Eagles Sign Trio of Defensemen for 2016-17 Season
July 27, 2016 - ECHL (ECHL)
Colorado Eagles News Release
WINDSOR, Colo. - The Colorado Eagles announced Wednesday that they have agreed to terms with defensemen Jake Marto, Sean Zimmerman and Teigan Zahn for the 2016-17 season. Marto returns to Colorado after posting a career-high 37 points in 62 games with the Eagles last season, finishing the year at a plus-12. Zimmerman appeared in all 72 regular season games last season, notching eight points and 196 penalty minutes. Zahn returns for his third season in Colorado after posting 11 points and 169 PIM's during the 2015-16 campaign.
"These three players were so vital in constructing what I felt was one of the best defensive units in the entire ECHL last season," said Eagles general manager Chris Stewart. "With Jake Marto you have a premier offensive defenseman, while Sean Zimmerman and Teigan Zahn bring a tremendous steadying force along the blue line, while also making life difficult for the opposition with their toughness on the ice."
A two-time WCHA champion during his NCAA career at the University of North Dakota, Marto also enjoyed a two-year stint playing professionally in Europe. He collected 17 points in 51 games while playing for Sodertalje SK in Sweden during the 2013-14 campaign. The Grand Forks, North Dakota native generated 11 points in 49 games with the Graz 99ers in Austria in the 2014-15 campaign. He now returns for his fourth season in Colorado, having amassed 68 points in 149 games with the Eagles, playing at a combined plus-21 in that time. In addition, Marto has also appeared in 14 AHL games with the St. John's Ice Caps, posting three points.
Zimmerman will be suiting up for the Eagles for the third consecutive season and enters the 2016-17 season having registered 18 points and 312 PIM's in 135 games with Colorado. Born in Denver, Colorado the 6-foot-2, 210-pound blueliner was a 6th round pick of the New Jersey Devils in the 2005 NHL Draft and also brings with him nearly 300 games of experience at the AHL level with the Albany River Rats, Lowell Devils, Syracuse Crunch, Rochester Americans, Providence Bruins and San Antonio Rampage.
Zahn is a former 5th round pick of the Chicago Blackhawks in 2008 and has generated seven goals, 24 assists and 467 penalty minutes in his two previous seasons with the Eagles. The Regina, Saskatchewan native previously served as the captain of the Saskatoon Blades of the Western Hockey League and also boasts 13 games of experience at the AHL level with the Oklahoma City Barons and Norfolk Admirals.
Season tickets for the 2016-17 season are on-sale now and can be reserved with a $50 deposit per seat by calling the Eagles ticket office at 970-686-SHOT (7468).
The 2016-17 regular season home schedule kicks off on Saturday, October 15th when the Eagles host the Rapid City Rush. A complete schedule can be found at www.ColoradoEagles.com.
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ECHL Stories from July 27, 2016
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