ECHL Atlanta Gladiators

Mahrle Returns to Gwinnett, Grimaldi Traded to Cincinnati

Published on July 17, 2008 under ECHL (ECHL)
Atlanta Gladiators News Release


The Gwinnett Gladiators announced today that they have signed defenseman Ryan Mahrle for the 2008-09 season and in a separate transactions have dealt defenseman Joe Grimaldi to the 2008 Kelly Cup Champion Cincinnati Cyclones for undisclosed consideration.

Mahrle returns to the Gladiators after appearing in all 72 games last year with Gwinnett during his first full professional season. He posted 4 goals and 14 assists for 18 points during the regular season while recording a goal and an assist for Gwinnett in 8 Kelly Cup Playoff games.

The Troy, Michigan native collected 9 assists in 13 games with the Kalamazoo Wings in the United Hockey League during the 2006-07 season following his final collegiate season at Western Michigan University. He had 10 points in 20 post season games.

In four seasons at Western Michigan, Mahrle collected 16 goals and 54 assists for 70 points in 152 career collegiate games. He had a career year during his rookie campaign in 2003-04 notching a career best 6 goals and finishing with 19 points.

Mahrle was a two-time Neil Smith Defenseman of the Year Award winner while at Western Michigan and was named the Western Michigan University Suzanne Klop Rookie of the Year Award winner in 2003-04. He was also the Broncos' top scoring defenseman during the 2005-06 season with 18 points.

Grimaldi, dealt for undisclosed consideration, becomes the first player to join the Cincinnati Cyclones for the 2008-09 season. The Ronkonkoma, New York, native split time last season with three different ECHL teams and three American Hockey League teams completing the season with the Gladiators in the 2008 Kelly Cup Playoffs.

The 6-foot.-1, 190-pound defenseman collected 4 goals and 17 assists for 21 points in 67 combined ECHL games. He posted an assist in 7 combined AHL games last season.

The Gladiators open the 2008-09 season in October of 2008. Season tickets for the 2008-09 season are on sale now. Log on to gwinnettgladiators.com or call the Gladiators office at 770-497-5100 for more information.

The ECHL concluded its 20th Anniversary Season as the Premier 'AA' Hockey League in 2007-08, the ECHL began in 1988-89 with five teams in three states and has grown to be a coast-to-coast league that has 25 teams in 17 states and British Columbia in 2007-08. The Cincinnati Cyclones captured the ECHL Championship in June of 2008 defeating the Las Vegas Wranglers 4-games-to-2 to win the Kelly Cup.

The Gwinnett Gladiators open their sixth season as a proud member of the ECHL in October of 2008 - season ticket packages are on sale now. In addition, the Gladiators offer several unique multi-game ticket packages as well as discounted group rates, suite rentals, and birthday parties. For more information call 770-497-5100 or log on to gwinnettgladiators.com.

The Gladiators are the AA affiliate of the Atlanta Thrashers and play all home games at the spectacular 11,355-seat Arena at Gwinnett Center, located just off I-85 on Sugarloaf Parkway in Duluth, where parking is always free.

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ECHL Stories from July 17, 2008


The opinions expressed in this release are those of the organization issuing it, and do not necessarily reflect the thoughts or opinions of OurSports Central or its staff.

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