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Peoria Rivermen

Rivermen Sign Ricci and Ross to PTO's

March 8, 2011 - American Hockey League (AHL)
Peoria Rivermen News Release


Peoria Rivermen General Manager Kevin McDonald announced today that the club has signed forward Rob Ricci and defenseman Jared Ross to professional tryout contracts. The team has also returned goaltender Gerald Coleman on loan to Peoria's ECHL affiliate, the Alaska Aces.

Ricci, 26, has appeared in 60 games this season for the South Carolina Stingrays (ECHL). He leads the Stingrays in both goals (22) and points (48) while his 26 assists are tied for second most. His 22 goals are tied for 16th in the ECHL. The second-year pro has played in 136 regular season games in the ECHL. He also played in seven playoff games with the Stingrays in 2008-09 under current Rivermen head coach Jared Bednar.

A native of Brampton, ON, Ricci played three seasons at Merrimack College (2005-08) before turning pro. He is expected to make his American Hockey League debut tonight against the Grand Rapids Griffins.

Ross, 26, is back with the Rivermen for the second time this season. He was signed to a PTO on Feb. 9 and appeared in a game that night against Milwaukee. He has played in 51 games with the Reading Royals (ECHL) this season and has compiled 27 points (seven goals, 20 assists) and plus-1 rating. Last season, the 6-foot, 199-pould defenseman played the majority of the season in the AHL with the Providence Bruins. He appeared in 48 games and collected seven points (one goal, six assists) and 14 penalty minutes with the Bruins and also saw action in 21 games with Reading.

A native of Stoney Island, NS, Ross played four seasons at St. Lawrence University (2005-09) before turning pro.

Coleman, 25, was added to the Rivermen roster on Feb. 17 but did not appear in a game for Peoria. He has played in 36 games this season for the Aces and is ranked fourth in the ECHL with a 2.51 goals-against average at the time of his recall. He has collected a record of 21-13-1 with three shutouts and a save percentage .901. A native of Romeoville, Ill., Coleman has 57 games of AHL experience with Lowell, Worcester, Portland, and Springfield over the past five seasons. Over his AHL career he has a record of 29-38-4 with a 3.45 GAA.

Originally selected by the Tampa Bay Lightning in the seventh round (#224 overall) of the 2003 draft, Coleman is the first graduate of the NHL Diversity Program to be drafted and to play in the NHL, making his debut for the Lightning, in relief, on November 11, 2005.

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