IceMen Sign Two More Defensemen
Published on September 24, 2010 under Central Hockey League (CHL)
Evansville IceMen News Release
EVANSVILLE, IN.--- There is an abundance of action around the Evansville IceMen front these days with the AA pro hockey franchise first ever CHL training camp looming on the nearest horizon. Roster-building is the key phrase with September coming to a close and the dawn of October and the pro hockey season squarely in the sights of everyone.
With that in mind, the IceMen are addressing their all-important blue line backline with their most recent player signings. On this date, IceMen General Manager/Head Coach Rich Kromm has announced that two top defensemen, namely JOE GRIMALDI and JAKE PENCE have agreed to terms and inked one-year contract pacts with Evansville for the upcoming campaign. Adhering to club policy, terms of the contract deals were not disclosed.
GRIMALDI, 24, (grih-MALL-dee) is approaching his fourth pro season overall and his initial campaign plying his craft in the Central Hockey League. The 6-0, 200lb right-hand shooting defenseman has spent the majority of his pro career in the ECHL sprinkled in with a trio of stints in the American Hockey League. For the past two seasons, he has been a staunch member of the ECHL Elmira Jackals defensive corps where in 65-games, he compiled a total of 17-points on 3-goals, 14-assists. His on-ice persona was one of physical might, mettle, muscle and menace as his 205-PIM would testify.
The American born from Ronkonkoma, NY has also fashioned his talents in the AHL with the Rochester Americans, Albany River Rats and Peoria Rivermen.
GM/Coach Kromm likes what he has seen and heard of his new member of the goal patrol. "Joe is bringing to our team some excellent credentials. He has been a standout at both the Division I and major junior `A' levels as well as at the professional level in the ECHL and AHL. He is big, strong and rugged and has demonstrated some significant offensive flair as well. We think he can develop into a real asset for the IceMen on the blueline."
Grimaldi's resume embodies exceptional effort and polished performance especially leading to his present pro career. He has achieved some excellent work starting with the U.S. National Under-18 Team where he honed his skills for a pair of seasons before advancing to the WCHA with the U. of Nebraska-Omaha for another two campaigns. From there, he progressed to the OHL where for two seasons he emerged as a major rampart on the famed Ottawa 67's defense. In fact, to amplify on his 67's starring role, in 92-career games there, he essayed 57-points on 9-goals, 48-assists while accumulating 266-PIM.
PENCE, 26, will start his fifth pro season. It is also his first in the CHL after spending almost his entire pro career in the IHL where he was a "rock steady" member of the crease police in Fort Wayne and Flint. The 6-1, 190lb native of Owatonna, Minnesota has been a veritable post-season playoff marvel as for the last three consecutive years, he has emerged as an integral, instrumental spoke in the wheel of teams that have reached the IHL Turner Cup Finals. For two of those successive seasons, he was a member of the league champions Fort Wayne Komets in 2007-08, and the encore, in 2008-09. Then last season, he became a fixture and mainstay on the Flint Generals defense helping lead them to a berth in the Finals against his former Fort Wayne squad. In all, Pence has seen action in an extraordinary 35-post-season playoff games spanning the past three seasons.
In 2010-11 with Flint, he was one of only three players to suit-up for all 76-games, ranking 11th in IHL league scoring among defensemen and second in the same category for his Generals team, amassing 26-points on 6-goals, 20-assists along with 48-PIM.
Coach Kromm is acutely aware of Pence's special experiences that he will offer the IceMen aggregation nation. "Certainly, Jake's vast experience in the playoffs, along with his overall pro experience at the AA level will represent major pluses for our club. He is a steady workhorse who knows what it takes to win. We look for his experience to stabilize our backline considerably."
Pence actually launched his pro career right off the campus of Division I UMass-Lowell of the Hockey East Conference in 2006-07 when he debuted in the ECHL with the Fresno Falcons. He enjoyed a solid four year career at UMass-Lowell, appearing in 95-games. He made his premiere in the IHL in Fort Wayne in 2007-08.
Today's signings of defensemen JOE GRIMALDI and JAKE PENCE, bring to 16 the number of players presently under contract with Evansville for the 2010-11 CHL season. Previously, the IceMen announced the signings of goaltenders MATT LUNDIN, DAVID WILSON; defensemen JORDAN LITTLE, NICK SCHNEIDER, CLAY THORING; centers BRIAN BICEK, JEFF NELSON, DAMIAN SURMA; left wings JESSE BIDUKE, MARK CODY; right wings CHRIS CAMPANALE, BO CHEESMAN, ANDREW GIBBONS, ROBB ROSS.
TRAINING CAMP OPENS MONDAY OCTOBER 4TH AT EVANSVILLE'S SWONDER ARENA
Central Hockey League Stories from September 24, 2010
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- Bucks Send Three to AHL Camps - Laredo Bucks
- IceMen Sign Two More Defensemen - Evansville IceMen
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