Grrrowl announce six-pack of returning players
September 21, 2005 - ECHL (ECHL)
Greenville Grrrowl News Release
GREENVILLE, SC - Greenville Grrrowl General Manager Ryan Stewart announced Wednesday that the team has agreed to terms with six players from last year's team. JAKE BRENK, DAVID HERRING, JASON JOZSA, ADAM NIGHTINGALE, DARYL PIERCE and MARIS ZIEDINS have all agreed to terms and will help fill out Greenville's roster for the 2005-06 season.
"This is exciting news for our franchise," said Stewart. "We're putting together a group of players that we know will be excited to compete every night. I've exhausted the word âcharacter' this summer, but that's the component this team is built around. Each one of these players brings something special to our team that will hopefully amount to success on the ice. Last year's team learned a lot with their experience in the playoffs, so it was vital to get this group back."
Brenk played 11 regular season games and two post season games for Greenville last year after completing his senior season at Minnesota State-Mankato. The 6-3, 200-pound forward scored a game-winning goal in his second professional game, finishing with two points and zero penalty minutes in the regular season. In 2001, Brenk was selected by the Edmonton Oilers in the fifth round of the NHL Entry Draft, and just finished participating in Edmonton's prospect camp.
Herring only played three regular season games with the Grrrowl, joining the team after completing his final season with the OHL's Erie Otters. He made an immediate impact, going on to lead the Grrrowl with four goals in seven playoff games, including an overtime game-winner against top-seeded Pensacola on the road. In 10 total games with the Grrrowl, the 6-1, 205-pound forward had eight points on five goals and three assists. Herring recently participated in the Detroit Red Wings' prospect camp, and has since been invited to Manitoba's camp of the American Hockey League.
Jozsa came to Greenville last season as part of a seven-player trade involving the Grrrowl and the Toledo Storm. He contributed two goals and three assists for the Grrrowl in 15 games, then added another three points in the playoffs. A graduate of Colorado College, the 6-1, 185-pound defenseman will be playing in his third professional season.
Nightingale joined the Grrrowl immediately following a successful senior season at Michigan State University. The 6-0, 170-pound forward scored a game-winning goal in his second pro game, and finished the regular season with two points and 16 PIMs in 10 games.
Pierce played his entire rookie season with the Grrrowl last year, suiting up for 62 games and registering nine points on nine assists. The 6-1, 220-pound defenseman, who graduated from Canisius College, finished fourth on the Grrrowl in penalty minutes (162) and plus/minus (+10).
Ziedins was also part of that seven-player trade between Greenville and Toledo, as he played 12 games for the Grrrowl before joining the Latvian National Team to compete in the World Championships. The 5-10, 170-pound forward exploded for 15 points in those 12 games, finishing the season with 25 goals and 23 assists in 67 total games played.
The six returning players join Colin Pepperall, Allan Sirois, Jan Vodrazka, John Snowden, Rory McMahon, Derek Parker, Les Haggett and Matt Zultek as other players who have agreed to terms for the 2005-06 season.
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