollone, Jack Blake, Stephen Calisti, Ryan Nolan, Kirklan Irey, Sam Tremblay, Mickey Burns, Ethan Strang, Corson Hopwo, Andrew Jarvis, Josh Winquist, Mike McNamee, and Ryan Conroy as players who have signed with the Gladiators for the 2026-27 season. 

The Gladiators are announcing player signings LIVE on the Atlanta Gladiators YouTube channel! Subscribe for exclusive content and stay up to date with the latest signings as the 2026-27 roster takes shape with live announcements on Tuesdays, Wednesdays, and Thursdays at 6:00 PM Eastern. 

The Gladiators home opener is set for October 17^th at Gas South Arena at 7:10 PM! Single game tickets are available HERE, or secure your seats with a season ticket package by calling our sales hotline at 770-497-5100! 

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